The Game-Changing Lannister Plot You Never Knew About in Game of Thrones - It Shockingly Altered Varys' Fate!
Game of Thrones' decision to omit Varys killing Kevan Lannister from the books had a detrimental effect on his character arc, ultimately leading to his disappointing demise in season 8
Summary
Varys' arc in Game of Thrones season 8 was seen as a downfall, but his problems began earlier due to changes in the books.
Varys' significance and mystique waned as the show shifted its focus away from King's Landing and intricate political maneuvers. The show's choice to exclude the death of Kevan Lannister had adverse effects on the progression of Varys' narrative and the development of his character.
Varys' character arc and eventual demise in season 8 of Game of Thrones is often criticized as a decline for the character, but the root of the issue can be traced back to the alterations made by House Lannister to George R.R. Martin's original A Song of Ice and Fire books. In the early seasons of the show, Varys played a crucial and captivating role. As the plot revolved primarily around King's Landing, it was Varys, the master manipulator, who contributed significantly to the development of the storyline and the intricate political dynamics.
However, as the series progressed and the narrative took the characters away from Westeros for a few years, the essence of Varys' character transformed. His ultimate demise occurred when he opposed Daenerys Targaryen's actions in the best interest of the realm, leading to his execution by Daenerys's dragon, Drogon. Even the actor, Conleth Hill, expressed his dissatisfaction with Varys' story arc in the final episodes. Nevertheless, it is important to recognize that the blame should not solely rest on the show's conclusion for the frustrations surrounding Varys' character journey.
Game Of Thrones Cut Varys Killing Kevan Lannister From The Books
Kevan Lannister's significance differs greatly between the A Song of Ice and Fire books and the Game of Thrones TV series. His death holds greater importance in the books, where he is murdered by Varys and his spies in A Dance with Dragons, the fifth installment of George R.R. Martin's series. During this time, Kevan acts as regent for King Tommen Baratheon and strives to restore stability to the realm following Cersei Lannister's tumultuous rule. Varys eliminates Kevan with a hidden motive: Cersei will wrongly accuse Tyrion Lannister or House Tyrell of the assassination, leading to further chaos that will aid Varys in placing Prince Aegon Targaryen on the Iron Throne.
Many of these crucial details were omitted in the HBO adaptation, Game of Thrones. Notably, Aegon Targaryen, the surviving firstborn son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Elia Martell, was removed from the show entirely. Additionally, Kevan's role was reduced, and he met his demise when Cersei destroyed the sept in the show's sixth season finale, "The Winds of Winter." By this point, Varys had already embarked on a different path, joining Tyrion in their journey to Essos and eventually serving Daenerys.
Changing Kevan Lannister's Death Had A Negative Impact On Varys' Story
Game of Thrones made changes to Varys' storyline and removed his killing of Kevan Lannister for various reasons. It was necessary due to broader narrative changes, particularly the exclusion of Aegon, in order to streamline the overall story and focus on existing characters. This alteration also led to the clever and entertaining pairing of Tyrion and Varys as travel companions. However, alongside the positive aspects, there were also drawbacks. Being far from King's Landing, Varys had limited influence and his plans to support Daenerys' claim to the Iron Throne became less captivating.
By not killing Kevan, Varys remained more aligned with the morally righteous side. Although his motivations and morals were often ambiguous, his association with Daenerys provided greater clarity in this regard. Similarly, Tyrion's character in the books descends into a darker path after his actions against Shae and Tywin Lannister, but the show made efforts to maintain his sympathetic portrayal.
In Game of Thrones seasons 5-8, Varys underwent a noticeable change from his character in seasons 1-4, which mirrors the overall direction of the show. The later seasons became more focused on the plot rather than the development of the characters, and Varys exemplifies how this shift negatively impacted the series. Particularly in Game of Thrones season 8, Varys's opposition to Daenerys, although not as cunning as his previous schemes, still reflected his characteristic tendencies and highlighted the longstanding issues within the show.
