[BOOK SPOILERS] What would you like for the TV show to change?

[jasonkramer]

Let Cat stay dead.

i agree. the woman just needs to stay dead. reminds me of a vampire and there are simply too many of those in modern entertainment. granted she aint drinking blood, at least not yet anyway.

[Joe Reed]

First, I agree that it was a good move to age the kids up.

I agree with this so much that instead of placing the /quote tag I almost wrote /agree which would have resulted in a crappy looking post on my part.

The Qartheen have a tendency to have women walk around with one exposed breast. They also cry all the time. It might be best to remove those two cultrual traits of Qarth.

Yeah HBO if anything want more TA but it seems like Emilia Clarke has some nakedness quota that stifles her to only getting naked for two episodes so maybe Dany won't wear this dress but other chicks will.

I thought the crying was the funniest thing in the book, just anything would make a person cry and they would still be able to keep a straight face. But I can see this being left out because the way it was used it seemed like it was only a character trait for that one guy who kept wanting to marry Dany (sorry I forgot his name).

- Davos never gets strunted on an island. He just swims under the chain and is picked up by one of the Lyseni boats there and then. I'm fairly confident they'll do this.

- I suspect they'll do this to save time, its not something I particularly want - I imagine they'll scrap the subplot with Storm's End not yielding to Stannis even after Renly's death, and combine the scene where Melisandre births the shadow baby with the scene where Renly is killed. Storm's End then opens its gate automatically.

Awwwww but that was such an awesome cliffhanger and ending to that chapter, Davos floating away from a sinking ship and dying crew leaving his fate unknown until he gets rescued in ASOS. Doesn't he also have kind of a religious experience on the island too?

Biggest change I want to see will be from AFFC. Cut out most of Brienne's journey. Hell, cut out Podrick for all I care. Most important of all though, cut out Cersei's childhood prophecies. I felt like I was reading some other fantasy book than ASOIAF when I first read about Cersei's doom.

I think that this is pretty important to the books, it explains the paranoia behind her actions and makes her love for her children seem more demented, for a lack of a better word. She does these horrible things not just because she loves her kids but because she is so afraid of them dying as per the prophecy as well.

I hope Bronn doesn't betray Tyrion. Or at the very least, redeems himself by helping Tyrion escape King's Landing at the end of SOS. I don't know, to me, the end of their friendship was just too abrupt in the books and I didn't like the notion that Bronn really in fact was only in it for the money and titles.

I don't think that Bronn betrayed Tyrion at all. Like Tyrion said to Pod afterward, Bronn was being a black-hearted guy, that was what Tyrion liked about him. They ended kind of abrupt though I agree with that, but Bronn totally named the bastard Tyrion because he knew his extra-short buddy would have gotten a kick out of it for oh so many different reasons.

IMHO:

The Nimble Dick stuff can be cut. And Amory Lorch confused me a little in the book, it would be a lot more concise if it was solely the Moutain doing all the douchebaggery in the Riverlands.

[The Mountain That Glides]

I don't think they should cut Amory Lorch, but they should change his role. Make him the almost-as-sadistic-second-in-command to Gregor. There's no sense having 18 different soldiers that Arya hates; it can be cut down to Gregor, Lorch, The Tickler, and maybe Raff or Polliver. Gregor can lead both attacks, and Lorch can just pop in there to do random douchebag stuff. Then when Gregor leaves Harrenhal, he puts Lorch in charge.

The reason I suggest this is that way he doesn't need to be cut altogether, but he isn't a second unit either. He can be a smaller role. But cutting him all together puts all the heat on Gregor, and Gregor won't get what's coming for 2-3 more seasons, so there needs to be a bad guy that gets, oh...I dunno, eaten by a bear, or something. Just for viewer satisfaction for screwing with Arya.

[Vikingkingq]

I don't think they should cut Amory Lorch, but they should change his role. Make him the almost-as-sadistic-second-in-command to Gregor. There's no sense having 18 different soldiers that Arya hates; it can be cut down to Gregor, Lorch, The Tickler, and maybe Raff or Polliver. Gregor can lead both attacks, and Lorch can just pop in there to do random douchebag stuff. Then when Gregor leaves Harrenhal, he puts Lorch in charge.

The reason I suggest this is that way he doesn't need to be cut altogether, but he isn't a second unit either. He can be a smaller role. But cutting him all together puts all the heat on Gregor, and Gregor won't get what's coming for 2-3 more seasons, so there needs to be a bad guy that gets, oh...I dunno, eaten by a bear, or something. Just for viewer satisfaction for screwing with Arya.

Personally, I'd recommend fusing Lorch and Hoat. While making Gregor the mainstay makes sense, the issue is that you need someone on hand who'll amputate Jaime's hand - and Lorch is a Lannister man. The tricky thing is that I don't know if Hoat's lisp will really play on TV or whether it will make him too silly to take seriously.

[merveilleux]

Integrate everything, FFS. One of the most maddening things about the books is the convoluted timeline/chronology.

[ferthepoet]

something minor but I want them to keep Doreah and have her permanently replace Jiqui, and be given Irri's role as the handmaiden who gets it on with Dany. This is of course because I find the actress who plays Doreah incredibly gorgeous

[The Mountain That Glides]

Merging Hoat and Lorch could work, yes. I don't think Hoat will end up having a lisp, but if they don't have Gregor attack Arya twice, once could be the Brave Companions and the other could be Gregor. Then Gregor takes her to Harrenhal and later the BC go there too, then Gregor leaves to go do some rapin' and stuff.

And I think they should kill off Jhiqui, too. Sure, she hasn't been on screen for like 8 episodes, so viewers will be like, "Who's that?" but that's not really the point. The death of a handmaid is just for Dany's character growth. After all, it's assumed that Jhiqui has been around and she has a bond with Dany, we just haven't seen it. Keeping Doreah around just seems like a better move, IMO.

They should also condense Dany's season 2 arc. Something like:

Episode one: Wandering through the deserter, Jhiqui dies, reach abandoned city and sends out bloodriders. One final shot of Rakharo returning with Xaro and/or Pyat near end of ep.

Episode two: We meet Xaro and/or Pyat with more depth, see how they are awed by her and whatnot. The rivalry between the two can be established or omitted altogether. She gets paraded around Qarth because of her dragons.

Episode three: One scene, she goes to the rich dudes and gets rejected. Jorah has some added scene with Rakharo or Doreah or somebody just for something to do.

Episode 5: Xaro proposes and Dany rejects him, gets kicked out of his house. Dany goes to Pyat, and Pyat tells her about the House of the Undying.

Episode 6: House of the Undying.

Episode 7: Dany prepares to leave, gets attacked by a Faceless man (I think that because FM are important we should only have one league of prof. killers. The sorrowful men only appear in this one part so far, it makes more sense for it to be a FM) and Barristan Arstan and Strong Belwas save her, tell her about ships.

Episode 8: On the ships, Jorah says he doesn't trust Arstan and Belwas, tells her to go to Slaver's Bay to get Unsullied. Dragons fly for the first time, Jorah kisses her.

Episode 10: Dany meets with the slaver in Astapor and discusses the Unsullied. We meet Missendri (Sp?) who has been aged up for the series. Dany wants all of the Unsullied, and agrees to give up all her goods and her dragons. The last scene of the season is Dany giving up Drogon, then Drogon burning the dude's face off and the Unsullied rising in revolt.

That gives Dany something to do near the end of the season that is actually interesting, and cuts out a chunk of SoS as well.

[mr. peasant]

something minor but I want them to keep Doreah and have her permanently replace Jiqui, and be given Irri's role as the handmaiden who gets it on with Dany. This is of course because I find the actress who plays Doreah incredibly gorgeous

Actually, I would really like them to expand on Daenerys' other two Dothraki followers; giving them more personality and things to do. The actors playing Rakharo and Irri have quite good chemistry with one another (their squabbling over what to feed Daenerys when she was fed up of horse meat was hilarious); and seem quite capable actors in their own right.

[Vikingkingq]

I'd condense Dany's story even more:

- cut out the ruined city - go straight from desert to Qarth.

- Condense Qarth into two episodes: one in which she gets rejected by merchants, and then the House of the Undying.

- then arrival in Astrapor, then burnination/liberation - which would be a great Episode 10 capper, giving a nice arc focused on the problem of getting Dany an army.

This also would free up some time to do more character work developing the relationships between Dany, Jorah, Belwas, Arthas, etc.

[Ishuäl]

While I would not support any major changes to the story, except for cutting less important scenes on account of limited time per episode, there is one thing I have always hoped they'll leave out: The rainbow cloaks, together with the whole name of the Rainbow guard. I mean, come on. It was ok in the books where Loras/Renly was only hinted, but seeing as we had that element in the show it would be ridiculous.

[ferthepoet]

While I would not support any major changes to the story, except for cutting less important scenes on account of limited time per episode, there is one thing I have always hoped they'll leave out: The rainbow cloaks, together with the whole name of the Rainbow guard. I mean, come on. It was ok in the books where Loras/Renly was only hinted, but seeing as we had that element in the show it would be ridiculous.

I'm o.k with them changing the name to simply Renlys Kingsguard, but a change I really want is to see Loras killing the other three raimbow guards guys instead of it happening off screen

[Canadastark]

Hey gang,

Long time reader. First day posting. Check out my post in the "funny death game" thread and please provide comments.

As for book to screen changes, I have a small wishlist....

1. I want more one on one fight scenes. Even if they never really happened. I loved the fight scenes with Ned/Jaime and Drogo's Fatality and Jorah's defending the tent. Even if they use canon fodder character's I want to see badassery from including but not limited to:

-Robb

-Loras

-Hound

-Brienne

2. Flashbacks. Not nitpicky about how or when, I just want to see certain events from history. There is such a rich backstory that it would be a crime to ignore:

-Tower of Joy (obviously)

-Barristan Selmy historical badassery (even him killing goldcloaks while leaving KL)

-Rhaegar vs Robert

-Some Targarean faces (Aerys, Dragonknight, Egg)

-Sack of King's Landing

-Some of John Aryns doings whilst alive (especially at the Eyrie)

There's just so many characters I wat to know more about :(

3. More cinematography. That's not a knock on the current product. Actually the opposite. I like it so much I want more. I would love sweeping shots of the different regions....like the opening but not animated.

4. More original scenes and longer seasons (the latter being very unlikely but hey, it's a wishlist). Loved the spy offs b/t Varys and Littlefinger. I'm in the small camp of liking his casting. I would love more quotable new scenes such as "....you lie awake at night, fearing my gash..."

Comments welcome.

Cheers

[Dolf]

Sink the Iron Islands. That is, cut the Greyjoy story lines to the absolute minimum necessary to support Theon's plot line; ditch the whole dynastic kerfuffle; and cut out all the ironmen possible. There's just too much going on to allocate screen time to that business.

[The Mountain That Glides]

Sink the Iron Islands. That is, cut the Greyjoy story lines to the absolute minimum necessary to support Theon's plot line; ditch the whole dynastic kerfuffle; and cut out all the ironmen possible. There's just too much going on to allocate screen time to that business.

Yes, but keep Cleftjaw and expand his character for all the badassery that he is.

[Joanna vander Poele]

Better pacing. Sometimes even an extra pause before a character responds would be wonderful. In the earlier episodes it was all happening so fast I couldn't believe these people even had time to breathe :P

All I want is MORE DOTHRAKI!! I love grumpy Irri and flirty Doreah and badass Rakharo. More Rakharo in general would be awesome; he was amazing in The Borgias. More Ser Jorah too, being all studly and... distracting. Oh yeah. :bowdown:

[daisyberisha]

Personally I want to see more scenes with Sandor and Sansa than the book had to offer. I believe I've read somewhere that the show is actually planning on going further with their relationship than Martin intended in the books, which would be awesome. I heard they're planning on making Sandor her escort to EVERYTHING: retrieving her for Joffrey from her room, walking her to room, etc.

[The Mountain That Glides]

I think they should kill off Pycelle near the end of season two. The court can be without a Grand Maester until Qyburn arrives in KL and Tywin dies, Qyburn is appointed to the councel by Cersei as Grand Maester. Then the only other significant thing Pycelle does (Accuse Marg) can be done by Qyburn.

ADWD spoiler

Spoiler

His death is somewhat significant too, I suppose, but Varys could always just kill only Kevan

.

[HashRouge]

While I would not support any major changes to the story, except for cutting less important scenes on account of limited time per episode, there is one thing I have always hoped they'll leave out: The rainbow cloaks, together with the whole name of the Rainbow guard. I mean, come on. It was ok in the books where Loras/Renly was only hinted, but seeing as we had that element in the show it would be ridiculous.

I agree. I saw the TV show before I read the books, and when I mention how funny I found the title "Knight of Flowers", someone told me that Loras would go on to be part of Renly's Rainbow Guard. I nearly wet myself I laughed so much, but, actually, it's easier to take seriously in the book because there is only the slightest suggestion than Loras and Renly are anything other than friends.

I also think a lot of the fantasy elements need to be toned down for the TV show. The shadow baby was one of the stupidest things I've ever read, and I hope and pray they'll miss it out as I can't imagine any way of doing that scene without it being completely cringe-worthy. I'm also not convinced that Thoros should be able to bring people back to life. Before I realised that was what was going on, I just assumed that the many stories about Beric's death were part of the folklore surrounding him and I think the TV show should go with that, rather than having him brought back to life again and again. I'd much rather he was the one running round hunting down the Freys than Catelyn.

I also really hope that the TV show follows Robb more, rather than limiting us to seeing him only when he is with Catelyn. For instance, I'd like to see some of his battle scenes and also his meeting with Jeyne Westerling at the very least, even though we don't see these in the book. I suspect that the TV show may do this, having already established Robb as a more important character and Richard Madden as one of the "heart throbs" of the series.

[MyDogIsNamedDanerys]

I'd condense Dany's story even more:

- cut out the ruined city - go straight from desert to Qarth.

- Condense Qarth into two episodes: one in which she gets rejected by merchants, and then the House of the Undying.

- then arrival in Astrapor, then burnination/liberation - which would be a great Episode 10 capper, giving a nice arc focused on the problem of getting Dany an army.

This also would free up some time to do more character work developing the relationships between Dany, Jorah, Belwas, Arthas, etc.

I fail to see how adding more plot events will free up room for more character work.

Keep the major plot events as they are (few enough) but add more character work. Mostly gonna be Jorah / Dany / Dothraki but thats' fine.

[Cat from The Canals]

They need to spend more time developing characters. Yes, lots of stuff happens that you have to portray one way or another, but get creative with how you do it.

I also think they need to start developing the backstory more - maybe do a Godfather Part II type thing.

More episodes. 10 just won't cut it.

I think that this would be a great idea!