2. Vargo Hoat
Vargo Hoat is most recognizable as the slobbering leader of the Brave Companions (a.k.a. the Bloody Mummers), one of the most ruthless sell-sword companies in all of Westeros. Hoat was first mentioned in A Game of Thrones as hired by Tywin Lannister to draw Robb Stark out so he can traded for Jamie Lannister. However, leading a group of turn-cloaks and men that are anything but honorable, Hoat and the companions switch sides and strike a deal with Roose Bolton, one of Robb Stark's most important banner-men. In A Clash of Kings. Hoat overthrows the castellan of Harrenhal Amory Lorch and gives Harrenhal to Bolton, although Hoat assumes control of the castle after Bolton leaves. Hoat's most famous moment comes in A Storm of Swords when his men capture Jamie Lannister and Brienne of Tarth and they are brought before him. Wanting to send a message to Tywin, he cuts off Jamie's hand. Ironically, this ends up being his downfall. Later in the book, Jamie is turned free, but he returns to Harrenhal to save Brienne from being killed by the savage bear Hoat and his men acquired. Jamie promises that Hoat will get their ransoms if they are set free back to Tywin. Although he is warned that this is a bad idea, Hoat thinks he can gets the money and still hold onto Harrenhal, so he lets the two of them go. Wrong move, Hoat. Most of his men eventually abandon him, and the castle is eventually taken back by Ser Gregor Clegane under orders from Tywin. Hoat is then slowly tortured by Clegane by having each of his libs slowly chopped off and having them fed as "roast goat" to the northern prisoners left in Harrenhal. According to Tywin, Clegane kept him alive for so long because "he finds his slobbering amusing," but is eventually ordered to finish him off. In the TV series, Hoat is replaced by the original character of Locke, who is a far less notable character. While the show has taken creative license with several minor plot differences from the book, there are certain events that cannot be altered; Jamie's hand being cut off is one of those moments. To simplify things, Locke is made the leader of a group of soldiers who are ordered by Roose Bolton to capture Jamie. Although Locke is vicious and cruel like Hoat was, he's missing the primary defining factor of his literary counterpart: his speech impediment. I can understand wanting to simplify things by cutting out the subplot of the Brave Companions and the atrocities they commit, but I don't understand why it was necessary to rename Hoat at all, let alone get rid of his speech impediment. In the books, if people even commented on his speaking problem, he would have them tortured. I don't think the show should have showed Locke torturing someone, but maybe they could have had a scene where he kills a man for making a snide comment about his speaking. It doesn't draw attention away from the narrative, and it keeps the important aspects of the character whole.