Cersei Lannister isn’t just Jaime Lannister’s twin (and, er, lover), but she seemingly took parts of his originalGame of Thronesstory too. Cersei and Jaime are entwined - even seeing themselves as having one soul in two bodies - but things were rather different in George R.R. Martin’s early plans for the story, which would’ve seenJaime become king of Westerosby way of murdering the son of Joffrey Baratheon and Sansa Stark (among others).
Martin’s original plans for theA Song of Ice and Firebookschanged a lot from what was published and later adapted into the HBO series. Martin describes his writing style as a gardener, seeing how things grow rather than planning too much. Indeed, he initially envisaged the books as being a trilogy, dealing with the Starks vs. the Lannisters, then Daenerys Targaryen’s invasion, and finally the White Walkers. The story expanded, but certain elements remain visible, with some reverberating through toGame of Thrones’ ending. One of the biggest of those is Cersei and Jaime’s story, but it was an improvement.
Jaime & Cersei Lannister Were Both Better Thanks To GRRM’s Changes
It Led To Two Of Game Of Thrones' Best Characters
Ultimately, the changes Martin (and subsequentlyGame of Thrones) made to Jaime and Cersei were for the better. The narrative as a whole expanded and, while that has caused some issues as thewait forThe Winds of Winter’s release continues, it also made the story, world, and themes a lot richer. But Jaime and Cersei, specifically, benefited from that a lot, as Martin ditched the plan to make the former king, and gave the latter an expanded role with much more depth.
They’re very much among Game of Thrones’ best characters, and Martin deviating from his initial plan is what allowed that to happen.
Jaime is one of the most complex and tragic figuresin the entire saga. His backstory is misunderstood, he strives for redemption, but is held back by his love for his own sister alongside his self-loathing. Cersei, meanwhile, is a delightful villain: power-mad, cunning, and loathsome, but someone whose motivations and complexities are also fully understood. They’re very much amongGame of Thrones’ best characters, and Martin deviating from his initial plan is what allowed that to happen.
What Was Cersei’s Role In GRRM’s Original Plan?
Her Character Wasn’t As Defined As Some Of The Others
Martin’s original outline for the series, which dates back to 1993 (three years before the first book was published), references multiple major characters. In what would have just been a trilogy, the story still contained a war between themembers of House Starkand House Lannister, and with that Tyrion, Jaime, Robert, and Joffrey are all directly mentioned by name. Curiously,Cersei is not referenced in any way at this point, but does that mean she didn’t exist?
1996
1998
2000
2005
2011
A Dream of Spring
TBA
Not exactly. For one, Robert was still king and Joffrey was (ostensibly) his son, so the idea of a figure existing as Robert’s wife was presumably in place. Similarly, Bran went into a coma, so the events surrounding that were likely the same too.It seems more likely that Cersei existed, but her character wasn’t as developed, nor as important. But as the story grew and things became more complex, so too did her role.
How Cersei Lannister Took Parts Of Jaime’s Original Story
As Jaime’s Story Changed, So Too Did Cersei’s
Jaime’s original story wasn’t just notable because of how he became king, but how he took the Iron Throne. As Martin noted, he killed his way to the very top:
“Jaime Lannister will follow Joffrey on the throne of the Seven Kingdoms, by the simple expedient of killing everyone ahead of him in the line of successionand blaming his brother Tyrion for the murders.”
This Jaime was a lot more ruthless, ambitious, and hungry for power. Although those attributes do exist in the final version to some degree, he’s not the more inherently villainous character that he’s initially presented as (or at least not as the books and show progress). Those traits do, however, apply far more to Cersei, especially as her role has grown, as evidenced by her finally becoming a POV character in the books inA Feast For Crows, the fourth novel in the series.
Game of Thrones season 6 took this further, and more literally, than the books as Cersei actually became Queen by blowing up her enemies.
Cersei is someone who is willing to do absolutely anything necessary to further her own ends and increase her power base. For instance, she orchestrates the death of Robert, leading to Joffrey, her son (whom she thinks she can control) ascending to the Iron Throne. Later, she plots against Tyrion, which was quite directly lifted from the OG plan (right down to him being blamed for Joffrey’s murder). She also moved against Margaret Tyrell, and many more enemies who stood in her way. She’ll use just about anyone, no matter the cost (except her own children).
Game Of Thrones: All 22 Kings And Queens Who Appeared In The Show
All the kings in Game of Thrones and the new rulers introduced in House of the Dragon show how contentious a position on the Iron Throne can be.
Game of Thronesseason 6 took this further, and more literally, than the books asCersei actually became Queen by blowing up her enemies. It’s not the exact same method as Jaime’s route to becoming king, but it’s essentially the same M.O., highlighting how she took on those darker parts of his story - becoming one of the final villains of the TV show, even after the White Walkers had been defeated - as his own arc shifted into something more complicated.
Game Of Thrones
Cast
Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
