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TV and film adaptations are often known for changing things from books, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. But whatGame of Thronesdid to Jorah Mormont was simply outrageous. In the books, while the character is depicted as a selfish man, a disgraced knight obsessed with Daenerys, the show turns him into a noble outcast.
Fans of both the HBO show and George R.R. Martin’sA Song of Ice and Firehave expressed their disappointment in this drastic change of character. So today, let’s take a look at how the show transformed the ruthless slave trader into a tragic, loyal hero, making fans sympathize with him.
George R.R. Martin depicted Jorah Mormont as a selfish slave trader
George R.R. Martin‘s character depictions inA Song of Ice and Firehave always been on point—whether it’s about making people fall in love with the character or despise them for their deeds. He did the same when it came to Jorah Mormont, the disgraced knight who was exiled from Westeros after selling poachers into slavery—a crime that’s considered an abomination.
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In the books, Jorah Mormont is depicted as a despicable character because of his lack of regret for his crimes and particularly his bizarre obsession with Daenerys Targaryen, who apparently looks like his ex-wife. Readers have been so frustrated with the character that few of them even took toRedditto reflect on their opinion of Jorah.
Pulling out extracts from the books, netizens revealed how in one instance Jorah Mormont speaks about the plague and how “brothels are paying double for healthy young girls, and triple for boys under ten”. Now that’s gross! But unfortunately, that’s the foundation of his character. Jorah is depicted as a man who benefits himself from people’s misery.
Overall, fans highlighted how Jorah Mormont’s obsession with Daenerys seems to be yet another disturbing trait. From constantly expressing his love for her, despite their vast age gap and her clear disinterest, readers recalled how he once kissed Daenerys without her consent, while she was in a state of undress.
So it seems that his actions repeatedly made it clear—Jorah is not a noble outcast but a selfish man who believes he isn’t the one at fault, and instead blamed Ned Stark.
Game of Thronestransformed Jorah Mormont’s arc to make him a hero
But then, when we start to consider the HBO showGame of Thrones, we can clearly see how the show drastically changed Jorah Mormont’s character portrayed byIain Glen. Portraying him as a tragic, noble warrior instead of the manipulative, self-serving man from the books, the beloved series completely changed his character arc.
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Although the show kept the base of the character similar—where he’s exiled for selling people into slavery—Game of Thronessomehow added remorse and loyalty in him and reduced his creepy behavior. From the start, the show presents him as a deeply loyal protector of Daenerys, making his love for her seem romantic rather than obsessive.
Further, instead of emphasizing his past crimes, the show barely mentions them, which allows audiences to sympathize with him rather than see him as a morally gray figure. Another aspect where the show fell short was in showing Jorah’s exile as a consequence of his actions, rather than framing it as a heartbreaking tragedy.
In doing so, the show shifted people’s focus towards his pain and redemption rather than the damage he caused. Even after his exile,Game of Throneskept trying to make Jorah sympathetic. From him fighting for Daenerys’ honor, and risking his life for her multiple times, he is cemented as a devoted hero in people’s hearts.
Not to mention his toxic obsession from the books is rewritten into a tragic, unrequited love story, making audiences root for him instead of despising his character. By removing his darker traits,Game of Throneschanged Jorah Mormont into a brave, honorable knight, which was completely different from how he’s depicted in the books.
Game of Thronesis currently available to watch on Max.
Krittika Mukherjee
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3217
Krittika Mukherjee is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on films, TV shows, and celebrity news with over 3,000 articles published. With an educational background in Journalism, and a keen interest in filmmaking, Krittika blends factual precision with creative flair, when crafting her editorials, or dissecting fan theories.Her coverage often includes news and analyses of critically acclaimed films, celebrity news, and franchises like the Wizarding World, LOTR, DC, and MCU—particularly Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Superheroes, and fan theories. As a Wizarding World aficionado, Krittika has spent countless hours exploring hidden backstories, unadapted book moments, spells, and trivias surrounding J.K. Rowling’s lore.An imaginative writer with a way with words, Krittika has worked as an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a web content writer for a year. She brought her experience and expertise to FandomWire to pursue her desire for sipping coffee while dissecting films and tracking celebrity drama.
