As many of you are aware, Game of Thrones was originally a book series before making its way to our screens. While the first book is titled A Game of Thrones, the series is titled A Song of Ice and Fire and is written by George R. R. Martin. Let’s take a look at what else the show modified – here’s how the characters should have appeared based on their book descriptions, as provided to AI, versus the actors who played them.
Varys
Lord Varys, as played skillfully by Conleth Hill, swiftly rose to prominence as the Master of Whispers. Fans grew tired of his shifting allegiance and enigmatic methods, and for good reason. We can fairly assume that the casting crew did an excellent job, both visually and acting-wise, thanks to this AI rendition. Conleth Hill also provided his voice for the 2012 video game based on the show.
Varys
Daenerys Targaryen
Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Protector of the Seven Kingdoms, Mother of Dragons, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, the Unburnt, the Breaker of Chains. Impressive! But did you realize that the show actually caused her to grow at an alarming rate? She’s just 13 at the start of the novel (yes, even when she’s sold as a bride). Thankfully, the showrunners decided it was one taboo they would not cross.
Daenerys Targaryen
Tywin Lannister
As we all know, “A Lannister always pays his debts” – that’s not someone you want to mess with! It appears that the showrunners recognized this and crafted him eerily similar to his literary counterpart. You have to admit that Charles Dance bears an uncanny similarity to the AI portrait, and his portrayal of Tywin is equally cruel and clever. Interestingly, in both the texts and the show, he is killed by his son on a porcelain throne.
Tywin Lannister
Jaqen H’ghar
You’d think a fantasy hitman would desire to remain anonymous, but Jaqen H’ghar, the faceless men, clearly prefers aesthetics over obscurity. Seriously, who wouldn’t notice a guy with half-red, half-white hair? At least in the show, when he’s played by Tom Wiaschiha, they take a more modest approach to this commanding appearance, merely giving him a small white patch. In the novel, Arya is reminded of Syrio Forel when she looks at him, which lends credence to the fan idea that they are the same person.
Jaqen H’ghar
Lysa Arryn
Who can forget the internet outrage when Lysa Arryn, played by Kate Dickie, was seen nursing her infant, Robin? It was absolutely scary and entirely appropriate for the program. In the books, however, she is not described in the same way that Dickie is. Lysa is described in the book as “once beautiful,” but has since become “thick and puffy due to pregnancy issues.” She does, however, have the same critical expression.
Lysa Arryn
Jaime Lannister
Jamie Lannister, Cerci’s twin brother and the father of her children, immediately became a fan favorite because to Nikolaj Coster-Waldau’s outstanding portrayal of the complicated character. And he is indeed complicated! While he would do anything disgraceful to defend his family, he also has flawless knightly dignity. Surprisingly, they also nailed the character visually – with the exception of his age (which should be around 30), Nikolaj looks just like the AI photo. Is it any surprise that people were irritated by his fate in Season 8 considering his character arch?
Jaime Lannister
Ygritte
So, with this one, we take a minor issue with the AI photo. In the literature, Ygritte is supposed to be around 19, although she appears to be around 12. They did, however, get her wild hair and crooked teeth right. Rose Leslie, of course, portrays her superbly. Perhaps a little too lovely. In the books, Jon Snow doesn’t think she’s particularly attractive. While Ygritte and Jon did not finish up together on the show, we are thrilled that Rose and Kit Harington are now married.
Ygritte
Arya Stark
If you asked fans of the show who their favorite character was, we’re sure many of them would reply Arya Stark. But it’s not only Maisie Williams’ incredible performance; the character itself is intriguing in our perspective. If you haven’t read the novels yet, remember that Arya’s story is far darker. Although she is just nine when the books begin, she loses her humanity on her path of revenge.
Arya Stark
Myrcella Baratheon
Given her terrible brother and scheming parents, it’s a marvel that Myrcella Baratheon is described as “sweet and innocent.” We believe that actors Aimee Richardson (seasons 1-2) and Nell Tiger Free (seasons 5-6) perfectly conveyed that vibe. Her character, unsurprisingly, was also grown up to match the other kids (in the books, she’s only 11 when transported to Dorne). Also, as the books proceed, it becomes evident that she is extremely intelligent. Fortunately, she hasn’t met the same fate as her TV equivalent in the books.
Myrcella Baratheon
Brienne of Tarth
We honestly feel that more than just cinematic magic was used to transform Gwendoline Christie into Brienne of Tarth for the episode. Despite her physical metamorphosis, she does not fully resemble the book’s depiction. But, to be honest, we don’t care – Christie’s performance as the female knight is so intriguing and well-executed that we wouldn’t trade it for anything else. Is it any surprise that she is the favorite character of many fans?
Brienne Of Tarth
Ser Jorah Mormont
Book Jorah Mormont and Ian Glen, who plays him on the show, don’t look much alike, as evidenced by the photo. Unsurprisingly, he is described in the book as “not a handsome man.” Of course, his infection with Greyscale is his most notable narrative in the show (apart from his love and dedication to Daenerys). So you might be astonished to learn that it never happens in the books. He is, of course, still alive in the novels.
Ser Jorah Mormont
Syrio Forel
Surprisingly, given that he appears in only three episodes of the show, hardly much of Syrio Forel’s story is altered from the books. His appearance, of course, had changed dramatically. Mittos Yerolemou, who plays him, is as inconsequential as the description. However, his beaked nose and bald head are absent from the show. His fate is unknown in both, however Arya (who keeps his memory alive in both) believes he is dead.
Syrio Forel
Cersei Lannister
Cersei Lannister is without a doubt one of the most intriguing characters in Game of Thrones, where she is frequently portrayed as the antagonist. Her key distinguishing features include cunning, ambition, and vindictiveness, as well as her “love” for her children. While there are many differences in the plot between the program and the books, we believe that in Cersei’s instance, Lena Headey succeeded to convey much of her characteristics, especially her voracious desire for power. Surprisingly, in the books, she’s more dumber and more neurotic in her acts.
Cersei Lannister
Melisandre
In the instance of Melisandre, the show did a remarkably decent job of keeping her personality and plot consistent with the books (until the show deviated from the text, of course). The Red Witch is a mystery figure in both. Carice van Houten clearly lacks Melisandre’s red eyes, but we understand why the production chose not to conceal van Houten’s beautiful blue eyes beneath lenses. So, really good job sticking to the script on this one!
Melisandre
Gregor Clegane
The Mountain That Rides is one of the most scary figures on Game of Thrones, partly because everyone else looks like a child next to him (including Brianne of Tarth). Of course, in the books, he’s portrayed as being as freakishly tall and as savagely brutal as his portrayal suggests. Interestingly, three different actors played this role in the show: Conan Stevens in the first season, Ian Whyte in the second, and Hafór Jlus Björnsson beginning in season four.
Gregor Clegane
Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish
We all know that the Night King (or Cersei, depending on who you ask) is meant to be the ultimate villain of the show, but the one who genuinely makes our skin crawl is the crafty and nasty Littlefinger. Petyr has a crush on Catelyn when they meet in their teens, just like in the show. He later gets enamored with Sansa (perhaps because she resembles her mother). Did we mention how sleazy this character is in both the film and the book?
Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish
Sansa Stark
Did you know Sophie Turner adopted the dog who played her direwolf, Lady, after the canine was killed on-screen? Turner’s performance as the oldest Stark sister, aside from aging her up for the event, was right on. She was meek, petulant, and spoilt in the early seasons, just like her novel counterpart. In the books, it’s simpler to pass it up to immaturity because she’s younger. Her destiny in the books is still unknown.
Sansa Stark
Asha (Yara) Greyjoy
The most noticeable difference between the two versions of the headstrong heir of the Iron Islands is the name change – while she is named Asha in the books, the show altered her name to Yara, probably to avoid confusion with Osha the Willding. She’s also described as having “short black hair, a lean built, and a sharp beak nose,” which Gemma Whelan, who plays Yara, certainly does not have. Aside from those adjustments, the character has remained fairly consistent with the one in the books.
Asha (Yara) Greyjoy
Lyanna Stark
In case you missed it, here’s your spoiler alert! If you haven’t finished the show yet, you should definitely avoid this. Basically, everything that happens in the show (and, to be honest, in the books) happens because Robert Baratheon falls in love with Lyanna Stark, who doesn’t love him back. Cordelia Hill portrays her as a child, while Aisling Francoiosi portrays her as a young adult. However, if you’re a fan of the show and intend to read the books, keep in mind that the fact that Lyanna is Jon’s mother (warned!) has yet to be proven.
Lyanna Stark
Ned Stark
Even if we hadn’t read the books before the first season, we should’ve known that Eddard (Ned) Stark’s life would end in disaster when we saw Sean Bean playing him. Ned, like his children, aged up, since he was mentioned in the books as being in his mid-30s. This adjustment could have been made because the production desperately wanted Sean Bean. Is it possible to blame them?
Ned Stark
Jon Snow
Without a question, we all got smitten with Jon Snow the instant we saw him adopt Ghost (and not just because Kit Harington is so lovely and soulful). Of course, seeing him develop into a natural leader was also stunning. He’s also grown up from the age of 14 in the novels and, according to the books, resembles Ned Stark more than any of his putative siblings. Unlike in the television, where Jon finally finds his parentage in the last season, it remains a mystery in the world of the books.
Jon Snow
Loras Tyrell
Here’s why adapting a novel to the screen isn’t always easy: Loras Tyrell is described as having liquid gold eyes. We’re not sure about you, but we’ve never seen eyes that color in real life. Although Finn Jones does not have golden eyes, we believe he portrays the attractive knight well. Unlike in the program, where he died, he is still alive in the novels.
Loras Tyrell
Joffrey Baratheon
Just a reminder that, while Joffrey Baratheon is an extremely nauseating character, Jack Gleeson, who played him, is nothing like that in real life. Please do not bully him simply because you despise the character. To be honest, it merely implies he did an outstanding job. Of course, the casting is as impressive visually. In this situation, however, unlike the other characters who only received two more years, Joffrey was aged up by four years for whatever reason.
Joffrey Baratheon
Margaery Tyrell
Margaery Tyrell, who perhaps holds the show’s record most unconsummated marriages, was performed to perfection by the incomparable Natalie Dormer. The Tyrells are a loving and close-knit family, unlike the Baratheons, into whom she marries. Margaery, like Joffery, had aged more than the majority of the other characters. But in this case, it’s because the producers fell in love with Dormer’s audition performance and decided to keep her despite the age gap.
Margaery Tyrell
Catelyn Stark
Catelyn Stark has nothing but hate for her adopted son, Jon Stark, but she adores her five children. Trust us when we say that the show doesn’t show half of how hard she is on him. However, there is a significant difference between Catelyn in the program and Catelyn in the book. Her narrative does not finish with the Red Wedding in the literature! That’s correct! If you haven’t read the books, you might not realize that her body is found and reanimated by Beric Dondarrion, who becomes Lady Stoneheart and plays an important role in later books.
Catelyn Stark
Tyrion Lannister
It’s hard to talk about Game of Thrones without discussing Tyrion Lannister, who is skillfully represented by the very talented Peter Dinklage. But did you know that according to the book description of Tyrion, Peter does not fit? For starters, Tyrion is supposed to be in his twenties, not 40. He is also said to be blond, with one green and one black eye. His facial defects are also supposed to be more apparent. Regardless, we can’t see anyone other than Peter performing this critical position.
Tyrion Lannister
Podrick Payne
Young Podrick, Tyrion’s loyal squire and accomplice in more than one misadventure, may be recognizable to you because to his portrayal as a talented ladies’ man by Daniel Portman. However, he is described much differently in the literature. To begin with, he’s only approximately 11 years old and shy at the start of the first book, so no hooking up with women all across Westeros. In addition, unlike in the show, where Tyrion picks Podrick, Podrick is sent to Tyrion as punishment for taking several drinks in the novels.
Podrick Payne
Robb Stark
You are not seeing double. It’s only that Richard Madden resembles what the AI imagines the eldest Stark child to look like. There are, of course, a few minor errors. First, Robb, like the other youngsters, was aged up in the program from 14 to 17. Second, Robb was supposed to have inherited his Tully ancestry, which meant he was supposed to have reddish hair and blue eyes. He’s also depicted in the books as being close to his half-brother Jon. Unfortunately, his fate is the same in both.
Robb Stark
Robert Baratheon
For someone who was only on the program for the first season (and only seven episodes), Mark Addy in the part of King Robert Baratheon left an indelible impression. His character also left quite a shambles after he died. As in the show, Robert is characterized as a fine and noble warrior in his youth, but has since turned fat and irresponsible as a result of power. However, in the book, he is only in his mid-30s when he dies.
Robert Baratheon
Rhaenyra Targaryen
We got to see more of Westeros than we expected after Game of Thrones concluded, thanks to House of the Dragon. House of the Dragon, on the other hand, is based on only a few chapters in Fire and Blood, as opposed to Game of Thrones, which was based on five books. This means that we have far fewer character descriptions. Even with AI, we can see certain distinctions between actors and characters. In the case of Rhaenyra, both Emma D’Arcy and Milly Alcock share the characteristic white hair and sharp eyes.
Rhaenyra Targaryen
Alicent Hightower
Alicent Hightower’s young appearance is one of her most noticeable physical characteristics, even though she is in her 40s (in the book). We believe Olivia Cooke does as well, but that’s probably because she’s just approximately 30 years old. Aside from the age difference, we thought the casting was excellent, with Emily Carey appearing in the first few episodes as the younger Alicent. They definitely captured her protective personality.
Alicent Hightower
Daemon Targaryen
Who would have guessed that putting former Dr. Who star Matt Smith with a white wig would be enough to transform him from a beloved actor to an internet heartthrob? Despite the enormous strangeness of his multiple personal relationships, Matt Smith plays the ruthless, charismatic, and enigmatic Daemon Targaryen perfectly. We also believe that, with his wig, he bears a striking resemblance to the AI-generated image.
Daemon Targaryen
Ser Criston Cole
Here’s a fascinating fact: despite the fact that Rhaenyra and her protector knight Ser Criston Cole appear to have a deeper relationship in the book, they never sleep together. He’s still as guilty and honor-bound as he was on the show. He’s also described as having “coal black hair and pale green eyes,” which looks a lot like Fabien Frankel in House of the Dragon. Similarly, he’s depicted as being just as proficient with a sword as he is in the show.
Ser Criston Cole
Rhaenys Targaryen
While there aren’t many detailed physical descriptions in Fire and Blood, Thaenys Targaryen is clearly mentioned as having Baratheon black hair and Targaryen violet eyes. Her hair remains black with white streaks throughout as she ages. Interestingly, they decided to maintain neither for the program, despite the fact that actress Eve Best has dark brown hair. Our best assumption is that she had her hair dyed white to make it clear to the audience that she was a Targaryen. We still think she did an excellent job as the Queen Who Never Was.
Rhaenys Targaryen
Viserys Targaryen
Paddy Considine, who you may recall from Dead Man’s Shoes or The World’s End, resembles Viserys I – due to the hair and cosmetics staff on site, of course. He has a very different personality, described as heavier and happy as a result of his calm governance. Furthermore, unlike in the show, it is never stated that he has leprosy. His deterioration is caused by various health issues, such as gout and obesity.
Viserys Targaryen
Mysaria
If you’re wondering why the AI/book version of Mysaria looks so much like a Targaryen, despite the fact that she isn’t, you’re not far off. We learn in both the novel and the play that she is from Lys, a Valyrian-founded Free City. She is also characterized as albino, which gives rise to her moniker, the White Worm. That’s not exactly flattering, is it? Sonoya Mizuno plays the shady character in the program, and we’re excited to see what she does in the upcoming season.
Mysaria
Laenor Velaryon
It’s difficult not to feel sorry for Laenor Velaryon, who is played by three different actors throughout the show (Matthew Carver, Theo Nate, and John Macmillan). Despite his feelings for Qarl Correy, he is compelled to marry Rhaenyra in a false marriage. Surprisingly, the show drastically altered his fate. In the novel, he died at the hands of Qarl in Spicetown. Instead, the performance allowed him to fake his death and flee with his lover. At least one person got a happy ending!
Laenor Velaryon
Brandon Stark
If you’ve read A Song of Ice and Fire, you’ll understand why some characters didn’t make the cut – there are simply too many! Brandon Stark was one of them who was only mentioned in the episode. Brandon, not to be confused with Bran Stark, who was named after his uncle, was Eddard’s eldest brother who was executed alongside his father by the Mad King. He’s described in the novel as a more attractive and larger version of Ned, which was reversed in the performance.
Brandon Stark
Arianne Martell
Some characters should not be included in the show if they are small or have already died by the time the plot begins. What many fans are baffled by is how Arianne Martell was left out of the show. Unlike many other characters who did make the cut, she actually gets multiple chapters written from her perspective! As a result, instead of her being the heir to Dorne, Trystane Martell receives the distinction.
Arianne Martell
Shiera Seastar
In the case of Shiera Seastar, the ostensibly most beautiful woman in George R. R. Martin’s world, we can understand why she was left out of the program. The only reason I bring her up is in relation to the Three-Eyed Crow. Shiera, like the Three-Eyed Crow – previously known as Bryden Rivers or Bloodraven – was a great of King Aegon IV Targaryen. She also had a love relationship with her half-brother Bryden. Beyond that, her fate is largely unclear.
Shiera Seastar