I have a feeling most people are not going to like my view of the TV version of the Game of Thrones. To each their own. Additionally, people may think my review of the show and preference towards the book is a bit harsh or prudish.
On the contrary, it is because the book has such a wonderful plot, the characters are so distinguished as opposed to going off course with the story (see below regarding Bran's fall, for example) and having random, useless and thoughtless scenes thrown in as 'entertainment' that has made me feel as I do towards the show. It is easily a triggering TV series for survivors whereas the book isn't. Why was there a need for a change?
As a gift I received the first five books in the Game of Thrones series. I began reading and fell in love the story. The books thus far have had an amazing and in depth story to tell; yes, it does include sex but nothing over the top and by far not of great frequency. Finally, the Game of Thrones built up incredible and distinct characters; something the show is failing to do. The book series is easily is one of my favorite to date. I was a bit apprehensive to read them as I recall when the show first aired on HBO I knew it wouldn't be a show I'd like for many reasons; the main two being, I'm not a huge fan of television anyway and it looked to be just another story filled with pointless sex and nudity.
Yesterday I watched in disgust for many reasons. To me, it was like watching an almost completely different story than the one I'm reading so passionately day in, day out. There are even numerous websites pointing out the differences for which I'm thankful otherwise I'd feel I had lost my mind.
Given the length of the books of course they had to shorten and summarize a lot of the story for the hour long episodes. However, changing scenes and changing the characters personalities is one thing of the first things I saw and felt ruined the show. For example, Tyrion Lannister is made to look like a trouble making, adulterous drunken whore. In the book he does like a drink, but a whore he is far from. He speaks of whores, but he doesn't have sex with a room full of them as his entrance or at any other part of the book.
Not too long after that mishap scene, the TV show goes on to show us the dwarf sleeping in the animals pen, which is completely random. If the book were respected, in that scene, he should have been heading for breakfast after leaving the library, where he had spent all night reading. It is at this point he comes across Joffrey Baratheon and The Hound.
Finally, in a later scene, after Tyrion is taken prisoner and manages to convince a loathsome guard to tell the Lady he would like to confess to his crimes, he goes in and begins rattling off numerous 'crimes' he has done. When Lady Lysa gets frustrated and tells him he is on trial for attempted murder of Bran and the murder of her husband, he wittingly gives the remark that he can't confess to those crimes for he did not do them. In the TV series, he is brought in with no remark but silence.
They changed not only his, but other characters personalities. Look at him studying and reading all night long and then heading out for breakfast as opposed to being found as he was in the TV show. The series takes away from his intellectual, witty value and makes him into nothing more than simply another mindless man.
Another difference is how the feast is portrayed. Because Jon Snow is a bastard he cannot sit atop with the rest of his family. The entire feast is told from his perspective, giving us additional conversation and information. In the show, all we see is the feast; learning nothing of just one of Jon's misfortunes but also, benefits as he describes it.This may seem like a minor thing, but Jon's character, along with Arya, Robb and others are not given the introduction nor background they deserve.
And of course I knew there were going to be sex scenes and nudity. Had they been accurate with the book I wouldn't have any complaints here mainly because the sex in the books wasn't added as filler or to thrill the reader.
For instance (and another difference) Lord Stark and Lady Catelyn have just made love and she is still naked. Once Maester Luwin enters the room she covers herself, only to uncover herself again when she reads the letter written to her by her sister, Lysa, regarding the death of her husband. In the book Lord Stark and Maester Luwin both divert their eyes and are embarrassed as she gets out of bed, nude. To this she remarks it is no time for modesty, adding Maester Luwin had delivered all her children.
This is when the TV series gets modest; here, Catelyn is fully clothed in a nightgown when the letter comes to her. It is unfair but bluntly obvious why they changed the scene. Lady Catelyn is older than 40 years of age where as the pointless sex scenes or scenes of nudity occur only with the younger women.
Adding to that inaccuracy is more than enough rape scenes; scenes that were of no benefit to the show nor did they do the book any justice.
We can look to Daenerys and Khal Drogo for an example here. Khal Drogo is a fierce warrior yet the book also portrays his more gentle side. The book describes on their wedding night how he saw her fear, her uncertainty and instead of disregarding it, he acts with compassion; is kindly patient and waits until she says yes before having sex.
Not so much in the TV series. He sees she is crying from a distance, walks over to her as she cries, and then with no question he removes her clothes and taking her from behind as she sobs. In the book she is happy with Khal Drogo, they are both seemingly happy, even calling on each other with sweet 'pet' names. In the show, not so much. Once again, there is another character change.
Khal Drogo, in the book, is not a heartless madman. In the TV show, however, he is just as cruel to her as he is to anyone else.
The last but probably most important missing link is Bran. When he is climbing you hear the sounds of sex, not the sounds of talking. He doesn't overhear the very important plot the Queen and her brother, the Kingslayer, are discussing. He can't hear any conversation because they are having full blown sex when Bran's falls to the next piece of stone. This is why he is shoved, in the TV series; because he caught the Queen and her brother Jaime having sex. What a useless thing to replace the actual story with.
In the book, far before Bran's falls down to the next stone, he listens to the plot. He tries to get closer, or get out but is afraid he will be seen. When he ends u[ landing, clutching on to the stone, he looks in and sees them. Yes, the had started to undress and kiss; but it is for the reason that he heard may have heard too much that the Jaime shoves him outside to what he hoped would be his death; not because Bran's "saw" them.
Also, it's interesting how in the book he is thinking with a child's mind and isn't even sure what is going on when they begin to act sexually, it is also interesting how short lived it is in the book compared to the series, where they are already heavily into it. I suppose the TV series writers fear there isn't enough bold sex, thus the adding of so much rape and sex throughout the series.
I know TV and movies based on book(s) are usually never as good as the book. But take Lord of the Rings; the books are of course better than the movies I believe. However, the movies were excellent as well.
I will continue to happily read the books as I don't consider the TV series a real representation of the Game of Thrones as a story nor do I see the actors and actresses anywhere near close to portraying the characters in the books.
