History AdaptationalHeroism / GameOfThrones

*** Her opinion of Margaery as an [[SocialClimber ambitious]] [[TheVamp vamp]] intent on turning her children against her is completely validated by Margaery's actions in the show, [[TheDogShotFirst justifying]] her retaliation. In the books this is almost entirely her own paranoia since Margaery's motives are a much more open question and her "schemes" include giving Tommen kittens and positive reinforcement and urging him to take an interest in government and public opinion. Despite the fact that getting Loras arrested by the Faith Militant was an underhanded move, well, at least this time she didn't frame anyone (and she has gone after him in the books as well for far more petty reasons, albeit in a different fashion).

** Cersei is a far more sympathetic and tragic character than the paranoid and sociopathic GodSaveUsFromTheQueen depicted in the novels:

*** She genuinely loved Robert "for quite awhile" even though he didn't reciprocate, and mourns their CanonForeigner child who died of a fever. In the books, while Cersei was initially attracted to Robert and enthused by their betrothal (though she also recalls having sex with Jaime on her wedding day), this immediately died when Robert called her [[TheLostLenore "Lyanna"]] during their wedding night. From then on, she hates Robert for his drunken abuse of her and for killing her childhood crush Rhaegar Targaryen in battle, and it's revealed she aborted her child by Robert with moon tea.
*** She recognizes Joffrey as a monster but tragically cannot help loving him instead of finding him perfect and dismissing [[TheCaligula his cruelty]] as "willfulness" and his [[CruellaToAnimals dissection of a pregnant cat]] as "mischief."

*** Her opinion of Margaery as an [[SocialClimber ambitious]] [[TheVamp vamp]] intent on turning her children against her is completely validated by Margaery's actions in the show, [[TheDogShotFirst justifying]] her retaliation. In the books this is almost entirely her own paranoia since Margaery's motives are a much more open question and her "schemes" include giving Tommen kittens and positive reinforcement and urging him to take an interest in government and public opinion.

*** Her sociopathic approach to sex is heavily de-emphasized, with her frequent cynical use of SexForServices and her emotionless, sadistic, even [[FemaleMisogynist misogynistic]] liaison with Taena Merryweather adapted out.
*** Her love for Jaime is more sincere and she remains committed to him long after his maiming. In the books, her love for him is basically a twisted [[ScrewYourself narcissism]] since she sees him as the embodiment of her desire to be a man, and she quickly turns cold and spiteful after his maiming ruins this illusion and his CharacterDevelopment stops him from being her YesMan.
*** {{Subverted|Trope}} come the Season 6 finale, when Cersei's remaining [[CryForTheDevil sympathetic]] qualities go out the window and she reveals herself to be just as cruel, ruthless, and destructive as her book counterpart with [[spoiler: the Green Trial.]]

* Cersei is a far more sympathetic and tragic character than the paranoid and sociopathic GodSaveUsFromTheQueen depicted in the novels:
** She genuinely loved Robert "for quite awhile" even though he didn't reciprocate, and mourns their CanonForeigner child who died of a fever. In the books, while Cersei was initially attracted to Robert and enthused by their betrothal (though she also recalls having sex with Jaime on her wedding day), this immediately died when Robert called her [[TheLostLenore "Lyanna"]] during their wedding night. From then on, she hates Robert for his drunken abuse of her and for killing her childhood crush Rhaegar Targaryen in battle, and it's revealed she aborted her child by Robert with moon tea.
** She recognizes Joffrey as a monster but tragically cannot help loving him instead of finding him perfect and dismissing [[TheCaligula his cruelty]] as "willfulness" and his [[CruellaToAnimals dissection of a pregnant cat]] as "mischief."
** She has a much lower body count in the show. In addition to the murder of [[spoiler: Robert's bastard children]] and the attempted murder of [[spoiler: Tyrion]] committed by Joffrey in the show, in the books she also has the High Septon [[VorpalPillow smothered]], guards [[YouHaveFailedMe murdered for incompetence]], is implied to have [[MurderTheHypotenuse drowned]] her friend Melara as a child, and attempts to assassinate Bronn for naming his stepson Tyrion.
** She only grants her MadDoctor Qyburn a dying man and a decapitated head as test subjects instead of a plethora of healthy victims like her handmaid Senelle, some subversive puppeteers, some fraudulent bounty hunters, and Falyse Stokeworth.
** Her opinion of Margaery as an [[SocialClimber ambitious]] [[TheVamp vamp]] intent on turning her children against her is completely validated by Margaery's actions in the show, [[TheDogShotFirst justifying]] her retaliation. In the books this is almost entirely her own paranoia since Margaery's motives are a much more open question and her "schemes" include giving Tommen kittens and positive reinforcement and urging him to take an interest in government and public opinion.
** Her scheme against the Tyrells involves merely empowering the Faith to arrest them for legitimate (if extremely [[DeliberateValuesDissonance dissonant]]) crimes they actually committed instead of outright framing them by creating a false accuser using SexForServices and a "witness" using TwoPlusTortureEqualsFive.
** The omission of the Shield Islands and Dragonstone campaigns removes her refusal to aid the Reach against invaders because she distrusts Margaery and her decision to waste thousands of ''her own men'' on a UriahGambit.
** Because the Lannisters are secretly bankrupt in the show canon, Cersei wisely sends a representative to negotiate when the Iron Bank demands a large payment, ridding herself of an annoying councillor in the process. In the books, she instigates the crisis by arrogantly defaulting on the debt just because she wants a new fleet and thinks the Bank is powerless to retaliate.
** She's much less abusive of Tommen, even comforting him (however disingenuously) after [[spoiler: Margaery's arrest]]. In the books, when eight-year-old Tommen stands up to her for the first time in his life (by forbidding her to tear Margaery's tongue out!), Cersei has him personally bloody his [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whipping_boy whipping boy]] under threat of having the boy's tongue cut out if he refuses.
** Her sociopathic approach to sex is heavily de-emphasized, with her frequent cynical use of SexForServices and her emotionless, sadistic, even [[FemaleMisogynist misogynistic]] liaison with Taena Merryweather adapted out.
** Her love for Jaime is more sincere and she remains committed to him long after his maiming. In the books, her love for him is basically a twisted [[ScrewYourself narcissism]] since she sees him as the embodiment of her desire to be a man, and she quickly turns cold and spiteful after his maiming ruins this illusion and his CharacterDevelopment stops him from being her YesMan.
** {{Subverted|Trope}} come the Season 6 finale, when Cersei's remaining [[CryForTheDevil sympathetic]] qualities go out the window and she reveals herself to be just as cruel, ruthless, and destructive as her book counterpart with [[spoiler: the Green Trial.]]
* Tyrion is "[[http://www.sfsite.com/01a/gm95.htm the grayest of the gray]]" in the books, per Creator/GeorgeRRMartin, but the show omits or justifies virtually all his less-than-heroic aspects in favour of a more traditional protagonist:
** In the books, he arranges at least two murders, threatens Tommen with any harm (including rape) done to Cersei's hostage, strangles [[spoiler: Shae]] in a crime of passion rather than [[TheDogShotFirst self-defence]], and callously rapes an Essosi SexSlave rather than chatting politely.
** Even his lesser transgressions like breaking Marillion's fingers for mocking him, arranging a truce-breaking FalseFlagOperation to free Jaime, and disdainfully answering Thorne's petition to aid the Night's Watch by offering a few shovels (to keep the AnimateDead buried, you see) are all omitted, and Shae's adaptational heroism helps turn him from a deluded (and occasionally [[DomesticAbuse abusive]]) john into a genuine lover.

* Sansa's AlphaBitch treatment of Arya is toned down to normal levels of bickering and her unwitting role in [[spoiler: her father's downfall]] is adapted out for reasons of AgeLift, a change [[WordofGod the series' author GRRM himself]] has supported. She's also kinder to Tyrion (perhaps because of his own AdaptationalHeroism) whereas in the books she was quite cold to him after their wedding. In the books, Sansa likewise heard Lysa Arryn specifically shouting out that she killed Jon Arryn for him (which Sansa doesn't allow herself to believe) and in the show she is never called upon to act as Littlefinger's accomplice in framing a FallGuy for murder as said FallGuy lost his tongue back in Season 1 and hasn't been seen since.

** Her sociopathic approach to sex is heavily de-emphasized, with her frequent cynical use of SexForServices and her emotionless, sadistic, even [[BoomerangBigot misogynist]] liaison with Taena Merryweather adapted out.

** She genuinely loved Robert "for quite awhile" even though he didn't reciprocate, and mourns their CanonForeigner child who died of a fever ([[AlternateCharacterInterpretation provided she wasn't just lying out her ass to gain Catelyn's sympathy, that is]]). In the books, while Cersei was initially attracted to Robert and enthused by their betrothal (though she also recalls having sex with Jaime on her wedding day), this immediately died when Robert called her [[TheLostLenore "Lyanna"]] during their wedding night. From then on, she hates Robert for his drunken abuse of her and for killing her childhood crush Rhaegar Targaryen in battle, and it's revealed she aborted her child by Robert with moon tea.

** She genuinely loved Robert "for quite awhile" even though he didn't reciprocate, and mourns their CanonForeigner child who died of a fever. In the books, while Cersei was initially attracted to Robert and enthused by their betrothal (though she also recalls having sex with Jaime on her wedding day), this immediately died when Robert called her [[TheLostLenore "Lyanna"]] during their wedding night. From then on, she hates Robert for his drunken abuse of her and for killing her childhood crush Rhaegar Targaryen in battle, and it's revealed she aborted her child by Robert with moon tea.

** {{Subverted|Trope}} come the Season 6 finale, when [[spoiler:Cersei's remaining [[CryForTheDevil sympathetic]] qualities go out the window and she reveals herself to be even more petty, thoughtless, cruel, ruthless, destructive, and dangerous than her book counterpart ever was with the Green Trial.]]

* The show's version of "Dolorous Edd" Tolett is a considerably more noble and honorable character than the [[TheEeyore perpetually gloomy]] pessimist from the books. In the novels, Edd was certainly a loyal and capable member of the Night's Watch, but his trademark [[GallowsHumor grim sense of humor]] came with a bit of a misanthropic streak, and he generally gave off the impression that he didn't particularly like or care about any of his "sworn brothers". He also seemed mostly apathetic about his service in the Watch, only grudgingly doing his duty [[PunchClockHero because he had no other choice]]. But in the show, Edd has plenty of moments that show off his devotion to the Watch, and it's made pretty clear that he would gladly give his life for any of his brothers; he even becomes Jon's ''de facto'' [[TheLancer Number Two]] after [[spoiler: Pyp and Grenn suffer DeathByAdaptation]], and ultimately [[spoiler: becomes acting Lord Commander upon Jon's resignation]].

* Tywin, in both versions, is a Magnificent Bastard PragmaticVillain {{Jerkass}} who treats even his own children like [[TheChessmaster chess pieces]], but his AdaptationExpansion scenes with Arya in Harrenhal bring out a [[MoralityPet softer, paternal side]] that's utterly lacking in the books and the adapting out of a certain [[TheReveal reveal]] leaves one of his most despicable acts from the books in a (relatively) more favourable light.

* As dark as she becomes in the show, Arya's traumatic experiences in the books leave her even [[SociopathicHero colder]] and more AxCrazy and give her a real cruel streak. Her relationships with Gendry, Hot Pie, and even Sandor Clegane are also warmer and more sentimental in the show.

** Loras is much more mild-mannered and level-headed than the arrogant hothead of the books, as shown by his sympathy for Sansa and his intention to be a decent husband instead of simply treating her with empty chivalry as in the novels. The show also omits his main KickTheDog moment of unjustly murdering two fellow Kingsguard in a [[LoveMakesYouCrazy fit of rage]].

While they're not strictly heroic, many characters are [[AdaptationalHeroism more heroic]] than in the books:

While they're not strictly heroic, many characters are [[AdaptationalHeroism more sympathetic]] than in the books:

* Tyrion is "[[http://www.sfsite.com/01a/gm95.htm the grayest of the gray]]" in the books, per Creator/GeorgeRRMartin, but the show omits or justifies virtually all his less-than-heroic aspects in favour of a more traditional protagonist. In the books, he arranges at least two murders, threatens Tommen with any harm (including rape) done to Cersei's hostage, strangles [[spoiler: Shae]] in a crime of passion rather than [[TheDogShotFirst self-defence]], and callously rapes an Essosi SexSlave rather than chatting politely. Even his lesser transgressions like breaking Marillion's fingers for mocking him, arranging a truce-breaking FalseFlagOperation to free Jaime, and disdainfully answering Thorne's petition to aid the Night's Watch by offering a few shovels (to keep the AnimateDead buried, you see) are all omitted, and Shae's adaptational heroism helps turn him from a deluded (and occasionally [[DomesticAbuse abusive]]) john into a genuine lover.

* Jon is one of the straightest heroes in both versions, but there are subtle shifts. The final reason he gives for joining the wildlings is implied to be partially honest, but in the books he says he's rebelling against his treatment as a bastard child while in the show, he's upset by the inaction against Craster because he wants to fight the White Walkers. He also freely undertakes a SuicideMission instead of being forced into it as a UriahGambit, dismisses Stannis' offer without any of the soul-searching required in the novels, and is [[spoiler: assassinated for protecting wildlings rather than for the more multi-faceted reasons in the novels: while Jon works to save the wildlings in the books for both humanitarian and pragmatic reasons and some Watch members don't like it, in ''Dance'', Jon — for understandable reasons — also begins performing dual roles by serving both the Watch and its oaths to protect humanity honorably while trying to keep the Watch afloat but — at the same time — secretly gives strategic advice to Stannis on Stannis’s Northern campaign, which proves to be crucial and he is assassinated when a faction of the Watch brothers turn on him once he announces his intention to go to Winterfell and confront Ramsay Bolton after he receives Ramsay's threat, essentially breaching the Night's Watch stance of neutrality]]. In the show, he sticks to his Watch's oath of neutrality. The omission of Mance's son also negates one of his few darker moments.[[note]]In the books, he saves Mance's son by forcing Gilly to swap babies and to take Mance's son with her instead, which makes Gilly deeply miserable as she is separated from her own son. Gilly's son is raised at Castle Black under Jon's protection and under the care of wet-nurses. In the show, Gilly's son and Mance's son are a CompositeCharacter, Little Sam.[[/note]]

* Catelyn is unpleasant to Jon in the show but doesn't go so far as to declare YouShouldHaveDiedInstead or refuse to let him stay at Winterfell after Ned leaves. She even laments her treatment of Jon as a failing in the show, rather than adamantly opposing Robb's trust in Jon throughout.

* The Tyrells in general are portrayed more positively in the show. In the books, they are directly to blame for the famine in King's Landing by closing off trade while they support Renly Baratheon but the show puts the blame squarely on Joffrey's inept rule. Their feud with the Martells is also replaced by Loras and Oberyn actually flirting briefly.

* The show's Jorah Mormont is a higher tier of man than his literary counterpart, with his DirtyOldMan lust for Daenerys downplayed into AllLoveIsUnrequited and his ForcefulKiss adapted out. He also seems more ashamed of his dabbling in slavery and begs forgiveness for [[spoiler: his spying]] instead of haughtily insisting it's all NeverMyFault as he does in the books.

* In the novels, Sandor Clegane goes to Sansa's room during the Battle of Blackwater with the apparent intention of raping her, holding her down with a knife at her throat. The show makes their confrontation much less frightening, making Sansa's refusal to escape with him much less understandable.
* While still insolent, thuggish, and OnlyInItForTheMoney, Bronn is more of an affable PunchClockVillain who genuinely befriends Tyrion, encourages Jaime to defend him, and puts a much more apologetic spin on their parting than in the novels.
* Renly is changed from a brash, frivolous, and entitled SleazyPolitician and [[AtLeastIAdmitIt unabashed]] [[TheUsurper usurper]] into a thoughtful WisePrince who rebels out of a genuine sense he's best for the job. He also supplants Stannis as the BlackSheep by being a [[AfraidOfBlood squeamish]] NonActionGuy who's "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9dqgWX66fY very educated]]" rather than a boisterous BookDumb jock. His KickTheDog moments of mocking Shireen and Brienne are omitted or turned into [[AdoptTheDog genuine respect]], his proposal to Catelyn is much more conciliatory than the join-or-die ultimatum of the books, and his hostile mockery and "cheerful way of grieving" for Stannis are downplayed or replaced with sad resignation.
* In the show, Alliser Thorne grudgingly respects Jon, believes being a DrillSergeantNasty helps his recruits, and heroically leads the defence of Castle Black, whereas in the books, he reviles Jon unconditionally, sadistically berates his recruits purely out of malice, and interferes in the siege by arresting Jon and pressing him into a UriahGambit. On the other hand, he's not involved in [[spoiler: Jon's assassination]] in the books, if only because he's not there at the time.
* Qyburn is introduced as a victim of sadistic murderers instead of serving as their {{Medic}}, his on-screen {{mad doctor}}ing is restricted to dead or dying men, and there is no hint of the TortureTechnician role he takes on in the novels.

* When Yara finds out Theon has been imprisoned and tortured in the show, she launches a rescue mission in defiance of her father. In the books, she contemplates the news only momentarily before turning to more pressing matters.

* While still charismatic and snarky, the Oberyn of the books is also an arrogant jerkass who only sees championing Tyrion as a means to get what he wants regardless of the justice of his cause. There's even a hint he's doing it because he believes Tyrion is ''guilty''. Notably, his story of Tyrion as a baby is drawn almost directly from the books but placed in an empathetic context instead of a derogatory one, and his daughter Obara's OriginStory in "Sons of the Harpy" deftly sidesteps the part where her mother was crying because Oberyn had [[WouldHitAGirl backhanded her]].
* In the books, Hizdahr zo Loraq is an ambitious SleazyPolitician who petitions to reopen the fighting pits because he's now the majority shareholder and has enough connection to the Sons of the Harpy to negotiate a truce as proof that marrying him will bring Dany the peace she desires. In the show, his petitions are heartfelt attempts at conciliation and restoring order, the marriage is foisted on him while he's utterly helpless, and [[spoiler: he dies heroically attempting to lead the royal entourage to safety]].

* Euron is certainly a {{Jerkass}} in the show, but aside from targeting rivals who explicitly promise the same to him, his on-screen villainy has been limited to being [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain politically incorrect]] and killing an AssholeVictim. In particular, he comes to the kingsmoot alone as a dark-horse candidate instead of as TheUsurper who's already seized the throne, and there's no indication he molested his brother Aeron or violently suppressed any dissenters.

While not strictly heroic, many characters are [[AdaptationalHeroism more sympathetic]] than in the books:

* Sansa's AlphaBitch treatment of Arya is toned down and her unwitting role in [[spoiler: her father's downfall]] is adapted out for reasons of AgeLift, a change [[WordofGod the series' author GRRM himself]] has supported. She's also kinder to Tyrion (perhaps because of his own AdaptationalHeroism) and is never called upon to act as Littlefinger's accomplice in framing a FallGuy for murder.

* Jon is one of the straightest heroes in both versions, but there are subtle shifts. The final reason he gives for joining the wildlings is implied to be partially honest, but in the books he says he's rebelling against his treatment as a bastard child while in the show, he's upset by the inaction against Craster because he wants to fight the White Walkers. He also freely undertakes a SuicideMission instead of being forced into it as a UriahGambit, dismisses Stannis' offer without any of the soul-searching required in the novels, and is [[spoiler: assassinated for protecting wildlings rather than for the more multi-faceted reasons in the novels: while Jon works to save the wildlings in the books for both humanitarian and pragmatic reasons and some Watch members don't like it, he is assassinated when a faction of the Watch brothers turn on him once he announces his intention to go to Winterfell and confront Ramsay Bolton after he receives Ramsay's threat, essentially breaching the Night's Watch stance of neutrality]]. The omission of Mance's son also negates one of his few darker moments.[[note]]In the books, he saves Mance's son by forcing Gilly to swap babies and to take Mance's son with her instead, which makes Gilly deeply miserable as she is separated from her own son. Gilly's son is raised at Castle Black under Jon's protection and under the care of wet-nurses. In the show, Gilly's son and Mance's son are a CompositeCharacter, Little Sam.[[/note]]

* Margaery's kindness ''is'' shown to be manipulative in the show, but she also seems genuinely fond of Sansa since -- unlike in the books -- she remains supportive, even after the ploy to gain Sansa's claim falls through. She's also totally innocent of [[spoiler: poisoning Joffrey]] in the show, while in the books, it is implied that she knew about this since she was sharing the chalice. This gets ZigZagged, however, whenever Margaery is shown actively plotting against Cersei but in the books, Margaery's plotting is heavily implied to be only a product of Cersei's very real paranoia.

While not strictly heroic, many characters are more sympathetic than in the books: