Game of Thrones - the TV series

[alhoon]

OK, this is a big one. I'll break it down.

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Robb: Mmm, what? Nope, no chapters of him in the book. Aside from the battle with Lord Stafford I didn't find anything on the rest
:/ Nice one though.
Robb's "Ehh? After we win? Well, haven't planned that far" to me means he's probably going to die so the writers of the show have no plans for him and decide to tell us they have no plans for him. A pity, at least at the time he's one of the better nobles (and they're preciously few) and IMO he's needed for the story.
I wouldn't mind if Stannis died if his followers would keep fighting to avenge him. Stannis isn't as necessary as Robb is IMO for the story. Of course, if Stannis died, I doupt many would keep fighting to avenge him.

Littlefinger: Was that in one of Cat's chapters I missed or they pieced it together from this and that, from various chapters to speed up things? Or was it just fabricated?
And when was that meeting with Catelyn? the book jumps from what I read from the meeting with Renly and the news of Stannis attacking him to the meeting with Stannis.

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Catelyn: Well, the meeting with Stannis was amusing to watch. I start losing track of what's important and what's not. I would consider the (missing in the show) Stannis' promises for justice and the children returned important, but even Cat in the book scoffs at his promises.
I like the book Stannis more than the show Stannis.
I also missed the part that Cat is shocked to learn of Cercei and Jaime. "Could even Cersei be that mad?" Priceless. And we missed the magic sword. The Lightbringer is propably magical. The talk of Cat and Renly later was nice to read too.

All in all, I prefered the book's version, found it quite better, but can't say the show's scene was bad. It was just too short.

Sansa: Well, that was done nice. I would again say that I prefered that part from the book.
Discuss-wise, I'm glad Tyrion is trying to put some sense in that cruel, spoilled little brat and the way he goes on to do it. Although I find it puzzling that the sycophants of Joffrey are so weak willed.
Of course, the next scene with teenage Joffrey instead of 12 years old Joffrey playing SM games was annoying. They could well show his cruelty other ways.

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Arya: I liked the litany of hate the little girl goes through. I wouldn't like her to turn to a hateful person but I guess it would be understandable.
I also missed the "history"/fairtale of Harrenhal, with the blood in the mortar and dragons melting it and all. I understand they couldn't make the towers seem bent and gnarled of course, since it would seem very weird on screen and the violent executions were enough I guess.
The show fails to show how smart Arya is, for example her basic grasp of logistics at the age of 7. All in all, they could have done without Joffrey's sex preferences and add 3 mins to show more of Arya. I also thing she's a natural leader.
I don't think she would die in this book or any book. She seems to have been groomed for a good leader and the forged through hardship to become either a great leader or a tyrrant.

Arya 2:
Cupbearer? Is that further in the book? I was at ther being sent to a warty dude to serve for weeks. "Once a forenight" they ate meat, so it was propably a month+ Also, she shows her little kind girl part when thinking of her family and promising to herself to beg of Sansa's pardons "like a proper lady, she will like that". I also regret her growing hate; some of those she hates don't seem so bad in my opinion; harsh but not bad.
Still, she seems to hesitate ordering Jaqen to kill them, in a display of ... what? Honor? Perhaps her hate isn't as strong as she thinks it is. She's not as hard as to order people dead keeping her hands clean. She did well at least to order that rappist's demise. IMO that wasn't an act of hate, but an act of justice.
Jaqen the probably-paidophile however should be in her litany of hate.

Again, nice chapter that. After Tyrion, I like her parts. It shows her learning a lot of secrets and becoming good at espionage. I would say she's about to get her first rogue level.

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Daenerys: Hmm... her entrance to Qarth was completely fabricated. I wonder who is Pyat the warlock from those 13.

Tyrion: Haven't found the chapter with his poor cousin, although I haven't looked for it (yet). Laughed with the poor boy. He wasn't the same Lannister as the one "streching the armor" for Robert in the first season, was he? I think he's the other cousin.

Davos
While it's after the half, I peeked in his chapter... O_O "Since Renly died..." ! ! ! I guess I read too far away. Damn, I thought Renly would be around for quite longer. What's done is done. Seeing him bringing the Red Woman to the shore and knowing Renly would soon die (before dawn), I guessed it was magic involved. But truth be told, I haven't guessed she would give birth to a weirdy dark shadowy servant of Light.
Anyway, was that talk we watched of "other women" and what is under her robe in the book?

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

Also, does anyone know if they've made a game like "Kingmaker" for GoT? (For the few young people here, Kingmaker was a board game (later translated to a computer game) about the war of the Roses; you control a family and try to put your own canditate on the throne.)

You mean like this one:
http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/6472 ... of-thrones
?

(haven't played it, but I've heard nothing but good things.)

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

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Robb: Mmm, what? Nope, no chapters of him in the book.

Yeah, like I said earlier, characters who don't appear in this book are getting some stuff from Book 3 brought in. (also, in this case, some stuff we only hear about 2nd hand in the books, we'll see 1st hand in the show.)

Robb's "Ehh? After we win? Well, haven't planned that far" to me means he's probably going to die so the writers of the show have no plans for him and decide to tell us they have no plans for him.

I can see that point of view, but him having no plan doesn't mean the writers have no plan for him. Maybe he'll be spurred to develop a plan now, after his contact with this medic, Talisa. (I won't spoil whether that's true or not or whether you are right or not, of course.)

Of course, if Stannis died, I doupt many would keep fighting to avenge him.

No, I doubt they would. Renly has made it clear who the popular Baratheon is.

Littlefinger: Was that in one of Cat's chapters I missed or they pieced it together from this and that, from various chapters to speed up things?

Pieced together. It's not Littlefigner who returns Ned's bones in the book, and it doesn't happen here at Renly's camp, but instead at Riverrun. It's after these chapters.

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Although I find it puzzling that the sycophants of Joffrey are so weak willed.

When the mad king set Ned's father and brother on fire, "Five hundred men stood here and watched. All the great knights of the seven kingdoms. Do you think anyone said a word, lifted a finger? No, Lord Stark, 500 men and this room was silent as a crypt" -- Jaime Lannister.
Weak willed? scared? or loyal to the king?

Of course, the next scene with teenage Joffrey instead of 12 years old Joffrey playing SM games was annoying. They could well show his cruelty other ways.

I'm not sure that it was SM games only. Here surely didn't seem sexually interested at all, not like a teenage boy normally would be. I think it was more of a message to Tyrion. It wasn't (just) his cruelty shown there, but his vindictiveness, and his ability to think (slightly) further ahead than the moment.

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I also missed the "history"/fairtale of Harrenhal, with the blood in the mortar and dragons melting it and all. I understand they couldn't make the towers seem bent and gnarled of course, since it would seem very weird on screen

Maybe we'll get more history soon. Not sure. But the effects were beautiful. That's exactly how I pictured it.

Cupbearer? Is that further in the book?

Yes, sort of. though not for Tywin. They are condensing her story A LOT. I'm not sure how they'll deal with it. Why would she have

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Weese killed

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if she never goes to the kitchens? Will they invent another one to take the place of that?

Jaqen the probably-paidophile however should be in her litany of hate.

Wow, I never got the pedophile vibe from Jaqen. Did I miss something?

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Tyrion: Haven't found the chapter with his poor cousin, although I haven't looked for it (yet). Laughed with the poor boy. He wasn't the same Lannister as the one "streching the armor" for Robert in the first season, was he? I think he's the other cousin.

Yes, he was. Lancel. Stretching the armor scene, more wine during the war stories scene, wine during the boar hunt scene, naked with Cersei at the end... all those were Lancel. I don't think there was another Lannister cousin in the show until the one that brought Robb's terms to King's Landing this season. (He was Cleos Frey in the book, but they renamed him for the show to Alton Lannister)

I guess I read too far away.

Whoops. Yeah. the perils of reading/watching the way you do.

But truth be told, I haven't guessed she would give birth to a weirdy dark shadowy servant of Light.

To be fair, that would be tough to guess.

Anyway, was that talk we watched of "other women" and what is under her robe in the book?

I don't recall if the talk is there or not. The shadow baby is, but again, they are condensing things, and making some things more clear that the book only hints at. I can probably explain more in a few episodes...

[alhoon]

OK, I read Arya's chapters to the VERY END of the book, again hitting bad spoilers in the way.
Since she's now my favorite, I have a TON of stuff to discuss about her... which I have saved to a different computer.

I have to say that her story is increadibly entertaining to leave out and quite important. I think that diversion from the story we saw, will be rectified soon and things will convene back to the book.

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There's no way they will cut "Weasel soup" out. And she was cup-bearer for the NORTHERNER lord. Since they had Jaqen in, it makes no sense to cut his part out.
And no, Joqen isn't really a paidophile, I just say that because he's fond of her in a nonsexual way and he hangs with paidophiles.

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

OK, I read Arya's chapters to the VERY END of the book, again hitting bad spoilers in the way.

If you're reading a single storyline to the end of the book, can you really fault it for having spoilers?

I have to say that her story is increadibly entertaining to leave out and quite important. I think that diversion from the story we saw, will be rectified soon and things will convene back to the book.

They won't leave it out, but have and will condense it. They have to. Everything must be condensed. But, on the bright side, even though I haven't seen it yet, yesterday's episode was entitled "The Ghost of Harrenhal." So that's promising.

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Since they had Jaqen in, it makes no sense to cut his part out.

So now that you've read through that whole story, what's your thought on this fan theory: Some people think Jaqen is actually Syrio Forel. (Or more accurately, that Syrio and Jaqen are both "faces" worn by the same Faceless Man.) Personally, I don't think there's really any evidence for it. But people really want Syrio to have survived.

[alhoon]

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So now that you've read through that whole story, what's your thought on this fan theory: Some people think Jaqen is actually Syrio Forel. (Or more accurately, that Syrio and Jaqen are both "faces" worn by the same Faceless Man.) Personally, I don't think there's really any evidence for it. But people really want Syrio to have survived.

I'm terrible in such guesses but I agree with you.

What I want to see most is

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What they will do in the ending, when Arya, the 7 yeard old girl, slices open the throat of one of her brother's armsmen to escape. I doupt they'll show it that way in the movie. Probably Gentry will do it. OR he will be one of the Mummers.

[alhoon]

Note: There are spoilers for further ahead.

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Catelyn:
From the book, she condemns incest as the greatest pervesion…mind the Targaryens that don’t count. Also that’s why the cut out large parts of the Stannis-Renly discussion.  It wasn’t needed. Renly would die so soon. I kinda missed those parts since they were interesting, but ultimately, unfruitful except to make Renly seem as a good and honorable king-wannabe.
I also think Catelyn should have waited a bit before she left. She would have given excuses like “Stannis will try to capture me because of my son’s rebellion” instead of sneak out in the night like… assassin. She should have left Like Loras leaves in the show.

Tyrion:
Cersei seems to be slipping further into madness in the show. Less evil, more crazy. I missed the Varys/Littlefinger dialogue from the book, about “We may be brothers on the Wall you and I”.
And where’s the talk about marrying Joffrey with the Tyrells? Instead we have back runs with the Wildfire. Also I don’t remember Lancel being involved with the Pyromancer thing.

I also liked the “demon monkey” scene. Also haven’t found it. Probably not in the book.

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Davos:
He’s the best friend/advisor a King can have. More wordly than Edd and as gutsy and loyal. Ned would have turned the boat after he put a sword through her if she won with that treachery. He went many steps up in my appreciation for talking back to Stannley Baratheon that flings his knights with catapults when they suggest surrender, out of seer loyalty.
I loved the scene between Davos and Stanley in the movie. Haven’t read it yet but I plan to.
If Stanley becomes King, which would be bad, Davos would become an excellent hand of the King, which is good.

Arya: OK, half the scene never happened and the other half wasn’t really needed IMO, except to show the discontent of the Lannisters one more time. Yes, we figured already. Show us the Weasel soup!
They condensed the three deaths unacceptably.  perhaps not out of need of time, but to tone down her turn from good to neutral.

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Daenerys: Haven’t read her parts, fully but from what I’ve peaked through, the Qarth plot seems different. For starters they met Quaethe the Shadowbinder by name.
And yeap, my father was right.
In the book, Daenerys realises it herself that he “looks to her as a child he wants to protect or a woman he wants to bed”
I kinda missed the parts when she says what she thinks of the kingdom (As a young girl) and her enemies. At times, she seems as innocent as Arya have been, before starting hanging out with Serial killers that is.

Bran: Saw the fall of Winterfell. About time.

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

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I also think Catelyn should have waited a bit before she left. She would have given excuses like “Stannis will try to capture me because of my son’s rebellion” instead of sneak out in the night like… assassin. She should have left Like Loras leaves in the show.

Loras wasn't directly implicated in Renly's murder as one of only 2 witnesses. I don't think Cat would have been allowed to leave any other way. If she stayed, she'd likely be interrogated (perhaps roughly) and eventually handed over to Stannis for judgement. Since Stannis knows she's innocent, he might let her go, but that's a long detour.

And where’s the talk about marrying Joffrey with the Tyrells?

Seems like Littlefinger and Margaery are negotiating that on the show.

Davos:

I never really got the fan-love for Davos. He's a serviceable character with a decent backstory, and the actor is portraying him really well, but to me he always seemed like just a window on the Stannis storyline. Nothing special. I don't get it.

They condensed the three deaths unacceptably.

Huh? They stuck with 3, and only showed one so far, but for some reason it wasn't one of the 3 in the book. I'm curious who #2 will be now.

[alhoon]

That's what I mean "Condenced unacceptably".

[alhoon]

GoT:

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Bran:
Loved that scene. Theon tries to hide how torn he is. He tries to protect Bran, he can't really seem to speak to him in a threatening way. He's more like... advising him as an elder brother telling a younger "Don't be stupid!". In the book, Theon seems more... resigned. He talks to a 7 years old Bran with more respect IMO, and less brotheriless, although he shows he loves him.
He has a hard job convincing anyone though. In the book, he had to kill one.
However, the book stops as soon as the Wildling Osha joined Theon after beating senseless an Ironman, not anything about her and the dream. And nothing about Ser Rodrig. IMO it was done better in the show than book. Not often, but that was nice.

Jon: Nice scene those with the rangers. I haven't looked it in the book. Is Ygritte there? What is that with Starks (or Starkbloods) and their women? Why the women that are either Starks (Arya) or close to Starks (Catelyn etc) or just near Starks (random wildlings) seem to hold all the cards, even when they're overpowered enemy? I mean, Jon, seriously? At least Cercei was pretty and a queen! Theon? Really? At least Snow hadn't seen a woman for months and he isn't a prince!

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Arya-Tywin-Littlefinger:
Ehh... what? Like... what?
Anyway, the other out-of-the-blue scene with Tywin, he shows that he actually loved and cared about his son, not just as an investment, but as a father. A human face for Tywin. And they haven't shown any of the heavy signs that Jaqen was using magic.

Tyrion: What Cercei told him was indeed, cold. In the book it was a (boring scene) with Tyrion talking to the captain to take her safely to Braavos. The riot thing was done well IMO. Although I would have loved to see Tyrion send Joffrey sprawling, beaten senseless. The Dog though wasn't heroically saving Sansa from a gangrape. He cut down some that tried to touch her.

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

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Bran:

Loved that scene. Theon tries to hide how torn he is.

Yup, very well done. The actor is totally nailing Theon, and giving him a depth and sympathy I never had in the book. I still hate him, mind you, but his motives are more clear, which lends some understanding to his actions.

And nothing about Ser Rodrig. IMO it was done better in the show than book. Not often, but that was nice.

Ser Rodrick's fate is similar in the book, but it's not Theon who does it. The show seems to have cut a large part of the Bran/Theon story out, and many characters. I don't fault them for that, but at least one will need to be introduced eventually for a later book.

Spoiler for the characters that were cut from the show:

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We're missing Big and Little Walder, as well as Meera and Jojen Reed, and Ramsay Snow and Reek. Roose Bolton (Robb's creepy bannerman) mentioned his bastard (Ramsay) in the show, but as far as I know, no one was cast for the role. In the book, it's Ramsay who kills Rodrik.

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Jon: Nice scene those with the rangers. I haven't looked it in the book. Is Ygritte there?

Yup, she's there. she shows up in

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Chapter 52, the sixth Jon chapter.

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, though they've changed the details a bit there too. It's funny how much better prepared for cold weather the Wildlings are. They have hoods! (Jon's lovely hair is not going to protect his ears from frostbite.) and they wear white to blend in with the snow. The men of the Night's Watch weren't really thinking ahead when they chose black as their color.

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What is that with Starks (or Starkbloods) and their women? Why the women that are either Starks (Arya) or close to Starks (Catelyn etc) or just near Starks (random wildlings) seem to hold all the cards, even when they're overpowered enemy?

It's not just Starks. Women have a lot of power in this world, even when they are constantly told they don't. Daenerys, Cersei, Margaery, Melissandre, Asha/Yara, Mirri Maz Duur, Brienne, <characters from later books> all powerful in their own ways, even if they aren't in line to rule a house.

I mean, Jon, seriously? At least Cercei was pretty and a queen!

She may not be queen, but Ygritte is darn pretty, IMHO. The scene of her rubbing up against him was hilarious. Those vows still seem like a good idea, kid?

Theon? Really? At least Snow hadn't seen a woman for months and he isn't a prince!

Well, Theon is a known idiot. Especially when it comes to women. He chased a whore on a turnip cart to beg her not to leave, remember?

Arya-Tywin-Littlefinger:
Ehh... what? Like... what?

Yeah, not in the book, but awesome. The whole Harrenhal plot is so different from the book, but I'm still digging it.

And they haven't shown any of the heavy signs that Jaqen was using magic.

Non-book-readers in other places have suspected him of using magic, both for being able to turn the Tickler's head 180degrees around, and for catching up to Lorch so quickly, when Arya spent time finding Jaqen and convincing him to hurry, while Lorch went straight to Tywin.

What Cercei told him was indeed, cold.

I'm not 100% sure, but I think those lines were straight from the book. If not here, then elsewhere. It was very familiar sounding to me. Great speech, and delivered flawlessly.

[alhoon]

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What Crcei told him was indeed, cold.

I'm not 100% sure, but I think those lines were straight from the book. If not here, then elsewhere. It was very familiar sounding to me. Great speech, and delivered flawlessly.

Nope, haven't read those in that chapter on anything else. Sound familiar? That's because they're too Cercei-ish, not because they're from the book IMO . I doupt those viewers that have watched only the more humane side of her would expect her to delived those words as coldly.
Tyrion knowing her, seems really scared.

Theon:

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I don't hate him, I understand his reasons and his thinking. If anything, I didn't think it would be that difficult for him to turn on the Starks. He really seems like he feels he betrays them in the book and even more in the show.
Yes, it's a form of betrayal... but why the heck not? For all the kindness they've treated him with... he was a captive, not a guest. Ned killed two of his brothers!
Also far better to take Winterfell with a mostly bloodless coup de Grace rather than with a prolonged war with kids and old men, devastating the countryside.

What I want to say is... Theon seems actually kinder and far better disposed towards the Starks and the North than most people would be in his case. Do you think that if Joffrey was sent to Ed Stark as his Ward, for 10 years, he would be as kind to them when returned to the Lannisters as Theon was?
I expected him to chop far more heads and put them on pikes than he did. In the book he even mentions he flogged his own men, for a rape and was thinking at various times "What would Eddard Stark do in this case?" He tries to be a good and reasonable Lord. OK he drowned a couple of people but he had his uncle looking over his shoulder with disapproval, and approval is all Theon wants after all.
Which obviously fails when he's leading 30 savage, bloodthirsty vikings. I mean... if you pretend to be a Greyjoy, try to act as one. He doesn't act Greyjoy so far.

As for Reek, I also wondered about that. Reek seems important enough to be left out. I don't remember if he was at the first season either.
There are a bunch of people (a cook and someone else) that escape with Bran too, but they're not in the show as far as I remember.

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Jon and wildlings: The climb to find the wildlings seemed more majestic in the book. Also it felt far more natural to suprise them that way instead of moving through rocks. I wish they've spent the money to do it right in the show.
As for Ygritte, I told you she's not pretty: Crooked (but white) teeth, hair a mess, pug nose, bandy legged. And Snow in the book shows interest on her immediately. Stonesnake shouldn't have left her alive. He should see immediately that Jon was interested.
Also "The first tongue that giants still speak"
Seems they should have added a bit more talk between them instead of her giving him a ... not-that-good night's sleep. Also in the book he let her go without any comic rub-ups. I love the way the other rangers took what he did "Oh, well... if we really wanted her dead, we would kill her ourselves".
EDIT: The rangers seem to believe the giants may come again too, when they hear of his dreams.

And what's that story about Bael and starks and those dudes that flay people alive? I think Arya mentioned them.

[alhoon]

There are some minor spoilers from the book. Some are things I found there that haven’t happened. They probably were changed but perhaps they will show up later.

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Theon/Bran:
Still no Reek, and none of the others that escaped with them. No mention of how Theon came with the plan to present two kids. I’m sure they’ll love him now in Winterfell.

Rob:
Didn't read his part yet, but from what I remember Cat was quite against him taking the nurse with him.

Daenerys:
Her story is still… strange. Up till she goes to the house of the Undying (haven’t read that part yet) nobody has stolen the dragons, nor I saw Xaros making a coup de Grace. Also, by now it should have Quaithe’s advise for her to go to Asshai. That seemed important.

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Jon:
"Did you pull a knife on me in the night?" I thought she would have escaped by now. I read a bit further ahead (mostly by accident) and found out how "well" they have managed to go up unoticed. Even leaving people behind to delay them. Some of those ex rappists and murderers seem to take their oaths and brotherhood really seriously.
The discussion about "WTF? You built a wall and decided that your land is South of it, and we're to just say "Cool bro" ?" seemed actually better to me than the long story of how a Stark lost his daughter and a barbarian bard got her with child so Starks are 1/100 or something wildlings.

Cat/Jaime?:
The actor, there in the dark reminds me of Tywin’s actor a bit. That scene seemed to have been prepared well. I haven’t read how Jaime escaped actually. I read Catelyn’s talk with Jaime, when she said he tried to escape and that’s why they bolted him on the wall etc … but didn’t find his attempt to escape. I only read about the “bannermen” Tyrion sent to rescue Jaime


Tyrion:
Shouldn’t we be past the part where Tyrion kinda orders his nephew taken? And Stannis taking Storm’s East etc since in the show they say Stannis would be there in 4-5 days? And since when Cercei had doubts about Jaime?!?
Chapter 41 was the one with the riot. Chapter 44 is when they learn Storm’s end fell and arrange for Tommen to be sent away for safety. I didn’t read 49 yet since I peeked and it has them preparing for the siege. That scene with Tyrion and Cersei isn’t in the book. And it’s unCercei like to admit to Tyrion that Joffrey is a half-mad spoiled brat. I think they added it to dispel any notions and revulsion people would have that the show is not anti-incest enough.

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Arya:
At least, the first mension of the Mummers. The SLine continues to be dull compared to the book and having plotholes. Arya? Knowing each and every dragon Tagaryens rode on? When she didn't seem to know anything about them in the previous season, when she was hiding in their skulls. Nice...
I loled with the "You remind me of Cercei" Yeah, she was changing, especially in the end... but she's faaaar from Cercei.
We should be around weasel soup now. Perhaps the next episode will have the “third man” and the weasel soup in episode 9, so we can have the finalle in episode 10.
More or less, her storyline has been the most disappointing in the show so far. It was the best Story in book 2 IMO and is the worst in the show.

Sansa:
I’m pretty sure her menstruating and turning of proper age would be in the book. But the Sansa chapter I checked it was King’s landing being besieged. Is it perhaps in a Tyrion chapter when they talk about it or something?
Also the speech seemed a bit unCercei-ish. Yeah, perhaps she would explain to her what a queen is and what she’s meant to do, but I doupt she would speak about Jaime’s devotion, to Sansa.

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

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Theon/Bran:
Still no Reek, and none of the others that escaped with them. No mention of how Theon came with the plan to present two kids. I’m sure they’ll love him now in Winterfell.

Yup. So far, I don't think this plot has suffered for the missing characters. But soon, it's going to mean some large changes, I think.

Didn't read his part yet, but from what I remember Cat was quite against him taking the nurse with him.

You won't find the nurse in the book, at least, not recognizably so. And the character she's based on doesn't show up until.

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Book 3

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Daenerys:
Her story is still… strange. Up till she goes to the house of the Undying (haven’t read that part yet) nobody has stolen the dragons, nor I saw Xaros making a coup de Grace. Also, by now it should have Quaithe’s advise for her to go to Asshai. That seemed important.

yeah, a lot of this Qarth stuff is made up for the show. Dany only has 5 chapters in the book, and most of it is travel and meeting people.

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I haven’t read how Jaime escaped actually. I read Catelyn’s talk with Jaime, when she said he tried to escape and that’s why they bolted him on the wall etc … but didn’t find his attempt to escape. I only read about the “bannermen” Tyrion sent to rescue Jaime

You don't see the action in the book. Edmure relays the info after the fact to Cat in Chapter 40. The details are of course very different. I really don't like that they had Jaime kill a relative, even a distant one. Yes, he's rather despicable, but Jaime does have his limits, and I always saw him as loyal to his family.

Shouldn’t we be past the part where Tyrion kinda orders his nephew taken? And Stannis taking Storm’s East etc since in the show they say Stannis would be there in 4-5 days? And since when Cercei had doubts about Jaime?!?

I think the whole Storm's End plot was dropped. That's why show-Davos saw Melisandre birth the shadow baby that killed Renly, rather than the one that killed the castellan of Storm's End.

That scene with Tyrion and Cersei isn’t in the book. And it’s unCercei like to admit to Tyrion that Joffrey is a half-mad spoiled brat. I think they added it to dispel any notions and revulsion people would have that the show is not anti-incest enough.

Just one more scene of "Cersei's human after all" that they added for the show, I think. I don't think "pro-incest" is really a stance people will accuse the show of.

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Arya? Knowing each and every dragon Tagaryens rode on? When she didn't seem to know anything about them in the previous season, when she was hiding in their skulls. Nice...

I believe it. The ones she knew were specifically the ones the female Targaryens rode. She also named her wolf Nymeria after a famous female warrior. These are the kinds of stories she'd pay attention to, IMHO. (As Tywin said, not the story of Jonquil. A cute book reference there, since Florian and Jonquil plays such a role in Sansa's story. Speaking of which, why haven't we seen Dontos since episode 1 this season? I wouldn't be surprised if they cut him entirely, but why leave him in and then not use him?)

More or less, her storyline has been the most disappointing in the show so far. It was the best Story in book 2 IMO and is the worst in the show.

I disagree. It's one of the most changed, to be sure. But I'm really enjoying it. The banter between her and Tywin is the high point of each episode. And Jaqen is much more intriguing to me in the show than the book.

I’m pretty sure her menstruating and turning of proper age would be in the book. But the Sansa chapter I checked it was King’s landing being besieged. Is it perhaps in a Tyrion chapter when they talk about it or something?

No, it's a little later, during the seige, in a Sansa chapter.

Also the speech seemed a bit unCercei-ish. Yeah, perhaps she would explain to her what a queen is and what she’s meant to do, but I doupt she would speak about Jaime’s devotion, to Sansa.

Some of it's in the book. I don't recall if the Jaime stuff is. On the whole, she's a lot more loose-lipped about Jaime in the show, it seems. Perhaps due to drunkenness (they've had her with a goblet in her hand in nearly every scene lately).

[alhoon]

About Arya's SLine in the show...

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Tywin in the book is paranoid enough to stop talking when Arya was close and IIRC scolded a couple of him relatives for speaking openly near servants. He was also one of the few to not automatically assume Arya couldn't read. In the show, it seems... foolish of him to trust that random cupbearer that he happened to pick from a stall for no apparent reason. Another thing I don't like in that SLine BTW. It seemed too... forced to have Tywin just see her and decide on a whim he needs a new cupbearer.

As a Ravenloft fan BTW, I really miss Arya's slow fall from chaotic good to chaotic neutral with good tendecies. I'm pretty sure Arya won't be slitting any throats in cold blood in the show.
In the book, I could almost imagine the mists rising around her when she killed the guard or when she ordered people assassinated. Especially the 2nd death (the taskmaster) was for personal reasons only, not justice. And although some would consider slitting the throat of a guard necessary, finding the gal to do it in cold blood would be worthy of at least a 5% PCheck IMO.