Aemon's counsel Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 As with any book that's adapted for film or television, there's obviously a lot of criticism of GoT by book readers for the things it leaves out or the things it translates poorly to the screen. (I know I certainly have my complaints.) But there are definitely a handful of things I think it's improved on (or at least provided an enjoyable alternative to), and most often this is due to characters who: a) we get to see more due to the show not being constricted to a limited set of POVsb) are written differently to how they are in the book, orc) have an incredible actor playing them, who takes them above and beyond what was on the page. So I was just wondering who other fans would nominate as characters whose TV version is better than the version that appears in the books. (Note that this is *not* a 'who plays their character best' thread. John Bradley is great as Samwell, but his Samwell is pretty much book Samwell.) Anyway, my first nomination would be Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister, simply because of the intelligence, authority and (occasional) humanity that he brings to a role that, as far as I remember, in the books tended a bit more towards being a stock-character / plot device than a fully-rounded character. My second nomination would be Michael McElhatton as Roose Bolton. I was never fond of the more overtly creepy elements of book Roose - the leechings and the quiet voice etc, partly because it just seems a bit obvious to have such an overtly creepy character turn out to be a traitor, and I think that someone like Roose would surely not want to make himself conspicuous in such a way either. So stripping him of those elements and foregrounding the 'political game-playing' aspects of the character, while still retaining some of the less obviously creepy aspects (the subtle lack of emotion and evident enjoyment he takes in fucking with people) was definitely the right idea as far as I'm concerned. And McElhatton is superb - easily one of my favourite actors on the show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsug Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Yeah show Tywin is less of a complete douchebag and more of a badass. Show Cersei has more dimension and is less of a stereotypical evil queen.And Joff is better simply because of Jack Gleeson lol. That guy is incredible!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roxWolfox Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Mine is a pretty long list, so I'll just name the few who popped into my head when I read the title of this thread. Rickon - his goodbye scene with Bran still haunts me to this day. I'm trying to picture him returning, wild and full of vengeance, but all I can see are those tears. Jorah - so creepy in the books, but .... Iain Glen! Unglphgbl! I was more than a tad heartbroken when he was 'banished'. Cersei - made me laugh in the books, as I couldn't wrap my head around her character, but LenaCersei I do get, as a woman. Those eyes, that smile...I adore her.Robert B - Addy's booming Baratheon voice does it for me everytime. Book Bob was an ass, but Addy's portrayal, showing the emptiness, the lonliness, the frustration, the sorrow...just so well done.Lord Walder - another creepo in the books, but David Bradley is so freaking fun to watch I can't wait till he comes back. Alliser Thorne - hateful in both versions, but Owen Teale truly knocked it out of the park and had me cheering him on in Watchers on the Wall episode. Woof!Oberyn Martell - a character I didn't care at all about in the books, but man...what a scene stealer that Pedro Pascal is ... O.ORobb Stark - I overlooked him in the books, but that tv goodbye hug between him and Jon was unforgettable (for me at least). Made him much more watchable as a character than readable, simply because as soon as I read him dissing Grey Wind in favour of Jeyne, I stopped caring about him and wasn't upset or surprised by the Red Wedding. The tv version of the RW broke my heart.Varys - as sneaky as the book version is, he's just so 'giggly'. Got on my nerves. Conleth Hill version is much more subtle, quietly reeking of danger. It's the way he's always watching everything and everyone... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ni2tre Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I don't want to say they are better as I can't compare, but I would say I prefer some show characters to their book counterparts and vice versa. Robb, Sansa, Cersei, Tywin, Margaery, The Hound, Joffrey, Tommen, Jorah from the main characters (I'm sure I'm forgetting some). And countless lesser characters like Grey Worm, Missandei, Daario, Osha, Alliser Thorne, Podrick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Good Guy Garlan Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 MargaeryTywinRooseYorenAlliserBronnJorah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregor Clegane's head Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Oberyn :(JorahBronnAllisterTywinOlennaRobb :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roxWolfox Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Benjen Stark!: oh my, how could I forget the one actor who is truly a cold, grim, aloof Stark! Every line, every look... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Stoneheart Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 WalderTywinMelisandreOlennaMargeryOsha And my personal favorite, not like her book character, but fully realized....Lysa!!!! Excellent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aemon's counsel Posted April 8, 2015 Author Share Posted April 8, 2015 Oberyn :( Jorah Bronn Allister Tywin Olenna Robb :( Totally agree about these two. Flynn's Bronn is so much more entertaining than his book counterpart, and his 'farewell' scene with Tyrion last season was pitch-perfect, and a far better ending to the Bronn-Tyrion relationship than what happened in the books. And Alliser really benefited from that non-book scene towards the end of last season where he explained a bit about why he acts the way he does - made him a lot more three-dimensional than the 'bullying Sergeant Major' archetype he'd been up until then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Friendzone Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 TywinOberynRobbMargaeryJorahBronnAlliser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poète Lauréat Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Other than Tywin no one comes close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emperoreddy Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Mine is a pretty long list, so I'll just name the few who popped into my head when I read the title of this thread. Rickon - his goodbye scene with Bran still haunts me to this day. I'm trying to picture him returning, wild and full of vengeance, but all I can see are those tears. Jorah - so creepy in the books, but .... Iain Glen! Unglphgbl! I was more than a tad heartbroken when he was 'banished'. Cersei - made me laugh in the books, as I couldn't wrap my head around her character, but LenaCersei I do get, as a woman. Those eyes, that smile...I adore her. Robert B - Addy's booming Baratheon voice does it for me everytime. Book Bob was an ass, but Addy's portrayal, showing the emptiness, the lonliness, the frustration, the sorrow...just so well done. Lord Walder - another creepo in the books, but David Bradley is so freaking fun to watch I can't wait till he comes back. Alliser Thorne - hateful in both versions, but Owen Teale truly knocked it out of the park and had me cheering him on in Watchers on the Wall episode. Woof! Oberyn Martell - a character I didn't care at all about in the books, but man...what a scene stealer that Pedro Pascal is ... O.O Robb Stark - I overlooked him in the books, but that tv goodbye hug between him and Jon was unforgettable (for me at least). Made him much more watchable as a character than readable, simply because as soon as I read him dissing Grey Wind in favour of Jeyne, I stopped caring about him and wasn't upset or surprised by the Red Wedding. The tv version of the RW broke my heart. Varys - as sneaky as the book version is, he's just so 'giggly'. Got on my nerves. Conleth Hill version is much more subtle, quietly reeking of danger. It's the way he's always watching everything and everyone... This is my list as well. The actors really stepped it up with their characters. Like the call out to Robb B. He was great, and his non book scene with Cersei was an excellent addition. I would add Tywin as well. Dance was just SO SO SO good. You knew exactly why the seven kingdoms were afraid of the great Tywin. I would say maybe Geoffry too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANDYJTArrant Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Khal Drogo hands down! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emperoreddy Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Khal Drogo hands down! Agreed! I'll pay money to see Aquaman so I can see him be a bad ass again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Good Guy Garlan Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 I forgot Joffrey and Ramsay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clair de lune Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 In my head I always picture Chien-Po from Mulan when I read Varys in the books. (The fat one here: http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Yao,_Ling_and_Chien_Po ). I wouldn't say Conleth Hill is better, just different. I like both. For me it's definitely Shae and Osha, but nearly all the actors brought interesting things to the characters that weren't there in the books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarieAntoinette Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 TywinMargaeryBronnOshaViserysOberyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dronuspk Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Benjen Stark!: oh my, how could I forget the one actor who is truly a cold, grim, aloof Stark! Every line, every look...I'm glad you brought this up, I know it's unlikely but I hope we see him in the show again.Oberyn, Varys, Tywin, Margaery and Big Bobby B all came to mind when I saw the thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADanceWithCats Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 For me, it's mostly the women, who are just so much better: Cersei, Margaery, Brienne, Sansa, Shae, Melisandre, Daenerys. Further, Varys. From the men, eh... Tyrion and Tywin, Ramsay and Roose, Jorah and Daario. Yes, Daario. e: Also, I think Stannis. He listens to Melisandre more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePrunesThatWasPromised Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Dirk was great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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