The relationship between Game of Thrones and its source material, George R. R. Martin's epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, has always been complicated. While the show initially started out adapting the first book of the series, A Game of Thrones, almost to the word, as the seasons progressed, it kept diverging from the novels further and further. By the time Game of Thrones had reached its sixth season, its story had surpassed the published material from A Song of Ice and Fire, so the final three seasons forged ahead with their own story, while book fans still eagerly await Martin's ending to this day.
While fans have endlessly discussed the differences between the two mediums, one scene in Game of Thrones itself subtly addresses the show's diverging path. Just as one key character's on-screen story caught up with her book counterpart's, Game of Thrones thematically ties in one of her biggest moments to the notion of a split narrative.
Sansa learns to lie
Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) was initially presented as the "goodie two-shoes" of the Stark clan. Much unlike her rebellious younger sister Arya (Maisie Williams), Sansa grew up dreaming of becoming a Lady. She followed every rule, paid careful attention to every one of Septa Mordane's (Susan Brown) lessons, and always conducted herself in prim and proper fashion.
However, Sansa's idealism does not keep her safe during her time in King's Landing. Her naivety allows characters like Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) to take advantage of her, and when her father, Ned Stark (Sean Bean), loses his head, she has no one to look out for her as King Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleason) tortures her throughout their betrothal. Sansa feels relieved when Joffrey then ends their engagement in favor of Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer), but her hopes are crushed when she is instead married off to Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage).
Sansa's time in King's Landing comes to an abrupt end when she is whisked away from King Joffrey's wedding as he chokes to death. Sansa later learns that Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish (Aidan Gillen), an old friend of her mother Catelyn's (Michelle Fairley), helped orchestrate Joffrey's assassination in order to cause a distraction to sneak Sansa away. The two then arrive in the Eyrie, where Petyr marries Catelyn's sister, Lysa (Kate Dickie).
Sometime later, Petyr makes an inappropriate advance on Sansa, kissing her. This enrages Lysa, who then attempts to kill her niece for "seducing" her husband. Petyr intervenes, saving Sansa, but throwing Lysa out the Eyrie's Moon Door to her death in the process.
Sansa, in her disguise as "Alayne," is then brought before the Lords of the Vale as part of Petyr's trial. She quickly sheds her alias, and confesses the "truth," that Littlefinger was innocent in Lysa's death, and she'd committed suicide. She explains her reasoning for sparing Petyr, that she feels safer with the devil she knows as opposed to the devils she doesn't, and the two depart the Eyrie. With this one little lie, among Sansa's first, she officially establishes herself as a player in the titular game of thrones.
A little lie with big implications
Sansa's monologue where she clears Littlefinger's name does not happen in the books. To date, she is still disguised as "Alayne," and, as of her most recent published appearance in A Feast for Crows, she and Littlefinger remain in the Eyrie. As such, this monologue represents a major shift in her story for the show.
It is worth noting that the departure from Sansa's book storyline takes the form of a lie, as in, an "alternate story." While Game of Thrones is not "false" in comparison to A Song of Ice and Fire, Sansa's plot begins to go in a new direction from the source material after she comes up with her own fabricated story.
Using Sansa's telling of a lie to branch away from her book storyline feels like Game of Thrones is commenting on its own differences from A Song of Ice and Fire. In the past, Sansa had been harmed by her devout honesty and goodness, so her learning to deceive is a powerful moment for her character. With this in mind, Game of Thrones steering Sansa in a new direction with that lie feels as though the show is addressing its loyal readers, asking them to trust this alternate story, and view it as a "good thing," just as audiences are supposed to view Sansa's scheming as a positive.
For more from the world of Westeros, make sure to stream House of the Dragon season 3 on HBO Max.
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