Top 10 Differences Between The Game of Thrones TV Series and Books
Wait, that was different from the books… Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10 most notable differences between the“Game of Thrones” TV series and books. For this list, we'll be pointing out the most notable deviations in terms of plot between George R.R. Martin's “A Song of Ice and Fire” novels and the HBO series“Game of Thrones.”
Special thanks to our users Laballs for submitting the idea using our interactive suggestion tool at http://www.WatchMojo.comsuggest
Top 10 Differences Between The Game of Thrones TV Series and Books
Top 10 Differences Between Killing Eve Books & TV Show
Wait, that was different from the books… Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 most notable differences between the“Game of Thrones” TV series and books. For this list, we’ll be pointing out the most notable deviations in terms of plot between George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” novels and the HBO series“Game of Thrones.” However, we won’t be including anything that could and likely will happen later in the series, cause Tyrion meeting Daenerys is as inevitable onthe page as it was on the screen. For those of you who aren’t caught up on the series or the books, you can be sure there will be some serious spoilers ahead, so consider this your SPOILER ALERT.
#10: Book: Shireen Lives TV: Shireen Dies
Top 10 Differences Between One Day: TV Show & Book
One of “Game of Thrones”’ most disturbing scenes – at least so far – came in season 5, when Stannis sacrifices his young daughter Shireen to the Lord of Light. In both the novels and the television series, Davos isn’t with Stannis when he heads south to fight the Boltons. However, in the books, Shireen isn’t executed at all,and Davos doesn’t remain at Castle Black; instead, he sails south to help bring more lords and ships to Stannis’ cause. HBO opted to give Davos a different job during this time because during his travels in the book, he meets characters that were cut down or removed from the TV series altogether. Regardless, if GRRM does decide to kill Shireen in the next book, her friend Ser Davos probably won’t be there to stop it.
#9: Book: Shae Uses Tyrion TV: Shae Loves Tyrion
Top 10 Differences Between YOU Book & TV Show
One of the few genuine relationships in the TV series is between Tyrion and his prostitute, Shae. In the show, Shae really does care for Tyrion, and even feels jealous when he marries Sansa Stark. In the book, however, she has no such feelings, and it’s fairly obvious to everyone – except Tyrion, that is – that Shae is only with him for his wealth and power. Even so, the end of their relationship plays out the same way in either medium: Shae betrays Tyrion by claiming in court that he murdered Joffrey, condemning our favorite Lannister to death. While the novel makes her betrayal a little less shocking, the impact it has on Tyrion is heartbreaking in both versions of the story.
#8: Book: Mance Rayder Escapes Execution TV: Mance Rayder Dies
Netflix Binge Alert!!! Altered Carbon Review: Book vs. Series - Mojo Talks
The Wildling king, Mance Rayder, appears to die in similar fashion in both the novels and the series… EXCEPT in the books, his execution is later revealed to be a farce. In the season 5 premiere, he’s about to be burned at the stake by Stannis, until Jon Snow kills him with a bow and arrow to save him from a more painful death. In the books however, King Stannis and the red priestess Melisandre fake Mance’s death, and a wildling named Rattleshirt is burned at the stake instead. Rayder is then sent south to Winterfell to rescue what is presumed to be Arya Stark, leading to Theon Greyjoy’s return to sanity.
#7: Book: Ygritte Is Killed Anonymously, Everybody Stabs Jon Snow TV: Olly Kills Ygritte, Stabs Jon Snow
Top 10 Differences Between Daisy Jones & The Six Book & Series
The first thing any fan of the novels will tell you – besides “I read the books before the show was popular” – is that many characters didn’t make it to the small screen. However, the opposite is true of Olly, who isn’t in the books at all. In the show, the young boy is living south of The Wall when his village is sacked by Wildlings. After Ygritte kills his father, Olly flees to the Night’s Watch, becoming Jon Show’s personal steward. Olly is crucial to the Night’s Watch sections of theshow, as he turns ultimately kills Ygritte during the Battle of Castle Black. Even worse, once Jon Snow forms an alliance with the Wildlings, Olly becomes one of theshow’s most hated characters when he betrays Jon and helps his conspirators murder everyone’s favorite pouty-faced Lord Commander.
#6: Book: The Sand Snake’s Plans are Foiled TV: The Sand Snakes Take Over Dorne
Top 20 Book to TV Show Adaptations of the Century So Far
In the novels, Dorne plays a much larger role in the overall story and history of the Seven Kingdoms than it does on TV. Unfortunately, this makes the Sand Snakes’ story feel tacked on. The bastard daughters of Prince Oberyn Martell, the Sand Snakes are seeking vengeance on the Lannisters for the murders of Rhaegar Targaryen’s children, and later, their father. In the novels, they attempt an easily averted coup to overthrow their uncle Prince Doran, leading to the wounding, but not death, of Princess Myrcella. In the show, the outcome is completely different: the Sand Snakes easily murder Myrcella, their own uncle and their cousin Prince Trystane, and seemingly take over Dorne. For the record, we really love “Game of Thrones” but, like, what the what guys?
#5: Book: Robb Stark Marries Jeyne, Jeyne Lives TV: Robb Stark Marries Talisa, Talisa Dies
Top 10 Callbacks And Easter Eggs In The Book of Boba Fett Season 1
Ironically, one of the characters at the center of the TV series’ most memorable moment, the Red Wedding, is completely different in the novels. In the books, Robb Stark falls in love with and marries Jeyne Westerling, the daughter of one of the Lannisters’ bannermen. On TV, she’s replaced by a much more humble woman named Talisa Maegyr, who is selflessly acting as a field medic and patching up anyone who needs her help. In the novels, Robb has the foresight to leave his wife behind when he goes to his uncle’s wedding at the Twins, and thus, she is spared the gruesome fate that befalls her television counterpart.
#4: Book: Ser Barristan Selmy Does Not Die TV: Ser Barristan Selmy Dies
Top 10 Differences Between Little Fires Everywhere Book & Miniseries
Barristan the Bold is Daenerys Targaryen’s loyal bodyguard, sworn to keep her safe and give her honest council. Midway through season 5 however, Selmy is killed off during an ambush by the Sons of the Harpy. This scene did not occur in the books, where Barristan is still very much alive. While Dany is off playing with her dragon, Selmy works to keep Mereen under control, a role occupied by Tyrion in the television series. In fact, there were many other changes to these events when they moved from page to screen, with Daenerys’ husband surviving for example. But Selmy’s death is really what leaves fans of the novel a little bitter about thewhole situation.
#3: Book: Lady Stoneheart Is a Zombified Killing Machine TV: Lady Stoneheart Is Nowhere to Be Found
Top 10 Differences Between The Handmaid’s Tale Book and TV Show
Perhaps the most notable character missing from the TV show is Lady Stoneheart. Lady Stoneheart is a zombified Catelyn Stark, resurrected by lord Beric Dondarrion using the same power that keeps bringing him back to life. She spends the fourth book, “A Feast for Crows,” getting her vengeance on, murdering anyone even slightly connected to the Red Wedding. Her storyline is arguably the most interesting plot point in what many consider the series’ weakest book. That’s why fans of the novels were sorely disappointed when the fifth season rolled around and Lady Stoneheart was absent. However, with so many other characters onthe show coming back from the dead, there’s still hope that Lady Stoneheart will rise.
#2: Book: ‘Reek’ Is Ramsay’s Servant TV: ‘Reek’ Is a Nickname Ramsay Gives Theon
13 Reasons Why: Top 10 Differences Between the Book and the Show
Ever wonder why Ramsay decided to call Theon “Reek” after he tortured and imprisoned him? In the second book “A Clash of Kings,” Reek was Ramsay’s servant, who received his name due to his terrible body odor. We never meet the original Reek, but we learn that he was very loyal to Ramsay, and shared his master’s loveof rape and torture. When Stark soldiers go after Ramsay for murder, Ramsay trades places with Reek, pretending to be the servant while Reek is executed in his stead. Eventually the two versions of the story come together when Theon becomes the new Reek, but we would’ve really liked to see Ramsay introduced properlyand accurately. Before we get to our top pick here are a few honorable mentions
#1: Book: Ramsay Bolton Marries, Rapes Sansa TV: Ramsay Bolton Marries, Rapes Jeyne Poole
Top 10 Differences Between Conversations with Friends Book & TV Show
“Game of Thrones” never shies away disturbing content. But perhaps no moment sparked as much controversy as when Sansa is raped by her new husband, Ramsay Bolton, in season 5. In the novel, Sansa never even meets Ramsay, and is still safely stowed at the Eyrie with her cousin Robert Arryn at this point in thestory. In this alternate storyline, Ramsay marries Jeyne Poole, an old friend of Sansa’s who’s being passed off as Sansa’s sister, Arya Stark. So, not only is Sansa’s marriage to Ramsay a huge deviation from the source material; it also greatly impacts and changes all the events and characters surrounding it. It’s that ripple effect, and the fact that no part of this storyline could come to fruition on TV, that lands Sansa’s marriage to Ramsay at the top of our list. Do you agree with our list? What do you think were the biggest differences between the “Game of Thrones” books and TV show? For more epic top 10s published every day, be sure to visit WatchMojo.com.
