UK book retailer Waterstones, courtesy of UK’s Harper Collins, posted George R.R. Martin’s original outline for his A Song of Ice and Fire series yesterday. The link seems to have since been pulled, but Variety managed to see it beforehand and revealed several key differences between what George R.R. Martin’s original plan for the book series was, and what actually happened.
Here’s a brief rundown of the key changes. Some of these are very different, and some potentially suggest plot turns that could, theoretically, still come. In other words, the differences reveal possible SPOILERS for both the book series and the television series, should either/or ultimately head in the direction of Martin’s original outline in the future.
1. The most surprising one was a love triangle between Arya Stark, Jon Snow, and Tyrion. In the original outline, Jon Snow fell in love with his half-sister, Arya, and that love was reciprocated. Their love was “tortured,” however, because of Snow’s celibacy pledge as a Night Watchmen (at least until Jon Snow’s true parentage was revealed in the final book).
2. In the original outline, Robb Stark is killed on the battlefield in a showdown with Joffrey, who is maimed in the battle, which was the powder keg in the war between the Houses. It is Joffrey’s uncles, Jamie and Tyrion, however, that ultimately killed Robb Stark. Tyrion then burned Winterfell to the ground.
3. So fed up with the antics of Joffrey, Tyrion has him “removed” from the crown. Jamie Lannister then kills everyone ahead of him who has a claim on the throne and takes it over, blaming all the murders on Tyrion, who is exiled.
4. In exile, Tyrion switches allegiances to the Starks and decides to help them defeat his brother, Jamie. However, in doing so, he falls in love with Arya. The Imp and Jon Snow end up in a rivalry for Arya’s affections (Arya does not reciprocate Tyrion’s affections, however.)
5. In Martin’s original vision, Daenerys kills Khal Drago in order to avenge the death of her brother, Viserys (instead of being grateful that Drago killer her brother). After killing Drago, she flees into the wilderness, and discovers the dragon eggs. In that version of events, Daenerys launched a war against Westeros in the second novel, while the final book in the series would’ve featured a war against the Others and a climactic final battle at the Wall.
6. Originally, Sansa was supposed to have sold out her family, married Joffrey and borne him an heir (she would later regret doing so).
7. While Ned Stark’s death happens just as he did in the actual novels, afterwards, Catelyn, Arya and Bran seek refuge at the Wall, but Jon Snow is forced to turn them away. They are later captured by Mance Rayder. Catelyn Stark is ultimately killed by an Other (there is no mention of a Red Wedding).
8. It had always been intended for Jon Snow to become Lord Commander.
9. Arya, Bran, Jon, Tyrion, and Daenerys are the five characters who were originally intended to survive the series
Source: Variety
