Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawk
Most of GRRM's characters are anything but one dimensional, so that just seems like a bizarre criticism to me. Part of what GRRM does so well is establish a character in your mind (i.e. Jaime throwing Bran off the tower in episode 1) and then proceed to change your perception of the character over time (i.e. most people now like Jaime).
Joffrey was one of the few one dimensional characters in the show, granted, but he was hardly tedious or boring, he was really fun to hate. Just a weird take away to me I guess as I think GRRM loves to create characters that are gray rather than black or white. Even that bitch Cersei loves her kids.
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SOME of the characters aren't one dimensional, and I said as much earlier. And those characters are the ones we end up really caring about. And they deserve more screen time. Jaime, Tyrion, Daenarys -- these are the examples that the rest of the major characters should follow (in terms of how they're written). You can get away with some characters that never show any development, such as Joffrey, but not a whole show filled with them.
Tywin is always a ruthless dick, nothing changes. Cersei may love her kids, but she's just an angry, spiteful person, and that never changes. Has she ever done a scene without scowling? Little Finger is a manipulator, never changing. Olenna is just like Tywin, old and manipulative. Caitlyn Stark, a meddling old nag who only makes things worse whenever she intervenes. Rob Stark, the valiant hero! Margaery plays her role well, but does she ever have a thought in her brain that didn't come from her grandmother? Stannis Baratheon, a crazy ass dude seduced by a crazy ass witch (nothing changing here). Ramsey is another Joffrey, only less influential, and easier to dismiss. Brienne, strong woman with unwavering principles. Ygritte, a strong woman with a tender side. Yawn. The list goes on. None of these characters ever really develop or behave any differently than you've ever expected them to behave since they were introduced. Sometimes that works. But when you fill an entire story with them, it doesn't.
Look, give me MORE Jaime. I want to see how the Kingslayer deals with becoming left handed and losing his power. I LOVED watching Tyrion go from the fantasy equivalent of an uncaring trust fund baby to someone with a small amount of power actually protecting people and trying to make a difference. Danaerys growing into her role, actually changing from an overshadowed little girl into a liberator of people and commander of men. THAT is interesting. Give me more of THAT. Creating a dynamic and then changing it. It's this change and growth that makes these characters the favorites on the show. It's for good reason.
Of course, some characters are a little in-between that. Maybe Bron will finally do something out of the goodness of his heart instead of the love of money. Maybe Clegane actually grows to like Arya. I don't know.
I'm not saying every character has to be a dynamic character with lots of personal growth. It doesn't have to be that way. I just want less predictability in how the characters are going to act.