10 things Game of Thrones did differently from the novels (& it was not needed at all)

When Game of Thrones began on HBO, it followed George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire books closely. The early seasons adapted the original material in a way that worked well for television. As the show progressed, the writing team began changing key parts of the story.

Some of the changes were made because the books had not caught up, while the others felt like shortcuts that ignored what made the books stronger. Viewers who read the series noticed entire characters being left out and cut, and some storylines being rushed or altered for no clear reason.

This list is not just about small edits or basic changes made during adaptation. It focuses on moments where the show changed something that didn't require any change, often hurting the worldbuilding or stripping away the logic behind a character’s actions. In some cases, the new version of events made less sense than the original. The books already offer complex motivations and better setups. What was lost in these choices matters.

These are ten changes from the books to the show that felt unnecessary and made the overall story weaker. Each one had a better version already written that the show decided to skip.

Disclaimer: This is based on the writer's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.

---

10 things Game of Thrones did differently from the novels (& it was not needed at all)

1. Sansa Marries Ramsay Bolton

In the books, Ramsay is married to Jeyne Poole, disguised as Arya Stark. Sansa never returns to Winterfell and continues her arc in the Vale under Littlefinger’s guidance. The show rewrites this completely by placing Sansa in Jeyne’s position, which forces her into a storyline that derails her political growth. She becomes a victim of Ramsay’s abuse, which has no roots in her original arc.

This change also damages Littlefinger’s credibility. He would never have handed over Sansa to someone as dangerous as Ramsay. Her suffering adds no value to the plot and only rewrites her journey for shock. It takes her off a path of strategy and patience and reduces her to a pawn again. The decision undercuts her growth and offers nothing that the book had not already handled more logically through Jeyne’s tragic role.

---

2. The Exclusion of Lady Stoneheart

Lady Stoneheart is the reanimated form of Catelyn Stark, who is resurrected by Beric Dondarrion after the Red Wedding. In the books, she becomes a brutal leader of the Brotherhood Without Banners who targets Freys and Lannisters. Her presence deepens the sense of loss and rage following the fall of House Stark and adds a layer of horror to the aftermath of betrayal.

The show removes her entirely, which softens the impact of the Red Wedding. It also flattens Brienne’s story since her oath to Catelyn plays a huge role in the books. Lady Stoneheart explores how vengeance can twist someone beyond recognition. Leaving her out erases that tension and weakens the Brotherhood's transformation into something more ruthless.

---

3. Euron Greyjoy’s Character Overhaul

Book Euron is dangerous and mysterious. He returns to the Iron Islands after years at sea, claiming to have visited Valyria and possessing Dragonbinder, a horn said to control dragons. He is cruel but intelligent, and he speaks of strange powers and great ambition. His threat to Westeros is real and stretches far beyond politics.

The show reduces Euron to a loudmouth who talks in jokes and smirks through scenes without any real danger. He feels like a placeholder with none of the depth or menace from the books. The choice to strip him of magic and ambition removes one of the last remaining wild cards and turns him into background noise in Daenerys’ storyline.

---

4. Tyrion Killing Shae in Self-Defense

In the show, Tyrion finds Shae in Tywin’s bed and strangles her only after she picks up a knife. It is framed as self-defense, which helps preserve his image. In the books, he kills her after realizing she betrayed him and calls her a derogatory name. She does not fight back, and the act is cold and emotional.

This is a crucial difference. Book Tyrion is broken by the events of his trial and lashes out violently. The show turns that into a safer version that skips over his darker instincts. That moment in the books is meant to show how far Tyrion has fallen. The show backs away from it, which softens his complexity and removes real consequences.

---

5. The Rushed Romance Between Jaime and Brienne

In the books, Jaime and Brienne form a complicated bond through shared trauma and loyalty. Their connection is slow and unspoken and built on small moments. There is no kiss or declaration, but it is clear they care deeply for each other. Jaime sends her on a mission and writes to her, which shows his growth.

The show throws all that out in one rushed scene. They sleep together suddenly, and Jaime abandons her by morning to die with Cersei. It breaks years of build-up and makes Jaime look inconsistent. His arc of redemption gets tossed aside without care. The bond that mattered is replaced with a cheap closure that means nothing.

---

6. Bran’s Vision About the Night King

The Night King does not exist in the books. The Others remain a vague and ancient force with no leader or specific origin. The show invents the Night King and turns him into a single villain who was created by the Children of the Forest. It also makes him the focus of Bran’s visions, which reshapes Bran’s role in the story.

This change flattens the White Walkers into something easier to defeat. It removes the ambiguity that made them frightening. Bran’s story becomes tied to stopping one person, which feels too neat. The book version is slower and stranger and makes more sense.

---

7. The Sept R*pe Scene Between Jaime and Cersei

In the books, Jaime and Cersei have s*x next to Joffrey’s body, and both of them agree to it. It is twisted because of the setting, but the consent is mutual. The show changes this and shows Cersei pushing Jaime away while he forces himself on her.

The scene is never addressed again. Jaime’s character had been slowly changing. This act throws that away and returns him to cruelty without explanation. It also rewrites their relationship in a way that does not match what the show had previously established.

---

8. Making Arya Kill the Night King

Arya is never connected to the White Walkers or the prophecy about defeating them. She trains to become a killer, but her targets are always personal. The show gives her the final blow against the Night King, even though Jon Snow had been set up for that moment since season one.

This decision breaks the tension that had been building around Jon’s role. Arya’s skills do not connect with what is needed to stop a supernatural threat. It comes out of nowhere and closes the story too quickly. It makes the Night King feel like an afterthought.

---

9. Robb’s Wife Dies at the Red Wedding

In the books, Robb marries Jeyne Westerling and leaves her behind at Riverrun for her safety. She survives the massacre. The show replaces her with Talisa, a foreign noble who is pregnant and travels with Robb. She is stabbed repeatedly and killed at the Red Wedding.

This removes any chance of a Stark heir. The books keep that door open, which adds tension and potential for revenge. The show goes for instant shock and closes the story completely. The original version allows more depth and political complexity that the show never explores.

---

10. Daenerys Forgetting Viserys

In the books, Viserys stays in Daenerys’ mind long after his death. She dreams of him. She remembers his cruelty. His madness shapes how she views power and fear. The show never brings him up again after he dies in season one.

This hurts her downfall in later seasons of Game of Thrones. Without Viserys, she seems to break without warning. The book gives her a slow unraveling built from memory and trauma. The show skips that, and her turn feels sudden. Remembering Viserys would have added weight to her choices and fear of becoming like him.

---

Follow for more updates on Game of Thrones.