One of the most notable events to have happened in the first season of House of the Dragon is the beheading of Vaemond Velaryon by Daemon Targaryen, an event that happens in front of the entire court. Shocking as it is, it is an event that is staged differently than in Fire and Blood. In the book, Vaemond is killed and then fed to Rhaenyra’s dragon (though the reasons for his execution are the same).
Of course, this isn’t the first time that the Game of Thrones franchise has changed a death from how it occurs in the books. Indeed, there are a number of instances in Game of Thrones when a major character dies differently than they do in the book.
Catelyn Stark
Catelyn Stark was, inarguably, one of the bravest members of House Stark. This is precisely what makes her death at the Red Wedding all the more difficult to watch.
However, while it bears significant similarities to the book version, it differs in one key respect. In the books, her death is not final, and she is resurrected as the vengeful, undead figure known as Lady Stoneheart. In the series, on the other hand, this aspect of the character is omitted. Instead, Lady Stark’s death at the Red Wedding is final.
Kevan Lannister
Kevan Lannister is a member of one of the most powerful houses in Westeros. In the books, he meets a rather tragic death when he is killed by Varys, who seeks to keep him from restoring order to the realm (thus paving the way for the return of the Targaryens).
In the series, by contrast, he is one of those who dies when the Great Sept of Baelor is blown up by Cersei and wildfire. It is a more bombastic death, to be sure, but it is also stripped of so much of what made it tragic in the original sequence of events.
Ser Barristan Selmy
Barristan Selmy’s demiseis one of the most notable deaths in HBO’s Game of Thrones. Among other things, his murder strips Daenerys of one of her key allies.
In Martin’s books, Barristan the Bold is still very much alive. Indeed, after Daenerys is carried off by Drogon, he is one of those who is able to keep at least some measure of peace in the city of Meereen. Though it remains to be seen whether he will eventually die in the books, it is entirely possible that he may be one of those to survive.
Mance Rayder
Mance Rayder is another character whose arc was cut short in the show. Viewers will remember that he was shot by Jon Snow in an effort to keep him from being offered up as a fiery sacrifice by Melisandre. This is a very different fate from the one he met in the book.
While Melisandre seems to sacrifice him, her victim turns out to be someone else glamoured to look like Mance Rayder. The real Mance remains alive and has, in fact, been dispatched to Castle Black. In the books, it is believed that Mance is currently a captive of Ramsay, who has discovered who he truly is and is determined to punish him.
Rodrik Cassel
House Stark suffers a great deal during Game of Thrones. However, it has to be said that they are blessed in at least one regard, and that is in the strength and loyalty of their retainers. Rodrik Cassel was one of the best of these but, as in the books, he meets his death when Theon takes over Winterfell. In the show, Theon does the job himself, though he badly botches it.
This is very different than in the books, where Rodrik is instead killed by the treacherous Ramsay Snow, an early indication of just how monstrous he will become.
Polliver
Game of Thrones always excelled at creating compelling and evil villains, both major and minor. Though Polliver is one of the latter, he still plays a key part in the show, as Arya kills him and reclaims her sword Needle. It’s one of those moments that is key to her development as a killer.
In the books, his death is far less dramatic. He is, in fact, killed by the Hound rather than Arya. Nevertheless, his death in the books still gives her the chance to claim the sword that he had taken.
Rast
Even in Game of Thrones, which as a show showcases the monstrous and the depravity of humanity, Rast is exceptional. Among other things, he is the one who kills Lord Commander Mormont, a truly heinous crime. He dies when he is mauled by Ghost, Jon’s direwolf.
In the book, however, he is a far less notable character. This is reflected in the manner of his death. He is one of the many who perish when the wildlings attack the Wall.
Smalljon Umber
It has to be said that Smalljon Umber is one of those characters who suffers greatly in the translation from book to screen. In the series, he is shown to be a turncloak, and he repeatedly sides with Ramsay, before being killed by none other than Tormund.
In the books, by contrast, he is a stalwart loyalist to House Stark. In fact, this is exactly what leads to his death. He is one of those who is slain at the Red Wedding, arguably the most shocking moment in the entire history of Game of Thrones.
Locke
Though Locke doesn’t appear in the novel under that name, it is nevertheless clear that he is meant to be the series’ iteration of the villain Vargo Hoat. In the novel, Hoat suffers a truly horrifying death, having his feet and hands cut off before being definitively killed by the Mountain.
Locke, on the other hand, has a very different fate. He is killed by Bran, who is in the body of Hodor. In both cases, however, the character’s death is a fitting punishment for the torture that he has inflicted on so many others.
Benjen Stark
Benjen Stark is one of the most enigmatic figures in the novels and, so far as the reader knows, he was in fact killed by wildings. In the show, of course, he is revealed to be the strange character known as Coldhnads, who plays such a key role in the saving of Sam, Bran, and others.
Of course, it is entirely possible that Coldhands in the book could also be revealed to be Benjen. At this point, however, this is still one of the key differences that currently exists between the books and their series counterparts.
