One of the most interesting differences between ‘Game of Thrones’ and George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is how dramatically the adaptation changes the way viewers perceive Jorah Mormont.
The character’s basic story remains recognizable. However, HBO’s casting and presentation make him feel far more romantic than his book counterpart. And honestly, that changes the entire emotional dynamic between Jorah and Daenerys.
Book Jorah Mormont Is Far Less Romantic
In the books, Jorah is not presented as the rugged, noble warrior that the television series eventually turns him into. He is older, physically imposing, and worn down by years of failure. He has already lost his position and fled Westeros after selling poachers into slavery, leaving behind a disgraced reputation.
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His relationship with Daenerys is also deliberately uncomfortable. Jorah certainly protects her and provides valuable advice, but his feelings aren’t purely selfless. Daenerys gives him something he desperately needs: purpose. Serving her allows him to feel important again after losing his status and becoming an exile.
There is also a major imbalance in their relationship that the books don’t completely hide. Jorah wants Daenerys to see him as more than simply an adviser and protector. His romantic feelings are tangled up with his need for validation. That makes his devotion much more complicated than a simple tragic love story.
Iain Glen Completely Changes The Impression
Then HBO cast Iain Glen. And suddenly, Jorah became very easy to romanticize. Glen is tall, charismatic, and quietly vulnerable, giving Jorah a presence that feels completely different from the more physically worn-down figure described in the books.
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Even when the TV version behaves badly, the performance makes it easier for viewers to see the sadness underneath him. That’s especially important because HBO doesn’t necessarily have to change Jorah’s fundamental behavior to alter how audiences interpret him.
The book version can feel like a deeply flawed older man who becomes uncomfortably attached to a young queen because she gives his life meaning. The show version often feels like a loyal, battle-tested knight who happens to be hopelessly in love with his queen.
Those are two very different impressions of essentially the same character. And that’s one of the strangest powers of adaptation: sometimes changing a character isn’t about changing what they do. It’s about the casting.
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