‘Twin Peaks’ to ‘Game of Thrones’: Characters With Eyepatches and How They Got Them

TV is full of characters that wear eyepatches for various reasons, usually to signify some sort of trauma in the past. It’s also an easy way for a character to visibly show a badge of suffering without losing mobility or requiring complicated CGI or other effects.

The eyepatch also sets a character apart in some way to give them a dangerous, rakish or even quirky air. Beloved by stereotypical pirates, the eyepatch has also been used to indicate that someone is a seafaring person.

Take a look at the characters in the slideshow to see if you can remember how that person came to wear an eyepatch before clicking to see the answer in the next photo.

[Editor’s Note: The following gallery contains spoilers from the respective shows featured.]

Beric Dondarrion (Richard Dormer), “Game of Thrones”

Beric Dondarrion’s biggest claim to fame isn’t his eyepatch but the fact that he’s been killed and resurrected multiple times by the red priest Thoros of Myr (Paul Kaye), who follows the god R’hllor, the Lord of Light. This is the same god who made it possible for Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) to be resurrected. 

How did Beric lose his eye? Click to the next page.

Beric Dondarrion’s Reason for Losing His Eye

For one of his many deaths, Beric was captured by Lannister soldiers who wanted to execute him for treason but couldn’t decide whether to hang him or stick a dagger through his eye. They settled for doing both.

When Beric is resurrected, he’s always the worse for wear and not fully healed. Hence, the eyepatch to cover the damage to the bum eye. But, hey, at least he has a flaming sword.

The Governor (David Morrissey), “The Walking Dead”

The charismatic leader of Woodbury is actually a homicidal maniac and kept Glenn and Maggie (Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan) as prisoners, torturing for information.

Do you remember how The Governor lost his eye? Click to the next page to see if you’re right.

The Governor’s Reason for Losing His Eye

During a rescue mission, the Governor attacks Michonne (Danai Gurira), who then stabs him in the hand and right eye with a glass shard.

Lily Charles (Swoosie Kurtz), “Pushing Daisies”

Lily Charles is one of Chuck’s (Anna Friel) aunts who is agoraphobic. When we first meet her, she already has the eyepatch, which is switched out and coordinated for each of her outfits.

Go to the next page to find out how she lost the use of her eye.

How Lily Lost the Use of Her Eye

Lily was cleaning the kitty litter when a bit of the dust got into her eye and ruined her sight. It also ruined her career as one-half of the synchronized swimming duo the Darling Mermaid Darlings, with her sister Vivian.

Colonel Saul Tigh (Michael Hogan), “Battlestar Galactica”

Col. Tigh believed himself to be the descendant of other military men and flew with a squadron named the Vigilantes. He acted as a leader of the resistance against the Cylons.

Do you remember how he lost his eye? Go to the next page to check.

How Tigh Lost His Eye

Unfortunately, the Cylons jailed and captured Tigh several times, and at one point his eye was violently ripped out.

Nadine Hurley (Wendy Robie), “Twin Peaks”

Nadine is a rather eccentric and fierce resident of Twin Peaks who’s married to Ed Hurley (Everett McGill) although he seems to have feelings for someone else. When we first meet her, she already has the eyepatch. She’s also known for her strength and extra adrenaline-fueled activities.

See how she lost the use of her eye on the next slide.

Nadine’s Reasons for Needing an Eyepatch

Nadine married her high school crush Ed Hurley shortly after graduation, and for their honeymoon, they went hunting. A piece of buckshot that Ed fired ricocheted off a rock and hit her in the eye.

Xander Harris (Nicholas Brendon), “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”

Xander is the one member of the Scooby Gang with no real supernatural abilities or knowledge. Nevertheless, he showed an ability to survive, provided comic relief and had some insightful moments.

Think you remember how Xander lost his eye? Go to the next page to check.

How Xander Lost the Use of His Eye

The evil preacher Caleb (Nathan Fillion) gouged out Xander’s left eye because of his ability to “see” things others didn’t. Afterwards, Xander starting wearing an eyepatch.

Vernon Schillinger (J.K. Simmons), “Oz”

The leader of the Aryan Brotherhood in Oz, Schillinger is one of the most powerful and feared inmates for his penchant for brutality and rape.

Go to the next page to see how he got his eye patch.

Schillinger’s Reason for Wearing an Eyepatch

Schillinger pushed new inmate and sex slave Tobias Beecher (Lee Tergesen) too far. After raping and humiliating him repeatedly, Schillinger then forces Beecher to wear a Confederate flag t-shirt that will surely get him targeted by the black inmates. In retaliation, Beecher throws a chair into the cell glass in fit of PCP-fueled rage, and a glass shard gets into Schillinger’s eye.

Mikhail Bakunin (Andrew Divoff), “Lost”

Bakunin is a former Soviet soldier, skilled in the use of weapons and hand-to-hand combat, who is a member of the Others. he works out of a DHARMA Initiative station called the Flame to manage communications with the outside world. When we first meet him, he has an eyepatch already.

Go to the next page to see how he lost his eye.

How Bakunin Lost His Eye

We didn’t mean this to be a trick question, but that answer was never given in the series.

However, in a Season 6 flash sideways (sort of a flashback but in the current timeline in an alternate scenario), we do see Bakunin as a Los Angeles-based Russian gangster with two functioning eyes. When he is shot and killed, it is through the right eye, the one that is injured in the primary timeline. Intriguing…

Madame Kovarian (Frances Barber), “Doctor Who”

This human is an associate of the religious movement known as the Silence, which was determined to stop prevent another Time War if the Time Lords returned. One of their strategies was that all memory of the Silents would be erased if you looked away from them. The Kovarian chapter attempted to oppose the Doctor and prevent a Time War by traveling through time.

See why Madame Kovarian wears an eyepatch in the next slide.

Those “Doctor Who” Eyepatches Explained

Surprise! Those eyepatches are actually eye drives, which is a device that the Silents issued to their agents to memory-proof themselves. The eye drive reminds the person of the existence of the Silence.

In an alternate timeline, Amy (Karen Gillan) and her army created their own versions.

Captain Sham (Neil Patrick Harris), “A Series of Unfortunate Events”

Captain Sham falls for the Baudelaire children’s Aunt Josephine, but when she jumps from the library bay window, she leaves a note informing them that the Captain is their new guardian.

Go to the next slide to see why Captain Sham wears an eyepatch.

Captain Sham’s Reasons for Wearing an Eyepatch

Captain Sham is actually Count Olaf in disguise. After the Baudelaire children’s parents are killed in a mysterious fire, they’re placed in the care of their distant relative Count Olaf, who tries to claim the family fortune himself. But even though the Baudelaires free themselves from his influence, Count Olaf is an actor who won’t give up trying to fall them using various guises. Captain Sham is his sailor persona that he accents with an eyepatch for seafaring verisimilitude.

Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs), “The Walking Dead”

This zombie apocalypse survivor is the son of officer Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and started out as a naive young boy, but has become hardened and practical about the world he lives in now.

See how Carl lost his eye in the next slide.

How Carl Lost the Use of His Eye

When Rick executes Pete, Pete’s son Ron (Austin Abrams) develops a hatred against Rick and Carl. After Ron’s mother and brother are killed by walkers during an escape attempt masterminded by Rick, Ron snaps and fires at Rick. The shot goes astray and hits Carl in the eye.

Jillian, aka Eyepatch Girl (Allison Williams), “The Mindy Project”

Danny (Chris Messina) meets Jillian in an emergency room when she gives him grief about cutting in line and getting his friend seen by a doctor without making an appointment. Despite this rough start, the two start to date.

But why does Jillian have an eyepatch? Go to the next slide to find out

Jillian’s Reasons for Wearing an Eyepatch

The youthful and energetic Jillian was jogging in Central Park when a pigeon flew straight into her eye. The damage is thankfully temporary.