George R.R. Martin Reveals the “Truth” about His Game of Thrones Characters: It’s a Quality Even J.R.R. Tolkien Couldn’t Incorporate into Lord of the Rings

Before Game of Thrones changed the television genre with its political intrigue and storyline, the Lord of the Rings film series truly showcased what a fantasy epic should be like. Both projects were built upon famous source materials penned by George R.R. Martin and British author J.R.R. Tolkien.

Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington in Game of Thrones || Credits: HBO

While they might look quite similar to some, in reality, both writers had different visions of how they wanted their characters to be portrayed on television. In a past interview, Martin perfectly detailed certain differences between the iconic projects.

George R.R. Martin Detailed What Sets His GoT Characters Apart From J.R.R. Tolkien’s LOTR

George R.R. Martin, with his A Song of Ice and Fire novels, completely changed the American fantasy genre. The show was famous for its epic battles and a grand ensemble of actors who portrayed every role to their core. But his journey to television stardom wasn’t a smooth one, and Martin faced several challenges before Game of Thrones came to fruition.

George R.R. Martin || Credits: Gage Skidmore || CCA 2.0/Wikimedia Commons

In an interview with Time, the author talked about his earlier struggles as well as how he wanted his characters to be portrayed on screen. He added that for the audience to truly connect with the narrative, they must also be well aware of the characters.  So, he created roles that strayed away from the traditional notion of heroes and villains.

He further believed that human beings are naturally complex, where even the best heroes can make mistakes, and even the worst antagonists can show some kindness and love. For Martin, this trait is the “truth” that every storyline should have. He also detailed how, in the ’80s, his drafts faced major setbacks due to budget constraints, forcing him to quit television to write on his own terms.

Afterward, he delved deeper into the world of dragons, and huge castles. This story soon gained attention from Hollywood, and A Song of Ice and Fire climbed the bestsellers list. It was also during this time that Peter Jackson‘s Lord of the Rings movie series became a huge hit in the market. Many confused the characterization of both iconic projects, thinking that both shows were somewhat similar.

While J.R.R. Tolkien‘s characters, though complex in their own right, often followed predictable arcs, Game of Thrones characters were driven by a multitude of elements like loyalty, fears, and the ever-changing political landscape.

Even tone-wise, the British author penned Lord of the Rings as pretty black-and-white and missed the nuanced elements that Martin had incorporated into his fantasy novels.

Would George R.R. Martin Want to Change Anything About Game of Thrones?

Emilia Clarke in Game of Thrones || Credits: HBO

The writing genius behind Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin, was asked in an interview if he would like to change anything about the epic series. While speaking at the Oxford Writers’ House on the topic of A Song of Ice and Fire and writing in general, the author stated:

I don’t know, I could probably change more than one thing. (He further replied) If I could change one thing about one of my books I’d have them finished. (He) would’ve loved to have had it finished many years ago … that’s the big thing I think I would change.

Following this, a huge applause erupted at the venue, after which he showcased his admiration for self-published authors. The main reason for this admiration was that they are not bound by deadlines. Admirers of his work are well aware that the most recent project, A Dance with Dragons, was released all the way back in 2011.

The next anticipated book, titled The Winds of Winter, alongside the final volume, A Dream of Spring, have no release dates as of yet. While the author made sure not to reveal any updates on the same, his thoughts on completing the books sooner resonated with fans as well.

Furthermore, after the subpar eighth season of the HBO adaptation, fans are left wondering how the author will conclude his unfinished A Song of Ice and Fire books.

You can stream all the seasons of Game of Thrones on Max.