--- title: Game of Thrones: Long-Lost Characters Who May Return description: Following the return of Benjen Stark in Game of Thrones' sixth season, fans are wondering which other familiar faces will be resurfacing. canonical: https://time.com/4355413/game-of-thrones-characters-returning/ author: Megan McCluskey article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-06-03T16:02:52.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T04:59:56.270Z article:section: Entertainment og:title: 10 Long-Lost Characters Who May Return to 'Game of Thrones' og:description: Did someone say Cleganebowl? og:url: https://time.com/4355413/game-of-thrones-characters-returning/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: TIME og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 10 Long-Lost Characters Who May Return to 'Game of Thrones' twitter:description: Did someone say Cleganebowl? twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- # 10 Long-Lost Characters Who May Return to _Game of Thrones_ > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account.  by [Megan McCluskey](https://time.com/author/megan-mccluskey/)  ## Megan McCluskey Staff Writer Jun 3, 2016 4:02 PM UTC  by [Megan McCluskey](https://time.com/author/megan-mccluskey/)  ## Megan McCluskey Staff Writer Jun 3, 2016 4:02 PM UTC **Warning:** This post contains spoilers for both the _Game of Thrones_ TV show and George R.R. Martin’s _A Song of Ice and Fire_ series. Following the return of characters such as [Rickon Stark](http://time.com/4322837/game-of-thrones-rickon-stark-direwolf-death-conspiracy/), Osha, Walder Frey and, of course, [Benjen Stark](http://time.com/4351601/game-of-thrones-benjen-stark/) in the [sixth season](http://time.com/4354822/game-of-thrones-the-door-director/) of [_Game of Thrones_](http://time.com/4352536/game-of-thrones-bran-stark-visions-mad-king/), viewers have begun wondering if any other familiar faces will be resurfacing in the [final four episodes](http://time.com/4354065/game-of-thrones-episode-7-photos/) of the year. While the promo for “The Broken Man,” reveals that Brynden “The Blackfish” Tully — who escaped the Red Wedding and hasn’t been seen since — will be back Sunday to confront Jaime Lannister at Riverrun, several other long-lost players are still (presumably) waiting in the wings. Starting with those who disappeared the earliest and working our way through the seasons, let’s take a look at the once-important characters who still have a chance of getting some additional screen time in the HBO drama. ### Illyrio Mopatis  HBO The Magister of Pentos hasn’t been seen since season one but was heavily involved in arranging Daenerys’s marriage to Khal Drogo, thus setting her on the path to become the queen she is today. He also gave her the three dragon eggs and introduced her to Jorah Mormont, so yeah, we’d say he played a pretty big role in Dany’s life. Illyrio is later revealed to be in cahoots with Varys, as they are both part of a group seeking to restore the Targaryens to the Iron Throne. ### Syrio Forel  HBO Arya believes her beloved “dancing” master was killed by Ser Meryn Trant in season one while defending her from the Lannister guards, but his presumed death happened off screen — which as _Thrones_‘ viewers know, means it may not have happened at all. The First Sword of Braavos could still be alive, well and ready to help Arya finally make her escape from the House of Black and White. ### Ilyn Payne Although we’re pretty sure no one would be sorry if Ned Stark’s executioner had met his end, Ser Ilyn is probably still skulking around King’s Landing waiting to take out another of our favorite characters. Joffrey’s loyal henchman hasn’t actually made an appearance since season two, but was [mentioned by Tywin Lannister](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE2mpse6O1c) in the season four finale during his attempt to convince Tyrion that he wouldn’t let him be killed. We all know how that turned out. > [](https://twitter.com/Evelien%5FSinke/status/724907133150568448) ### Quaithe Like Melisandre, the mysterious masked woman Jorah meets in Qarth is a shadowbinder from the city of Asshai, meaning she is capable of magically manipulating shadows to do her bidding. But unlike Melisandre, we never see her making use of that power. Instead, she appears only twice in the show to [offer Jorah prophetic advice](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YltvwHMH64) about Daenerys’s future. > [](https://twitter.com/GoT%5FTyrion/status/410245282090086400) However, in George R.R. Martin’s _A Song of Ice and Fire_ series, Quaithe delivers the following prophecy directly to the Mother of Dragons: “To go north, you must journey south. To reach the west, you must go east. To go forward you must go back, and to touch the light you must pass beneath the shadow.” Some believe this means [Dany will have to journey into the Shadow Lands](https://www.reddit.com/r/asoiaf/comments/1a2qwt/spoilers%5Fall%5Fcomplete%5Fanalysis%5Fof%5Fquaithes%5Ffirst/) beyond Asshai before she finally makes her long-awaited voyage to Westeros — which would be the perfect time for Quaithe to show back up. ### Hot Pie  HBO Is Hot Pie still baking direwolf bread loaves at the Inn at the Crossroads? We can only hope so. ### Beric Dondarrion  HBO The leader of the Brotherhood Without Banners has the ability to be resurrected — and has already risen from the dead six times — so we can only assume he’ll be back again. Not to mention that his band of outlaws was name-dropped during the Freys’ discussion of the Riverlands in the sixth episode, meaning they could reappear at any time. However, thanks to his decision to sell Gendry to Melisandre in season three, Beric is on Arya’s death list — a position that won’t bode well for him if she ever makes it back to Westeros. ### Thoros of Myr  HBO If Beric is still around, there’s a good chance the red priest tasked with bringing him back to life is as well. Thoros also earned himself a spot on Arya’s list though, so if he does return, it may not be for very long. ### Gendry  Joe Dempsie in Game of Thrones HBO For all we know, Gendry is still out there rowing his boat across the sea. Although he’s been missing since escaping Melisandre’s clutches with the help of Ser Davos in the season three finale, it’s hard to imagine Robert Baratheon’s lovable bastard won’t have some part to play in the events to come. After all, as the [Red Woman once told him](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LE4D0attDaw), “there is power in the king’s blood.” But even if Gendry never ends up making a play for the Iron Throne, it seems cruel not to at least reunite him with Arya at some point. Luckily, _Thrones_ is known for its happy endings. ### Lady Stoneheart  HBO George R.R. Martin [has said](http://winteriscoming.net/2016/06/01/george-r-r-martin-confirms-something-important-about-lady-stoneheart/) the zombified version of Catelynn Stark won’t be appearing in the show. However, with the storyline finally returning to the Riverlands, there may still be hope for a surprise reveal. We know that both House Tully and the Brotherhood Without Banners — who Lady Stoneheart travels with in the books — have been causing problems for the Lannister—Frey alliance. If the two have teamed up, it could have something to do with the undead former Tully herself. ### The Hound  HBO All signs point to [Sandor Clegane](http://time.com/4354413/game-of-thrones-cleganebowl-explained/) — another character who “died offscreen” — making his triumphant return in the seventh episode of the season, “The Broken Man.” And what better time to show up than right when the High Sparrow is searching for a champion capable of defeating the Mountain — a.k.a. the Hound’s long-hated big brother — in Cersei’s trial by combat? 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