Game Of Thrones: 10 Book Characters Who Are Far Better On-Screen

4. Robb Stark

You'd think given the dramatic weight of Robb's arc, that he would have a large presence in the books Yet this is not the case. Robb Stark actually functions more as the emotional center for his mother Catelyn, and thus we don't actually see him all that much. Sure, we know what motivates him, but since he never gets a point-of-view chapter, we never really get to know him as much as other characters. His exploits and triumphs during the War of Five Kings are all off in the distance, and we only get to hear of them from letters and rumors. The writers of Game of Thrones wisely realized that it would be a shame to sideline Robb, especially given how well Richard Madden plays him, so they gave him more scenes detailing his war effort. The result is that Robb in the show is more well-defined and sympathetic than in the books. Yes, of course, Robb was a beloved character in the books; if he wasn't the Red Wedding wouldn't have been as devastating as it was to so many readers. But I'd bet that much of the dramatic weight of that event came more from want of revenge for Ned Stark than the death of Robb himself. Readers cheered for Robb based more on what he represents than his actual character. Since Robb in the show is given a lot more screen time, this isn't the case. He becomes one of many characters the audience cares for, and this is because Richard Madden makes Robb both immediately humble and powerful. The change in what motivates him to break his marriage vow to Walder Frey may be controversial among fans, but it makes him more relateable. It is love, not honour, that destroys him in the end, although it could be argued that love is its own kind of honour. However you may feel about these changes or the addition of Talisa, the fact is that general audiences really connected with him, and that cannot be denied.