14 Game of Thrones characters who were better in the books

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Game of Thrones - Jaime Lannister
Image: Game of Thrones/HBO /

6. Jaime Lannister

The Kingslayer, the knight in tarnished armor. His transformation in the Game of Thrones series was nothing short of beautiful except for the very last thing he does. From pushing then 10-year-old Bran Stark out of a window in the very first episode to saving Brienne from a bear to fighting in the Battle of Winterfell, Jaime’s journey had us all rooting for him and wanting more. Still, even as the show unraveled his complexities, something was missing. The series has him going back to Cersei in the end, as if his toxic love could never really allow him to evolve beyond his limitations, which…makes my blood boil.

In contrast, the books take Jaime’s character arc a few steps further, giving him more self-awareness and actually distancing him from Cersei. As he travels through the Riverlands in A Feast for Crows, he show a deeper sense of honor and justice. It’s almost as if every step he takes is a step away from his past, and from Cersei. He sheds away layers of cynicism and arrogance to find something more genuine. While the show gave us a great Jaime Lannister, the books give us a version that’s a bit more complete, giving readers a redemption arc that feels truly earned.

Game of Thrones
Image: Game of Thrones/HBO /

7. Tyrion Lannister

I hate to break it to you, but Tyrion Lannister is not just the witty and charming character you fell in love with on Game of Thrones. He still has the one-liners in the books, but Martin goes much deeper into his personality and issues, including the darker corners of his mind that the show barely touches. From his more strained relationships with Jaime and Cersei to the subtle yet deteriorating effects of being forever underestimated and despised by his own father, Tyrion’s internal world is very complicated. His love for wine and women aren’t just used for comic relief in the books; these vices serve as escape and self-medication for his many traumas and insecurities.

In the books, Tyrion’s journey takes him down some morally ambiguous paths. After killing his own father Tywin and his former lover Shae, book-Tyrion deals with some pretty heavy guilt, resentment, and existential despair. Unlike his show counterpart, who transitions nicely into a role as Daenerys’ advisor, book-Tyrion is more of a wild card. His motivations are less clear, his actions much less predictable, and his character arc more complex.

There’s also a theory that book-Tyrion could be a Targaryen. From Tyrion’s strained relationship with his father Tywin, who constantly states that Tyrion is “no son of mine,” to hints about the Mad King Aerys’ infatuation with Tywin’s wife Joanna, there are lots of clues fans have picked up on. Then there’s Tyrion’s near-obsession with dragons and his physical appearance in the books: hair so blond it’s almost white (much like the silver-haired Targaryens) and mismatched eyes, one green and one black. While not confirmed in the slightest, this theory makes sense, and things could become very interesting if he turns out to be Daenerys’ long-lost half-brother.