[NO SPOILERS] What has the TV show done better than the books?

[ecliptica]

Hello Westeros!

Firstly, apologies if this has been discussed. I couldn't find a topic on it using the search feature. Also, since this is a TV/book comparison thread, naturally there are no show spoilers - only stuff that has aired is mentioned.

Anyway, what are the top things that stand out in your mind that you think were handled better in one format than the other? Here a few things (both minor and major) that I think were done better in the TV show.

The Death of Ygritte

One thing I think was done a lot better in the TV show than the books was the death of Ygritte. Why? As far as I remember, in the books, it is in fact Jon that has an arrow pointed at Yigritte and while he too can't bring himself to loose the arrow, he's aiming at her from afar and Ygritte isn't even aware.

In the TV show, I LOVED how it was Ygritte that was aiming at Jon and that they were face to face. Seeing Jon smile because he's just happy to see her, whilst Ygritte struggles to hold back the tears was amazing. I also liked how the whole battle was still going on around them, but they were almost in their own world - undisturbed for a brief moment.

Catelyn at the Red Wedding

This one is minor, but I also like how in the TV show, Catelyn killed Walder Frey's latest wife. In the books, it's his grandson, but he's about 50 years old and is a lack-wit fool. Walder not caring that his latest wife has a knife to her throat had much more impact than him not caring about one of his many grandchildren.

[Dragon in the North]

Personally, I felt like the Hound and the Arya farewell scene was more powerful in the show than in the books. Arya's cold stare and the way she takes his money and leaves without saying a word gave me chills. And I know I'm with the minority on this, but I didn't mind the Robb/Talisa romance. It may have been a little cheesy, but it was also necessary and made me care about the two characters more. They couldn't have Robb simply show up an announce that he was suddenly married. I also thought Richard Madden and Oona Chaplin had amazing chemistry.

Edit: Oh, and welcome to the forum.

[midi]

Margaery just in general. I feel like her political aptitude and slyness are better represented on the show. In the books it's mostly just Cersei's overblown delusions that give us hints of those.

Oberyn's arc was much more interesting because he was fleshed out better, in fact it was what really redeemed season 4 for me, after some rather deplorable material like the attempted Reek-rescue.

(The notable exception here though is the fight with The Mountain, which I felt was too hurried and not very believable)

[JonCon's Red Beard]

We only have to wait 9 months for every season.

...and that's it.

[joshua-york]

I've never really cared for Margaery in the books, but I think it was just because they were always too vague about what her motives were. We haven't gotten any hint of what they are or what she's going to end up doing, so I like that the show highlights her political skills more overtly.

[Wyman Manderly's Meat Pies]

Other than Green holding the gate instead of Donal Noye (Which was still one of my favorite parts) I think the battle for the wall was more interesting to watch. Alliser Thorne was a great character to root for after hating him for so long. I know in the books it's meant to show Jon as a leader in absence of any officers at Castle Black but the show was too damn epic for me to mind.

I also liked Tormund on the show and in the battle especially more. If he harred a little more he'd 100% be better for me.

[Janicia]

I love how the show breathes life into characters like Margery, Varys, Pycelle, Bronn, Cersei, Missandei, Grey Worm, plenty of others. I like that the kids are a little older. I like that some of the silliness from the books like Strong Belwas, the jesters, rainbow cloaks and blue hair is skipped.

I like that many of the main characters in the show are more likable and most of the worst nastiness from the books isn't depicted. Those things would be too horrible to watch.

I like that the show doesn't tend to go for the death fake-out or the cliffhanger ending.

[FreeParking]

Oberyn telling Tyrion the baby story in the cell was epic and much better than in the book when it is just used to sort of get under Tyrion's skin.

[Third sons]

Everything about ser jorah is done bettet in the tv show. He is just more of a sad knight and less of a creep

[midi]

Everything about ser jorah is done bettet in the tv show. He is just more of a sad knight and less of a creep

Funny, cause that's exactly the reason I dislike his portrayal in the tv show. I liked him more in the books as the really big, burly, bear looking and severe knight who is creeping on Dany. I think it was a huge miscast to put Ian Glenn in his role based on the book description in general... (I like him as an actor though)

I think him and Tyrion (/Cersei) are way too likeable in the show. They are much more grey characters in the books.

[Udvarnoky]

For me the textbook example is the decision to pair Arya and Tywin up at Harrenhal.

I'll also say that most of the invented scenes in the show are fantastic, for Season 1 in particular.

Funny, cause that's exactly the reason I dislike his portrayal in the tv show. I liked him more in the books as the really big, burly, bear looking and severe knight who is creeping on Dany. I think it was a huge miscast to put Ian Glenn in his role based on the book description in general... (I like him as an actor though)

I think him and Tyrion (/Cersei) are way too likeable in the show. They are much more grey characters in the books.

This is partially an artifact of everyone being significantly more attractive in the show than they're described in the books.

[Lyanna<3Rhaegar]

For me the textbook example is the decision to pair Arya and Tywin up at Harrenhal.

Definitely this. I also enjoyed Arya & The Hound more in the show than the books. I loved them in the books but Rory & Maisie's tone & facial expressions really make them amazing together.

[Lord Lannister]

I greatly enjoyed the scene of Davos and Stannis at the Iron Bank. It was amusing and even somewhat surreal to see the would be King of Westeros having to wait impatiently for his appointment and deal with the ruthless bureaucracy. It was also a powerful moment when Davos held up his mutilated hand declaring that Stannis pays his debts.

I also enjoyed that Jorah and Selmy got along better than they did in the novels. There was a mutual respect between the two exiled knights even if they both did have their own separate agendas, they went about it civilly instead of bickering like children.

They managed to capture Arya perfectly. I was almost sure the show wouldn't be able to pull this off, but she's borderline scary even on the show.

[ADanceWithCats]

So many things.

Margaery. She's fleshed out and, in general, more present than in the books. Daario. He's a pretty cool guy, it's believable that Dany would fall for him. In the books, he's a creep. Jorah. One less guy who is a creep - made me feel for him when Dany banished him. Brienne. The character. Cutting out the majority of her meanderings. Giving her a fight with the Hound. Yara. I like her in the show, while I couldn't stand her in the books.

Many small character scenes. Cersei, in particular, benefitted by them - with Robert in Season 1, with Tywin when she told him about the incest, with Tyrion throughout.

Some plot decisions. Killing Talisa in the Red Wedding. Stannis listening to Melisandre more. Sam telling Jon about Bran. Bran and Rickon not separating until the Wall. Cutting Strong Belwas - especially the shitting-on-his-enemy part. Undoing the 'who owns Harrenhall now' carousel in Season 2. Cutting the Tysha exposition from the Season 4 ending. It seems like I will enjoy most of the Season 5 cutting/expanding decisions as well.

I think that the adaptation is, in general, pretty close. There are some things that bother me (such as the lack of a speaking Dothraki role since Season 3, Yara's cruise for Theon, and the fact that Jon dropped the 'going after Bran' idea pretty soon after revisiting Crasters'), but there are few of them.

[Tolsimir]

Objectively better? Nothing, really.

As far as things I've enjoyed goes, I really liked Tywin better in the show compared to the books.

[AdmiralKyrd]

The Moon Door - in the books its a regular door on the side of the castle that leads nowhere. In the show its circular and in the floor.

The Astapor Scene when Dany gets the Unsullied - it felt more epic for Kraznys to hear she speaks High Valayrian. IIRC in the books, she's riding up and down the unsullied and its a random master that hears her speaking Valayrian. It felt more "Fire and Blood" in the show to me.

Arya & Tywin @ Harrenhal - I don't think I need to say anything else here.

End of the Blackwater - Cersei and Tommen in the throne room.

The Hound & Arya - Sandor's chicken lines, Arya's laugh at the Bloody Gate, "The Greatest Swordsman who ever lived didn't have a sword?!?"... amazing small moments.

The Red Wedding was somewhat more powerful due to the visuals and having Talisa die. And David Bradley nailed Walder Frey so much it elevates the scene above what I could picture in my head.

Oberyn's speeches being rearranged - Having him tell the story of seeing Tyrion as a babe was much more powerful when Tyrion was in his cell (show) than Oberyn's arrival at King's Landing (book).

[The Black Adder of Dorne]

Well, I despised Catelyn in the books but liked her well enough in the show. There's that.

[Faceless Man Friday]

The Moon Door - in the books its a regular door on the side of the castle that leads nowhere. In the show its circular and in the floor.

The Astapor Scene when Dany gets the Unsullied - it felt more epic for Kraznys to hear she speaks High Valayrian. IIRC in the books, she's riding up and down the unsullied and its a random master that hears her speaking Valayrian. It felt more "Fire and Blood" in the show to me.

Arya & Tywin @ Harrenhal - I don't think I need to say anything else here.

End of the Blackwater - Cersei and Tommen in the throne room.

The Hound & Arya - Sandor's chicken lines, Arya's laugh at the Bloody Gate, "The Greatest Swordsman who ever lived didn't have a sword?!?"... amazing small moments.

The Red Wedding was somewhat more powerful due to the visuals and having Talisa die. And David Bradley nailed Walder Frey so much it elevates the scene above what I could picture in my head.

Oberyn's speeches being rearranged - Having him tell the story of seeing Tyrion as a babe was much more powerful when Tyrion was in his cell (show) than Oberyn's arrival at King's Landing (book).

I was going to write a post, but this one says what I was thinking better than I could. :lol:

[Lord Lannister]

The Hound & Arya - Sandor's chicken lines, Arya's laugh at the Bloody Gate, "The Greatest Swordsman who ever lived didn't have a sword?!?"... amazing small moments.

Yeah, the Hound and Arya's interactions were fun to watch. While the show Hound wasn't as... scary or fearsome as I pictured him in the books he had some great moments. "F the king" was one of em, and following up on your quote, "Your friend's dead, and Meryn Trant's not, 'cause Trant had armor. And a big fng sword!"

[Jack Bauer 24]

Yeah, the Hound and Arya's interactions were fun to watch. While the show Hound wasn't as... scary or fearsome as I pictured him in the books he had some great moments. "F the king" was one of em, and following up on your quote, "Your friend's dead, and Meryn Trant's not, 'cause Trant had armor. And a big fng sword!"

Have you seen the Hound t shirts lol.