There is this weird thing that
happens when you read a book before seeing its movie or TV show…you end up
utterly disappointed. And not just disappointed in the “oh, she’s supposed to
have silver hair and instead it looks just…white” sense, but in the “wait,
WHAT? Is this really supposed to be the face of my favorite character for the
next FIVE SEASONS?!”
This is exactly what happened to me
with the Game of Thrones television show.
I’m a HUGE fangirl of the books. So much so that I saw the author George Martin at WorldCon some time ago, and I was
incapable of walking up to say hello. We’re talking glued to the ground, unable
to think, wasting space and air. I’m not usually like that around people I
admire, so it ended up being a mild form of entertainment for the practical side of my brain—the side that kept taunting “he’s just an old man! You’re a
blond! GO SAY HI, you wimp!”
Ahem…where was I? OH YES…the tv
show.
I had read the first two books by
the time I saw the show, so I’d had plenty of time to create my own better versions of these characters. And let me tell
you they were lifelike! And awesome!!! And way better than any HBO casting
director could have imagined!
And naturally as soon as the opening
scenes played out, my dreams were shattered. My excitement depleted. This show
was going to be horrible. And all because the characters looked nothing like they
were supposed to look.
Time has passed. I am rewatching
what I had previously watched and I have finally been able to move past the
casting atrocities. And I’m even starting to forget my original versions of
these wonderful characters. So, to forever lock my imagination in place, here
are my original interpretations of some of the key characters in GAME OF THRONES:
ROBERT BARATHEON
Amanda's version: Henry VIII
TV version:
Not too shabby, but clearly, I imagined him fatter.
TYRION LANNISTER
Amanda's Version: Wee Man from Jackass
TV version:
Can you tell Tyrion is one of my least favorite characters? He's a close second after Bran. I am beyond bummed that Peter Dinklage makes him tolerable. I wanted to hate this character forever.
JON SNOW
Amanda's version: A dreamy Christian Bale from Newsies
TV version:
Jon Snow was supposed to be able to sing "Santa Fe" on cue. Sigh. Oh, what could have been...
JAIME LANNISTER
Book 1, he seemed to be written to be more sinister. Less attractive. So, book 1...
Amanda's Version: this guy from Knight's Tale only with blond hair
Book 2, suddenly he was attractive!!! And likeable!! So, this...
Amanda's Version:
TV version:
A decent match with the book 2 version, but what happened to book 1 Jaime?!
CATELYN STARK
Amanda's Version: Cate Blanchett (with red hair)
TV Version:
The show really aged many of the adults, and ugh...I hate it. And I'm sorry, but the actress they got for Catelyn can't hold a candle to my top pick, Cate Blanchett.
There are other disappointments, of course. Cersei is supposed to have awesome, curly golden hair. Not a wavy straw-colored wig. Daenerys is supposed to have silver hair and purple eyes. The Hound is supposed to be more menacing. Joffrey is supposed to actually be handsome.
There are a few perfect picks, of course. Khal Drogo is spot on. As is Ned Stark and Varys. And Viserys. Definitely Viserys.
But the good ones don't make up for the bad ones. Especially when the good picks die one after the other and bad picks like Hodor live on to see another episode. And another. And another.
HODOR:
Amanda's Version:
TV version:
Yeah, I'll never get over how disappointing this one was.