8 Things Game Of Thrones Did Better Than A Song Of Ice And Fire
George RR Martin is great, but he didn't always do his own work best...
Game of Thrones redefined what TV could be. The HBO fantasy series ran for eight seasons, and became so popular that even non-nerds tuned in every Sunday evening to watch.
Fans debated who would end up taking the Iron Throne, what Jon Snow's true lineage was, and whether anyone could possibly defeat the ever looming threat of the White Walkers.
However, especially after the show's final season, which was widely considered a mess by everyone except Emmy voters, many fans insisted it doesn't hold a candle to its source material. A Song of Ice and Fire, written by George R.R. Martin, is a masterclass in fantasy storytelling, with fleshed out characters, an engaging storyline, and plot twists that made audience's jaws drop.
However, putting A Song of Ice and Fire on a pedestal while dismissing Game of Thrones entirely isn't fair on the TV series. While Martin's books are brilliant, the show does many things just as well, and a few things better.
8. Ser Jorah Mormont
The TV adaptation upgrades many characters from the books. Ser Jorah Mormont, played by Scottish actor Iain Glen, makes a better transformation than anyone else.
In both the books and the show, Jorah is heir to the noble House Mormont, exiled to Essos for selling slaves. He's not off to a great start there. King Robert offers him pardon if he can kill Daenerys Targaryen, but upon meeting her, he falls in love, betraying Robert for Daenerys.
The books portray Jorah as a creepy aggressor, putting his sexual feelings for Dany ahead of everything else. He is jealous, spiteful, and a villainous character who happens to be working with a protagonist.
However, the show gives Jorah much deeper layers. He is still in love with Daenerys, but he also cares for her and guides her. We get to see Jorah's wisdom, knowledge, and sword fighting skills save his and Dany's lives countless times, and he works to redeem himself in his own eyes.
What's most interesting about show Jorah is that he's done some awful things, but we never see them. Instead, on screen, he's kind, heroic, and a good friend to Dany, giving us a three-dimensional character, as opposed to the more one-note book Jorah.