I'd love book versions of the characters. Especially of Robert during the rebellion. As far as some of your opinions on the actors, I disagree. Sean Bean was fantastic as Ned. I didn't like Catelyn in the books but Michelle Fairley brought a humanity and realism to her that made her endearing. I don't think I understand your complaint about Northmen needing to be leaner and tougher. The infantry men( what little we saw of them) looked grizzled and tough to me. The armor, weapons and attitude of the northmen were presented well in the series. It seems you may be more concerned with how they look rather than the acting skills?
Now as far as Jon Snow, the way he looks is close enough. Yeah, in the book he looks more like Ned with a 'long solemn face' etc. but whatever. Im concerned with acting and the representation of the character. That's not to say I don't take issue with Kit Harington. He does a well enough job as Jon, maybe too good.... but that's the problem. I wanted someone to really define Jon and make the character his own, like Charles Dance did with Tywin. Jon Snow is a bit too much of an everyman in the books for me. A bit boring. I don't hate him and he'll end up being one of the most important chraracters in the entire series but he's very meh.
So far there is only one person that I hated for the role they were in and that is Renly Baratheon. Some things they got right; he was pompous green boy with kingly ambitions etc. But in the books as much as he was a little **** he was likable. His dialogue was fun to read(especially the scene between him and Stannis in Storms End) and you understood why people liked him. In the show he was charismatic at all, he was a bore. That sucked for me.
A couple other people I took issue with initially was Ciarán Hinds as Mance Rayder. Hinds is a wonderful actor but the scene where were introduce to Mance is so important to the way he looks, it was one of my favorite scenes from the book. He doesn't looks at al like you would think he would look. This is one exception that I felt at least the age and appearance was important to the character, at least for that scene. I got over it though.
Another was Roose Bolton. In the book he's super weird and creepy. He lost a lot of his characteristics from the books, which I was bummed about. Again, I got over it.
Figures from the books I would LOVE.
Robert Baratheon with his warhammer during the rebellion
Rhaegar Targaryen- Again in his armor when he fought Robert.
Mad King Aries
The Mountain
The Red Viper- Oberyn Martell
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