Game of Thrones

[Ilosar]

Also, why doesn't mr King in the North have ANY precautions against this sort of thing. He's winning against the richest house in the land, wouldn't he expect a backstab? Wouldn't he expect them to get all underhanded on him? I would have a big bodyguard shadow me at all times, especially in the court of a man who's family's loyalty is in question.

Simply put, it all made perfect sense in the books, but some omissions made the TV presentation seem a little questionable.

For one thing, the events of the Red Wedding were a violation of Guest Right, a sacred custom in Westeros that had, until then, NEVER been broken. Once Lord Frey shared his bread and salt, that was supposed to seal the deal that his guests were safe. So NO ONE saw this coming for that very simple reason. Also bear in mind that the Starks are PATHOLOGICALLY honor-bound people. Northerners in general are much more strict to live by social codes, but the Starks of the North were the family who embodied these characteristics the most extremely. Robb letting his guard down and not expecting underhanded backstabs was because he was an honorable, direct and honest person. He was physically a Tully, but personality-wise he was damn near a carbon copy of his father. Just like Ned, who failed to protect his House during the Stark Purge of King's Landing BECAUSE he was approaching the coup in a direct and honest fashion- thus exposing himself to the underhanded deceit awaiting him -Robb did precisely the same thing. He COULDN'T have seen it coming, because such dishonesty just wasn't in his nature.

As for the bodyguard... he DID have one, but the actor wasn't present for seasons 2 and 3, so the character wasn't around, sadly. That character being Greatjon Umber. For those who may have forgotten the character, he was that giant of a man who Grey Wind bit 2 fingers off of when he briefly challenged Robb's leadership in Season 1, only to laugh off the whole thing and end up being one of Robb's strongest supporters, and also, in the TV show, was the first to bend the knee to Robb as his new King in the North. He was seated at the banquet with Robb, when the Freys and Boltons turned on the Northern Loyalists, and he was one of the targets of the massacre that managed to put up a very commendable, strong resistance. However, obviously, his efforts failed to save King Robb. In the show, Blackfish Tully essentially covered an amalgamation of his role and that of the Greatjon.

Following the massacre, lots of people's attitudes changed about old customs and how reliable such things as Guest Right even are (especially where the Freys are concerned), and a growing sentiment shows up where people talk of seeing all of the atrocities committed against the Starks with the phrase, "The North Remembers", and I liked seeing a hint of this in the preview for the season finale with Tyrion commenting "The Northerners will never forget this". Indeed, they won't... =)

Yeah, the show didn't dwell on it but the Red Wedding's absolute worst aspect is the violation of guest right. It's more ancient than the most ancient traditions, even the Wildlings respect it. It's also why, in the books, Craster being killed by the Night's Watch deserter is so wrong; yeah he's a scumbag, but the Watch were his guests all the same.

By doing this, the Freys and Boltons basically made themselves pariahs. Had they killed Robb on the battlefield, or poison or ''hunting accident'', it would have been less of a problem. But slaughtering him after he was seen as an honored guest? Massive no-no. Even Tywin says that it's friggin stupid in the books and that he didn't expect Walder and Roose to do something like that.

Also, the Greatjon's actor had a falling out with the producers, which is why he's not cast. Apparently the guy has issues, from what I heard he got in a fight and his ear was bit off or somesuch. They could easily have replaced him with another prominent Stark bannermen, however; in the books there's like a dozen, while in the show we only see Bolton and Karstark (who counts for half of Robb's army for some silly reason...).

 

[SnapSlav]

They could easily have replaced him with another prominent Stark bannermen, however; in the books there's like a dozen, while in the show we only see Bolton and Karstark (who counts for half of Robb's army for some silly reason...).

They were always blending multiple roles from the books into single roles. Ser Meryn is a singularly despicable character in the TV show when everything he does is 3 or 4 different characters from the books. Blackfish Tully was around from the first book, but instead his role at the Vale was filled in by Ser Verdis.

As for why the Karstarks made up half of Robb's army in the show, I think that was a little part change/exaggeration, and a large part not stressing that Robb's TOTAL army was already splintered when the Freys abandoned him due to his marriage breaking the wedding vow. In a youtube discussion about the details mentioned in the scenes with Robb, I said that the Karstarks made up half of what he had REMAINING, because his other mistakes had already cost him portions of his forces. The show just didn't keep track of these in any way that made them seem gradual, so instead we were left with "Half my army just deserted me... Damn, you were right."

[spoiler:2cf6b7c989]My biggest question, as a result of the changes and how the Red Wedding was portrayed, is what becomes of Robb's heir? In the books, it's left ambiguous and somewhat mysterious as to whether his PHYSICAL heir even exists, but the possibility is strongly hinted, whereas in the show... his child and wife were murdered in cold blood, which is different. Also, even if his child ends up being wishful thinking by fans, there's still the matter of his appointed heir, a detail which the show just avoided completely. We didn't NEED to have Mormont be present for the scene to make sense with him appointing his mysterious heir in the event of his death, but it could have just shown a snippet at least. If it turns out, in the books, that the speculation regarding Robb's heir is true and his wife was wisked away to safety to give birth to the new King in the North, the show will have a major problem with how they address such a possibility that they basically stamped out and made impossible.[/spoiler:2cf6b7c989]

 

[Tagaziel]

[spoiler:d7da1e7d21]My biggest question, as a result of the changes and how the Red Wedding was portrayed, is what becomes of Robb's heir? In the books, it's left ambiguous and somewhat mysterious as to whether his PHYSICAL heir even exists, but the possibility is strongly hinted, whereas in the show... his child and wife were murdered in cold blood, which is different. Also, even if his child ends up being wishful thinking by fans, there's still the matter of his appointed heir, a detail which the show just avoided completely. We didn't NEED to have Mormont be present for the scene to make sense with him appointing his mysterious heir in the event of his death, but it could have just shown a snippet at least. If it turns out, in the books, that the speculation regarding Robb's heir is true and his wife was wisked away to safety to give birth to the new King in the North, the show will have a major problem with how they address such a possibility that they basically stamped out and made impossible.[/spoiler:d7da1e7d21]

[spoiler:d7da1e7d21]I think the current legitimate heir of the Stark dynasty is Bran, the paraplegic boy wonder. [/spoiler:d7da1e7d21]

 

[SnapSlav]

[spoiler:804fe9d780]My biggest question, as a result of the changes and how the Red Wedding was portrayed, is what becomes of Robb's heir? In the books, it's left ambiguous and somewhat mysterious as to whether his PHYSICAL heir even exists, but the possibility is strongly hinted, whereas in the show... his child and wife were murdered in cold blood, which is different. Also, even if his child ends up being wishful thinking by fans, there's still the matter of his appointed heir, a detail which the show just avoided completely. We didn't NEED to have Mormont be present for the scene to make sense with him appointing his mysterious heir in the event of his death, but it could have just shown a snippet at least. If it turns out, in the books, that the speculation regarding Robb's heir is true and his wife was wisked away to safety to give birth to the new King in the North, the show will have a major problem with how they address such a possibility that they basically stamped out and made impossible.[/spoiler:804fe9d780]

[spoiler:804fe9d780]I think the current legitimate heir of the Stark dynasty is Bran, the paraplegic boy wonder. [/spoiler:804fe9d780]

[spoiler:804fe9d780]Definitively, yes. But there's still the matter of who Robb NAMED as his successor, since as far as he knew, his two younger brothers were dead, and both of his sisters were in the hands of his enemies, so marrying them off would have left the North in their hands. One of the obvious choices (which Robb suggested) was legitimizing Jon, and making him his heir, but this was also proposed (separate from Robb's wishes) by Stannis, and Jon staunchly refused, choosing to uphold his vows and allegiance with The Watch. The matter of who Robb declared as his heir besides, there's still the unsettled matter of whether or not his wife was indeed with child, and if she was, then the Stark line of succession would remain secured.[/spoiler:804fe9d780]

 

[Sander]

[spoiler:5bbe771bb7]Definitively, yes. But there's still the matter of who Robb NAMED as his successor, since as far as he knew, his two younger brothers were dead, and both of his sisters were in the hands of his enemies, so marrying them off would have left the North in their hands. One of the obvious choices (which Robb suggested) was legitimizing Jon, and making him his heir, but this was also proposed (separate from Robb's wishes) by Stannis, and Jon staunchly refused, choosing to uphold his vows and allegiance with The Watch. The matter of who Robb declared as his heir besides, there's still the unsettled matter of whether or not his wife was indeed with child, and if she was, then the Stark line of succession would remain secured.[/spoiler:5bbe771bb7]

[spoiler:5bbe771bb7]The line of succession is secured no matter what, given that there are multiple living Starks wandering around the world. Though, given Bran's status as, you know, a tree it seems he's out of the picture.

But all of that is kind of beside the point. It doesn't really matter who has the 'legitimate' claim, it's whether whoever makes a claim can back it up with the pretense of legitimacy and, most importantly, power. Right now Roose Bolton reigns the north. Not because he has a 'legitimate' claim (though he did marry his son to "Arya Stark"), but because Robb's biggest supporters are all dead, he's the premier power and he has the Lannisters' support.

A few people are already in place to claim the North with various degrees of legitimacy. Littlefinger is establishing control over the Vale and has Sansa Stark to marry off and establish a claim. Jon Snow is in the north and (if he survives) can either use the Watch and wildlings to establish his own control over the North, or can be used by Stannis to legitimize a claim over the North. Anyone with a claim to being king of the Seven Kingdoms can just say that the North owes allegiance to him, too. And then there's little bro Stark running around somewhere, too. Lots of claims, and who wins will almost certainly be determined simply by force.[/spoiler:5bbe771bb7]

 

[SnapSlav]

[spoiler:e6e84dabb7]The line of succession is secured no matter what, given that there are multiple living Starks wandering around the world. Though, given Bran's status as, you know, a tree it seems he's out of the picture.

But all of that is kind of beside the point. It doesn't really matter who has the 'legitimate' claim, it's whether whoever makes a claim can back it up with the pretense of legitimacy and, most importantly, power. Right now Roose Bolton reigns the north. Not because he has a 'legitimate' claim (though he did marry his son to "Arya Stark"), but because Robb's biggest supporters are all dead, he's the premier power and he has the Lannisters' support.

A few people are already in place to claim the North with various degrees of legitimacy. Littlefinger is establishing control over the Vale and has Sansa Stark to marry off and establish a claim. Jon Snow is in the north and (if he survives) can either use the Watch and wildlings to establish his own control over the North, or can be used by Stannis to legitimize a claim over the North. Anyone with a claim to being king of the Seven Kingdoms can just say that the North owes allegiance to him, too. And then there's little bro Stark running around somewhere, too. Lots of claims, and who wins will almost certainly be determined simply by force.[/spoiler:e6e84dabb7]

[spoiler:e6e84dabb7]That has nothing to do with what I'm talking about, though. It wasn't a question of "what's likely to happen", but "for those of us still clinging to hope that the Starks will "win", what might still be possible"? Obviously it's not a matter of proper line of succession, just as Robert took the Iron Throne and claimed it by might, using his ancestral ties to the Targeryans as a simple excuse and nothing more. Clearly there could be a "happy ending" where a Stark supporter, but not a Stark, takes power in the North. But the question was, from a die-hard Stark lover viewpoint, what would be the most likely outcome that would make such a fan happy? Jon being legitimized is one, but the 2 "best" scenarios are giant question marks. Who did Robb name as his successor? Did Robb's wife escape Riverrun with a child? Either of those answers would both provide a solid claim to the North, and fill Stark fans with a shred of happiness.[/spoiler:e6e84dabb7]

 

[Makenshi]

[spoiler:4478b1ff90]The line of succession is secured no matter what, given that there are multiple living Starks wandering around the world. Though, given Bran's status as, you know, a tree it seems he's out of the picture.

But all of that is kind of beside the point. It doesn't really matter who has the 'legitimate' claim, it's whether whoever makes a claim can back it up with the pretense of legitimacy and, most importantly, power. Right now Roose Bolton reigns the north. Not because he has a 'legitimate' claim (though he did marry his son to "Arya Stark"), but because Robb's biggest supporters are all dead, he's the premier power and he has the Lannisters' support.

A few people are already in place to claim the North with various degrees of legitimacy. Littlefinger is establishing control over the Vale and has Sansa Stark to marry off and establish a claim. Jon Snow is in the north and (if he survives) can either use the Watch and wildlings to establish his own control over the North, or can be used by Stannis to legitimize a claim over the North. Anyone with a claim to being king of the Seven Kingdoms can just say that the North owes allegiance to him, too. And then there's little bro Stark running around somewhere, too. Lots of claims, and who wins will almost certainly be determined simply by force.[/spoiler:4478b1ff90]

[spoiler:4478b1ff90]That has nothing to do with what I'm talking about, though. It wasn't a question of "what's likely to happen", but "for those of us still clinging to hope that the Starks will "win", what might still be possible"? Obviously it's not a matter of proper line of succession, just as Robert took the Iron Throne and claimed it by might, using his ancestral ties to the Targeryans as a simple excuse and nothing more. Clearly there could be a "happy ending" where a Stark supporter, but not a Stark, takes power in the North. But the question was, from a die-hard Stark lover viewpoint, what would be the most likely outcome that would make such a fan happy? Jon being legitimized is one, but the 2 "best" scenarios are giant question marks. Who did Robb name as his successor? Did Robb's wife escape Riverrun with a child? Either of those answers would both provide a solid claim to the North, and fill Stark fans with a shred of happiness.[/spoiler:4478b1ff90]

[spoiler:4478b1ff90]Rickon Stark, in the same fashion of Young Griff (Aegon).[/spoiler:4478b1ff90]

 

[Akratus]

So who's seen the last episode, of season 3? Because I have. It was good. Not as big a finale as season 2 obviously, but I guess the last episode served as an emotional/story climax. Ugh, now the waiting begins.

 

[Ilosar]

T'was a decent last episode, but holy fuck that ending was cheesy. After all that happens in Westeros, all the hanging storylines, we finish with (white) Messiah Dany crowsurfing on the (black) downtrodden slaves in the land of boring good vs evil morality? Give me a break. Yes I know they need to end on a high note after last week, but there is such a thing as going too far.

Book spoilers;

[spoiler:8971c3a6d8] It's too bad that it's way too soon after the Red Wedding, because the apearance of Lady Stoneheart would have fit the episode perfectly and would have been a great finale [/spoiler:8971c3a6d8]

Still, the rest of the episode was nice. Arya becoming badass, Theon turning into Reek (Ramsay's actor is so delightfully crazy and trolling), Stannis sailing to the North (would also have made for a good final scene I think), and I loved the story of the Rat Cook cutting to Walder Frey, perfect juxtaposition. Also, Hodooorrrrrrr!.

 

[SnapSlav]

T'was a decent last episode, but holy fuck that ending was cheesy. After all that happens in Westeros, all the hanging storylines, we finish with (white) Messiah Dany crowsurfing on the (black) downtrodden slaves in the land of boring good vs evil morality? Give me a break. Yes I know they need to end on a high note after last week, but there is such a thing as going too far.

Book spoilers;

[spoiler:a92edb1856] It's too bad that it's way too soon after the Red Wedding, because the apearance of Lady Stoneheart would have fit the episode perfectly and would have been a great finale [/spoiler:a92edb1856]

Still, the rest of the episode was nice. Arya becoming badass, Theon turning into Reek (Ramsay's actor is so delightfully crazy and trolling), Stannis sailing to the North (would also have made for a good final scene I think), and I loved the story of the Rat Cook cutting to Walder Frey, perfect juxtaposition. Also, Hodooorrrrrrr!.

[spoiler:a92edb1856]You mean like how Season 2 ended on SHOWING the White Walkers and their army of the dead, and that it would appropriately mirror that if Season 3 ended with its own, South-of-The-Wall undead psychopath?[/spoiler:a92edb1856]

Yeah, I'll agree that the last scene was just cheesy. They could have had Dany be "welcomed" by the former-slave masses and walked to the top of Yunkai and sat on some kind of chair, and panned out, making it seem like an ominous warning of events to come. "Remember this defenseless little girl? Sold to an army of savages and slavers without any of her own say, only to now begin slowly conquering all of this entire continent, with her eyes firmly set on the West? Yeah....."

I liked how Arya's scene with the Frey Bannermen was the show's answer to her book vengeance against The Tickler; viciously stabbing a guy over and over. It would only have been better if she was shrieking a phrase over and over while she did it... =) At this point, fans of the show just know that when Arya is acting bold and strong, it's all for show, but when she's acting timid and girly.... YOU'RE ABOUT TO DIE!!!

I knew that the last episode would cover the violation of Guest Right more thoroughly than the previous one, but I liked the way they did it. Funnily enough, though, the show's interpretation of Tywin is so pragmatic that he practically PRAISED killing "a few dozen at dinner" over extended warfare, and it was Tyrion who objected to what had transpired. I loved that scene in general, but it had particular moments that were just excellent. Varys' reaction to Joffrey spitting "I am THE KING", Tyrion shoving his weight around at Joffrey again (and the ominous manner he did it), Joffrey insulting the most powerful man in Westeros right in his face and the silent discomfort that followed, Tywin's "lesson" about putting family first and the very moment he said "The day you were born". That was a beyond excellent scene! I only wish that Kevan Lannister was present, as well, because he was a character I adored, and some of his best lines that MADE me adore him were a direct result of him being present when all of that transpired. There wasn't enough appalling reaction to Joffrey's barbarism, but other than that, perfect scene. =)

My only complaint about this episode was that it had another "moment" between Tyrion and Cersei, which just never feels appropriate, to me. They make it seem like she has moments of weakness where she'll confide in Tyrion some of her deepest secrets, and that the two of them can have a meaningful relationship, even if the rest of the time it's strained by mutual distrust. No... I like some of the changes, but this one I do not. You can change the relationship between Robb and his wife to be more of an endearing love story and less of a knee-jerk reaction of "I must maintain her honor" folly; you can tweak characters like Dany, Yara Grejoy, and Tywin to be FAR more likable; but make Cersei seem HUMAN and capable of sharing moments with Tyrion? Her complete paranoia-driven disgust towards Tyrion is what MAKES her character!!! Changing that and every scene that flies in the face of it is so far my only real gripe with the show...

 

[Ilosar]

The show likes to make characters less ''evil'' than in the books, Tywin and Cercei being prime examples, as well as Shae. Not that I mind, Book Tywin was an asshole, show Tywin is still an asshole bu he's also an absolute boss. Charles Dance is amazing, and his chats with Dinklage are easily among the best in the series. In fact, I think that's what the series does best besides big scenes like the Blackwater or the Red Wedding; interactions between two characters. Ever since season 1 they had great moments like that, and they're always quite well made.

As for Cercei,

[spoiler:51529fe5e3] Personally, I think they did it to contrast with post-Purple Wedding Cercei, who will truly go off her rockers. They emphasize the fact that she loves Joffrey even for what he is. It's going to be a huge impact when he gets killed and she think it's Tyrion. I still think they did declaw her a bit too much; we saw more of the prideful Cercei in episode 8 when she trash talks the Tyrell siblings, but there hasn't been enough of that. [/spoiler:51529fe5e3]

 

[Lexx]

[spoiler:4083bf2772]

[/spoiler:4083bf2772]


I think the last episode was good. It didn't happened what I thought would happen, but oh well.

 

[SnapSlav]

Book Tywin was an asshole, show Tywin is still an asshole bu he's also an absolute boss. Charles Dance is amazing, and his chats with Dinklage are easily among the best in the series. In fact, I think that's what the series does best besides big scenes like the Blackwater or the Red Wedding; interactions between two characters.

I agree completely. Season 2 was where the show started gaining enough interest that they started blowing bigger budgets on large battles, whereas Season 1 (not at all unlike low budget-to-amazingness ratio films such as The Shawshank Redemption) would simply use tiny scenes to reference much grander scenes, like Robb riding out of woods and into a field to signify that he returned from a successful battle, or the brief scene with the 2 Lannister bannermen joking with each other shortly before being pounced on by Grey Wind and followed by a wave of Northerners shouting "THE KING IN THE NORTH!!!" to refer to a battle about to take place without actually showing it. The show started out by focusing on the characters, and it's kept that streak intact, while merely increasing more instances of flare because now they can afford to, and some of the more important moments from the story benefited from being VISIBLE.

But the show's Tywin and Tyrion interactions have really been amazing. I never really enjoyed the Jaime/Cersei scenes, or even the Ned/Cat scenes, but seeing Tywin both acknowledge Tyrion's cunning and yet belittle him simultaneously, and witness Tyrion's heartbreaking reaction to each and every slight really strike a chord with me. And that's saying nothing of the excellent acting, either. Watching Charles Dance stammer when he said "The day that you were born!" was completely convincing, I didn't see an actor, I saw a character that I believed was real. They really do a phenomenal job...

Besides those 2, what other moments of pairs of characters are great? I don't mind the Varys/Littlefinger scenes, but those are really just listening to mocking wit bounce off of mocking wit; not that engaging. The scene with Gendry and Davos was amusing, if short and simple. Of course the scene with Robb and Talisa were SPECTACULAR and touching, which just made me even sadder to know what was coming (I was still operating on the assumption that she wouldn't have been killed, just like her book counterpart wasn't, when they were still conducting their "pure happiness" moments together)... Jaime and Brienne were amusing to watch together, though really Jaime's bathtub confession was much more about Jaime and much less about the 2 of them. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Arya and Sandor, though. So far what they've given us has been a delight. =)

 

[Akratus]

That finale. . .

Spoiler

 

[AskWazzup]

Don't know what kind of things Arkatus was watching, but the last episode was good and strange at the same time. The story usually doesn't follow the good guys win (as in many good guys in one episode) thing. So i'm kind of wondering if this season was following the book?

 

[Crni Vuk]

Game of Thrones has good guys?

 

[Hassknecht]

Yes, but they all die.

 

[AskWazzup]

Game of Thrones has good guys?

Relitively speaking... Actually not even that, if you'd asked people who are the good guys in the show, you would probably get pretty much the same answers every time. The show and the books (probably) are pretty good as far as mainstream goes, but its no philosophical journey.

 

[Crni Vuk]

I think there are characters that seem more likeable, yes. Characters that have intentions and goals that are easier to relate to, to say it that way. Like Ned Stark, Davos, John Snow etc. one could see those as the "noble" characters. But often enough they are asociated with a character that is not so friendly. Davos for example is one of Stannis subordinates, who is somewhat questionable, or lets say not in good company. I think each character is more or less following his moral code (or the lack of it), and the show is doing a pretty good job at making them their motivations and their struggle believable. There are clearly the characters that are just nuts, like Joffrey and the Mountain, but there are also a lot of gray characters. Probably most of them. That's why I like GoT so much.

@Hassknecht.
hehe, true that!

*Edit. This is awesome. LoL! Particularly the part about Grand Maester Pycelle! Didnt expected that!

[video]http://features.aol.com/video/game-thrones-cast-fame?utm_source=zergnet.com&utm_medium=referral&ut m_campaign=zergnet_187247[/video]

 

[SnapSlav]

No spoiler: I loved Episode 8, but I loved Episode 10 the best. Can't say much else without spoiling. XD

Spoiler

The story usually doesn't follow the good guys win (as in many good guys in one episode) thing. So i'm kind of wondering if this season was following the book?

Are you suggesting this season DID end on a note of good guys winning, or reaffirming that they rarely do? Aria did not "win", and nor did Brienne. Qyburn, Cersei, and Gregor are about as far from good guys as you can possibly get, so their respective "victories" are depressing points for any viewer with a shade of morality in them. XD Tyrion certainly didn't win at the end of the story, he got little more than personal satisfaction (muddled with excruciating emotional anguish) but the outcome of these events are an uncertain future for a man with few talents to offer the brutal world beyond him. Even Jon didn't really "win" so much as he didn't lose everything; but he came too close. The one he loves, gone. His friends, all but one gone. And now the Wall is occupied by a tyrannical force that is so self-assured in its own greatness that, like he did when treating beyond the Wall, Jon will be walking on eggshells around these shorts for a long time to come.

But as for your question: No. No, this season deviated ABUNDANTLY from the books, but not in terribly major ways. Jon heading out on his own to treat with Mance was different, he was sent as a suicide mission by Thorne and Slynt, so that was changed in the show to be a suicide mission from the two to silence the mutineers and Jon voluntarily going out to treat with Mance. The conflict with the Mutineers itself was invented for the show, as the mutiny at Craster's Keep resulted in the loyalists fleeing, rather than getting imprisoned there, and the mutineers were left to their own devices. The show's introduction of The Night's King was NEVER in any of the books, though his backstory was included as a fairytale that was intended to be left for the readers to determine its validity. LOTS of characters that died in the show either lived longer in the books or are even still alive, like Grenn, Pyp, and Jojen. because other significant characters from the books who DID die were not introduced, and the show needed to remain grounded that you anyone can die at any time, so other lovable characters such as them needed to go. The overall plot from the books was followed, but not strictly so.

The show and the books (probably) are pretty good as far as mainstream goes, but its no philosophical journey.

It's a VERY philosophical journey! Take Tyrion's conversation with Jaime just minutes before the trial by combat. That wasn't in the books, but that was a magnificent analysis of human nature that starkly mirrored Tyrion's own situation. He was doomed to a cataclysmic and violent fate for no logical reason at all, and as Jaime pointed out in the middle of it, countless women, children, and innocents are slain every day without any reason as well. It's more than just a simplistic scene about "bad shit happens" but a deeper scene that reflects human nature, and reminds keen viewers that this is not merely entertainment, this is ACTUAL human nature, dark and unreasonable.

I think there are characters that seem more likeable, yes. Characters that have intentions and goals that are easier to relate to, to say it that way. Like Ned Stark, Davos, John Snow etc. one could see those as the "noble" characters. But often enough they are asociated with a character that is not so friendly. Davos for example is one of Stannis subordinates, who is somewhat questionable, or lets say not in good company. I think each character is more or less following his moral code (or the lack of it), and the show is doing a pretty good job at making them their motivations and their struggle believable. There are clearly the characters that are just nuts, like Joffrey and the Mountain, but there are also a lot of gray characters. Probably most of them. That's why I like GoT so much.

Those grey characters are my favorites, such as the Hound. His last scenes were particularly amazing, especially his voicing openly that what he was doing was "watching over [Arya]". And then his decision to watch over him was what left him in a dying state. I'm glad that while the events that transpired surrounding Arya and The Hound differed in the show from the books, they kept his fate ambiguous, and even better that they took a moment to focus on his compound fractured leg, so it seems like one of the theories hovering around the series is confirmed. =)

I feel like they could really stand to blow SOME of their CGI budget on Theon/Reek, because he just looks too healthy and recognizable. Perhaps they could have used more makeup on his back when he disrobed to bathe to show more than lashing scars, but full chunks of skin just missing. He's supposed to look horrific to showcase what atrocities Ramsay is capable of, and while I loved how they characterized Ramsay himself in order to convey that, I just feel like the show continues to drop the ball where Theon/Reek is concerned.

I was slightly disappointed by the changes to Tywin's death scene. Although he was caught shitting, they still made his death a bit more dignified, as he wasn't rambling and drunk at the time, ultimately revealed as a massive hypocrite in the end. They also cut out an important revelation that was the entire purpose for Tyrion's visit to his father's chambers, so that detour of his felt a bit strange in the final episode. The scene was still great, I just felt like a few of the changes were dubious. It definitely made for Tyrion and Jaime's last moment together much less bittersweet in the show's rendition.

I can already tell that I'm going to love Season 5 next year, with the definite exception that Cersei will continue to be the worst and most deplorable aspect of the show. I do hope they bring back Kevan Lannister, especially since his role is particularly important relevant to a certain twist, but also because, like Cersei and Pycelle, with Tywin gone they all rise to prominence in different ways. But I just want to see the scene in which Kevan shames Cersei. I really, REALLY want to see that, so so desperately. I need that. So please, Little Head Big Head, bring Kevan back, even if you have to recast him, and grant me this one solitary delight! =D