Cersei and Joffrey wasn’t in the books, Robert and Barristan wasn’t in the books, Ned and Jaime wasn’t in the books, Tyrion and Jon wasn’t in the books (although that conversation was, but with Donal Noye), Tyrion, Benjen, and Yoren wasn’t in the books. Arya stabbing the table (although hilarious) wasn’t in the books. Probably more.
Jorah’s conversation with the bloodrider and Cersei and Jamie’s “I’ll kill everyone” speech wasn’t there.
I commend you all for your attention to detail. I’m enjoying this thread. Carry on!
Fine. In what way do those scenes change the meaning of the books? It seems to me that the differences still completely focus accurately on the meaning of the books, and are different only because of the medium.
I was not aware that this thread was meant to nitpick to death the differences between the books and the TV show. If it is, I’ll drop out.
Keep in mind I’m not saying I dislike those scenes, they’re just different.
I wonder if they’re going to reveal Jorah as a spy earlier than in the books. They’re certainly hinting at it.
I guess I’ll check out the spoiler free thread, but does Dany’s arc seem super rushed? Last episode she was still getting raped and now they’re in love and she’s dressing in Dothraki garb?
The actor that’s playing Jamie is nailing the part, along with Arya and Viserys. I’m not sure about Littlefinger yet, but there’s plenty of time for him.
About next week: there is speculation that the scene where the Hound tells Sansa about his scars was cut. I’m very curious to see if that’s true.
Where did I nitpick at all? I said it was changed and that’s it. You disagreed and I cited the difference.
I in no way said anything negative about the differences, if you’re that sensitive about the work that pointing out differences without judgement riles you, then yeah maybe you should.
Don’t let one person drive you away. I read the series recently but I’m not one of those who have memorized the books over the years. If those faithful readers want to point out “new” scenes, that’s just the way they roll. At least they aren’t spoiling the episode threads.
So far, I haven’t seen anything on the screen that violates the sense of the books. Each chapter focusing one one character is not being reproduced; instead, we bounce from scene to scene. Which is easier to follow for readers. Some of the things we learned in “inner monologues” will have to come across in conversation.
The Wall looks grim, King’s Landing is sunny (even if you know it has its own grimness) & I generally agree with the character portrayals. Each episode seems too short.
I liked the episode. No spectacular action like what we saw in the first two, but it set some things up nicely.
My only nitpick (sorry to pile on) is the goodbye scene with Cat and Ned. The passionate kiss and the lingering looks telegraphed (or ravened) that they’d never see each other again. Viewers might still be surprised at Ned’s death, but a little bit less surprised.
Well, one of them isn’t exactly getting on the plane from Cincinnati to Atlanta - any journey takes weeks if not months and is fraught with peril. (Now that I think about it, “fraught” is one of those context words that never comes without “with peril”.) I’m not watching the series as it shows, although now I realize that as I am broken up I am allowed to watch things without waiting for a whole season, but I’m sure that partings in the horse/foot era were a whole lot more meaningful and it’s nice to see that.
Even if nothing went wrong Cat and Ned would barely see each other for years at a time. Remember Ned and Robert had not seen each other in like eight years before Roberts visit to Winterfell.
Hinting? They practically pounded us in the head with it:
Dothraki chick: “She’s pregnant”
Jorah: “Ooops, gotta go! Heading out! I’ll catch up with you all later! Seeyabye!”
He practically pulled out his phone and texted King’s Landing.
Zsofia, heck, it’s nice to see Sean Bean kiss anybody.
I don’t like it though – it’s pandering to the TV audience – too much foreshadowing, especially since we haven’t seen that kind of affection between them before. In the book, the parting was quick and very matter of fact. “You’re going back to Winterfell? Okay then, see ya on the flip side, be careful.”
Without the foreshadowing – the kind we’re used to in books by lesser writers – Ned’s death was even more shocking. I wish they’d done in that way here.
I’d be curious if people who haven’t read the book picked up the vibe. Maybe it’s just me. 
He doesn’t have a cell phone. Cause he’s a pothole?
@Jorah: OMG SHE’S PREGS!!!
Honestly, I didn’t see that. I’ve read the books and I had to think to myself “Wait, they’re not seeing each other again, right? Right. Okay. Well, that’s kind of sad.”
The guy has already been gone a couple months and is going to be gone who knows much longer. It’s totally believable. Considering how long they have been and likely would be apart, I’m surprised they didn’t ask Littlefinger if they could borrow a room for an hour.
-Joe
Someone remind me… what’s the full story with the knife the assassin used that Littlefinger said he gave to Tyrion? I remember Tyrion saying that story can’t possibly be true because he’d never bet against a Lannister. Did we ever learn anything definitive?
MaxTheVool: Yes, Tyrion later deduced that Joffrey took one of Robert’s knives and gave it to the assassin. Tyrion theorized that Joffrey was partially motivated by a desire to please the king who had remarked, in the presence of his family, that is was a shame that people were allowed to kill crippled animals, but not people.
I’ve been skimming through the books because of this thread and I think it’s clear that Jon Snow is Ned’s child. I base this on the fact that at one point Catelyn thinks the gods sent six direwolves, one for each of his children.
IMO, it’s a shame that Prince Oberlyn died. He was the coolest of the Westeros lords.
Hmm. I’ve also been skimming through A Game of Thrones again and I can see where people are getting the idea that Jon is a product of Rhaegar and Lyanna. The first time I read it I thought Lyanna made Ned promise to bury her under Winterfell, but boy did they make a big deal out of that. But there is a lot of evidence that Rhaegar and Lyanna had something going on.
Am I understanding correctly that Lyanna was found dying somewhere in Dorne with a few of the Kingsguard nearby? We don’t know how she died, exactly, but there was some mention of a fever.
Agreed. And do we know for sure that Gregor Clegane is dead?
Speculation is calling him Frankengregor…
Ahhhhh, yes! That’s what Qyburn was hinting at about the warrior being ready (or something) to defend Cersei. Good one. How did I not put that one together?