George R.R. Martin may have mixed feelings about the TV adaptations of his work, but even he can admit that sometimes the small screen does it better. The author of A Song of Ice and Fire has praised how Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon improved upon certain characters from his books, making them more layered and emotionally resonant. While not every change worked—some even led to a rift between Martin and showrunner Ryan Condal—three characters stand out as success stories: Shae, Osha, and Viserys I.
Shae's Transformation: From Mercenary to Lover
In Martin's novels, Shae is a camp follower who enters a transactional relationship with Tyrion Lannister. She's indifferent to Sansa Stark and motivated solely by wealth. But the TV show gave her a heart. Show Shae genuinely loves Tyrion, creating a more romantic and tragic dynamic. Martin himself admitted in a commentary that "TV show Shae really has feelings for Tyrion, so it's a whole different dynamic." This change made her betrayal and murder far more devastating, though it required careful storytelling to bridge the gap between love and betrayal. The author later confessed on his blog, "Show Shae, thanks to David and Dan and Sibel, was actually a much different and more interesting character than Book Shae, I blush to admit." By also forging a protective friendship with Sansa, Shae became a more empathetic and well-rounded figure.
Osha's Expanded Role
Like Shae, Osha was given a much larger presence in the show. In the books, the wildling serves as a minor guide for Bran and Rickon Stark, disappearing after the attack on Winterfell. The TV series, however, kept her around longer, allowing her to develop a fierce loyalty to the Stark boys. She returns to protect Rickon from Ramsay Bolton, a storyline that adds emotional weight to her eventual death. This expansion turned Osha from a plot device into a memorable character with agency and heart.
Viserys I: A King Made Human
House of the Dragon took a character who was largely a background figure in Martin's Fire & Blood and turned him into a tragic, sympathetic king. Paddy Considine's Viserys I is defined by his desire to live up to his ancestors' legacy and his struggle to hold his family together. The show added layers of vulnerability and moral complexity that weren't present in the source material, making his decline and death one of the most poignant moments in the series. Martin has praised this reinterpretation, noting how it enriched the story.
These changes highlight how adaptation can sometimes improve upon the original. By giving characters independent struggles and deeper relationships, the shows created versions that are more compelling for modern audiences. For fans of the books, it's a reminder that even the creator can appreciate a fresh take—especially when it makes the story better.
