7 Things A Song Of Ice And Fire Did Better Than Game Of Thrones

7. Littlefinger

Aidan Gillen's portrays Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish, Catelyn Stark's former friend and suitor and current (as of the Pilot) brothel owner, as a one dimensional bad guy. Gillen shines when Petyr turns on Ned Stark or pushes his wife out the Moon Door. Show Littlefinger is the kind of moustache twirling baddie you love to hate, and his work added great melodrama to the show.

The books paint a different, more complicated picture of Baelish. He gives Ned good advice, not the least of which is to trust nobody, himself included. He seems intent on serving Ned as the hand, and seems, like his rival Varys, to want what's best for the realm. In other words, he is trustworthy...right up until the moment of betrayal.

In the show, Littlefinger's ambition overwhelms him. Every word he says sounds poisonous, telegraphing to the audience that he will stab whoever he's talking to in the back before he does it. Book Littlefinger is, ironically, much harder to read, keeping his true intentions hidden behind a friendly smile.