"Adaptation choice I’m less sure about: Melisandre is dragging Gendry off to Dragonstone, something that doesn’t happen in the books. I suspect I know what this is all about, but can’t say for obvious reasons. Regardless, it seems a very strange choice to me. We’ll see what it’s all about."
Isn't it, in fact, the…

No, that's exactly from the books. I remember because I had the same problem you are having when I read it in the books.

"I still have no idea where they’re going with all this “marrying Loras” business."
I actually looked this up because I remembered the same scene from the books, but didn't remember it being Loras she was asked it to marry. It wasn't. It was Willas. So they are just substituting Loras for Willas again.

I really wouldn't clarify her arc as "invented". It appears to me just to be showing what the book only tells regarding her treatment of the people of King's Landing and why the city falls in love with her.

I don't mind it. The way it is in the books wouldn't translate that well to TV. You can't just have Robb show up from the battlefield one day and say, "Hey, everyone, here's my wife!" It would be too jarring.

I actually found Melisandre's shadow babies to be even more problematic, mainly because, like you said in regards to the White Walkers, they appeared to fuck up the politics of the series. Here we had this war that was playing out through politics and strategy and it looked like a Renly-Stark alliance was going to…

A GIANT!

The only part I was disappointed in was, as Todd mentions, the changes in Jon Snow's speech for why he wanted to join the wildings. I thought the way the book told it was great and what they changed it to here just didn't work.

Hmm. It could be him then. I forgot that casting had been leaked, so if they are saying its Giantsbane then they are probably right.

ASOS SPOILERS:

To be honest, I think the best place to start for his fiction is Infinite Jest. I realize that sounds just awful, given how long and dense it is, but I actually found it easier to read then any of his shorter fiction work I've read.

To be honest, I think the best place to start for his fiction is Infinite Jest. I realize that sounds just awful, given how long and dense it is, but I actually found it easier to read then any of his shorter fiction work I've read.

I see what you are saying and this is purely a guess, but I'd say that the shenanigans are, like the baby formula adventure this episode, just there to give the characters in the prison something to do while we wait for The Governor to show up there eventually.

I see what you are saying and this is purely a guess, but I'd say that the shenanigans are, like the baby formula adventure this episode, just there to give the characters in the prison something to do while we wait for The Governor to show up there eventually.

See, I'm going to disagree. Just because a character doesn't talk a lot and has little to no backstory, that doesn't suddenly turn them into a character on the level of The Man With No Name.

See, I'm going to disagree. Just because a character doesn't talk a lot and has little to no backstory, that doesn't suddenly turn them into a character on the level of The Man With No Name.

They think Carol is dead. Carol is not dead.

They think Carol is dead. Carol is not dead.

I'm fully onboard what the showrunners have done this season. I'm almost floored by itt. They seem to have taken my complaints about the show - and a lot of people's complaints about the show - and are quickly fixing them.

I'm fully onboard what the showrunners have done this season. I'm almost floored by itt. They seem to have taken my complaints about the show - and a lot of people's complaints about the show - and are quickly fixing them.