While the death of Joffrey Baratheon was celebrated by the Seven Kingdoms and ‘Game of Thrones‘ fandom, some were so heartbreaking that their fates seemed unfair. Robb Stark and his expecting wife, for instance, perished in a pool of their blood. However, it seems that HBO was more ruthless than George R.R. Martin in the screenplay. Many characters in the ‘Game of Thrones’ series who are dead are still alive in the books.
‘The Song Of Ice And Fire’ world is complex with the stories of many Houses intertwined with each other. It is understandable if HBO wanted to simplify its plot for viewers. Hence the elimination of beloved characters such as Oberyn Martell, Hodor, and the spring-hued dire wolf of Bran, Summer had to happen. Here are the characters who were spared by Martin in the books, but not by the showrunners in the TV adaptation.
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1. Catelyn Stark
Mother of five Stark children, Catelyn Stark was one of the victims of the horrible Red Wedding. Welcomed by Walder Frey, the Stark family and their devoted Houses received the most devious betrayals in the Game of Thrones series. Catelyn was the last to be murdered after she begged for her son’s life in vain. However, Catelyn is still alive in the books, technically.
After the Red Wedding, Beric Dondarrion found the lady’s body floating in the river and dragged her out of the water. Performing the magic of R’hllor, Beric sacrifices his life to bring back Lady Catelyn to life. He was partially successful. Catelyn comes back but in a quiet, ghostly form of herself. From then she is known as Lady Stoneheart who is bent on revenge on the Lannisters.
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2. Hodor
Hodor was the dim-witted giant who would not hurt a fly. His innocence was warmly endearing. Perhaps that’s why his death was one of the most heartbreaking. Hodor died heroically in the sixth season titled ‘The Door’. He held up the wights as Bran and Meera escaped from the cave of the Three-eyed raven. Bran’s visions reveal how he warged Hodor’s body in the past, shouting “Hold the door” as the poor giant is left demented saying nothing except the amalgamated version- Hodor.
However, in the books sweet Hodor is spared for this sad fate. Hodor had stolen a sword from the Winterfell crypts. And Bran warged into Hodor’s body and practiced how to fight. When Bran tells Hodor to hold the door, he is fighting and destroying the wights.
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3. Margery Tyrell
Margery was one of the many victims of Cersei’s great wildfire that burned the Sept of Bealor to ashes. In the series, she died, rather burnt, alongside her brother Ser Lores Tyrell who was awaiting a trial by the High Sparrow. Although Margery was manipulative, GOT fandom would agree that she would have made a better Queen than Cersei. Perhaps that’s why she burnt her to cinders.
However, in ‘The Song of Ice And Fire’ series Margery is alive. According to Cersei’s plot, Margery is arrested by the faith for the crimes of fornication and adultery. She is visited by a septa each hour to confess her crimes. However, the Blue Bard who initially ratted out Margery retracts his statements and instead accuses Cersei. Later, Margery is released from prison and is placed under house arrest.
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4. Olenna Tyrell
In the series, Lady Olenna Tyrell, unlike other characters, does not web political plots anymore as the future of her House is burnt by Cersei Lannister. The sole purpose of her remaining life is to get revenge on Cersei. But in the series, she dies before avenging her grandchildren. She poisons her wine which is provided by Jamie Lannister. She dies but not before stabbing one sharp knife of truth.
She reveals that Joffrey’s death was her doing. In the books, as Margery is spared, Lady Olenna too remains alive. The House Tyrell although playing an important role in King’s Landing is not part of the spotlight in the books. Unlike the series, House Tyrell is not destroyed and has some part in the ‘Dance of The Dragons’ book.
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5. Ser Barristan Selmy
Barristan Selmy was a faithful golden cloak to King’s Landing. However, when Cersei put him out of service, he rightfully took his loyalty to serve Daenerys Targaryen. While Jorah Mormont was skilled in advising Daenerys to conquer cities. Ser Barristan would make Daenerys familiar with kindness and diplomacy in the ruling. The knight was murdered in the streets of Mareen while fighting the Sons of Harpy.
In the book, Ser Barristan remains alive and severs in Mareen in the absence of Daenerys Targaryen. Leader of the Second Sons, Daario Naharis rules in place of Daenerys in the series. Perhaps if Ser Barristan had accompanied Daenerys, she could have had a friend by her side who prevented her from becoming the Mad Queen.
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6. Ellaria Sand
Oberyn Martell and Ellaria Sand’s relationship was exotic and passionate like true people of Dorne. However, Ellaria became frantic with revenge after Ser Gregor Clegane, or the Mountain killed Oberyn. Although Oberyn willingly chose to fight in the trial by combat, Ellaria wanted revenge on Gregor and the Lannisters. She murdered the Lord of Dorne, Doran Martell, and took control of the lands.
However, the book Ellaria is the opposite of the television series. She understands the terms of trial by combat and while she mourns Oberyn’s death she does not crave revenge. Ellaria returns to Dorne and remains there for the entirety of the book. She is very protective of her children and also dissuades her eldest three from wanting to avenge their father.
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7. Littlefinger
Littlefinger caused the death of Lord Arryn which led to the chain of events in the Game of Thrones. He is deviously intelligent with always a trick up his sleeve and ambition to sit on the Iron Throne. While he might be hated for killing many beloved characters, his wisdom in political affairs is widely appreciated. In the seventh season, Arya Stark killed Peter Baelish on Sansa’s orders.
His death also meant the end of complex conspiracies. A straightforward war of death and winning lay ahead. However, in the books, he remains alive still plotting and scheming but he does not get to sit on the Iron Throne.
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8. Jojen Reed
Jojen’s death was another teary moment for the GOT fandom. He is portrayed as a frail boy with warging abilities. Jojen’s sister, Meera protects her brother when he wargs into different animals. In the series, Jojen is also attacked by epilepsy attacks and it is made clear that he will not remain alive for long. But he wants to complete his quest to guide Bran to the three-eyed raven before dying.
As Bran’s group reaches the cave of the three-eyed raven, they are attacked by wights under the frozen lake. Jojen is caught by a wight and killed by it. In the books, Jojen is spared this ugly fate and he accompanies Bran to the three-eyed raven completing his quest.
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9. Shireen Baratheon
This innocent and clever girl’s sacrifice broke almost four lives. Shireen Baratheon was the daughter of Stannis Baratheon. Lady Melissandre suggests sacrificing Shireen as she has royal blood in her veins and royal blood carries magic. Poor young princess is burnt at the stake by the Red Witch to the Lord of Light. Although it makes easy passage for Stannis’ army, the father loses his purpose to fight.
Shireen’s mother, who hated her daughter, commits suicide in the forest. Ser Davos Seaworth is devastated by the news of her death who was kindred by her spirit. Even Lady Melissandre almost loses faith in her prophecy as she realizes that Stannis is not the Prince that was promised. She holds herself guilty for Shireen and other sacrifices she made before. However, in the books, Shireen remains alive and is not sacrificed.
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10. Summer
The direwolves of House Stark were endearing and dangerously loyal. Sadly, by the end of the series, only two from the litter stay alive- Jon’s Ghost and Arya’s Nymeria, who is now a wild wolf. Bran’s direwolf died in season six while protecting Bran and Meera from the wights. Summer died alongside Hodor, outside the cave of the three-eyed raven.
However, like Hodor, Summer is also alive in the books. Bran fought the wights while he warged into Hodor. The death of each direwolf carried a symbol in the Game of Thrones series. When Summer died it meant the death of Bran’s human self. He had transformed into the three-eyed raven. Meera also said to Bran, “You died in that cave.”
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