# Game of Thrones - Noteable differences between the book and the show so far (chock full of spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 25, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-noteable-differences-between-the-book-and-the-show-so-far-chock-full-of-spoilers/583205 "2011-05-25T21:25:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-noteable-differences-between-the-book-and-the-show-so-far-chock-full-of-spoilers/583205/81 "2011-06-01T12:31:34Z")
It’s both though. Even falling down drunk, getting killed isn’t assured. Hell, what if they never found a boar? What if Robert got bored? In the book I’m pretty sure there was a plan b, but in the show the only person physically with Robert that wished him harm was Lancel. The boar getting him was damn lucky. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-noteable-differences-between-the-book-and-the-show-so-far-chock-full-of-spoilers/583205/82 "2011-06-01T16:47:17Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > Drogo doesn’t have any bells! Seriously, this has been bothering me since his first scene. He should have bells. Me too. Why couldn’t they do the bells? Bells aren’t expensive. If they think it’d cause a sound problem, just take the clappers out of most of them. ---
**Author:** ![artemis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-noteable-differences-between-the-book-and-the-show-so-far-chock-full-of-spoilers/583205/83 "2011-06-02T02:12:29Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > And **artemis** back in the main thread, I hope you remember that Robert wasn’t killed by “luck”. The man is a functional alcoholic. He was killed by having his wine spiked so that even with all his practice he was falling down drunk. > > -Joe Every night, plenty of alcoholics who are falling down drunk manage to somehow drive their car safely home. Being drunk makes a dangerous task more dangerous, yes, but it in no way insures an accident will actually happen, of if one does, that it will be fatal (as **Snarky Kong** said). The boar could have as easily gashed Robert’s leg open as his belly before it was dispatched. Luck played a big, big part in Cersei’s plan actually succeeding. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-noteable-differences-between-the-book-and-the-show-so-far-chock-full-of-spoilers/583205/84 "2011-06-02T02:39:34Z")
> [@artemis](#): > > Every night, plenty of alcoholics who are falling down drunk manage to somehow drive their car safely home. Being drunk makes a dangerous task more dangerous, yes, but it in no way insures an accident will actually happen, of if one does, that it will be fatal (as **Snarky Kong** said). The boar could have as easily gashed Robert’s leg open as his belly before it was dispatched. Luck played a big, big part in Cersei’s plan actually succeeding. That’s a very good point. I’m really glad I didn’t say that then. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-noteable-differences-between-the-book-and-the-show-so-far-chock-full-of-spoilers/583205/85 "2011-06-02T02:50:31Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > Is it just me, or is Littlefinger’s role totally being played out far, far bigger than it was in the books? Or, perhaps, like it SEEMED in the books. Perhaps they’re using the Littlefinger role as an expositionary mouthpiece or something; I just don’t recall his part being big at all in the books. (Until later, anyway). Even as a mouthpiece, I am unsure what the brothel scene was supposed to impart. It’s been shown he’s a whoremaster: check. He blabs on about what he wants: check. But there was nothing new, was there? We know he’s a pimp \, and we know he’s had it in for the Stark girls since he was a lad. Even the description of the ‘fight’ he tried to wage for one of them is almost verbatim from a similar explanation earlier in the series, though that might have been from Cat’s point of view. > > It just seemed like a really big setup without any real reveal. > Except that Ros made it south, apparantly. In the movie he’s intimately involved with being a male madam to the point of giving personal instructions to the whores. In the book he’s financially involved with the brothels as an investor/owner, but leaves the running of them more or less entirely to the madams. In the book he’s more of a fairly high level financial and political strategist with fingers in lots of powerful pies (that metaphor might need work), his role in the TV series reflects a lot more day to day petty intrigue. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-noteable-differences-between-the-book-and-the-show-so-far-chock-full-of-spoilers/583205/86 "2011-06-02T03:05:48Z")
> [@artemis](#): > > Luck played a big, big part in Cersei’s plan actually succeeding. Didn’t Cersei (or someone) say in the book that if the boar hadn’t got to him, a stray arrow would have? ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-noteable-differences-between-the-book-and-the-show-so-far-chock-full-of-spoilers/583205/87 "2011-06-02T03:11:16Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Didn’t Cersei (or someone) say in the book that if the boar hadn’t got to him, a stray arrow would have? Yeah, in the book he was going to die one way or the other. In the series though… who’s going to kill him? It was only Barristan, Renly, and Lancel with him. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-noteable-differences-between-the-book-and-the-show-so-far-chock-full-of-spoilers/583205/88 "2011-06-02T03:33:09Z")
Yeah, I wondered why the hunting group was so sparse in the TV series. I suppose it was cheaper. It’s funny though - when I saw that it was just the four of them, a comment of Arya’s came to mind, when she was talking about boar hunting - that you need men and spears and hounds to flush it from its lair. ---
**Author:** ![Enilno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58f4c7/32.png) [@Enilno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enilno)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-noteable-differences-between-the-book-and-the-show-so-far-chock-full-of-spoilers/583205/89 "2011-06-02T14:01:26Z")
> [@artemis](#): > > Every night, plenty of alcoholics who are falling down drunk manage to somehow drive their car safely home. Being drunk makes a dangerous task more dangerous, yes, but it in no way insures an accident will actually happen, of if one does, that it will be fatal (as **Snarky Kong** said). The boar could have as easily gashed Robert’s leg open as his belly before it was dispatched. Luck played a big, big part in Cersei’s plan actually succeeding. Agreed that luck played a part, but given the way Robert hunts boar, it’s not that much of a surprise. In the book Ned recalls that Robert would brace his spear and let the boar charge him, then strike at the last second. Not exactly the safest thing to do even while sober. Plus, Robert isn’t in great physical condition, due to his excessive indulgences. Given that she had known about the boar, it’s not that big of a stretch to believe that Cercei was counting on the exact sequence of events to happen. I’m sure she would have made backup plans, but she probably felt she had an dfecent chance to get Robert killed, and made the gamble. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-noteable-differences-between-the-book-and-the-show-so-far-chock-full-of-spoilers/583205/90 "2011-06-02T16:25:59Z")
She was counting on it of course, but it was never a sure thing. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-noteable-differences-between-the-book-and-the-show-so-far-chock-full-of-spoilers/583205/91 "2011-06-02T17:37:02Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > She was counting on it of course, but it was never a sure thing. But that’s okay, because as far as she knew when he left, she had plenty of time to deal with him. He plan seems to haev been to set up a series of events that will probably kill him eventually. Remember that she also tried to get him into the tournament, where it would be easy for a stray lance or sword to take him out. It wasn’t until Ned called her out that she became more desperate, but fortunately for her, one of her plans to off Robert finally worked. ---
**Author:** ![artemis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-noteable-differences-between-the-book-and-the-show-so-far-chock-full-of-spoilers/583205/92 "2011-06-02T19:51:14Z")
> [@JSexton](#): > > But that’s okay, because as far as she knew when he left, she had plenty of time to deal with him. He plan seems to haev been to set up a series of events that will probably kill him eventually. Precisely. The ill luck (as far as Ned is concerned) is that her plan succeeded when it did, when there was no guarantee that it would. Had Robert made it back hale and hearty from that hunting trip, or even badly (but not fatally) injured, subsequent events unfold quite differently. ---
**Author:** ![artemis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-noteable-differences-between-the-book-and-the-show-so-far-chock-full-of-spoilers/583205/93 "2011-06-02T19:58:50Z")
> [@Enilno](#): > > Agreed that luck played a part, but given the way Robert hunts boar, it’s not that much of a surprise. In the book Ned recalls that Robert would brace his spear and let the boar charge him, then strike at the last second. Not exactly the safest thing to do even while sober. Plus, Robert isn’t in great physical condition, due to his excessive indulgences. > > Given that she had known about the boar, it’s not that big of a stretch to believe that Cercei was counting on the exact sequence of events to happen. I’m sure she would have made backup plans, but she probably felt she had an dfecent chance to get Robert killed, and made the gamble. Sure. The luck is that her gamble actually worked on the very first try, and that Robert was mortally wounded rather than just badly but non-fatally injured, or unharmed after a very close call. Cersei’s long-term plan was an excellent one, and certain to work eventually. Having back-up plans wouldn’t have helped her much, though, if Robert had survived the hunting trip and returned to King’s Landing, and Ned had had a chance to talk with him; that’s where the luck comes in (good for her, bad for Ned Stark). ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-noteable-differences-between-the-book-and-the-show-so-far-chock-full-of-spoilers/583205/94 "2011-06-02T23:18:06Z")
> [@artemis](#): > > Investigate what? Arya has told Ned she overheard two people conspiring against him - but she has no idea of who they might be (apart from one of them being fat - maybe). Given that Ned already mistrusts a fat man who has access to the castle, and intimate knowledge of what the Lannisters and Starks are doing, you can’t see an obvious starting point here? Whether he’d have actually found evidence that Varys had met with Illyrio is a different question - given that it’s Sneaky Varys vs Completely Unsubtle Ned, almost certainly not - but that he doesn’t send someone to try to find out Varys’s movements is unforgiveable. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-noteable-differences-between-the-book-and-the-show-so-far-chock-full-of-spoilers/583205/95 "2011-06-03T00:16:07Z")
I’d have to watch that again. but I don’t remember Ned completely blowing her off. Weren’t they just interrupted? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-noteable-differences-between-the-book-and-the-show-so-far-chock-full-of-spoilers/583205/96 "2011-06-03T02:56:33Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Me too. Why couldn’t they do the bells? Bells aren’t expensive. If they think it’d cause a sound problem, just take the clappers out of most of them. The worst part is this means we probably won’t see Dany wearing her first bell, which was a fairly important detail from the later books i thought. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-noteable-differences-between-the-book-and-the-show-so-far-chock-full-of-spoilers/583205/97 "2011-06-03T04:04:47Z")
Another difference which has bugged me \ is the hair colours of the Targaryens and the Lannisters. The Lannisters were supposed to be a much lighter blonde, and the Targaryens had almost silver-white hair. For the series, it looks like they just made the Lannisters darker so that Dany and Viserys would seem lighter than they were. Or maybe that’s just me; I always pictured the Lannisters with blonde hair of the types the series Targaryens do. ---
**Author:** ![artemis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-noteable-differences-between-the-book-and-the-show-so-far-chock-full-of-spoilers/583205/98 "2011-06-03T04:07:49Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > Given that Ned already mistrusts a fat man who has access to the castle, and intimate knowledge of what the Lannisters and Starks are doing, you can’t see an obvious starting point here? > > Whether he’d have actually found evidence that Varys had met with Illyrio is a different question - given that it’s Sneaky Varys vs Completely Unsubtle Ned, almost certainly not - but that he doesn’t send someone to try to find out Varys’s movements is unforgiveable. And how is that someone Ned sends out to investigate going to track Varys’s movements? Check the surveillance cameras in King’s Landing? Ned could certainly keep a closer eye on Varys in the future (well, he could have if he were still around to do it, that is), but he’s really got no way to get any more information on the encounter Arya is babbling about. And he’s not going to get anyone placed closely enough to Varys on a regular basis to overhear anything incriminating in the future. Arya only overheard the snippit she did through sheer dumb luck, and that’s not going to be repeatable. ---
**Author:** ![artemis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-noteable-differences-between-the-book-and-the-show-so-far-chock-full-of-spoilers/583205/99 "2011-06-03T04:15:39Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > The Lannisters were supposed to be a much lighter blonde, and the Targaryens had almost silver-white hair. For the series, it looks like they just made the Lannisters darker so that Dany and Viserys would seem lighter than they were. Or maybe that’s just me; I always pictured the Lannisters with blonde hair of the types the series Targaryens do. I always imagined the Lannisters as golden blond or honey blond, not the nearly-white blond the TV Targaryens are. But the TV Lannisters look more dishwater-blond to my eyes, so I agree that their hair is too dark. And speaking of hair: why isn’t TV!Robb auburn-haired (as he is in the book)? I remember reading threads discussing the first few episodes where people were complaining how hard it was to keep Robb, Jon, and Theon straight because they all looked so similar. Having all three of them be black-haired is a change from the books which didn’t work so well on the screen. ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-noteable-differences-between-the-book-and-the-show-so-far-chock-full-of-spoilers/583205/100 "2011-06-03T04:26:13Z")
I don’t find it that hard to tell Snow and Robb apart, but Robb and Theon look almost identical to my eyes. (And I’d say that Robb and Theon are more brown hair than Snow’s raven-black, but it’s certainly much darker than auburn). Also interesting to see how different characters’ hairstyles get interpreted. A lot of opposites on the TV show for me from how I imagined the characters. I always thought of Littlefinger and Renly as long-haired guys, and they have the closest-cropped hairstyles in the show of almost anyone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-noteable-differences-between-the-book-and-the-show-so-far-chock-full-of-spoilers/583205.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-noteable-differences-between-the-book-and-the-show-so-far-chock-full-of-spoilers/583205.md?page=6)