George R.R. Martin Hints Tyrion Lannister Won’t Survive the GAME OF THRONES Books
As George R.R. Martin continues to talk openly about how the Game of Thrones show diverged from his plans, and it’s becoming clear that the books are headed somewhere much darker. That includes beloved characters who survived the TV series, and yes, that appears to include Tyrion Lannister.
Martin has been candid about how the adaptation outpaced his writing. He wanted the series to remain loyal to his novels, but his slower pace meant the show eventually had to chart its own path.
That disconnect didn’t just frustrate fans, it clearly stuck with Martin too. When the A Song of Ice and Fire story finally reaches its conclusion on the page, it won’t be a replay of what aired on HBO. By his own admission, it’s going to be far more brutal, with significantly more deaths than what viewers saw on television.
That grim outlook is why talk of Tyrion Lannister meeting his end has gained traction. The character, portrayed by Peter Dinklage on the show, was one of the few central figures to survive to the finale and even land in a position of power.
Martin has hinted that the books won’t be nearly as forgiving. If there’s no happy ending coming for Westeros, it’s hard to imagine even its sharpest mind escaping the fallout.
Martin told THR that he wouldn’t have had such a “happy ending” for the HBO series and would have killed some more beloved characters. Martin also seems like he feels it wasn’t what he envisioned when building his world.
“I was going to kill more people,” Martin said. “Not the ones they killed [in the show]. They made it more of a happy ending. I don’t see a happy ending for Tyrion. His whole arc has been tragic from the first. I was going to have Sansa die, but she’s been so appealing in the show, maybe I’ll let her live …”
The bigger mystery is still timing. Martin recently shared an uncomfortable moment from a convention where fans told him he should let someone else finish the books because he might die before completing them. His response was blunt and understandably irritated.
“I really didn’t need that sht. Nobody needs that sht.” Despite the noise, he insists the work continues. There’s more Dunk and Egg he wants to write, another Fire and Blood volume in the pipeline, and, of course, The Winds of Winter looming overhead. He said he needs to finish it “pretty soon,” before adding, “I’m so far behind on everything.”
At the same time, Martin’s relationship with HBO has cooled. He’s been open about his frustrations, including a strained dynamic with the House of the Dragon showrunner. He’s suggested that show is no longer truly his story, echoing how Game of Thrones eventually felt like something else entirely.
Martin was removed from production during the second season of Game of Thrones, later brought back in a limited capacity, and isn’t allowed to talk about the details. That silence speaks volumes, even if things remain cordial on the surface.
Martin doesn’t sound interested in soft landings or crowd-pleasing outcomes. When the saga finally ends, it’s likely to leave readers stunned, possibly angry, and definitely heartbroken.
If Tyrion Lannister really does fall before the final page, it’ll be a sharp reminder that the Game of Thrones books were always meant to hurt more than the show ever did.