Adapted from George R.R. Martin’s award-winning A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Game of Thrones has become a cultural sensation. Although Martin’s story was followed, the series deviated from that narrative in later seasons. Of all the changes, one divergence seemed especially opposed to Martin’s conception of his characters.
Over the years, Martin has spoken about how Game of Thrones differs from his books. Some plots were changed, or new ones were invented to resolve them by the conclusion of the series’ limited run. However, not all the changes pleased Martin; he was especially vocal about one storyline involving Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish.
Sansa to have a different ending than Littlefinger in Martin’s vision
George R.R. Martin says the Sansa and Littlefinger plotline will be ‘very different’ in the books
“My Littlefinger would have never turned Sansa over to Ramsay. Never.”
(via @EW) pic.twitter.com/bzgM9UFo3B
— Thrones Facts | HOTD 🐉 (@Thrones_Facts) October 13, 2020
Aiden Gillen’s Petyr Baelish, or “Littlefinger,” arranged a marriage alliance for Sansa Stark with the sadistic Ramsay Bolton on the show. As for what happens in his novels, Martin said that isn’t happening. As Martin revealed in James Hibberd’s Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon, “My Littlefinger never would have given Sansa to Ramsay. Never.” He described Littlefinger’s obsession with Sansa as a “conflicted blend of paternal concern and sexual desire,” something that would preclude him from ever handing her over to Ramsay.
The story with Sansa in the books
and disguises herself in the vale as littlefinger’s bastard daughter, “alayne stone”. littlefinger is planning to basically have sansa marry harold hardyng (heir to the vale if sweetrobin dies) so sansa will become lady of the vale. + pic.twitter.com/D0MUlzTI5N
— ️️luna (@daenerysim) April 29, 2024
Unlike in the show, where she endures her trials with a grim determination that rivals even Jon Snow’s resilience, Sansa stays put in the Vale with Littlefinger who rigorously protects her. In the most recently released novel, A Dance With Dragons, Sansa is still in this same location, which shows just how differently her character is tracking between books and show. Littlefinger’s intentions are much more complicated for Martin, and Sansa means too much to him for her to ever betray her.
Excitement for The Winds of Winter
George R.R. Martin says that more on the mystery of dragons will be revealed in the upcoming ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ books:
“They bond with men… some men… and the why and how of that, and how it came to be, will eventually be revealed in more detail in THE WINDS OF WINTER and… pic.twitter.com/FdlTUNnYAz
— westerosies (@westerosies) July 11, 2024
Fans are looking forward to The Winds of Winter, the next book in A Song of Ice and Fire, for the resolution of Martin’s Sansa plot—and many others. While the TV series ended with season eight, Martin’s novels will offer a denser and more intricate conclusion. Martin said, when reflecting on the different approaches in storytelling: “I’m working in a very different medium than David and Dan (treat them now as separate from him never forget).” Martin’s ending will have to provide answers the series couldn’t offer, with his last two books estimated at around 3,000 pages combined.
Waiting for the series in Martin’s style
Martin’s books are the “real” conclusion to the story that will explore his characters’ motivations and decisions in greater depth and unfortunately, the future of The Winds of Winter looks bleak as the years go by. With ratings of 9.2/10 on IMDb and 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, Game of Thrones can be streamed at Max in the U.S., as readers around the globe wait for Martin’s conclusion to his tale.
Stay tuned to TheFlashsports to get more exciting news about the show.
