Which Game of Thrones characters were recast, and who played it best?

Game of Thrones is heralded for its intricate plot, heart-pounding battle scenes and special effects, but none of that would mean anything without the enormous, talented cast. And with such a large cast, sometimes one performer or another won’t be able to reprise their part, or the producers will rethink their storyline, and recasting becomes necessary.

Many actors have been recast on Game of Thrones. Sometimes it was obvious, and other times it was so subtle you may know have noticed (like that time Tommen died, came back to life and died again — that happened). But were the recasts always for the better? Let’s examine each role that has been recast and see if we can figure it out.