Summary
Game of Throneshaschanged many book characters in their adaptationofA Song of Ice and Fire. From adding new characters to changing key storylines, there is no shortage of differences the show implemented. Some characters die in the books and come back to life as a new persona, but the show opted to keep them dead, such as with Catelyn Stark and Lady Stoneheart. In other instances,Game of ThronescutA Song of Ice and Firecharactersfor various reasons, including narrative conciseness, potential confusion, and significant plot changes.
Game of Thrones' character changes are not always ideal. Leaving out Arianne Martell hurt House Martell and their role in the larger narrative.Game of Thronesseason 8 went wrongin many ways, particularly in Daenerys Targaryen’s character arc. The finale is still hotly debated five years later. However, the show’s character changes are not always bad. One particular character thatGame of Thronesimproved is Sandor Clegane, also known as the Hound.Game of Thronesgave the Hound a more central role, but they also changed aspects of his personality that helped his arc in later seasons.
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Game Of Thrones Changes Sandor Clegane’s Character From The Books
Sandor Clegane Has Key Differences Between Game Of Thrones & His Book Counterpart
Both versions of Sandor Clegane inGame of ThronesandA Song Of Ice And Fireshare similarities, but it is evident that the show changed Sandor significantly.One of the more trivial changes is Sandor’s age—in the books, the Hound is almost 30 years old, but in the show, the actor, Rory McCann, was over 40. The similarities that both versions of Sandor Clegane share are surface-level. They share the same backstory of their fear of fire, detest knights, and carry cynical perspectives on life. However,Game of Thrones' Sandor Clegane and his book counterpart also share many differences.
How The Hound Is Different In The HBO Show Compared To George R.R. Martin’s Books
Sandor Clegane’s Arc Has A Different Trajectory
The most significant difference between Sandor Clegane’s book and show counterparts is the trajectory of the character’s arc. InA Song Of Ice And Fire, the fourth book,A Feast For Crows, reveals that Sandor Clegane died from wounds he received fighting Polliver and the Tickler, two of his brother’s men.Game of Thronesseason 4 features an epic fight between Brienne and the Hound, which replaces his fight with Polliver and the Tickler from the books. Brienne gravely wounds Sandor, andhe expects to die, but unlike his book counterpart, he does not.
Game of ThronesSeason 1
Appears in all episodes except for “Pilot” and “Lord Snow”
Appears
Game of ThronesSeason 2
Appears in “The North Remembers,” “Garden Of Bones,” “The Old Gods And The New,” “A Man Without Honor,” and “Blackwater”
Appears, presumably dies
Game of ThronesSeason 3
Appears in all episodes except for “Valar Dohaeris” and “The Climb”
Does not appear, but is mentioned
Game of ThronesSeason 4
Appears in all episodes except for “The Lion And The Rose,” “Oathkeeper,” “The Laws Of Gods And Men,” and “The Watchers On The Wall”
Game of ThronesSeason 5
Does not appear
Game of ThronesSeason 6
Does not appear except for “The Broken Man” and “No One”
Game of ThronesSeason 7
Appears in all episodes except for “Stormborn,” “The Queen’s Justice,” and “The Spoils Of War”
Game of ThronesSeason 8
Appears in all episodes except for “The Iron Throne”
A man named Ray saves Sandor and helps him heal.This experience is a defining point in Sandor Clegane’s life, leading him to find purpose again with the brotherhood without banners, traveling north to fight the white walkers. The Hound also decides his purpose is to defeat his brother once and for all, but he loses his life in the process. Even Sandor Clegane’s personality is different, despite the similarities between his book and show arcs up until the diverging point of his death. Originally, Sandor Clegane is much meaner and crueler inA Song Of Ice And Fire.
Game of Thronesis available to stream on HBO Max.
His character is more brutal, and his affection for Sansa Stark is much more twisted.Game of Thronestransformed Sandor Clegane’s personality into a much milder version. He is still cynical and somewhat cares for Sansa, buthe is not nearly as vulgar or ruthless as his book counterpart. This particular change might initially seem like a disservice because it does water down the Hound’s brutality. However, consideringSandor Clegane’s evolution inGame of Thrones, it is much more plausible for Sandor to find purpose again and somewhat redeem himself than inA Song of Ice and Fire.
Game Of Thrones Makes The Hound Even Better
The Hound’s Unexpected Heroism Makes Him More Sympathetic & Fascinating
Game of Thrones' changes for Sandor Clegane ultimately improved his character. The show gives Sandor a more significant purpose in the narrative than inA Song of Ice and Fire. Although it is speculated that Sandor Clegane is not actually dead in the books, nothing indicates otherwise for the time being. However, Sandor Clegane becomes much more involved in the overall narrative inGame of Thrones. His time with Ray gave him purpose again.Sandor Clegane becomes a key fighter against the white walkers—so much so thatGame of Thronesconsidered having the Hound kill the Night King.
However, nothing in the Hound’s arc in the books indicates he will have a critical part in the final battle, whereas the show sets up his importance the moment he survives his wounds.
The Hound is alsothe person who defeats the Mountain once and for all, a long overdue death. The books do not give Sandor Clegane this kind of narrative importance. IfGeorge R.R. Martin ever rectifiesThe Winds of Winterdelay, it is possible Sandor Clegane might not be dead and will have a role to play in the fight against the white walkers. However, nothing in the Hound’s arc in the books indicates he will have a critical part in the final battle, whereas the show sets up his importance the moment he survives his wounds.
Although Sandor Clegane finds purpose in the show, he remains as cynical as ever. However, there isno room inA Song of Ice and Firefor Sandor to discover his purpose, especially given theplotlines that do not exist inGame of Thronesthat must gain closure in the books. It also makes sense for the Hound to have a more prominent role in the show because of all the book characters that did not appear in the adaptation.Game of Thronesmade excellent use of the Hound, turning him into a lovable antihero.
Game Of Thrones
Cast
Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
