60 replies to this topic

[Dragon greyscale]

May I add margaery to this list? Her political ambition was really shining through in the last ep. I like what they're doing with her character. She seems like a genuine threat to cersei: sweet on the outside but a total schemer beneath that exterior. I'm already looking forward to their confrontation in the next season(s).

[NedFlanderStark]

Balon.  The actor in the show brings a completely human element to the one dimensional book character.  That added scene with Theon pleading/complaining to Balon was huge for both characters.

The Old Bear.  I enjoyed him in the books but he wasn't anything special; in the TV show he's one of my favorites.

[My Little Kraken]

NedFlanderStark, on 05 May 2012 - 11:52 PM, said:

Balon.  The actor in the show brings a completely human element to the one dimensional book character.  That added scene with Theon pleading/complaining to Balon was huge for both characters.

The Old Bear.  I enjoyed him in the books but he wasn't anything special; in the TV show he's one of my favorites.

I also liked the way Balon's face and voice quickly mellowed when Yara entered the room in ep 2 and they made poor Theon feel even more excluded.  He shows his narcissistic tendencies in a very human manner.  Yara highlights a success and brings out his pride; Theon highlights his massive failure and reminds him of his shame.  Either way, it is kind of all about Balon....but not in a cartoonish kind of way.

[Sxxman]

Tywin is a character who has benefited from the adaptation, before the show barely anyone had him as a favorite character but now a lot of people view him as their favorite because of the show.

Doreah...obviously she's still alive

Varys, Balon Greyjoy and Cersei I believe also benefited from the adaptation.

[Natalie_S]

Arya- she's much more witty and sympathetic in the show.
Cersei- she comes across as more "human" and at times even easier to relate to
Littlefinger- he gets a ridiculous amount of screentime
Osha, Yoren, Bronn, Hot Pie and other minor characters

Character that DIDN't benefit from the adaptation:

Sansa- it's difficult to show what she thinks, so sometimes she does look a bit dumb. Besides sometimes she looks bitchy, which she's not in the book.
The Hound- all his scenes are cut!!! :'(

[Greywolf2375]

Theon is absolutely benefiting - he is far more a sympathetic character than he had been in the books and Allen is nailing his conflict.

[Christina Ceriddwynn]

Sandor "The Hound" Clegane......although they have wasted him during the show, the actor portrays him as more of an adult vs an angry emo teenager like in the book.

I like his portrayal of the character....still a badass without the comic book teen angst

[Talleyrand]

Tywin, because he's Charles bloody Dance.
Jaqen and Balon because like above their actors are brilliant.

[Christina Ceriddwynn]

well...........Jaqen is totally HOT HOT HOT *drooling*

[Jovem Corvo]

Joffrey is so hateful  that most of us agree that Jack made a wonderful job. I liked Theon a lot too, Alfie portraited him very well. As many others readers, I didn't really sympathized with him until ADWD, but his show version shows very clearly all his discomfort in his own skin, and this adds a lot of comprehension (not acceptance, really) of what he have done and what he'll become.

However, I must say that, all in all, the most benefited character in the show so far is Viserys.
Truly, Harry Lloyd had taken Viserys from an one dimension character to a whole new level.
Can't say it more.

[7V3N]

These are more of characters whose actors play it so well, it just made my jaw drop:

• Tywin Lannister -- Charles Dance
  
• Theon Greyjoy -- Alfie Allen
  
• Arya Stark -- Maisie Williams (this girl cut her hair cause fans doubted she'd do it. commitment)

[Chelly]

Yes, I wanted to throw Margaery in here too. I didn't really care much for Marg in the books, but Natalie Dormer is so awesome in this role. I like her matter of fact attitude. We can say Marg in the books is probably like this for all we know, but we see so little of her in the books and she;s always playing her "role" when we do, so don't know what she's really like. That makes it hard for me to invest in her in the books, but so far the way she is shown, I really like her. I love her open-mindedness and understanding of Renly. She's very ambitious, but she's not totally mean bitch either, at least from what we've seen so far....

[The Taupe Grace]

I have to disagree, I was rather disappointed by the explicitness of Margaery's character in the TV series, her declaration of "I want to be THE queen" - one of the best things about her in the books is the intriguing way she appears so innocent and unambitious and yet seem to know exactly what she's doing. I get that for time and efficiency, the secondary characters have to be less complex on screen and communicate more directly with the audience, but I hope we get to see some of that intriguing sweetness of her that betrays nothing once in KL -

And I can't wait to see Margaery vs. Cersei. Showdown!

Edited by The Taupe Grace, 07 May 2012 - 09:05 PM.

[Liathano]

I actually think Sam is suffering - from the point of view of those who haven't read the books. I watch this with my flatmates (who haven't read the books), and they leer at Sam - like most of the Watch do - thinking him pathetic and weak. This wasn't an impression I got from him in the books.

Otherwise, I agree that Tywin is definitely benefiting. I certainly like him more, and my flatmates really like him. It feels wrong though, he shouldn't be liked. But oh well.

As is Stannis, Robb, and Osha.

Edited by Liathano, 07 May 2012 - 11:26 PM.

[Prince of Braavos]

Dragon greyscale, on 25 April 2012 - 03:11 PM, said:

Yoren, tywin, robb, osha, bronn, gendry, lysa, viserys, joffrey, balon. Basically, characters that weren't fully fleshed out in the novels(except Joff: that's more to do with the actor). It makes sense since there weren't any high expectations for them to begin with. Without a POV, I find it very hard to have clearly delineated mental image of a character. Therefore I don't think people can make a good case against their tv appearance. It can only be neutral or better, not worse.

Same here.  Especially Robb--I honestly never thought of him as a big deal while I was reading because he wasn't a POV.  Wasn't until I found these boards years later that I realized he was supposed to be this giant badass.  The show has completely fixed that from the start.

And I've gotta say Theon, too.  His chapters were just painful for me in ACOK because he was so unsympathetic as he went about his betrayal, but the show has done a much better job of showing his conflict and how much he's screwed himself.  That botched beheading of Ser Rodrik this week was one of the absolute best scenes the show has ever done, in large part because of Alfie Allen.

Edit: Also I don't think Tywin has been improved on from the books just because he was also awesome in the books, but Charles Dance as Tywin is probably the best actor/role on the show.

Edited by Prince of Braavos, 08 May 2012 - 12:52 AM.

[Hyper]

My list of most 'improved' characters:
- Theon
- Viserys
- Sam

Also significantly improved:
- Tywin
- Robb
- Cersei
- Varys

[Sunni]

I think Margaery Tyrell benefits from the tv show.  In the books she's such a question mark since you only see her through other people's eyes.  On tv they have to make a choice.  And such a strong choice it is.  I loved the scene of her trying to get Renly into bed.  And the scene where's she's trying to convince Loras to leave after Renly's death.  She's got her priorities straight and she's going after her goal of being The Queen and not just "a queen".  Big time.

[flikQ]

Might I add something, although she doesn't appear until the next series (and that's if they feel the need to put here in given she isn't vital in book 3) but I actually love Margaery's Grandmother "Queen of Thorns", absolutely brilliant albeit small character. I am really hoping she features somewhat in the TV Series at some point even if only briefly!

Anyway back to character I feel have benefitted from the show, I would have to say the hound has, at least to a point where he is appearing to be much more gallant and a secret hero than in the book (the song comes to mind that might change people's opinion of him assuming they put it in the show). I am curious how he will be portrayed in the 3rd series and if his true motives are obvious to the watcher.

[Thorny Issues]

(Listed in order of magnitude)

Improved over book characters that didn't make an impact on me:

Luwin, Balon, Yoren, Osha

Improved over book characters I had a view on, but now see differently

Bronn, Tywin, Margaery, Theon

Improved, by adding more awesome-sauce^tm

Arya, Tyrion, Varys, Joff, Davos, Ned, Qhorin

Big worries/not at all improved on my book view:

Littlefinger

[manisagiddything]

I tend to agree that Sam is suffering in season 2.  He seems to be being used mostly for comic relief, and I just think he's more well rounded and was someone I related to in the books.

On the flip side of that, Theon's characterization and everything that's being done w/the Iron Islands storyline from ACOK is blowing me away.  The scenes w/Alfie Allen are some of the best on the show, and the opening sequence of 'The Old Gods and the New'  was almost as hard to watch (in a good way) as Ned's death was in Baelor.

The other major standout for me in a positive way is Tywin.  They've added dimension to his character.  In the books, for me, he seemed commanding, intimidating and cold.  They're still portraying him this way at times but they've added glimpses of warmth.  Loved the story about how he taught Jaime to read.  Seeing that he has it in him to be a decent father also serves to make his relationship w/Tyrion  and what eventually comes of it so much more effective.

Edited by manisagiddything, 08 September 2012 - 05:26 PM.