Jaime Lannister may just be one of the most complex characters in both Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice and Fire — and in a world where every character is detailed pretty thoroughly, that's saying something.
He starts out universally hated by viewers and readers alike after pushing a child out of a window and from there, his story begins to spiral. But some parts of it diverge from the books when it comes to the show, with many fans criticizing the changes made. Some things remain true to his personality and his history, but the show writers clearly thought they were changing things for the better. Not everyone agrees.
True To The Books: His Devotion To Cersei
It may not be the healthiest thing about him, but his devotion to Cersei is pretty accurate — at least at the start of the books. He would do anything for his sister, and truly believes his romantic love to be a wholesome, honorable aspect of him, perhaps even the best thing about him. He has some bumps along the road in the show that are even bigger in the books but ultimately, he loves her.
Not True To The Books: Love For His Children
The show brings Jaime to have a bond with his children, and his distance from them for years seems to have been for their safety's sake (except perhaps Joffrey, and who can blame him?). He has some pretty touching moments with both Myrcella and Tommen.
In the books, he couldn't care less. He sees his children only as distractions that draw Cersei's attention away from him, and even resents them for it.
True To The Books: His Love For Tyrion
Jaime and Tyrion have always been close in both the books and the show. Jaime isn't always the best at standing up to Tywin when it comes to the abuse of his little brother but despite some cowardice in that area and following of the status quo, he definitely loves him. The books mention that he brought him birthday gifts when no one else did (since it was also the anniversary of their mother's death), and the show explores their bond when Tyrion is on trial for a murder he didn't commit.
Not True To The Books: Their Falling Out
In the show, they part ways with a hug after Jaime sets him free.
In the books, it's not so amicable. Jaime confesses that Tyrion's first love, Tysha, was not a sex worker he had set up with his brother, as Tywin had ordered him to say. Instead, she genuinely loved Tyrion, and was abused and forced away when Tywin found out and forced Jaime to make up a lie to keep Tyrion away from her. What happened to Tysha is a true horror story, and Tyrion strikes Jaime upon finding out and swears he'll kill him if he ever sees him again.
True To The Books: Jerk With A Heart Of Gold
The trope 'jerk with a heart of gold' is pretty applicable to both versions of Jaime. This doesn't mean that he's a pure, great person — he has his very problematic areas — just that he's not as much of a villain as he initially seems, and actually has pretty good intentions. At least some of the time, when it comes to his family and saving King's Landing.
Not True To The Books: Doesn't Treat Women Well
In the show, Jaime doesn't treat women very well. In fact, he assaults Cersei next to her son's dead body.
In the books, he is vocally against the ill-treatment of women, and references Aerys' abuse of Rhaella he had to listen to, always hating himself for never having stepped in. He's still downright nasty to Brienne but when it comes to laying a hand on them, he would never, and takes a staunchly angry approach against those who do.
True To The Books: Definitely Still Often A Bad Guy
Jaime has his irable traits but at least both versions make it clear that he's steeped in many shades of grey. In the books, he tries to hunt down Arya Stark to cut off her hand for Cersei (as he reflects on in A Feast for Crows), and show Jaime is pretty dark too. Although he turns out to be a complex and hurt person, he's not exactly a hero.
Not True To The Books: How He Killed Aerys
In the show, Jaime stabs Aerys in the back to kill him, making it seem all the more dishonorable. In the books, he actually grabs him and slits his throat.
The show clearly does this to make the regicide look worse, but the book has a more dramatic effect. It's a small change, but it makes the story take a different tone.
True To The Books: His Hate For The Starks
Jaime absolutely despises the Starks because of Ned Stark's judgment towards him after his murder of Aerys, and this is true of both the book and show. The book delves a little further into why, and just how he feels whenever Ned Stark looks at him, but the hatred itself is pretty accurate.
The only difference is that in the show, Ned and Jaime are pretty well-matched in a swordfight. The books make it sharply clear that Jaime is a far superior swordsman to Ned, and any encounter between them has to end pretty quickly as Ned couldn't truly stand against Jaime.
Not True To The Books: His Determination To Save Sansa Stark
In the books, there's a far bigger sense that Jaime actually wants to save Sansa, and he's still hunting for her by the end of A Dance with Dragons. He sees her as his last chance for honor, and finds himself desperate. He even chooses to continue his search for her over returning to Cersei when it seems certain she will die at her trial.