14 Game of Thrones characters who were better in the books

8. Littlefinger (Petyr Baelish)

Love him or hate him, Littlefinger is a guy you have to keep an eye on. Sure, dragons and White Walkers grab all the attention, but Littlefinger is always busy weaving webs of deception while nobody’s looking. The books do an amazing job of keeping his true motivations hidden under layers of schemes and deceptions. One moment he’s advising Ned Stark, the next he’s betraying him. He’s always two steps ahead, and you’re never really sure which game he’s playing. His mind is like a labyrinth, and even as a reader, you feel like you’re just scratching the surface.

The show’s Littlefinger is a simplified version of his book counterpart, a common refrain by this point. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still cunning, but his scheming is streamlined so viewers can digest it better. While that’s not necessarily a bad thing, book-readers miss the enigmatic schemer who keeps everyone guessing.

In the show, Littlefinger’s death comes off as grossly out of character, as if the master puppeteer suddenly forgot how to pull the strings. Book-Littlefinger would never, ever beg for his life in that embarrassing manner. He’d never let himself get into the position he found himself in, and would have definitely had a plan to escape if needed. Felt good to watch, though.

9. Varys

Ah, Varys, the Spider. In the books, this phenomenal master of whispers is an even murkier character than on TV. While the show gave us glimpses of his byzantine schemes, it couldn’t really capture all of the angles. Varys doesn’t just deal in whispers; he talks in riddles, leaving readers to dissect his every action and line. Even when you think you’ve got a handle on his motives, Martin throws a curveball and has you questioning everything all over again.

In the TV show, Varys’ endgame became fairly clear as the series progressed: he was Team Targaryen all the way, at least until the last minute when he sensed

how much the writers hated a young and powerful woman breaking the wheel

Daenerys’ potential madness. But in the books, you’re still left wondering who Varys is really supporting. Is it Young Griff, who claims to be Aegon Targaryen? Is it the realm, as he often claims? Or is he a schemer as skilled as, if not more than, Littlefinger, with motives that we can’t even begin to understand? Book-Varys keeps you on your toes, always second-guessing, always debating, and though that did happen for a while in the show, it continues in the books.