Game of Thrones: Show vs. Books

louisey112
louisey112 Posts: 573 Member
in Chit-Chat
I hate to say this because I’m a huge fan of the show, but I think I would enjoy the show so much better if I didn’t read the books. I actually just started the fifth book and noticed they brought something that happened in that book to this season and they are changing things around a bit. I find myself nitpicking now instead of just sitting back and enjoying it. Am I the only one that feels this way?

I do realize that some embellishment has to occur for the show and that they can’t follow the book to a tee because the books are sooo involved, but some things are definitely beginning to confuse me on the show …

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  • louisey112
    louisey112 Posts: 573 Member
    Yeah 4 and 5 are parallel to each other, but this season was supposed to follow the third book I thought ... I think they're rushing some things, but that's just my opinion ... the books are fantastic though and I can't stop reading them!
  • doorki
    doorki Posts: 2,576 Member
    I see where you are coming from but I understand why they moved that part into this season since, with the nature of TV viewers, they cannot have characters disappear like they do in the book. (If we are talking about the same thing)
  • Lone_Wolf70
    Lone_Wolf70 Posts: 2,820 Member
    I think this season is only half of book 3. If I remember reading correctly. The one thing I like so far on the TV series is it seems they are taking Robb Stark in a different direction than the book. Me hopes.
  • piexcore
    piexcore Posts: 85 Member
    I don't think I enjoy the show less, but I definitely find myself saying things like "That wasn't in the book!" or "Hey, shes/hes a totally different person-they're doubling up on parts!" Although the things they've changed in the show well not necessarily improvements, in some cases add different dimensions to the story. For example Robb's love interest in the book vs. his love interest in the show.
    And hey, it just makes me hope *kind of spoiler maybe* Shea's story might be a little less awful*kind of spoiler maybe ends*
  • pennydreadful270
    pennydreadful270 Posts: 266 Member
    yeah I find myself saying "oh that's not what happened in the book" a lot. But then there are nice titbits like cercei saying "I heard you lost your nose" to Tyrion lol
  • veddar79
    veddar79 Posts: 205
    There are always complaints...but I've never seen a show or movie follow so closely to a book than GOT. Its dialogue is most times verbatim. Book 4 and 5 were pretty bad IMO. Loved book 3 the most...we'll see what he brings out next year.
  • louisey112
    louisey112 Posts: 573 Member
    There are always complaints...but I've never seen a show or movie follow so closely to a book than GOT. Its dialogue is most times verbatim. Book 4 and 5 were pretty bad IMO. Loved book 3 the most...we'll see what he brings out next year.

    Not complaining ... I think Season one was dead on with the first book, but you have to admit that they are changing some of the aspects as the series continues - I'm not saying it's a bad thing, just hope that the little changes they are making don't take away from what happens in the books .. although Book 3 was by far my fave and it will be sad to lose some of those characters in the show if it follows the book.

    Still an excellent show and I love all the people they got to play the characters ... especially Peter Dinklage.
  • veddar79
    veddar79 Posts: 205
    I wasnt saying you were complaining...just many do and it is crazy how close they keep it...but yes, some story lines are drifting.
  • ACepero79
    ACepero79 Posts: 711 Member
    I can't watch the show after having read the books. It moves too slow for me.
  • Bigpelly8
    Bigpelly8 Posts: 504 Member
    I still think the show is great, but I agree that I wish I hadn't read the books at this point. So many differences and my wife is getting tired of me saying that didn't happen, and that's not true, etc!!
  • BrandiBoo84
    BrandiBoo84 Posts: 110 Member
    Read 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series (except A Dance with Dragons) a long time ago and was super stoked/scared they decided to make a show adaptation. All I have to say is THANK GOD it was HBO haha. Honestly I feel like they're doing a super job considering it's a show. The books are always better ofcourse but they do well I think. A ton better than the terrible 'Sword of Truth' adaptation of Terry Goodkinds books haha. Oh and yes I'm a huge fantasy nerd. Ya'll should prob check out Stephen King's 'The Dark Tower' series. It's incredible.
  • EvilDollee
    EvilDollee Posts: 386 Member
    I just hate how they squeeze 10 episodes per book.
  • ahviendha
    ahviendha Posts: 1,291 Member
    Read 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series (except A Dance with Dragons) a long time ago and was super stoked/scared they decided to make a show adaptation. All I have to say is THANK GOD it was HBO haha. Honestly I feel like they're doing a super job considering it's a show. The books are always better ofcourse but they do well I think. A ton better than the terrible 'Sword of Truth' adaptation of Terry Goodkinds books haha. Oh and yes I'm a huge fantasy nerd. Ya'll should prob check out Stephen King's 'The Dark Tower' series. It's incredible.

    yes! thank goodness HBO is doing it, i can't imagine how watered down it would be on Fox/CBS or something similar.
  • aleesh_
    aleesh_ Posts: 137 Member
    This is gonna be a little spoiler-y so watch out if you haven't read the books!!!!

    The books are so much better than the show. Also what the heck happened in book 5 that they put in this season I can't figure it out lol. I really hope they don't nix the Red Wedding (DO NOT GOOGLE THAT IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOKS!) I would be pissed! But I do understand why the show has to switch things around, one for time since they have to push everything in 10 episodes, and two to make it less confusing. The one thing that made me say "whoa" though was this last episode where the Brotherhood finds Arya and then right after captures the Hound... sooooooo much more happened in between in the books but none of it really necessary for the show imo.
  • trojanbb
    trojanbb Posts: 1,297 Member
    The show is much better having read the books. They do a pretty terrible job of explaining a lot of things in the show, definitely need the books for the details and backstory.
    I haven't watched the show yet, just read the books. But, there was a comment by the author or someone somewhere that either books 3 & 4 or books 4 & 5 were actually parallel to eachother (events happening at the same time)

    perhaps that's why...

    Four and Five are parallel. And useless additions to the series, but that's another story. It will be interesting to see where the show goes after season four is over (covering the second half of book 3)
  • silver_arrow3
    silver_arrow3 Posts: 1,373 Member
    I nitpick a lot, but I honestly don't think I could keep up with the characters in the show as well if I hadn't read the books. I also love how they've elaborated the stories with the characters we don't get to follow in the books like Rob Stark and (as much as I loathe him), Joffrey. You know he's an awful human being anyway, but seeing what he does when he's not in the presence of Cersei or Sansa makes him an even bigger villain.
  • TheRightWeigh
    TheRightWeigh Posts: 249 Member
    This is gonna be a little spoiler-y so watch out if you haven't read the books!!!!

    The books are so much better than the show. Also what the heck happened in book 5 that they put in this season I can't figure it out lol. I really hope they don't nix the Red Wedding (DO NOT GOOGLE THAT IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOKS!) I would be pissed! But I do understand why the show has to switch things around, one for time since they have to push everything in 10 episodes, and two to make it less confusing. The one thing that made me say "whoa" though was this last episode where the Brotherhood finds Arya and then right after captures the Hound... sooooooo much more happened in between in the books but none of it really necessary for the show imo.

    They've already taped the Red Wedding episode...it's going to happen
  • louisey112
    louisey112 Posts: 573 Member
    The show is much better having read the books. They do a pretty terrible job of explaining a lot of things in the show, definitely need the books for the details and backstory.

    Yes, you're right about that! It's a double-edged sword. From the books, you definitely know what they're thinking - because what they do and what they think are entirely different in most cases. Like Dany, for instance, from the show you have no clue that she understands everything that slaver is saying about her - calling her a *kitten* and whatnot - she doesn't need a translator :)

    Oh, and good to know that the red wedding does happen - no way they could leave that out IMO.
  • doorki
    doorki Posts: 2,576 Member
    The show is much better having read the books. They do a pretty terrible job of explaining a lot of things in the show, definitely need the books for the details and backstory.

    Yes, you're right about that! It's a double-edged sword. From the books, you definitely know what they're thinking - because what they do and what they think are entirely different in most cases. Like Dany, for instance, from the show you have no clue that she understands everything that slaver is saying about her - calling her a *kitten* and whatnot - she doesn't need a translator :)

    Oh, and good to know that the red wedding does happen - no way they could leave that out IMO.

    I completely forgot about that....I am sure it will be shown in a later episode.

    And woot Red Wedding!

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