14 Game of Thrones characters who were better in the books
2. Euron Greyjoy
In the Song of Ice and Fire books, Euron Greyjoy feels like he came straight out of a mythological epic, what with his mysticism and blood magic. With an eye patch covering an eye that legend says is black and the source of his arcane powers, book-Euron is a horror show of a character. As on the show, he’s a pirate and a warlord, but in the books he’s also a dark sorcerer who keeps warlocks chained in his ship while plotting to dominate the world. He’s even rumored to be able to control dragons with his magical horn Dragonbinder. His agenda is evil and borderline Lovecraftian.
On the other hand, Euron on Game of Thrones is depicted as a swashbuckling pirate who wants to marry his way into power by taking his seat next to the glorious Cersei Lannister. While he’s menacing in his own way, he’s not an elementally terrifying as his book counterpart. We don’t get the spooky, otherworldly air that makes book-Euron so memorable. TV Euron is more of a pirate rogue-type that you can find in many other fantasy adventures (or D&D game).
Both book-Euron and TV-Euron are villains, hands down, but while show-Euron might haunt your dreams for a night, book-Euron will he haunt your soul for the rest of your life.
3. Barristan Selmy
Ah, Barristan. They did you dirty, my friend.
On Game of Thrones, Barristan is murdered in an alleyway by the Sons of the Harpy, not an end befitting the legacy of one of Westeros’ most celebrated knights. While his dedication to Daenerys and his legendary combat skills are showcased and honored in the show, it felt like he was pushed offstage to make room for other characters.
In the books, however, Barristan Selmy is more than just a wise counselor to Dany; he’s his own character and even has several chapters told from his own point of view. Serving as a moral compass during Dany’s stay in Meereen, Selmy deals with uneasy alliances and shades of gray that the TV series hardly scratches the surface of. He doesn’t just swing his sword around; he makes hard choices to help shape Meereen and, by extension, the realm. It’s a shame the show couldn’t capture the full essence of this iconic knight.