HBO's Game of Thrones

[FirelordSylar]

As someone who has only read the first book, the changes don't bother me. So the book purists can complain all they like, it doesn't stop the show from being amazing. As far as I know, the Tywin/Arya stuff never happened in the books and that dynamic has been amazing with some incredible acting. The scene with Cersai and Tyrion and Cersai and Sansa gives so much depth to the Cersai character. So it's not line for line from the books, big deal. Don't like what they're doing in the show? Then go back to the books and stop complaining.

I think what's bothering the purists is that the show gets good ratings, good reviews whithout being bound 100% to the source material and that many people are apparently happy with that.

Then they need to get over it.

[Tourmie]

The problem is that Martin wrote the books so expansively, and yet tightly bound, that these changes cascade and will eventually affect the coherence and cumulative impact of the show. For instance, with the changes done to Shae's personality and presence, the Tyrion-Shae arc won't make much sense at all in the TV show. Likewise, with the dampening of Cersei's personality in the TV series, the way other characters feel about and respond to her will seem extreme. I can handle better the changing of minor incidents, like the inclusion of these well-done Arya-Tywin scenes, moreso than outright alterations in the characters' personalities. Gregor Clegane should be a terrifying presence onscreen, like Chigurh in No Country For Old Men or The Joker in TDK.

[Jones]

In my opinion episode 7 was the strongest of season 2 thus far!
"She will give them her love and they will thrive by her side… forever"

[Vader182]

As someone who hasn't touched the books, I still hugely loved the episode, in my top 4 of this amazing season so far. Things feel like they're moving at a great pace, and whatever changes there are, I trust them.

-Vader

[Jones]

You'll always have the book fans in the corner screaming, because they think they know something about storytelling in films and series - based on the fact that they have read the orginal work. Adapting a story to screen is so different from writing a book.

[FirelordSylar]

The problem is that Martin wrote the books so expansively, and yet tightly bound, that these changes cascade and will eventually affect the coherence and cumulative impact of the show. For instance, with the changes done to Shae's personality and presence, the Tyrion-Shae arc won't make much sense at all in the TV show. Likewise, with the dampening of Cersei's personality in the TV series, the way other characters feel about and respond to her will seem extreme. I can handle better the changing of minor incidents, like the inclusion of these well-done Arya-Tywin scenes, moreso than outright alterations in the characters' personalities. Gregor Clegane should be a terrifying presence onscreen, like Chigurh in No Country For Old Men or The Joker in TDK.

That is pure speculation, and no matter how much they "dampen" Cersai's character, it's not changing the base feelings for her. Nobody is forgetting all the things shes done, nobody will forget that she caused a kid to pushed out a window and later hired an assassin to kill the kid. These changes you're complaining about seem minor at best. If it sounds like I'm angry toward the book purists, it' mainly because some assholes spoiled a major thing for me

The Red Wedding(think that is what it's called) with Joff being poisoned.

[Allstar]

Things feel like they're moving at a great pace, and whatever changes there are, I trust them.

-Vader

Indeed.

[Tourmie]

The problem is that Martin wrote the books so expansively, and yet tightly bound, that these changes cascade and will eventually affect the coherence and cumulative impact of the show. For instance, with the changes done to Shae's personality and presence, the Tyrion-Shae arc won't make much sense at all in the TV show. Likewise, with the dampening of Cersei's personality in the TV series, the way other characters feel about and respond to her will seem extreme. I can handle better the changing of minor incidents, like the inclusion of these well-done Arya-Tywin scenes, moreso than outright alterations in the characters' personalities. Gregor Clegane should be a terrifying presence onscreen, like Chigurh in No Country For Old Men or The Joker in TDK.

That is pure speculation, and no matter how much they "dampen" Cersai's character, it's not changing the base feelings for her.

I think it does. Cersei thus far on the TV show is a pretty sympathetic character. I can't predict how the writers will handle it, but I don't think her arc from Book 3 onwards lends itself well to this interpretation. Book/Season 1 Spoilers:

It's as if Jaime hadn't paralyzed Bran in the TV series, but rather did something like punch him in the face or break one of his legs. I remember how interesting it was to slowly get past my revulsion and come to like Jaime, a entire process that wouldn't taken place if they had mitigated that first terrible action.

I also think the casting/characterization of Theon's sister Asha (now Yara) is a total fail, and the only complete misfire on the show.

[FirelordSylar]

That is pure speculation, and no matter how much they "dampen" Cersai's character, it's not changing the base feelings for her.

I think it does. Cersei thus far on the TV show is a pretty sympathetic character. I can't predict how the writers will handle it, but I don't think her arc from Book 3 onwards lends itself well to this interpretation. Book/Season 1 Spoilers:

It's as if Jaime hadn't paralyzed Bran in the TV series, but rather did something like punch him in the face or break one of his legs. I remember how interesting it was to slowly get past my revulsion and come to like Jaime, a entire process that wouldn't taken place if they had mitigated that first terrible action.

I also think the casting/characterization of Theon's sister Asha (now Yara) is a total fail, and the only complete misfire on the show.

Couldn't disagree with you more. Love the actress playing Yara/Asha. As for feeling sympathy for Cersai, yea, so what. Hell, I feel sympathy for Joff, not his fault he was born of incest and is a total psychopath. Doesn't stop me from wanting to see someone put a sword through his back. I feel sympathy for Theon, he was forced into a position where he had to choose between the Starks or his own family, and when he did choose his own family, the lack of love and respect he received forced him to do things to gain respect and credit goes to the actor for showing us that he knows what he is doing is wrong but he is so far into the shit that there is nowhere left to go. Doesn't stop me from wanting Robb to chop his head off.

Feeling sympathy for a villain does not make what they do any less hateful or evil.

[Tourmie]

I think it does. Cersei thus far on the TV show is a pretty sympathetic character. I can't predict how the writers will handle it, but I don't think her arc from Book 3 onwards lends itself well to this interpretation. Book/Season 1 Spoilers:

It's as if Jaime hadn't paralyzed Bran in the TV series, but rather did something like punch him in the face or break one of his legs. I remember how interesting it was to slowly get past my revulsion and come to like Jaime, a entire process that wouldn't taken place if they had mitigated that first terrible action.

I also think the casting/characterization of Theon's sister Asha (now Yara) is a total fail, and the only complete misfire on the show.

Couldn't disagree with you more. Love the actress playing Yara/Asha. As for feeling sympathy for Cersai, yea, so what. Hell, I feel sympathy for Joff, not his fault he was born of incest and is a total psychopath. Doesn't stop me from wanting to see someone put a sword through his back. I feel sympathy for Theon, he was forced into a position where he had to choose between the Starks or his own family, and when he did choose his own family, the lack of love and respect he received forced him to do things to gain respect and credit goes to the actor for showing us that he knows what he is doing is wrong but he is so far into the shit that there is nowhere left to go. Doesn't stop me from wanting Robb to chop his head off.

Feeling sympathy for a villain does not make what they do any less hateful or evil.

Yeah, but I'm saying that [extremely minor and vague spoilerish description of trajectory of Cersei's arc follows ]

part of the plot in the books will revolve around leveling "Despicable Cersei" a little bit,

which seems superfluous and kind of sadistic when she isn't the raving bitch of the books.