Game of Throneshas become a phenomenon over the last couple of decades, and its success all goes back to George R.R. Martin’sA Song of Ice and Firebooks. Martin’s series has become one of the most successful and recognizable fantasy stories of all time, but it almost looked very different.The author’soriginalGame of Thronesplanwould have taken the characters and plot in vastly different directions, raising questions about whether they would have had the same impact on readers.
If Martin had followed his initial outline, written in 1993, it wouldn’t just be theSong of Ice and Firebooks that were affected.Game of Throneswould look incredibly different, and it’s possible the show wouldn’t have found such a massive following.It’s probably for the best that Martin decided to change some of his original ideas, even if he kept a few things from the original plan — likeJon Snow’s parentage twist. It’s intriguing to look back on his initial intentions in hindsight though, as they highlight how far the story has come since he first thought of it.
10GRRM’s Original Plan Was For A Trilogy Of Books
A Song Of Ice And Fire Is Now Supposed To Be A Seven-Book Series
Martin’s original plan forA Song of Ice and Firewas to write three books, which would have made for a much shorter and more compact narrative. Part of what makes the currentA Song of Ice and Fireseries compelling is the scope of its world and the ambitious number of storylines running alongside one another. HadA Song of Ice and Firebeen a trilogy, it would have only includedA Game of Thrones, A Dance With Dragons,andThe Winds of Winter.
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According to Martin’s original outline, the first book would have tackled the conflict between the Lannisters and Starks, while the latter two would have been about Daenerys Targaryen’s arrival in Westeros and the Others' assault from the North, respectively. This obviously would have cut out much of the political maneuvering that happens throughoutA Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords,andA Feast for Crows. Martin’s final version of the series goes far more in depth than his initial plan suggests, bringing in other Great Houses of Westeros and painting a full picture of the world.
If the author had stuck to his vision for a trilogy, the series might be complete already — but it’d also be far less intricate and detailed.
In this way,the longer approach toA Song of Ice and Fireproved an improvement on Martin’s original plan. Of course, it also comes with a downside.The Winds of Winterhas been delayedfor quite some time, withMartin recently statingthat it’s “still a priority” but admitting that readers could be right that he’ll never finish the series. If the author had stuck to his vision for a trilogy, the series might be complete already — but it’d also be far less intricate and detailed.
9Catelyn Stark Was Killed By The Others
The Character’s ASOIAF Fate Was Originally Much Worse
Believe it or not,Catelyn Stark met a worse fatein the originalSong of Ice and Fireplan, as Martin didn’t include the Red Wedding in his first outline. Catelyn still died, however, but she did so north of the Wall. In Martin’s initial vision,Catelyn fled to the North on the heels of Ned’s beheading, leaving Robb to deal with the Lannisters on his own. When Jon Snow and the Night’s Watch couldn’t help her, she took Arya and Bran and traveled beyond the Wall. This caused them to be captured by the Wildlings, then attacked by the Others.
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The Others killed Catelyn in the originalGame of Thronesplan, which is arguably worse than her Red Wedding death. Although Catelyn was always going to die tragically, Martin’s original outline suggested she might come back as a wight — something her children might have to contend with. Evenbecoming Lady Stoneheartseems like a superior fate, as Catelyn at least gets to take revenge on those responsible for betraying House Stark.
8Robb Stark Wounded Joffrey, But Later Died In Battle
The Red Wedding Didn’t Happen In The Original Outline
With the Red Wedding never happening, Robb Stark’s fate was also significantly different in the firstGame of Thronesoutline.The intendedSong of Ice and Firetrilogy would have seen Robb dying on the battlefieldrather than at a wedding feast. He would have injured Joffrey Baratheon beforehand — a moment that would likely have been satisfying — but he would have succumbed to the Lannisters' forces after.
While seeing Joffrey and Robb confront one another sounds interesting, it’s more fitting that Robb dies from a diplomatic misstep rather than in battle.
While seeing Joffrey and Robb confront one another sounds interesting, it’s more fitting that Robb dies from a diplomatic misstep rather than in battle.The Red Wedding is one of the most shocking and memorable moments fromA Song of Ice and Fire,and it highlights how ruthless the Lannisters really are. It’s difficult to imagineA Song of Ice and FireorGame of Throneswithout this incident happening, and that proves Martin was right to tweak Robb’s ending.
7Arya Stark’s Story Would Inevitably Have Been Different
Going North With Catelyn Would Have Set Her On Another Path
Arya and Bran’s character arcs would both have looked different in the originalSong of Ice and Fireplan, as neither of them goes north of the Wall with Catelyn or are captured by Wildlings in the current story. This journey would still get Bran where he needs to go, however: north to becomethe Three-Eyed Raven(though Martin writes that he would have had a “bitter estrangement” with Jon).It’s unclear what Arya would do after this, though, as she wouldn’t be taken to Harrenhal, meet Jaqen H’ghar, or travel with the Hound if she fled with Catelyn.
All of these are pivotal points in Arya’s narrative, and they set her up to visit the House of Black and White and train with the Faceless Men. If Arya went north, it’s possible she’d be more wrapped up in the happenings at Winterfell and Castle Black. Martin’s initial intentions for her relationship with Jon indicate this as well. Given how much more exciting Arya’s story is when she’s forced to escape King’s Landing with Yoren and the Night’s Watch recruits, it’s a good thing she didn’t end up returning to the North so early on.
6There Was A Jon Snow/Arya Stark/Tyrion Lannister Love Triangle
George R.R. Martin Later Changed These Dynamics
Speaking of how different Arya’s journey looked in Martin’s originalGame of Thronesplan,the author also intended for her to be caught up in a love triangle with Jon Snow and Tyrion Lannister. Looking at the final version of the story, it’s difficult to imagine things going this way. But Martin’s outline indicated that Tyrion would form a bond with both Sansa and Arya rather than just Sansa. When discussing how Bran and Jon would have a falling out over Jon’s inability to help them, Martin wrote:
“Arya will be more forgiving… until she realizes, with terror, that she has fallen in love with Jon, who is not only her half-brother but a man of the Night’s Watch, sworn to celibacy.”
This sounds like a more uncomfortable version of what would become Jon and Ygritte’s relationship, which tested his vow of celibacy instead. Apparently, had Arya and Jon actually had feelings for each other, these would have “tormented” them until they discovered Jon’s true identity. While incestual relationships aren’t unheard of in the world of Westeros,it’s a relief that Martin decided to give Arya and Jon a more wholesome sibling dynamic. This is yet another benefit of her not going to the Wall, as his initial plan intended.
Sansa’s Circumstances Were Far Bleaker In The Original Plan
Martin’s original outline saw Sansa Stark following a similar trajectory to the current books, as she would initially be in King’s Landing with the Lannisters, then turn on them and reunite with her family later on. However, it sounds like Sansa would be more intentionally loyal to the Lannisters over her own family in the first book. Andher time with the Lannisters would result inSansa and Joffrey having a child together, an outcome that feels unthinkably horrible in hindsight.
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If Sansa was going to turn on the Lannisters in the original plan, it sounds like she’d still face cruelty at the hands of Joffrey and his family. This means she’d have a permanent connection to them, which just doesn’t sit right.In the current books, Sansa marries Tyrion— who doesn’t actually consummate the relationship with her — and then flees King’s Landing with Littlefinger. It’s a much better path for her character. And it avoids the possibility of Jaime Lannister killing her child, which might have happened if things had gone as intended (but more on that later).
4Tyrion Lannister Burned Down Winterfell…
The Youngest Lannister Would Have Been Far More Controversial
Tyrion is the most likable Lannister inA Song of Ice and FireandGame of Thrones,but Martin’s initial plan would have made him more controversial early on. While Tyrion is undeniably complex in the earlySong of Ice and Firebooks, his absence for much of the initial Stark vs. Lannister conflict — because he’s held captive in the Vale — makes it easier to root for him. And while he’s very much on the Lannisters' side, he doesn’t seem to take joy in ruthlessly hurting the Starks.Martin’s initial plan saw him burning down Winterfell, however, with the author writing:
“Robb will win several splendid victories, and maim Joffrey Baratheon on the battlefield, but in the end, he will not be able to stand against Jaime and Tyrion Lannister and their allies. Robb Stark will die in battle, and Tyrion Lannister will besiege and burn Winterfell.”
This would give Tyrion a more active role in the early onslaught against House Stark, and it raises interesting questions about what would become of Winterfell in Martin’s initial plan. His outline, which mostly focused on the beginning of the series, didn’t indicate whether the Starks would rebuild their home. Although they haven’t reclaimed it in the current books just yet, that seems like a probable outcome given what happens in the show — and it might not have been possible had Martin not changed Tyrion’s trajectory.
3Then Later Murdered Joffrey & Joined The Starks
Tyrion’s Turnaround Was Much Different
Although Tyrion was responsible for Winterfell’s destruction in Martin’s first version ofA Song of Ice and Fire,the author always intended for him to switch sides. However, rather than seeking out Daenerys Targaryen,Tyrion would have fallen in with the Starks. Martin wrote that he would be the one to kill Joffrey due to his “disgust at the boy king’s brutality.” Then he would have teamed up with the Starks to remove his brother, Jaime, from the throne. And this is also how Tyrion would fall “hopelessly in love with Arya,” which resulted in “a deadly rivalry” between with Jon.
Although Tyrion and the Starks facing a common enemy may still happen eventually, it’s likely to unfold in a far different way than Martin originally planned.
Although Tyrion and the Starks facing a common enemy may still happen eventually, it’s likely to unfold in a far different way than Martin originally planned. Tyrion is currently in Mereen in the books, and as of the end ofA Dance With Dragons,he still hasn’t joined forces with Daenerys. Needless to say,he’s far from where Martin’s first outline placed him. As Jaime isn’t king, he’ll also likely be trying to remove Cersei from the Iron Throne, if this storyline happens at all.
2Daenerys Targaryen Killed Khal Drogo To Avenge Viserys
The Books Would Have Established Her Ruthless Targaryen Nature Early On
Khal Drogo’s death at the end ofGame of Thronesis a tragic turning point for Daenerys' character, but it was almost a more triumphant moment. In Martin’s original outline, Daenerys' relationship with Drogo begins in a similar fashion to the current story. She marries him so that she and Viserys will have an army to retake the throne, and he eventually kills Viserys for pushing him to do so. However, in the current series, Daenerys falls in love with Drogo, and she doesn’t feel bad when he kills her brother. By contrast,Martin initially wrote that Daenerys would “not forget.”
In the initialSong of Ice and Fireplan,Daenerys killed Khal Drogo to avengeher brother, a surprising turn of events if you’ve read the current version of the story. Of course, there were benefits to Martin’s first take on their relationship and its ending. Having Daenerys kill Drogo in this fashion would have confirmed her ruthless Targaryen nature early on, properly setting up a potential Mad Queen twist later. Daenerys also “stumbled on” her dragon eggs while being chased by Drogo’s bloodriders, another departure from Martin’s current series.
1Jaime Lannister Became King
Jaime Lannister is one of the most interesting characters inA Song of Ice and Fire,as he establishes himself as a despicable person by pushing Bran out a window — then slowly starts to reveal a better side of himself, if only slightly. It’s not clear if Jaime will have the same redemption arc as he does inGame of Thrones,but his current book arc is much different from what Martin originally had planned for him. In the first outline ofA Song of Ice and Fire,Jaime Lannister actually became kingafter Joffrey’s death.
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Jaime did this “by the simple expedient of killing everyone ahead of him in the line of succession,” and it’s possible he would have gone after Sansa’s child to ensure no one could challenge his claim to the Iron Throne. It’s a fascinating direction for Jaime’s character to go in, though not the one Martin ultimately landed on.Game of Thronesand its source material would have been very different if he’d gone with his original plan and made Jaime king. Of course, that’s true of all Martin’s changes from his initial series pitch.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim.
