The Sword and Laser discussion

We already have a thread about the most despicable character, so I thought we could as well talk about our favorite characters in the series. I've only read the first two books, so I guess my opinion might change. I don't necessarily mean the most likable characters, but really those that you enjoy the most when reading the books (or watching the show).

Currently my favorite character is probably Tyrion. I like Arya a lot, but Tyrion makes for the most consistently interesting character with a really complex personality, and overall likable.

(On a side note out of the presumable "good" characters, I dislike Catelyn the most. I just am annoyed by her nearly all the time and can't get myself to care for her at all.)

What are your favorite characters and why?

For the most part I found myself liking the same characters in the show as I did with the books, namely Tyrion and Arya. Any chapter or scene with either of them is a joy and I found myself skipping through the books to see how many chapters there were before they'd appear again.

I really hate Sansa though, the only question is whether I dislike the airheaded hopeless romantic from the book more or less than the airheaded hopeless romantic with a bitchy streak from the show.

Arya definitely gets better and better with each book. Tyrion is great too. I actually have sort of a soft spot for Littlefinger. He is ruthless, but I appreciate his cleverness and ability as a social climber.

Dany and Jon are both a little too "good" for my taste—I find them boring.

Part of the way into AFFC right now, and (view spoiler)[Jaime Lannister and Asha Greyjoy are very entertaining characters to read. I don't know if they are my favorites, but those are the chapters I am looking forward to the most right now. (hide spoiler)]

Arya. I've really got a soft spot for the scrappy underdog that won't give up even though GRR throws everything nasty at her. I like Tyrion for the same reason and he's easier to like with his sense of humor, but my heart just goes out to Arya.

On a side note out of the presumable "good" characters, I dislike Catelyn the most. I just am annoyed by her nearly all the time and can't get myself to care for her at all.

Yay! Someone who shares my dislike of Catelyn. See my comments in my most despised character.

Eliaures wrote: "Yay! Someone who shares my dislike of Catelyn. See my comments in my most despised character."

Yeah. It pretty much started when she told Jon it should have been him, not Bran, to fall off the tower. I get that she's not happy about Ned having a bastard son, but that's no reason to be so exceptionally bitchy to him. And it never really got better, so I am comfortable with my dislike of her.

By Feast for Crows I more or less hate the lot of them, but I think Cersei is the most interesting to read about.

The triumvirate: Jon, Arya, and Tyrion.

Also, the Red Viper, but, well...

I'm going with arya, tyrion and snow. But I like arya the best. Only read maybe 6 pages of the first book, but seen all the episodes in the show.

Oh can't forget drogo (sp) and his wife

I don't get all the Arya love. She;s great in the first book but her story line after that bores me to death.

Arya, Daenerys, Jon, Tyrion

Kate wrote: "I don't get all the Arya love. She;s great in the first book but her story line after that bores me to death."

I haven't read any of the books, so I'm just basing my theory off of the tv show

I like Tyrion & Arya.

I also agree with Kate; Arya's story in the later books bores me to death. Come to think of it, these two characters may be why I disliked the last book so much.

The dire wolves are my favorites. Nymeria and her horde of angry wolves, Ghost and his awesomeness, Shaggydog for the best name ever for a killer wolf, and Summer for all around sweetness.
I raise my glass to Lady and Grey Wind.

Brian wrote: "Arya's story in the later books bores me to death."

Really? Even though she may now be (view spoiler)[a ninja assassin? (hide spoiler)]

aldenoneil wrote: "Brian wrote: "Arya's story in the later books bores me to death."

Really? Even though she may now be [spoilers removed]"

I know it should be interesting, but she seems so remote and removed that I find myself just not caring.

Kate wrote: "I know it should be interesting, but she seems so remote and removed that I find myself just not caring."

Yes, she is far away. I view it like an extended training montage.

Seems to be a trend going on here. I too like Arya and as much as I don't want to, like Tyrion as well. Sansa gets better as she grows up.

Right now I'm trying to decide if there are any other characters I'd like to see developed further. If there was one, I guess it would be Samwell.

Yeah, I'm surprised that there's such a clear trend in favorites. I'd have thought that given the large cast of characters that the answers would be a bit more varied.

I wonder whether GRRM actually intends for the characters to be liked or disliked and writes them that way. Like, does he want for Arya and Tyrion to be favorites or does it just happen because that's the personalities he made up for them. I can't really put this question into words, but maybe you'll get what I mean.

Whats the spoiler level for this thread? cuz it looks all over the place...

i'll assume all's fair game

I love the trio as well, but also, i adore Asha and jaime.

Brienne has been cool for a while but her search has dragged on too long.

I see asha as Faith, from Buffy. Love that type of character.

I am withholding judgement on Arya until i know where she's going in book 5. If she comes back to westeros and goes all kickass on everyone i'll forgive the extended jaunt across the sea.

Though i dream that she'll join up with Denerys somehow, as the geography would make that a reasonable outcome. (i forget, but isn't Tyrion heading that way as well?)

Sansa in book 4 has grown on me, i'm actually interested in where that will go.

I could read about Daenerys all day long. She's such a great character: she's vulnerable yet regal; she has more compassion for the common man than 99% of the other characters; and, I do love reading about the strange Eastern lands across the Narrow Sea.

Oh, and her pets totally kick the fur out of the Starks' direwolves.

The Hound!

I am half way through Feast for Crows and I really like Brienne. I hope she survives. I suppose my favorite is Tyrion. And, as I have mentioned elsewhere, I love every scene with Varys as portrayed by Roy Dotrice in the audiobooks.

Don wrote: "I am half way through Feast for Crows and I really like Brienne. I hope she survives. I suppose my favorite is Tyrion. And, as I have mentioned elsewhere, I love every scene with Varys as portrayed..."

Brienne? really? She's the character I would most like to see killed off chapter. Too each his own I guess.

I'm a quarter through book 3 and Sansa is kind of growing on me. I don't think she'll become a favorite character, but she's a lot less annoying than she was in the first book and I really like the development.

Still, Tyrion stays my favorite, with Arya coming in second.

I like Brienne too. Some folks like Asha. To each his own. I loathe any of the Greyjoys and dislike that whole Viking loot and pillage thing with the Iron Islanders. I dislike the Dothraki for the same reason. I like tragic characters so I trend towards Arya, Brienne, and Samwell.

I didn't mind ole Salty Greyjoy. Something about a grizzled old man shouting at people, continually damp and wandering around barefoot is greatly amusing.

Why Brienne? She is steadfast in the face of ridicule, humble and honor-bound though fate thwarts her at every turn, and willing to be herself when the whole world tells her she must conform. The more I think about it, the more I like her. (She will probably die...)

I am team Arya with the fierceness of a teenage Twilight fan. So my favorite for sure. There are a lot of runners up though. I think with Tyrion we all want to see him defy his family. I didn't realize just how much I really liked Brienne until she got wrecked at the end of FFC. And you can't forget Jon Snow. I was embarassingly excited when he was defeating the wildlings.

Getting on the Arya bandwagon. She is definitely my favorite character but I also love Tyrion and Jon, and love hating Cersei.

In book 1 alone, probably Danaerys. And she remains a favorite. But over the four books, I'd have to go with Bran.

(Book 3) (view spoiler)[His character arc through A Storm of Swords really touched me, and his closing scene where he passes through the old gate made me the most emotional of any scene in the series. I think it has to do with everything he's been through, and yet, of everyone, he also seems to be the one encountering the sort of innocent, pure old magic that you tend to associate with classic fantasy. There's something simple and magical about Bran's journey that I just love. (hide spoiler)]

I like Barristan the Bold. He fascinates me and I can't wait to hear more from him!

I want to add Howland Reed to my list of favorites. That guy is the coolest character we've never yet seen.

Colin wrote: "I want to add Howland Reed to my list of favorites. That guy is the coolest character we've never yet seen."

Agreed I think he would be able to reveal alot of interesting facts if he ever got a viewpoint.

As much as I love Arya, I think my favorite character in the show is Rose's no-no place. That thing has extracted more secrets than Varys. When it comes down to it, I think she has a good shot at ending up on the Iron throne.

...bent over the Iron Throne more like...

Colin wrote: "...bent over the Iron Throne more like..."

I didn't say HOW she'd be on it.

Speaking of the Iron Throne, it seems to me that the kid who plays Joff should be more uncomfortable as he sits in it (not just lazing/reclining in it).

Arya is one of my favorite characters in the book. She still is one of my faves in the show, too, but Peter Dinklage's Tyrion is making me love that character even more.

I forgot how rad Coldhands is. Go Coldhands.

Loved Ned, still grieving over him.

Nearing the end of book 4, I'm really caring about what will happen to Brienne, Sansa and even Jaime. The Hound is an interesting though tortured character.

I'm fascinated watching Sansa's development from a shallow and vapid girl as she experiences more and more abuse from the controlling people in her life. Will she end up losing herself?

Oh, and where is Tyrion?

I have made myself oblivious to all spoilers regarding DwD, but i feel reasonably confident that Lonely Island sings a song about where Tyrion is. Everyone else is at kinko's, making copies. Especially the Hound.

spoiler for all the books(view spoiler)[Tyrion is with Master Yllirio in Pentos across the Narrow Sea (hide spoiler)]

Wrapping up book two now...

Ned was my favorite for about half of book one, but I soon decided to was just too rigid.
Tyrion is my overall favorite for now. He is an interesting character and seems to behave consistently: Working to survive and do what is best of his family and the kingdom, so far as he know.
Dany is really growing on me. Maybe it's the whole bit about having pet dragons... or just that she has grown a lot over the course of these two books.