David Benioff and D.B.Weiss have come up with the most brilliant adaptation for TV. However, they’ve meandered along the source material, streamlining it for the audience making changes here and there, trying to simplify the complexity of the novels, and still maintaining the shock-value of the original works. Here are 15 big differences between the books and the TV series:

1. Everyone’s older on TV. In the books, Daenerys was only 13 when she marries Khal Drogo, Jon Snow is 14 when he goes to the Wall, Bran is 7 when he’s pushed off the window.

2. Ros (the prostitute), Talisa (Robb’s wife) don’t exist in the books. Shae hardly figures in the books as against the TV series.

3. Bran is way less boring on TV. Especially that escape scene from the Craster’s Keep, in season 4.

4. Jojen Reed is alive in the books, while he dies in the fourth season on TV.

5. The relationship of Loras and Renly is implied in the books. The TV series states it more expressly with that ‘shaving scene’.

6. Catelyn Stark is less likeable on TV. She never resented Jon like they show us in that first season, much less would she wish pox on baby Jon.

7. In the books Arya acts as cupbearer to Roose Bolton in Harrenhal, while on TV she becomes the cupbearer for Tywin.

8. After the Red Wedding, Catelyn Stark is resurrected as Lady Stoneheart in the books. On the tube, there’s no mention of Lady Stoneheart.

9. Ramsay Bolton marries a fake Arya Stark (Jeyne Poole), sent by the Lannisters. On TV he marries Sansa Stark.

10. Ser Barristan Selmy is supposed to be alive and defending Mereen, while in the series he is killed by the Sons of the Harpy on the streets of Meereen.

11. The intention of Xaro Xhoan Daxos (man from Qarth) in the books is to claim one of her dragons by getting married to her. When she refuses, Qarth declares war on Meereen. On TV, his ambitions are much bigger – he wants to conquer all of Westeros and own all of her dragons. She locks him in his vault and steals all his gold.

12. In the books, Tyrion’s accompanied by Aegon Targaryen on his journey to Meereen. On TV, he is kidnapped by Jorah Mormont.

13. Jaime ends the siege at Riverrun and meets Brienne. While in the series, he goes to Dorne to rescue Myrcella.

14. In the books, Jon Connington tries to set the dragons free and is killed in the bargain. TV doesn’t have any such character.

Source: wikia

15. Myrcella doesn’t die in the books, instead she’s hideously disfigured in a botched kidnapping by Arianne Martell.

I still think these two guys are doing a splendid job of captaining the ship in those unpredictable seas.