Café de Nuit

Theon: There’s no mention of the various guards he has lost/had assassinated in Winterfell. The show also doesn’t show how much he respected Eddard Stark. But IMO his sister is right, the child killings were extreme and stupid. Show and bookwise the remarks that they can’t hold it so he should have abducted the children and left for home was also right. She’s a better strategist than him (well, a chair is also a better strategist, but hey). More or less as good scene as the book.
Didn’t see Reek suggesting to bring 200 men to Theon. That one sounds more and more conspicious.
They showed Bran in the catacombs, Like Ygrette said the Wildling bard hid with his wife. Bran’s chapter is at the very end and I have read about a siege first in the opening of Theon’s last chapter, so I think it would have spoilers and didn’t read it.

Jon: Ehh… what? Where is the mad flight from the Wildlings, with Bwatch sacrificing themselves to earn time?  I Liked that part. We’re now in the last of his chapter. I guess it’s either madeup stuff now or book 3.

Nightwatch: Eh? Where is that? Book 3 or fabricated? Seems kinda important to be fabricated

Davos: I remember that part about Storm’s end and eating horses, but it wasn’t Stannis who was saying the story. Can’t recall who did.

Rob/Catelyn: OMG! She’s insane. Her grief for her 4 lost children made her stupid. Sending Briene with Jayme is far from enough, he may well escape. Even if they manage to turn him to the Lannisters, Briene is just one and she’ll be in (literally) the lion’s den.
Robb is right to be pissed.
Also under the stress he was bound to make a tactical mistake (the nurse thing). I think I remember someone warning him to not betray the Freys. Is that in book 3? Their SLine ends in the “give me your sword” thing of Catelyn.
I think the best thing he could do, was to honor the name of his deal, marry the Frey and keep that nurse as a consort, spawning a few Snows with her.

New Arya weird story: Good tactical insight here.
Arya story: Oh come on… the naming of Jaquen was x10 better in the book.

Tyrion/Bronn: Can’t say I found their part in the book… not directly anyways. Seems to gather bits and pieces from like 3+ chapters. Tactical info, shows Tyrion’s understanding on how bad is the situation. Easier to comprehend, but I would prefer more Tyrion time on screen.
So far still no mention of the wildlings or the chain.
Also Joffrey 17? really?!

Tyrion/Cersei: Excellent scene there. I would be worried too if Cersei was smiling and paniced if Cersei was happy. Nice touch and addition
Of course, with Joffrey so keen to march out a gate to meet a superior force on the field… I think Cersei was right. Joffrey is better under his mother’s skirt.

Daenerys: Yeah, show-wise she seems to believe she’s barren.

Jon: Ehh… what? Where is the mad flight from the Wildlings, with Bwatch sacrificing themselves to earn time?  I Liked that part. We’re now in the last of his chapter. I guess it’s either madeup stuff now or book 3.

Yeah, this storyline's a bit scrambled.

Nightwatch: Eh? Where is that? Book 3 or fabricated? Seems kinda important to be fabricated

You mean the finding of the dragonglass? In the book, it's Ghost and Jon who find it, in chapter 35.

Rob/Catelyn: OMG! She’s insane. Her grief for her 4 lost children made her stupid. Sending Briene with Jayme is far from enough, he may well escape.

I dunno, was it better to let the Karstarks kill their prize hostage? But yeah, there should have been a better option, maybe. In the book, she does this after getting word that Bran and Rickon are "dead" so her grief is more immediate and raw. I wish that had happened in the show.

Also under the stress he was bound to make a tactical mistake (the nurse thing). I think I remember someone warning him to not betray the Freys. Is that in book 3? Their SLine ends in the “give me your sword” thing of Catelyn.

The bit with the nurse is told in retrospect in Book 3, but she's not a nurse in the books.

I think the best thing he could do, was to honor the name of his deal, marry the Frey and keep that nurse as a consort, spawning a few Snows with her.

Yeah, if he wasn't his father's son, he might do that.

So far still no mention of the wildlings or the chain.

Yeah, I really miss the chain.

Tyrion/Cersei: Excellent scene there. I would be worried too if Cersei was smiling and paniced if Cersei was happy. Nice touch and addition

It's in the book, chapter 55, though it was a different whore of course (because Roz doesn't $@%@#$%@ exist! ) In the book, Tyrion doesn't keep Shae in the Red Keep, but goes out often to visit her, using a secret passage in a whorehouse, so he's seen going into the room of a whore named Alaya, but she's just cover for his trip to see Shae. so, of course, Alaya is the the one Cersei catches in the book.

Of course, with Joffrey so keen to march out a gate to meet a superior force on the field… I think Cersei was right. Joffrey is better under his mother’s skirt.

Well he shouldn't be at the head of the vanguard, but he should at least be visible to the troops, probably.

Daenerys: Yeah, show-wise she seems to believe she’s barren.

Which is odd, because they cut that part of MMD's "prophecy" out of the show, sadly. Get ready for episode 9. It's a doozy...

Yeah, I've read about Tyrion sneaking to Shae from a passage. Also Shae recognised Varys immediately even before Tyrion did when he came to him. She's far more than a skilled courtesan. I think she was trained as an assassin or spy or something.

Sansa/Cersei: Well, it’s gratifying to see Cersei about to poop her pants in fear and get poison just in case.
After Stannis ship approach, Cersei is shown in a weird golden armorlike corset, along with her youngest son, Tom-something. I thought they just ommited him being sent to a castle for safekeeping with blackened hair but it seems they removed it completely.
Her “Grooming” of Sansa continues. She shows more of the book’s streak here. Quite close to the book.
In the book she says blatantly she would try to seduce Stannis but she doesn’t think it’s possible. And she tells Sansa of the woman’s two weapons. Tears and seduction, although she doesn’t place it as gently.
Both show and book Cersei drinks heavily. I wonder how she keep that figure.


BTW, it was a far more fitting end to have Cercei about to make a suicide and have Tywin show up than have Dontos tell Sansa.

Tyrion/Varys: After nearly destroying Arya’s Sline, I find these things very amusing and I’m glad they’re there. In Tyrion chapters, their banter gets lost. However, Varys putting all this responsibility (you’re the only man that can stop him) on Tyrion’s head in the eve of battle isn’t wise.
I found the scene with Joffrey in that rediculous armor funny, as well as Sansa’s remarks on the prayers for Tyrion’s and Joffrey’s return. What’s with Lannisters and weird armor? At least Joffrey’s seems impractical, but it is an armor. BTW… how tall Sansa is?
Did Joffrey in the book really wanted to fight? And in the vanguard at that? They portray him as megalomaniac in the series, not just cruel and spoiled.

Joffrey seemed to stand and think before turning tail and hiding. I didn’t expect that. I thought he would be trembling, shouting incoherent orders and kick out in panic the moment he saw the first arrow pass 12’ from him and his nicely marked armor.
In the book, Tyrion is happy to see Joffrey leave. And I really missed them hurling traitors on Stannis men.
Clegane’s retreat was what shook the men, not Joffrey’s retreat.

Davos: Hmmm no chain to block their fleet from escaping the flames. Well, different approach, equal results, quite nice anyway.
Why was Stannis leading the landing and the charge? OK he didn’t have a rediculous armor to stand out like Joffrey, but still it was extremely dangerous.
The scaling of the wall, first again, was suicidical.

For all of their fear of the walls, they cracked the outer walls increadibly easy for their means. Not even 200 men died till Stannis was on top of the wall. I expected that with hundreds of archers and Lannisters over the mudgate, they would need several waves and attempts.
The Lannisters, including the hound were routed far too easily outside the gate and they didn’t support their archers on the walls.

Tyrion/Sansa:
Eh? The book ends before Tyrion wakes up. As far as Sansa thing went, I liked the included Tywin's horse and the mess it made.
Sansa remained alive after the dissolution of the engagement probably for political reasons. It was well rehearsed in the book. Well played in the show. Anyway, I doupt Joffrey would find Margarey Tyrell such easy target to abuse as Sansa. Lancel Lannister got a ... castle. Well, what for I can't imagine.
They again removed Dontos and put Littlefinger in his place. Well, can't complain. Littlefinger is obsessed with Catelyn and to a degree with Sansa.

Tyrion (Show since it's not in the book):
How things turned for Tyrion after he heroicly delayed the invaders enough for Tywin to kick their butt. That's why he feels so bitter all the time. Sending someone to take him out, send away anyone loyal and break down his power to nothing. I mean... why? Tywin didn't have anything to be afraid of from Tyrion. Can't say I trust Varys' sincerety, but he's all Tyrion has left. And that talk about "That's what I am" that's some HARD loyalty there.
Is that in book 3 or made up? Should I go bother my friends to give it to me? One of the best scenes in the season IMO.

Varys(?)
Well, we see him recruit another of his "little birds" and finally they give a reason for that prostitute to be in the series since Episode 1. Is that from the 3rd book perhaps?

Jaime:
The Catelyn chapters end before he's freed by Catelyn. Well, as he is being freed as I discovered from the show. I thought she would kill him in the book when I read the scene back in episode 7. At least they included the atrocities the Lord of Harrenhal did after Arya handed him Harrenhal. Very nice scene though.

Rob/Catelyn:
Book 3 I guess?
Anyway, show wise it seems that part of the reason Rob does the stupid thing and betrays the Freys, when they're next to his conquered home, is to spite his mother. So... mature. He's 16 in the book I think.

Stannis:
Book 3 again? Seems kinda important but is the disagreement you don't expect to read about but to reason for yourself from rumors people (i.e Varys) say. Also Stannis having regrets for killing his traitor brother? Kinda... unStannish.
The Red woman certainly should have red eyes, at least for the close ups when she looks into the fire or something.

Theon:
I liked the scene a lot. Especially the part of Theon promising to kill the guy that blows the horn. Actually Maester Luwin makes sense. Theon didn't find respect from his family etc etc. After the blunder with the farm children when he realized everyone around him is hostile and fanatic Northmen are coming to kill him, he should have fled to the wall, before the siege. He would find some honor there and he's not a bad warrior.
In the book, he did really despicable tactics before Luwin suggested he takes the black.
And again, Reek and the flayed men of Dreadfort are out of the show. In the book they seem to... burn Winterfell, while the show seems to have the Ironmen do it.
Seems they had Kid's gloves on this season.

Arya:
No Weasel soup. No luck and wits that delivered Harrenhal. No slit throats/ Powers checks to get away using the Iron Coin.
I'm very disappointed. I liked the original story x10

Jon:
Well, the fight was better in the show than the book. Far more believable that way. If they gave them swords and called them to fight, one would kill the other. That way it seemed... natural. And there seemed to be like 10K-20K wildlings in that place.

Daenerys:
Better than the book IMO. The whole thing with her throughout the season. Still doesn't make up for my grieviances for Arya's SLine

alhoon wrote:Tyrion/Sansa:
Sansa remained alive after the dissolution of the engagement probably for political reasons. It was well rehearsed in the book. Well played in the show. Anyway, I doupt Joffrey would find Margarey Tyrell such easy target to abuse as Sansa. Lancel Lannister got a ... castle. Well, what for I can't imagine.
They again removed Dontos and put Littlefinger in his place. Well, can't complain. Littlefinger is obsessed with Catelyn and to a degree with Sansa.

Yup, the rehearsed announcements scene was perfect, IMHO. "Oh no! I'm betrothed to Sansa!" "Actually, your grace, the pope says it's ok to dump the traitor-spawn." "It's OK! Huzzah!"

I'm surprised at the lack of Dontos after his intro. Why did they even keep him in at all if they weren't going to use him? Hopefully he'll be more prominent next season.

Tyrion (Show since it's not in the book):
How things turned for Tyrion after he heroicly delayed the invaders enough for Tywin to kick their butt. That's why he feels so bitter all the time. Sending someone to take him out, send away anyone loyal and break down his power to nothing. I mean... why? Tywin didn't have anything to be afraid of from Tyrion. Can't say I trust Varys' sincerety, but he's all Tyrion has left. And that talk about "That's what I am" that's some HARD loyalty there.
Is that in book 3 or made up? Should I go bother my friends to give it to me? One of the best scenes in the season IMO.

The waking up scene is there, it's Tyrion's first chapter in the book, but it's substantially different, as far as who is and isn't there and what's said. I think Tyrion's speech is more of his inner monologue in the books, brought out and audible in the show. The book implies that attempt on his life was Cersei's doing, but not as explicitly as Varys saying so. Tywin's excuse in the book for casting Tyrion down is four-fold...

- He belittles Tyrion's part in the battle
- He thinks Tyrion overstepped in promising revenge to The Mountain to the Martells
- He still doesn't forgive Tyrion for "killing" his mother in childbirth
- Tyrion brings shame to the house with his continued whoring.

Varys(?)
Well, we see him recruit another of his "little birds" and finally they give a reason for that prostitute to be in the series since Episode 1. Is that from the 3rd book perhaps?

Nope. She's become an amalgam of all the whores on the show, it seems. But I don't recall Varys recruiting any.

Rob/Catelyn:
Book 3 I guess?
Anyway, show wise it seems that part of the reason Rob does the stupid thing and betrays the Freys, when they're next to his conquered home, is to spite his mother. So... mature. He's 16 in the book I think.

The whole marriage thing goes down differently in the books, and it told more like a flashback in Book 3. Still immaturity to blame, IMHO. But different. I don't like the changes they made to his wife for the series, but I'll let them slide.

Stannis:
Book 3 again? Seems kinda important but is the disagreement you don't expect to read about but to reason for yourself from rumors people (i.e Varys) say. Also Stannis having regrets for killing his traitor brother? Kinda... unStannish.

Nah, made up. I'm ok with the regret, in private. He knows it had to be done, but he'd wish it was different.

Theon:
And again, Reek and the flayed men of Dreadfort are out of the show. In the book they seem to... burn Winterfell, while the show seems to have the Ironmen do it.
Seems they had Kid's gloves on this season.

I think they were deliberately vague about who did the burning and what happened to Theon. I expect we'll find out early next season, once they cast someone for Reek.

Arya:
No Weasel soup. No luck and wits that delivered Harrenhal. No slit throats/ Powers checks to get away using the Iron Coin.
I'm very disappointed. I liked the original story x10

Eh... Yeah, I would have liked Arya to have to fight her way out a bit more, but I'd say she exhibited luck and wits, especially in her dealings with Tywin. Made up or not, those scenes were a highlight of the season.

Daenerys:
Better than the book IMO. The whole thing with her throughout the season. Still doesn't make up for my grieviances for Arya's SLine

Here I disagree too. I thought this was far worse in the show. Still good, but not nearly as good as the book. No "always go left" no visions of the past and the future. No connections to the Westeros part of the plot. And only one Warlock roasted alive instead of a bunch. And the house of the undying stays standing, I guess? Then the inexplicable turning of Doreah? And the apparent death of XXD? (never mind that he was 10x cooler in the book, too. Oh, and also gay, so it was jarring to see him in bed with Doreah.) Anyway, Dany's storyline was rather boring all season. The end made up for it, but if they'd stuck to the book, it would have more than made up for it.

But I'm letting it go... really, I am.

How you know the house of the undying was left standing? I assumed it was destroyed but I can't recall anyone in the show mentioning it. Does it show it standing after Daenarys leaves?

True, it could be destroyed, I suppose, but that's the sort of thing you'd like to see onscreen, no? I mean, I can pretend it happened offscreen, but if I want to imagine stuff, I'll read the books!