Summary

• Game of Thrones made significant character changes from A Song of Ice and Fire, like keeping Catelyn Stark dead as Lady Stoneheart.
• Sandor Clegane's arc differs in the show, where he finds purpose and redemption fighting white walkers, unlike in the books.
• The Hound's character in the show is milder compared to the books, but his improved narrative importance adds depth and heroism.

Game of Thrones cut A Song of Ice and Fire characters for 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 Thrones season 8 went wrong in 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 that Game of Thrones improved is Sandor Clegane, also known as the Hound. Game of Thrones gave the Hound a more central role, but they also changed aspects of his personality that helped his arc in later seasons.

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 in Game of Thrones and A Song Of Ice And Fire share 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. In A 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 Thrones season 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, and he expects to die, but unlike his book counterpart, he does not.

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 in A Song Of Ice And Fire.

Game of Thrones is available to stream on HBO Max.

His character is more brutal, and his affection for Sansa Stark is much more twisted. Game of Thrones transformed Sandor Clegane's personality into a much milder version. He is still cynical and somewhat cares for Sansa, but he 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, considering Sandor Clegane's evolution in Game of Thrones, it is much more plausible for Sandor to find purpose again and somewhat redeem himself than in A 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 in A 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 in Game of Thrones. His time with Ray gave him purpose again. Sandor Clegane becomes a key fighter against the white walkers—so much so that Game of Thrones considered 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 also the 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. If George R.R. Martin ever rectifies The Winds of Winter delay, 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 is no room in A Song of Ice and Fire for Sandor to discover his purpose, especially given the plotlines that do not exist in Game of Thrones that 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 Thrones made excellent use of the Hound, turning him into a lovable antihero.