Game of Thrones: The Best Changes from the Books  

Game of Thrones: The Best Changes from the Books

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HBO\'s Game of Thrones doesn\'t always stick to the source material. And sometimes that\'s for the best.

This feature was originally written following the end of Game of Thrones: Season 2. It has been updated now to include the best changes from the GoT books done for Seasons 3 and 4.

Warning: Spoilers for HBO\'s Game of Thrones Seasons follow - as well as how certain events differ from George R. R. Martin\'s first three books in the A Song of Ice and Fire series.

When it comes to adapting a beloved book, or book series, to the screen, there\'s simply no pleasing everyone. Once called "unfilmable" by author George R. R. Martin himself, the book series that HBO\'s Game of Thrones is based on was written with a specific disregard for adaptation/production budget; allowing for certain luxury of content and scope. Of course, HBO and EP\'s David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have found a way to successfully adapt (with Martin\'s blessing and producer credit) the dense, layered material depicting the addictively brutal power struggles found in the fantasy realms of Westeros and Essos.

With one extreme end of the fan spectrum containing viewers who\'ve never read the books and are just enjoying the HBO series as it comes, and the other containing die-hard book purists who don\'t agree with any single change made to the source material, the middle ground is filled with those who love the book series

the TV show, understanding the meaning of the word "adaptation" and recognizing the very specific differences between the two storytelling mediums.

With the show now moving into the books A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons comes the news that there will be more deviations from the source material than ever in Season 5 - which premieres Sunday, April 12th. Entire storylines and characters will be scrapped. Other characters will see their tales shifted in an entirely different direction from the books. Given that, here are some of the

changes, big and small, that the producers and writers have made so far over the course of the first four seasons.

Considering some of the mature material that the child characters in Game of Thrones have to endure, it probably wouldn\'t have worked if, say, Robb was 14 at the start of the series. Or if Bran was seven. And can you imagine watching Daenerys experience her Dothraki adventure if she were 13? Yes, in the cruel "middle ages"-style world of the books, you were pretty much a man at five and a woman at minus three, but that wouldn\'t fly on TV.  So everyone got aged up, and the kids were cast older.

Catelyn Stark wasn\'t the easiest person to like, in the books or on the show. No, she wasn\'t terrible, just not a fan-favorite. And her stubborn resentment of Jon Snow didn\'t help her cause. But one of the things Benioff and Weiss did to make her a teensy more relatable and pleasent was that they had her, at the outset of the series,

Considering what happens to Ned, it would have been worse for Catelyn if they\'d had her push Ned to leave and find Jon Arryn\'s killer like she did in the books.

of moments within the books to let us know what a monster King Joffrey was, the show added even more.  The books\' format is that of specific "Point of View" characters, whose minds you get to enter as the story is told from their perspective and sight line. Joffrey, never a POV character, remained in the background for much of the books, but since the show simply can\'t have actors vanish for long stretches or entire seasons, we needed more Joffrey. Which meant MORE OF JOFFREY BEING AWFUL!

So scenes involving Joffrey torturing and cross-bowing whores were inserted to really drive home the point that this kid was the ebola of people.

The chumminess between Tyrion and Bronn exists in the books, but it\'s not as prevalent. Or, at least, Bronn\'s not as remarkable a character. The on-screen chemistry between Peter Dinklage and Jerome Flynn was evident right out of the gate, and back in Season 1 they were already having additional scenes together, including that fantastic "I Never" drinking game in Tyrion\'s tent. So Bronn becoming a more prominent figure has definitely made for a stronger show.

Bronn admires Tyrion\'s "Grumpy Cat" impersonation.

While many of the colorful characters within Arya\'s journey through the first three books have been shuffled and shifted around, her scenes - her pairings - have produced some of the greatest moments on the show. Arya becoming Tywin Lannister\'s cup-bearer was AMAZING. In the books, she poured wine for Lord Bolton, but pairing her up with Tywin gave us the some of the best scenes in Season 2 while also bringing Tywin more to the forefront as a fleshed-out character.

While Theon was peripheral character in Martin\'s first book, he became a POV character in A Clash of Kings. And rightfully so given his epic storyline. But Benioff and Weiss decided to make Theon a bit more sympathetic on the show than he came off in the books when he decided to turn his back on Robb Stark and join his father in raiding the Northern shores. So Theon actually wrestled with his decision on screen, even writing a note to Robb, warning him about his father\'s plan and advising him to head back North to protect the land.

But Theon wound up burning the note, choosing the side of Greyjoy over Stark. A small moment, but it meant a lot in so far that it let us all in on his internal crisis of conscience.

The Biggest Secrets from the Latest Game of Thrones Trailer - Season 5 Trailer #2 Breakdown

More great changes, including the return of Daenery\'s "sun and stars," on page 2...

Season 4 Differences, Season 3 Differences, Season 2 Differences, Season 1 Differences,

House Stark, House Tully, House Lannister, House Baratheon, House Targaryens, House Greyjoy,

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