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Characters better on the show than in books?


Rickyhunt

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I'm wondering are there characters on the show that you like more than there book versions? I feel that while many characters have been messed up by the writers of Game Of Thrones that some are more sympathetic or more interesting than they are in the books.

So mine are are

Tyrion who I think Is funnier more charismatic and sympathetic in the show. I think Dinklage does a great job in his portrayal. He looks different than I imagined him when I first read the books but now I can't read the books without thinking of Dinklage as Tyrion.

Bronn funnier wittier in the show by far. I feel his storyline in the show was a little better and believable than in the books. I think he is the only brightspot in the Dorne storyline.

Ygitte I found her annoying in the books but loved the innuendo she used first meeting Jon and the chemistry between the two is obvious.

What are yours?
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Tyrion - Simply funnier and more charming in the tv, if less conflicted.
Tywin - Really brought to life by Charles Dance, many of his exchanges with Joffery and Tyrion are highlights of the show so far.
Bronn 
Hodor - Funnily I thought he was a ridiculous idea in the books, but somehow i forgive it in the tv show.
Oberyn - I completely passed over his character in the books, seeing him as one dimensional, the sheer charisma on the show is overpowering.
Daario - I don't like any of the incarnations so far, but I like them more than the bizarrely coloured rogue in the books.
Stannis - Just find him a lot more human and interesting in the show.

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Tyrion
Bronn
Ned (Because Sean Bean)
Robb (Mainly because it was closer to his actual events)
Oberyn
Grey Worm
Missandei
Daario (times one hundred)
Jorah

Basically everything here. Especially Tyrion because he's funnier and less moody, Robb because a lot of his story happens off-page in the books, and Oberyn because we saw so much more of him and the shows version of him was just awesome.

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There are certainly a few:

Robb - he's very much in the background in the books, watching the show he feels much more like a 'main' character, obviously easier to do with the different media.

Bronn - again his personality comes out more.

Oberyn - Loved Pedro's performance.

Jon - Kit gives him a bit more maturity.

Tyrion - I am more supportive of the show version but he's still one of my favourite characters in both media versions just like Jon.

Tywin - Charles Dance really nails it.

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Agree with most of those mentioned and I have to add Dany, whose character I prefer on the shows even if Emilia's acting is a bit uneven for the first two seasons but then she like Dany is learning so it also kind of resonates, and I just watched the one where she took over the unsullied and she is pretty formidable in that High Valyrian of hers as Drogon cinematically burns all around her.

 

And if Mel could bring anyone back I would probably choose Oberyn... any chance Pedro could come back as J Targ?

 

Also would add Joffrey, Arya and the Hound, the book characters are excellent but the acting is Pedro-superb with them, just impeccable casting.

 

And finally Stannis, as this was the book character who most needed a sympathetic, empathetic actor to accurately portray him and his inner demons as his outer emotions are so restricted, and Stephen Dillane gives a truly magnificent, heartfelt performance.

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Tywin - He was a bit too OTT for me in the books (and Roy Dotrice really made him sound ridiculous).
Thorne - There was better characterisation, and he wasn't just some guy who was bitter for being forced into the NW and taking out his anger at Ned Stark's bastard.
Daario - No explanation necessary.
Osha - I love that story she told Bran & co.
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Tyrion is a bland nice guy in the show. I "like" him more, but that's because he's a better person, which isn't the same as him being a better character. 

 

I liked Alliser Thorne because he actually gets some characterization other than "a bully". It's just a shame he was involved in the assassination, because I didn't understand that from his perspective at all.

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C4 as often pretty much reflects what my choices would be.

 

Tyrion - Making the character less conflicted and funnier might sound like a bad move but really I think it ends up being a genius move as with Dinkage he really does become the soul of the story and provides someone that's so easy for the rest of the cast to play off.

 

Tywin - The extra focus on him in season two really pays off in creating a character with a very believable and human drive plus of course Dance has the gravitas of a small moon and as C4 has drives a lot of the best scenes so far.

 

Stannis - Maybe not as "good" but very human and for all the shocking deaths in the story for me is the most tragic. Best casting in the whole show as well IMHO with Dilane bringing possible even more gravitas than Dance but with a tougher edge to it.

 

Perhaps we should have a "Most Gravitas" poll?

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C4 as often pretty much reflects what my choices would be.
 
Tyrion - Making the character less conflicted and funnier might sound like a bad move but really I think it ends up being a genius move as with Dinkage he really does become the soul of the story and provides someone that's so easy for the rest of the cast to play off.
 
Tywin - The extra focus on him in season two really pays off in creating a character with a very believable and human drive plus of course Dance has the gravitas of a small moon and as C4 has drives a lot of the best scenes so far.
 
Stannis - Maybe not as "good" but very human and for all the shocking deaths in the story for me is the most tragic. Best casting in the whole show as well IMHO with Dilane bringing possible even more gravitas than Dance but with a tougher edge to it.
 
Perhaps we should have a "Most Gravitas" poll?


If there was a gravitas poll I think Jorah would be up there. His performance is so serious and almost Shakespearean! First season he was by far and away my fave performance.

Having said that every other thing I've seen him in is dreadful, and he is usually totally pantomime in them. I mean what about that resident evil movie he is in! Even Downton is pretty rubbish.
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I think Tywin and Stannis were both made better by just superb acting that give a humanity to characters that were hard to wrap fingers around in the books. 

 

I enjoy show-Tyrion's arch a lot better in the show. In the books, the whole "where do whores go?" thing drove me mad. Couldn't stand it. Building off that, I like that the show more or less did away with the first wife storyline. Found that completely uncompelling and the root of why I sometimes found myself hating some of Tyrions' chapters after killing Tywin.

 

Characters like Bronn and Oberyn were made better by simply giving them more screen time and freedom within their performances. 

 

Just some portrayals that I thought were spot on:

  • Viserys
  • Post-hand-chop Jaime
  • Barristan
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If there was a gravitas poll I think Jorah would be up there. His performance is so serious and almost Shakespearean! First season he was by far and away my fave performance.

Having said that every other thing I've seen him in is dreadful, and he is usually totally pantomime in them. I mean what about that resident evil movie he is in! Even Downton is pretty rubbish.

 

Yes, Iain Glenn is superb as Jorah, but then he does have that Morgan Freeman voice so those boys can do gravitas in their sleep.

 

One of my very fav scenes is the one with Dany where he says when he looks at her he still can't believe she's real. The book makes out that he is in love or lust with her, but this scene shows that it is much more than that, he idolises and worships her and what she could become. This is so much more powerful than having him as a dirty old perv.
 

And Jamie in his best scene with Brienne in the bath is much better on the show, in the book he is too uncouth and petty, in the show Nicolas shows much greater depth and humanity and no erection.

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