[BOOK SPOILERS] TV Series Improvements on the Story?

[A Man Has Said]

Anyone who has read the books shouldn't much like any substantive changes to the story, or the characters, because it often leads to confusion or outright contradictions - something that's dealt with at length in Elio and Linda's analyses of the show on YouTube. (Elio and Linda also founded and maintain this site.) Generally speaking, changing the script is like trying to out-write GRRM, and so far taht hasn't worked out too well for the show runners.

That having been said, they do once in a while write a scene that doesn't change the story but nicely condenses chapter after chapter of character development into a minute or two on screen, and it works. One excellent example is the scene in season 2 where we first see Tywin Lannister. He's in a hunting camp skinning a stag and having a conversation with Jaime, and it's just excellent. You know what kind of men Tywin and Jaime are at the end of that, and it changes nothing from the books.

ETA: My mistake, the scene was from season 1, episode 7

[TheMysteriousOne]

I liked Talisa, but the idea behind her was very stupid and unrealistic.

[Miodrag]

Ned shouting "Baelor. Baelor!" at Yoren was the only departure I really, really approved of.

That was undoubtedly nice touch. But it wasn't a departure, nor change actually, cause there's no way for it to be included in the book without violating Arya's POV, which would be a crime. It could only find it's way in Arya's later chapters, by someone (Yoren mosr probably) telling her about it, but it would certainly loose a lot of impact that way; though it surely wouldn't hurt the story nor the characters.

[Ser Pounce FTW]

Anyone who has read the books shouldn't much like any substantive changes to the story, or the characters, because it often leads to confusion or outright contradictions - something that's dealt with at length in Elio and Linda's analyses of the show on YouTube. (Elio and Linda also founded and maintain this site.) Generally speaking, changing the script is like trying to out-write GRRM, and so far taht hasn't worked out too well for the show runners.

I don't agree. The show being different doesn't mean they are trying to out write Martin at all. It is a different medium and some things have to be different. That's all.

[Nictarion]

The Hound being burnt on the right side of his face. Morally and creatively, it is a vastly superior choice to GRRM's version.

How so?

[Littlefingers In The Air]

Anyone else love Mark Addys Robert Baratheon?

[ductastic]

Anyone else love Mark Addys Robert Baratheon?

I do. Mark Addys' acting just brought Robert Baratheon to live for me, his performance was always excellent. It made the character much more interesting than in the books.

[Miodrag]

Anyone else love Mark Addys Robert Baratheon?

Other than height, I think he did an excellent job. And height - important for the imposing appearance of Robert - is a problem that probably could have been solved easily, just like it's constantly being solved in the movies with short actors.

[Littlefingers In The Air]

Other than height, I think he did an excellent job. And height - important for the imposing appearance of Robert - is a problem that probably could have been solved easily, just like it's constantly being solved in the movies with short actors.

how tall is Addy? I know Robert is something like 6''6

[Breastplate Stretcha]

Ned shouting "Baelor. Baelor!" at Yoren was the only departure I really, really approved of.

I don't remember this at all.

Why would he yell "Baelor!" at Yoren?

[Jon of the Dead]

I like Talisa. She's a sassy, witty, feisty chick that challenges patriarchal conventions in a medieval context.

Obviously D&D had to create such a character out of thin air because there was no one like that in the novels.

It's not like there was a sassy, witty, feisty pirate Ironborn girl who was a captain of her own ship in Westeros' most patriarchal place, right?

(Yeah, I still haven't gotten over it. Biggest character assasination, imo)

[Miodrag]

how tall is Addy? I know Robert is something like 6''6

IMDB says 5' 10" (1.78 m).

[Pinkie Baelish]

I don't remember this at all.

Why would he yell "Baelor!" at Yoren?

He's alerting Yoren of Arya's location, because he sees her crouched by the statue of Baelor.

[Littlefingers In The Air]

IMDB says 5' 10" (1.78 m).

oh wow. They should have at least found someone who was about 6'3"

[Jamie Lannister]

I don't remember this at all.

Why would he yell "Baelor!" at Yoren?

Ned saw Arya was at the statue of Baelor when they dragged him out for a public confession in episode 9. He shouted it so Yoren (who, as far as Ned knew, was about to escort him to the Wall) could locate her and keep her safe.

Like NotYourSir said, it wasn't in the books, but it was a nice touch that could easily have happened from Ned's POV.

[SnowyJon]

I think lots of the extra scenes they've added in for non-POV characters are great. Robert/Cersei, Olenna/Anybody, Tywin/Jamie, etc, are extra scenes that didn't change much but made characters more interesting.

I agree that Ned shouting Baelor was great; his last act was saving his daughter. I'm a bit divided about how I feel about Ned's letter revealing the incest to Stannis. On the one hand it was a final FU to the Lannisters and it also explained where Stannis has been for e last year. On the other hand Stannis puts a lot on the line just because Ned Stark sent him a letter.

In general I prefer the ages of the characters. Also, the lack of Tyrion in war. Same for Arya, Hot Pie, Gendry. I always found some parts of ACoK to be weird. Arya, the young girl, was fighting people off when they were storming a castle. I can't remember if she did much but even the thought is weird.

I feel the need to mention Olenna again "sword swallower through and through".

I have no problem with show Robb at all. I agree with the producers that it would have been weird if Robb (and Jamie for that matter) only had one scene in the second season.

Yara in the season 3 finale was amazing.

[Miodrag]

oh wow. They should have at least found someone who was about 6'3"

Naah, Mark was great. All he needed was some special shoes/boots with bigger heels, and camera angles that favored his height. He'd be a perfect Robert that way, no need for another actor.

[kephv]

Mark Addy was terrifc as Robert. The height was unfortunate, but it was easy to overlook considering his performance.

Ned saw Arya was at the statue of Baelor when they dragged him out for a public confession in episode 9. He shouted it so Yoren (who, as far as Ned knew, was about to escort him to the Wall) could locate her and keep her safe.

Like NotYourSir said, it wasn't in the books, but it was a nice touch that could easily have happened from Ned's POV.

I believe GRRM even liked this addition, saying he wished he would've thought of it himself.

[Joyful Union]

Seriously guys, some of you could at least muster a little more positivity, instead of comments focusing more on the negative aspects of the adaptation. Why not have this thread be about improvements instead of disappointments?

Personally, I like what the Show has done with minor character's like Yoren, Alliser, etc, really gives them a lot more depth. Yoren's speech in particular.

I think that the show not having Tyrion go on a rampage in battle is an improvement, as that seriously was seriously stretching my credulity. He's practically a whirlwind of death during the Blackwater scenes in the book, but I find his incompetence in battle more believable in the show. Same goes for Arya, her fighting at the keep in CoK never seemed realistic for an 11 year old.

Aging up. It always seemed too awkward with 13 year old Dany, and I never quite got the sense that Jon and Bran acted like they were the ages they were supposed to be in the novels.

Osha being more of a character. Apparently even GRRM agrees on this.

I know many disagree, but I feel that Cersei is more full and rounded character on the show.

Vargo Hoat was cut, and I always found him too cartoonish.

No Patchface.

Shireen teaching Davos to read was just the cutest. Davos reading alone was also pretty awesome.

I love the extra Varys scenes, he really isn't used enough in the novels. I hope he doesn't disappear for ages like he did in the books.

Tywin/Arya, I loved those interactions.

The addition of the moon door to the Bronn/Vardis fight made for a more dramatic scene in my book.

The Wildfire explosion was incredible.

The Ramsay/Reek plot never sat well with me, seemed kinda far fetched, I was glad it was cut.

Showing the murder of the two Lannister boys, and introducing them beforehand. Made their deaths have some impact.

Theon writing, then burning the letter to Robb. Thought it was a small, but powerful and effective scene that clearly showed how conflicted Theon was.

Talisa was more interesting then Jeyne for me.

Ned shouting Baelor

Maybe I just have a taste for morbidity, but I liked the babies in the jars.

That scene were Jorah, Daario and Grey Worm sneak into Yunkai was pretty badass.

Jeyne/Talisa being at the RW.

Showing Greywind's death.

Robbwind being paraded and shown.

More Margaery! I seriously love the Margaery scenes, particularly in S3 when she is manipulating Joffrey

The Roose/Walder scene was deliciously evil.

Fewer prophecies. I'm seriously sick of prophecies, and sincerely hope that the Maggy the Frog prophecy is cut.

The extra Joffrey scenes.

Lady Olenna's expanded role I certainly appreciated. Like Varys, I feel she was incredibly under utilized in the books.

The view from the top of the Wall was breathtaking.

Cutting the Storm's End mini plot. While I enjoyed it in the books, cutting it and incorporating the first shadow birth into Davos's trip with Melisandre was effective streamlining.

[Nezzer]

I like that they don't use as many prophecies (if any at all) in the show compared to telegraphing everything several times in the novles... :dunno:

Agreed. I actually liked the Hound of the Undying in the show more than in the books. I never liked the inclusion of prophecies, especially when Dany alone has a dozen prophecies concerning her future deeds and situations. It kinda makes her a more important character than all the others and make things more predictable.

The best improvement IMHO was Roose Bolton being a troll in the show, trolling Jaime with Cersei's fate and later Catelyn in the RW with the mail under his sleeve. It was a great change to have him wearing mail instead of a random Frey and an even better change to have him ask Catelyn to look under his sleeve. It's like he totally enjoyed seeing the despair in Cat's face. I read an awesome post made by an Unsullied saying that's how Roose flays, mentally instead of physcially, like his son does. Roose has become my top favorite character in the show this season. Fantastic actor and very well-written character.