A Song of Ice & Fire Fans discussion

A Song of Ice and Fire is filled with a large cast of grey characters, so I thought this is a great topic to discuss with you guys.

I myself got quite a conundrum here, here is a list of my candidates:

Jaime Lannister
Tyrion Lannister
Theon Greyjoy
Roose Bolton
Littlefinger
Varys
The Hound

little finger confounds me. I can't work him out to my satisfaction. Every one else I can more, less peg.

Sandor Clegane/the Hound is my favourite character because of his complexity.

Yeah I think it will be the Hound but each one is conplex, soo real

I think Littlefinger and Tyrion are complex characters.

Sherlock Holmes really need to meet Littlefinger and figure this guy out. I don't like him at all and I'm afraid he might be one of GRRM's game changer in the end. I sure hope Sherlock can foil his dark plot.

sore wrote: "Sherlock Holmes really need to meet Littlefinger and figure this guy out. I don't like him at all and I'm afraid he might be one of GRRM's game changer in the end. I sure hope Sherlock can foil his..."

Yeah that was Lilfinger as the heavy in episode 2 of the fourth series. The cereal killer doncha know. Heh.

I think it's Littlefinger as well. I can never completely understand him and what he wants.

He definitely has his own agenda. He is only loyal to himself.

John Snow. Now that we know who he is, it will be interesting to see what that really means. From the bastard son, to Lord Commander, to risen from the dead, and now a Targaryen. Wow. I do agree with a lot of the other choices too. Littlefinger is interesting, Vary's, and it will be fun to see if the conscience Jaime is finding comes to life. I am a lot more interested to these answers in the next book over the show. I may be one of the few who thinks it is a better story overall. That is if we ever get a new book.

I'm wondering if " Littletwistedfinger" might have multiple personality disorder. He seems to be working at cross purposes with even himself?

Even though she is my favorite character, I would also include Arya. I love her spirit, intelligence and courage but doesn't stop being controversial that all she thinks about all the time is killing people for revenge. I know is a matter of opinion but I think is worth considering. As for the most complex character I also vote for Littlefinger since it is impossible to predict his intentions.

Tyrion is the most complex character. while there are other very good characters, the only character that could compete complexity wise imo is Tywin Lannister, his father. Which makes perfect sense. remember it was their own aunt that said, "Jamie you are not your father's son." which is exactly right. He's nothing like Tywin. But Tyrion truly is his father's son.

Hands down, it is Tyrion.

Wow, thanks for constructive feedback ;)

Tyrion seems to be the most reasonable choice, and he is one of the most popular characters of the show/book, so I can understand why most people would call him the most interesting/complex of all.

However, I believe there is a character even more multi-dimensional, conflicted, and, unlike Tyrion, having moments of both pure evil and powerful redemption. A character that has also experienced very high highs and very low lows in his life.

That character is of course Jaime Lannister. Tyrion, when the show starts, already inspires sympathy. He comes out as an underdog. Whereas Jaime appears as a generic rich, arrogant douchebag, who pushes a boy out of the window. I don't think anyone presumed to ever like him after episode 1. And yet, the situation changes dramatically over the course of the show. No other character that I can think of has made such a transformation. He is intelligent, thoughtful, he questions the world around him, he sees the hypocrisy and evil of the times he lives in, he doesn't even know anymore what he feels towards Cersei. So... I guess he wins that competition for me, although Tyrion is a close match, too.

Varys I also find confounding. I don't know what he truly wants.

Going to have to go with the Kingslayer on this one.

As a point of discussion: In Littlefinger's case I don't see him as being overly complex per se but his end goal hasn't been revealed. Littlefinger in a nutshell is a man trying to get back at the higher social class that has kept him down.

I'm starting to think it's Tyrion. This idea that he's a Targaryen changes everything about him. It seems that things just keep going deeper and deeper with him the more the story goes along. I think Littlefinger and Varys have reached a point where their power is no longer as strong as it once was. Neither of them have control over the White Walkers, and the Night King is coming.

james wrote: "Tyrion is the most complex character. while there are other very good characters, the only character that could compete complexity wise imo is Tywin Lannister, his father. Which makes perfect sense..."

Ah but just who was Tyrion's biological father? Da da da daaa...

I think it is Bran. I think he might actually be Bran the Builder. Are we talking tv show or books?

Ted wrote: "james wrote: "Tyrion is the most complex character. while there are other very good characters, the only character that could compete complexity wise imo is Tywin Lannister, his father. Which makes..."

That is the question I cant wait to find out!

Rina wrote: "I think it is Bran. I think he might actually be Bran the Builder. Are we talking tv show or books?"

Interesting take. I have heard that before and cant wait to see what happens! I'm more of a books guy, but I love the show too.

Rina wrote: "I think it is Bran. I think he might actually be Bran the Builder. Are we talking tv show or books?"
I sincerely hope that he is one and the same in essence using his greensight ability.

I think the king Slayer is the most complex. Everyone else I sort of understand but with him switching back and forth between loving cersei and attempting to follow through with his promise to Catelyn he's a character that flip flops without a goal? What is his goal? I have no idea.

Stannis! Then Jaime running a very close second. Both characters are so well written, perhaps my favorite characters to read in any story. And then Sandor Clegane. Not my favorite storyline or character, but I really enjoyed his character development and level of complexity.

Dominique wrote: "I think the king Slayer is the most complex. Everyone else I sort of understand but with him switching back and forth between loving cersei and attempting to follow through with his promise to Cate..."

I don't think that the two are inherently at conflict with one another. Jaime's complexity comes from the reader learning more of his backstory and his actions since AGOT that has made up for some of his past indiscretions. I think Jaime's overall goal is to be the perfect knight and protect his family. His confrontation with reality has soiled his pursuit. Jaime post ASOS is confronting the soiled knight he has become and is trying to be worthy of the Kingsguard mantle. The epitome of his disgust and rejection of his world is the burning of Cersei's letter. As he would say, "who gives a dusty fuck"

Michał wrote: "A Song of Ice and Fire is filled with a large cast of grey characters, so I thought this is a great topic to discuss with you guys.

I myself got quite a conundrum here, here is a list of my candi..."

Tyrion, for sure. He has inspired my next novel. The theme of the underdog is universal.

The most complex character by far, and it is not even close in my humble opinion is Jaqen H'ghar. Why was he in the Black Cells? What did he do to scare the poo out of both Rorge and Biter? What is he doing in Oldtown? Why steal the Key? Yes he does not show up too much but when he does it is WTF time.

Couldnt agree more with Stephen XD

Michał wrote: "A Song of Ice and Fire is filled with a large cast of grey characters, so I thought this is a great topic to discuss with you guys.

I myself got quite a conundrum here, here is a list of my candi..."

So complex all of them. But I'll go with Tyrion and Jamie, two of my favs.

Holly wrote: "Sandor Clegane/the Hound is my favourite character because of his complexity."

Yeah, I like that damned contradictory bastard too.

A likeable psychopath, gotta like that - it's insane.

sore wrote: "Sherlock Holmes really need to meet Littlefinger and figure this guy out. I don't like him at all and I'm afraid he might be one of GRRM's game changer in the end. I sure hope Sherlock can foil his..."

Sherlock's not Holme at the moment.

Sorry, had to say that.

B.M. Tolbert wrote: "John Snow. Now that we know who he is, it will be interesting to see what that really means. From the bastard son, to Lord Commander, to risen from the dead, and now a Targaryen. Wow. I do agree wi..."

John Snow kinda bores me.

Sarah wrote: "Sansa I feel is the most complex as her whole storyline is about symbolism and I feel most people don't read her chapters with that intention as her character is very introverted. I love her journe..."

Sarah wrote: "Sansa I feel is the most complex as her whole storyline is about symbolism and I feel most people don't read her chapters with that intention as her character is very introverted. I

love her journe..."

I like her character. Hard to drive the events around you when you are like her such a victim of a patriarchal culture. She intrigues me.

Sofía wrote: "Even though she is my favorite character, I would also include Arya. I love her spirit, intelligence and courage but doesn't stop being controversial that all she thinks about all the time is killi..."

She exemplifies that a highly skilled warrior can be lethal.
Skill is the number one determiner of martial skill.
Her fighting-spirit makes her special.

Karen wrote: "Hands down, it is Tyrion."

I love that little munchkin!

Seriously, he's highly intelligent and deeply honourable, a man of action, a sensitive romantic. He influenced me to write a character based on the persecuted outsider. Thanks George. You are a genius.

Ted wrote: "james wrote: "Tyrion is the most complex character. while there are other very good characters, the only character that could compete complexity wise imo is Tywin Lannister, his father. Which makes..."

Please, I reject that accusation. He is a fictional character I can't be his father. I resent the implication.
HOW DARE YOU!!!
(kidding)

B.M. Tolbert wrote: "Rina wrote: "I think it is Bran. I think he might actually be Bran the Builder. Are we talking tv show or books?"

Interesting take. I have heard that before and cant wait to see what happens! I'm..."

Books for me.

Sheryl wrote: "Stannis! Then Jaime running a very close second. Both characters are so well written, perhaps my favorite characters to read in any story. And then Sandor Clegane. Not my favorite storyline or char..."

He's as complex as a ancient Chinese rule book to a forgotten board game.

I will have to say Jamie Lannister. Jamie's is the most complex character because he a villain, and a hero . Usually at the same time. I started the book hating Jamie, but by the time he saved Brienne , I loved him. Although some of things he do are villainous, he doesn't see it that way at the time. Like pushing Bran out the window was villainous, but he did that for Cersei. Betraying the mad king, (villainous) but he did it to prevent him from burning the entire kingdom.

I’d have to say Jon Snow as the favorite, in part because of the fascinating mystery of his parentage (R+L=J all the way). What’s great about this series is many of GRR’s characters are so complex! As he’s said himself, his characters aren’t inherently good or evil, each at some point have you either rooting for them or are repulsed by them - it adds complexity and makes them more human.

James wrote: "Ted wrote: "james wrote: "Tyrion is the most complex character. while there are other very good characters, the only character that could compete complexity wise imo is Tywin Lannister, his father...."

I resemble that remark, good ser.

The mysteries and motivations of the character named Hodor will confound scholars for generations.

I think in the very end it may very well be Sam. It all depends on his role in the end. I think he survives and is the one telling this whole story. If that doesn’t happen then I vote for Tyrion.

I agree with Varys. We have little and less we know about him, compared with Petyr, Tyrion and Jaime.

I'm putting my vote in for Varys. A complex and troubled upbringing, yet he seems to have the good of Westeros as his personal moral compass. He rose through the ranks to be an advisor of the most powerful people in his world.

I'm very interested to see how the TV series will kill him off. My impression is that he must make the ultimate sacrifice for the good of all.