Differences between books and TV series - Season 1

Winter is Coming

 * The TV series starts with three rangers of the Night's Watch going under the Wall. This scene is additional to the series because in the book, they have already been ranging for days.
 * In a book, the attack of White Walkers happens at the place several days riding north of the Wall. But in TV series, it happens in a forest close to the Wall the same day, the rangers leave Castle Black.
 * The White Walkers are mostly called Others in the books, especially by the people of the Seven Kingdoms. It is the wildlings that refer to them as white walkers
 * In the TV series, Will discovers the wildlings massacred and their bodies brutalized. In the book, he says they appeared to be sleeping and likely froze to death.
 * The White Walkers have different appearance in the TV series. In book, they have white skin and reflective light armour. In the TV series, they have frozen grey skin, dark hair, and a brutal face similar to skull. Their bodies are darker and they don't seem to wear armour.
 * In the TV series, only Gared and Waymar Royce face the White Walkers' first attack, while Will is exploring the area. In the book, all three are present.
 * In the books, Ser Waymar Royce has a duel with the White Walker. In the TV series he is killed in a surprise attack.
 * The wight girl, who frightens Will in the series, is never mentioned in the book.
 * In the books, Ser Waymar Royce is transformed into a wight.
 * In the TV series, Gared is the second one to be killed by the White Walkers and Will escapes. In the books, Will is strangled by the wight of Ser Waymar Royce and Gared escapes. In the TV series Gared is beheaded by a White Walker as opposed to being killed by a wight.
 * The Winterfell soldiers capture of Will is not described in the book.
 * Theon Greyjoy kicks the severed head of the executed ranger.
 * There are more additional scenes in series in Winterfell, which introduce the Stark family. Bran is shown practicing archery, while his father is watching him. The scene with needlework, which involves Sansa and Arya, is moved to the beginning of the series, before King Robert arrives. In the book, the scenes in Winterfell begin with the deserter's execution.
 * Arya is shown to be an accurate archer, while in the books, she doesn't know how to fire a bow and wishes she could learn.
 * ​Events of the TV series are seventeen years after Robert's Rebellion. The books begin fourteen years after, thus the Stark children are visibly older. Robb and Jon Snow are 17 instead of 14. Bran is 10 instead of 7 and Rickon's age is increased from 3 to 6.
 * The Stark girls' birth years are also altered to Sansa 13 instead of 11 and Arya is 11 instead of 9.
 * Likewise, the Royal children are older: Joffrey is 16 instead of 13, Myrcella is 12 instead of 8 and Tommen is 10 instead of 6.
 * Daenerys is 16 instead of 13.


 * In the TV series, Will is executed for desertion instead of Gared.
 * In the book, snow covers the grounds around Winterfell. In the TV series, there is no snow.
 * The scene in King's Landing introducing Queen Cersei and her brother Jaime is not in the books. It also shows the corpse Jon Arryn.
 * Daenerys Targaryen appears much later in the TV series. In the book, she is introduced, after Eddard Stark gets the news about Jon Arryn's death. In the TV series, she appears after the scene at Lyanna Stark's tomb.
 * Targaryens have violet eyes in the books, but these were dropped from the series. The showrunners have said that they did use purple contacts early in filming, but this interfered with the actor's performance as emotion is conveyed through the eyes.
 * Illyrio Mopatis's appearance is different to his description in the books. In the series, Illyrio is overweight and has dark brown hair flecked with grey with a forked beard. In the books, Illyrio is described as being morbidly obese with gold, oiled hair and a forked yellow beard.
 * Khal Drogo's appearance is slightly different to his description in the books. He is described as having long mustachios with rings in them and many bells in his long braid. In the series, he has a beard with a single ring in it and does not have bells in his hair.
 * In the books, Daenerys, Viserys and Illyrio attend a party at Khal Drogo's manse in Pentos to celebrate Drogo and Daenerys's engagement. The party is where Ser Jorah is first seen. In the series, Khal Drogo simply rides up to Illyrio's manse with his bloodriders to assess Daenerys.
 * Tyrion Lannister's appearance is different to his description in the books. He is described as having stunted legs, a swollen forehead, a squashed-in face and eyes of different colors. He walks with a profound waddle.
 * Tyrion's introduction in the books is different. He is introduced at the feast through the eyes of Jon Snow. In the TV series, he is introduced in a scene with the prostitute Ros after Robert Baratheon's arrival.
 * The prostitute Ros is not named in the book. She is probably the mentioned "red haired whore." In the TV series, she is a recurring character.
 * There's an additional conversation between Catelyn and Sansa, which introduces Sansa's character and her personality. In books she only briefly appears at the feast and her personality is introduced at the Trident.
 * ​In the TV series, Jon Snow doesn't attend the feast at all. He meets his uncle Benjen outside, when he is practising with a sword. In the book, he attends the feast sitting at a table with the squires.
 * Several scenes at the feast do not appear in the books: Jaime and Ned talk about tournaments; Sansa speaks to the queen and Arya throws food at Sansa.
 * ​When Maester Luwin comes with the letter about Jon Arryn's murder, into Eddard's bedroom, Catelyn is naked in the book. She even gets out of bed naked saying that it doesn't matter as Maester Luwin delivered all of her children. In the episode, she is dressed in a sleeping gown.
 * Lysa's letter isn't coded in TV series and came by a messenger. In the book it is coded, found in a box with a false bottom, and was left in Maester Luwin's room by an unknown party.
 * Daenerys and Khal Drogo's wedding scene is shown earlier in the TV series than in the book. Ser Jorah Mormontis introduced in this scene rather than in Daenerys' first scene.
 * Jorah Mormont's appearance is different to his description in the books. In the books, he is described as bald, stocky, hairy, and unattractive, but is strong and fit. In the series, he has short blond hair and is leaner and more attractive.
 * ​Khal Drogo does not wait for Daenerys to consent to sex, and unlike the book, Daenerys does not seem to take pleasure in it, crying while the Khal takes her from behind.
 * ​In the book, Catelyn Stark encourages Ned to accept King Robert's request. In series, she is afraid for him and begs him not to accept.
 * ​In the books Eddard plans to take Bran to King's Landing, before he is injured. There is no mention of this in the episode.
 * Cersei and Jaime are both naked in the book, when Bran finds them in the tower. In the series, they are both dressed; Lena Headey was pregnant during filming of the scene.
 * In the book, Cersei and Jaime talk about the previous events that transpired with the former Hand, Jon Arryn. This discussion instead takes place in the scene showing Jon Arryn's corpse.
 * In the book Cersei stands with her back to a wall when Bran sees her from the window, while a man stands before her with his back to Bran and his hand between the legs of Cersei. In the series, Cersei is on her hands and knees while Jaime mounts her from behind. A body double is used for this scene.
 * In the book Jaime pushes Bran from the window with his right hand. In the show he uses his left hand.

The Kingsroad

 * In the series, Jon decides to go to Night's Watch completely on his own and no one wants to stop him. There are also no requests of Lady Catelyn for him to leave.
 * ​An additional scene between Ser Jorah and Prince Viserys.
 * An additional scene, which shows the making of the sword Needle and a conversation between Jaime and Jon Snow about the Night's Watch.
 * An additional scene, where Cersei comes to Bran's bedroom and speaks about her first child. In the book, Cersei tells Ned in much later chapter that she never gave birth to a child from Robert. The only time she got pregnant from Robert, she had an abortion. Robert was unaware to both the pregnancy and the abortion.
 * ​An additional scene, where Ned and Jon say goodbye to each other.
 * Daenerys' scene with Doreah, Jhiqui and Irri is shown much earlier in series. So is the scene of making Khal Drogo happy. In the series, the scene with Dany and Doreah is shown rather than implied.
 * Doreah has blonde hair in the books. In the series, she has brown hair.
 * In book, King Robert's and Eddard's conversation about Daenerys Targaryen takes place during the riding. In the series, it takes place at breakfast. In the book scene, Jorah is revealed to the reader as an informer to the King's council. In the series, that is mentioned in Episode 5 at first.
 * In the series, Yoren doesn't appear in the scene with two rapists.
 * An additional scene in series, where Catelyn searches the old tower and finds a golden hair. She suspects, that Lannisters are involved in Bran's accident even before she identifies the Valyrian dagger.
 * In series ​the Winterfell meeting between Catelyn, Robb, Theon, Ser Rodrik and Maester Luwin takes place in godswood instead of in the castle.
 * There's an additional scene, when Jon Snow arrives at the Wall
 * In series, there is no conversation between Sansa and Arya about riding in a wheelhouse. At the Trident, Sansa first appears, when she meets Ser Ilyn and Sandor Clegane. She first confronts Arya in her sword practice with Mycah.
 * In series, Ser Barristan Selmy and Lord Renly don't appear at the Trident, only Ser Ilyn Payne arrives and scares Sansa.
 * In book, Sansa and Prince Joffrey go riding around the Trident and they are away for a long time, before they find Arya. In series, they go only for a short walk and find Arya nearby.
 * The series also shows what happens to Nymeria, after she wounds Prince Joffrey. In series, it's clearly seen, that Arya th rows a stone at Nymeria and sends her away. In book, Arya mentions this scene after she's brought back. The event happens after Jory finds her and together they throw several stones at her.
 * When Arya is taken before the King, it doesn't take place at Castle Darry (the book), but at the Old Crossroads Inn.
 * When Sansa lies that she does not remember what happened, Arya knocks her down to the ground, beating her.
 * When Ned talks with Arya, he does not defend Sansa's lies. Instead he says that Jory's lie (that they did not find Nymeria) was not without honor.
 * In the series, Eddard executes Lady with a dagger. In the book, he uses the great sword Ice.
 * ​Bran doesn't have dreams about the three-eyed crow before he wakes up for a first time (In book, these dreams wake him up). In series, he wakes up, when Sansa's direwolf is executed. The book does not indicate any connection between Lady's death and Bran's awakening.
 * In the series, Eddard doesn't order Lady's body be taken back to the North, in order to prevent Queen Cersei or one of her retinue from taking her fur coat.

Lord Snow

 * In the book, Catelyn and Ser Rodrik arrive to King's Landing before Eddard Stark. They also arrive by ship from White Harbor. In series, they come by riding horses on the Kingsroad and they arrive after Eddard.
 * In the book, Littlefinger has Catelyn summoned to meet him in the Red Keep, not in a brothel he owns (the TV series gives the explanation that she would be easily noticed if she went to the Red Keep). Thus Catelyn's negative reaction, and the line "back alley Sally", do not appear in the books.
 * An additional scene in King's Landing, where Eddard confronts Ser Jaime at the Iron Throne. Jaime describes the scene, when he stabbed Aerys II Targaryen.
 * According to the books, Jaime did not stab the Mad King in the back but slit his throat.
 * When Jaime tells Catelyn Stark in A Clash of Kings how the Mad King executed Ned's father and brother, he mentions only the Lord Commander Gerold Hightower that was present there. He does not say there were 500 knights.
 * Another additional scene in the series: A conversation between Queen Cersei and Prince Joffrey about what it will mean when he is a king.
 * In series, there are 6 members of the King's Council instead of 8 - Lord Stannis Baratheon and Ser Barristan Selmy are not part of it.
 * The saying about the Hand is changed as well. In the book, the saying is, "The King eats, the Hand takes the shit". In series, the saying is, "The King shits, and the Hand wipes".
 * Many recruits in the Night's Watch are omitted in the series such as Toad and Halder, and Dareon's character only makes a brief appearance. Parts of Dareon's dialog is given to Pyp's character. In the first scene at the Wall, there are three notable recruits: Grenn, Pyp and Rast. Rast also gets more screentime than in the book. There is also an unnamed recruit with long hair who often appears with Rast, who may possibly be Satin, but his name is never mentioned.
 * Grenn isn't called Aurochs, and Rast isn't called Rat in the series.
 * In the fight with Grenn, Jon breaks Grenn's nose instead of Grenn's wrist in the series. He is also shown fighting more recruits in series (In the book, he fights only Grenn).
 * It is not Tyrion Lannister but Donal Noye the blacksmith who breaks the fight between Jon, Grenn, Toad and two others (Rast and Pypar did not participate in the brawl), chides Jon for humiliating the other recruits and advises him to befriend them.
 * The breakfast scene at King's Landing is extended in the series. Arya is stabbing the table, Eddard appears at the breakfast and gives Sansa a doll. Septa Mordane doesn't follow Arya into her bedroom.
 * Jeyne Poole only briefly appears in the first episode. In the book, she also appears in many scenes in King's Landing. She goes to the Hand's Tournament and becomes ill when Ser Hugh is killed.
 * In series, Old Nan's story about White Walkers is told days before Tyrion Lannister returns from the Wall. Bran is also more pessimistic in series - he repeats the sentence "I'd rather be dead".
 * There's an additional scene at King's Landing, which shows a conversation between King Robert, Ser Barristan Selmy and Ser Jaime Lannister. They share stories about killing their first men. Aerys Targaryen is mentioned again. The scene also introduces Lancel Lannister.
 * There is no mentioning in the books that Aerys ever said "Burn them all".
 * Jaime did not kill any of the outlaws in the battle against the Kingswood Brotherhood. He saved his master Lord Crakehall and crossed swords with the Smiling Knight (who was killed by Arthur Dayne). Jaime was fifteen years old then.
 * Lord Commander Mormont doesn't have a raven in the series.
 * In series, Yoren is introduced in conversation with Tyrion at the Castle Black rather than in the scene with two rapers as Jon Snow is on his way to the Wall. Benjen also appears in this scene.
 * An additional scene at the Wall where Benjen Stark and Jon Snow say goodbye to each other. (In books, this scene is only mentioned).
 * An additional scene across the Narrow Sea. Ser Jorah and Rakharo discuss about Dothraki weapons, Irri then appears and announces Daenerys' pregnancy.
 * In the TV series, Rakharo seems to be based on Jhogo.
 * Syrio Forel's appearance is different in series. He has curly black hair instead of being bald.

Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things

 * An additional scene at Winterfell. Bran is dreaming. He is preparing to shoot an arrow, when the crow appears. He follows it to the tomb entrance and sees, it has three eyes. Then he wakes up.
 * In series, Theon Greyjoy comes for Bran instead of Maester Luwin.
 * An additional conversation between Tyrion Lannister and Theon Greyjoy. Theon's past and origins are revealed in this scene.
 * Castle Black is shown to have walls and a gate in the series. In the novels, it has none, so the Night's Watch can only defend against enemies coming from the North, and thus cannot rebel against the Seven Kingdoms.
 * Samwell Tarly's introduction is slightly different in the series because of omitted recruits of the Night's Watch. In the book, Sam is attacked by Halder first. When Jon defends him, Halder, Rast and Albett fight Jon, Grenn and Pyp. In series, Rast attacks Samwell. Jon then alone takes a fight against Rast, Grenn and Pyp.
 * In series, Sam isn't called Ser Piggy. Ser Alliser and Rast often call him Lady Piggy, which is even worse nickname. (In book, ser Alliser uses this nickname only when Jon defends Sam)
 * In the series, Sam tells Jon Snow about his father ordering him to join the Night's Watch. In the book, Samwell Tarly remembers the scene with his father skinning a deer. This scenario was used for the introduction of Tywin Lannister, when he is talking to Jaime about living up to his destiny.
 * There's an additional scene in Vaes Dothrak. Viserys and Doreah are having a bath. They talk about dragons and their skulls in Red Keep. In the book, it is only mentioned that Viserys and Doreah have had sex.
 * An additional conversation between Septa Mordane and Sansa about Sansa's future, Prince Joffrey, the Iron Throne and the deaths of Rickard and Brandon.
 * Another additional scene which introduces Ser Hugh from the Vale. Jory Cassel tries to speak with him and the arrogant knight refuses. In book, Ser Hugh is briefly mentioned before he's killed.
 * Tobho Mott tells Eddard Stark that a mysterious lord who did not identify himself paid him Gendry's apprentice fee.
 * Both Mott and Gendry tell Eddard that Stannis Baratheon accompanied Jon Arryn. In the show, Stannis is not mentioned with regard to Arryn's investigations.
 * Gendry's character is aged up in the series. In books, he is 16 years old. In series, he must be over 20.
 * Another additional conversation between Jaime and Jory. Jaime is guarding the door, while the King is having group sex. Jory comes with the message for the king. He tries to give it to Jaime, but he refuses. Thoros of Myr is mentioned.
 * The Greyjoy Rebellion is revealed from their conversation.
 * Additional scene at the Wall after Jon's confrontation with Rast at night: The recruits don't dare to attack Sam because Jon has threatened them. Ser Alliser grows furious because of that.
 * Another additional scene at the Wall in which Jon reveals his story with prostitute (which is Ros in the series). Ser Alliser then comes and tries to frighten them with his story about the winter beyond the Wall, in the books Ser Alliser is not a ranger and doesn't go north of the Wall.
 * There's an additional conversation between Eddard and Queen Cersei.
 * The Tournament of the Hand is a lot shorter in the series. The only notable participants are Ser Gregor, Ser Hugh, Ser Loras and partly the Hound. The only shown fights are the jousts between Ser Hugh and Ser Gregor, Ser Gregor and Ser Loras, and the duel between the Hound and Ser Gregor. There is no mention made of the archery contest or the melee. In the books the jousting alone is over the course of two days.
 * In the series, Littlefinger tells Sansa the story about the Clegane brothers. In the book, the story is told by Sandor himself. He warns Sansa that if she tells anyone, he'll kill her.
 * In the series, Arya attends the tournament. In the book, Jeyne Poole accompanies Sansa to the tournament, not Arya.
 * When Tyrion comes to Winterfell, the direwolves attack him for no apparent reason (he does not have any malicious intent, on the contrary).

The Wolf and the Lion

 * In the series, Sandor Clegane isn't shown participating in the tourney, and he spends all the time near the King and Prince Joffrey. He only gets involved when his brother is about to kill Ser Loras.
 * Catelyn tells Tyrion that Littlefinger told her the dagger belonged to him, and he lost it to Tyrion. In the series, Catelyn does not reveal to Tyrion who set him up.
 * When Catelyn and Tyrion are ambushed by the hill clansmen on the way to the Vale, most of their party is killed. The only survivors are Catelyn, Tyrion, Ser Rodrik, Bronn, and Marillion. In the series, only a few of their party were killed by the clansmen. During the attack, Tyrion fights only with a shield. While in the book, he uses an axe.
 * More additional scenes at Winterfell: A conversation between Bran and Maester Luwin and a sex scene between Theon and Ros.
 * Arya doesn't confront Myrcella and Tommen when she is chasing cats in the series. In the book, they see her and set the guards to catch her, but she escapes before anyone recognizes her. It is in the process of the escape that she gets lost under the Red Keep and comes to overhear the conspritors, as well as finding the dragon skulls.
 * In the series, Arya finds only one dragon skull in Red Keep's dungeons (probably the skull of Balerion due to its size) instead of finding several (as in the book).
 * In the series, the dragon skulls are white. In the books, dragonbone is said to be black due to a high iron content.
 * The two men in the dungeons are clearly seen in the series (Varys and Illyrio). In books, they are not identified. (Ilyrio can be identified because of his visual description. Varys is much harder to identify because he probably wears a makeup - "scared face and stubble of dark beard". The easiest way to identify him is by his sentence - ...I must have gold and 50 birds...)
 * There is an additional conversation in Red Keep between Littlefinger and Varys. The spying on each other and Eddard Stark is reveled in this scene. The sexual habits of Lord Paxter are not discussed in the book.
 * In the book, Arya comes back to surface miles away from Red Keep. She is also covered in sewage and must bathe in a river before she can return to the Keep. In the series she leaves the dungeons via the tunnel beneath Aegon's Hill on which the Red Keep is located.
 * The meeting between Yoren and Eddard is extended in the series. After Eddard sends Arya out with Jory (Desmond in the book), an additional scene follows, where Yoren tells about Catelyn kidnapping Tyrion. In the book a scene is described where Eddard takes Yoren to court and asks if any noble will do honor to his House and volunteer to serve at the Wall; none volunteer.
 * The Eyrie's appearance is different in the series. In the books, it's a small traditional castle made of seven towers located on a shoulder of a very tall mountain - the Giant's Lance. The path is also guarded by three smaller towers. The castle in the series is located on the top of much smaller mountain and its path doesn't seem to be guarded by towers.
 * The guarded pass Bloody Gate, which is the main entrance to the Vale in books, also doesn't appear in series, neither do the characters of Brynden Tully and Donnel Waynwood, who are the guardians of the Bloody Gate. Their roles are given to Ser Vardis Egen in the series.
 * Catelyn's way from the foot of the mountain to the Eyrie isn't shown in series. She makes the climb riding on the back of a mule. Mya Stone, the bastard daughter of King Robert, whose job it is to escort people to the Eyrie, is absent in the series.
 * In the book, Catelyn first reaches the Eyrie alone and meets her sister in her chambers. Tyrion is then brought after her, being winched up the next day in a basket. In the series, Catelyn and Tyrion reach Eyrie together and both confront Lysa in the main hall in front of all important residents. There follows an additional scene, which shows Tyrion's imprisionent and briefly shows Mord.
 * Robert Arryn is renamed Robin Arryn in the series, probably to avoid confusion with King Robert Baratheon.
 * Lysa's appearance is different. She is shown as a very skinny woman in series instead of being overweight with pale and puffy face as in the book.
 * An additional scene in King's Landing involving Ser Loras and Lord Renly. This scene confirms that they are lovers, which is only hinted at in the books.
 * Another additional scene involving King Robert and Queen Cersei. It shows, that their marriage doesn't contain any love and it is the only thing holding the kingdom together. Lyanna Stark is also mentioned.


 * Littlefinger does not offer Eddard to take him to see the last person to see Jon Arryn alive, but to the brothel that Arryn and Stannis Baratheon were reported to visit.
 * The scene in which Ser Jaime attacks Eddard is significantly different in the series. In the book, Eddard and his guards are horseback, and are away from the brothel when encountering the Lannisters. Jaime wants only to frighten Eddard and orders his men to attack Eddard's guards. Eddard then gets his leg crushed by his injured horse when it falls, as he tries to come to the rescue of his men. In the series, Jaime orders them to capture Eddard alive, and he personally kills Jory by stabbing him through the eye with a dagger. Then he and Eddard attack each other while the Lannister guards are watching. The fight ends when Eddard is stabbed in the leg by a Lannister guard.
 * ​The dream/flashback Eddard is experiencing about the Tower of Joy after he was wounded is omitted from the show.

A Golden Crown

 * An additional scene in Vaes Dothrak, in which Daenerys holds a heated dragon egg. When Irri grabs it, she gets her hands burned while Daenerys remains unharmed.
 * When Robert and Cersei come to see Eddard, he tells Robert that he went to that brothel to see his baby bastard Barra. Robert is rather embarrassed to hear that, while Cersei shows no emotion.
 * Another dream of three-eyed crow, which is the same as the one in the fourth episode, appears in the series.
 * When Bran falls into ambush while he is on the ride, there are four attackers shown in series: Stiv, Wallen, Osha, and an unnamed man. In books, there are six attackers - the previous four, another unnamed man and a short fat woman named Hali. The direwolves (Summer and Grey Wind) don't get involved in the fight in the TV series. In the book the wolves arrive with Robb and kill several of the wildlings.
 * The series also shows one of Tyrion's failed attempts to get Mord's attention by offering gold. In the book, he convinces him by his first attempt and men come to Tyrion's cell to confirm his willingness to confesses, allowing him to get them to make Mord return Tyrion's shadowcat skin coat.
 * There is another additional scene in King's Landing showing another sword practice between Arya and Syrio and mentioning Syrio's series-only quote (There's only one thing we say to Death...NOT TODAY).
 * In book Eddard tells Arya who is angry that she will have to stop her lessons with Syrio Forel, if she is sent back to Winterfell, that Syrio may come with them if he chooses to enter Eddard's service. This is not mentioned in the episode. In both the fate of Syrio is uncertain.
 * Eating the stallion's heart seems to be the only part of the Vaes Dothrak's ceremony in series. In the books, there follows the procession around the sacred city.
 * The ceremony is also shown more from Ser Jorah's and Viserys's perspective in series rather than Daenerys's in the book. There also follows additional series scene in which Viserys tries to steal Daenerys's eggs. This scene is only briefly mentioned in the book.
 * Tyrion's confession of crimes is extended in the series. In the book, he is stopped immediately while in the series, he gives several funny examples.
 * An additional scene involving King Robert on his hunt, along with Renly, Barristan Selmy, and Lancel Lannister. He speaks of "good old times" and "making the eight". Lancel is clearly shown goading Robert into drinking strongwine. In the book the hunt is never seen, and Varys tells Lord Eddard about the overly strong wine that Cersei gave Lancel to give to Robert. The term "making the eight", never appears in the book.
 * There is no mentioning in the books that the Mad King, among the vicious atrocities he has committed, slaughtered women and babies because the voices in his head told him they deserved it.
 * In the books, there was no request of summoning Tywin Lannister to the court because of the Mountain's attack.
 * In the book there is no scene between Ros and Theon, as she is leaving for King's Landing. Ros is possibly the unnamed, only mentioned red-haired prostitute, but no prostitute is mentioned leaving Winterfell much less talking to Theon about it.
 * There are several changes in Tyrion's trial by combat. In the series, it takes place in Eyrie's High Hall by the opened Moon Door, immediately after Tyrion's confession. In the book it takes place in the Eyrie garden, the next morning. The death of Ser Vardis is more dramatic in series. In the book, he is stabbed in the chest while he falls to the ground. In series, he is injured several times, stabbed in the neck and finally thrown through the Moon Door. Also, the brief conversation between Lysa and Catelyn before the trial isn't shown in the series.
 * In the series, the Moon Door is an opening in the floor of the Eyrie's High Hall. In the books, the Moon Door is a weirwood door that stands between two pillars in the Eyrie's High Hall.

You Win or You Die

 * The episode opens with a scene at the Lannister camp with Tywin and Jaime Lannister. Jaime and Tywin discuss family legacy while Tywin is seen disembowling a dead stag. That scene does not occur in the books.
 * In the book, the scene where Eddard confronts Cersei about Jaime takes place in the Red Keep's godswood. The scene takes place in an outside courtyard in the series. Cersei also attempts to seduce Eddard in the book and slaps him when he spurns her advances. Cersei reveals that she never gave birth to any child of Robert, and the only time she got pregnant from him - she made an abortion. Robert was unaware to both the pregnancy and the abortion.
 * There is an additional scene in Littlefinger's brothel where he talks about his past and coaches Ros and another prostitute, Armeca, who is exclusive to the series.
 * There is a scene at Winterfell between Theon Greyjoy and Osha. Maester Luwin comes in and asks Osha why the wildlings were south of the Wall.
 * There is also an additional scene at the Wall, which shows the return of Benjen Stark's horse without his rider. That makes whole Castle Black worried. In the books, the men of he Night Watch become worried only because of Benjen's long absence.
 * In the series, Eddard is warned by lord Renly that something terrible has happened to Robert. In the books, he only suspects that because of dead silence on his way to king Robert.
 * Tomard, one of the guards at Winterfell, is sent to Dragonstone with a letter informing Stannis Baratheon that his brother has no rightful heirs, making him next in line to succession. In the books, Stannis had investigated with Jon Arryn and knew that Jaime was the father of Cersei's children.
 * Tomard is killed in the throne room before he can deliver the letter to Stannis.
 * Tomard's appearance is different from the book. He is nicknamed Fat Tom, but in the series, he is not shown to be particularly overweight. He is one of the many guards that Eddard Stark brought from Winterfell, but he has diminshed screentime in the series as Jory was more prominent.
 * In series, every recruit is passed out of training and becomes a man of the Night's Watch (ser Alliser mentioned that in episode 4). In books, ser Alliser passes on only 8 recruits (Jon, Halder, Grenn, Pyp, Toad, Matthar, Albett, Dareon). Sam was thought to remain recruit.
 * In the books, Jon Snow is worried that Sam might not be initiated with the other recruits. No such concern is shown in the series.
 * In books, Jon has to convince maester Aemon to pass Sam out of training because of his reading skills. In series, Sam automatically leaves training.
 * Pyp is named to the stewarts in series instead of being named to the rangers. Rast is named to the rangers, but in the books, he remains a recruit.
 * In series, maester Aemon gives orders to the new stewarts instead of Bowen Marsh in books.

The Pointy End

 * In the series, Septa Mordane tells Sansa to go and lock herself in their rooms, while she goes to confront the Lannister soldiers coming down the hall. In the book, Sansa and Septa Mordane are not together when the massacre occurs. As in the series, Sansa distraught with her father breaking her engagement and sending her back to Winterfell, went to Cersei to get her to talk to him and change his mind. This causes Cersei to accelerate her plans to prevent it. However, in the book, Cersei has the Kingsguard take Sansa to a tower room and imprison her there immediately afterwards, before the massacre takes place.
 * The soldiers that fight Syrio in the book are more lightly armored, and Syrio with a wooden sword does far greater damage to them, killing them with stabs through the neck and eyes. In the series he merely disarms and injures them.
 * There are several scenes showing the Lannisters' massacre of the Stark people: Vayon Poole is killed, Sansa gets captured by the Hound, Septa Mordane makes a stand... the book describes only the aftermath through Arya's eyes.
 * Arya's stableboy killing looks more like an accident in the TV series.
 * Sam has several more observations to make about the dead rangers in the books.
 * When Jon enters the common hall after hearing the news about his father, there is no awkward silence. Instead, Jon's friends encourage him and assure him they know the allegations against Ned are all lies.
 * While Jon is on his way to the Lord Commander's quarters, he finds a body of guard who was killed by Othor the wight, his head had been twisted completely around.
 * When Jon cuts off the wight's hand, the severed limb does not simply drop to the floor, but keeps fighting independently. It grabs Jon's calf, and Jon barely manages to pry it off.
 * Jon killing the wight with the thrown lantern severely burns his arm. It heals painfully, and he is left with very bad scars. In the book Jon throws burning curtains over the wight.
 * The Lhazareen girl Eroeh who is first one Daenerys saves, and who then becomes devoted to her, is absent from the series. In the series, Daenerys is shown rescuing many women, primarily Mirri Maz Duur.
 * There is a duel in the series between Mago and Drogo, after Mago challenges Drogo's authority. Drogo slices open Mago's throat and rips his tongue out. Mago is actually still alive in the books. The duel was added to the series as Jason Momoa believed that the audience hadn't been shown Khal Drogo's combat prowess.
 * Drogo is injured in off-screen battle against rival khalasar, led by Khal Ogo. It is not Mago that injures Drogo, but a bloodrider of Khal Ogo.
 * The wound that Mirri Maz Duur infects was worse than the one shown in the series which was superficial. In the book he is wounded in battle with the Lhazareen.
 * Ser Barristan, in the book, not only throws the sword at Joffrey's feet, but tells him that Joffrey will need it when Stannis arrives. After Ser Barristan leaves, Joffrey thinks that this was a treasonous threat and orders the Gold Cloaks to go after Selmy and kill him. Barristan has to kill two members of the city watch and escapes from the city. In the series, he is simply allowed to leave.

Baelor

 * In the book, it is Elmar Frey to whom Arya becomes betrothed. While in the series, Arya is betrothed to Waldron Frey, a name which never appears in the books.
 * Walder Frey imposes one more condition: two of his young grandsons, "Big" Walder and "Little" Walder, will be taken to Winterfell as wards. Catelyn agrees, thinking that Bran needs the company of children in his age.
 * Theon does not snicker when Catelyn tells Robb the terms of the pact with the Freys.
 * In King's Landing, Arya is seen in the series trying to trade the dead pigeon to the baker for bread. In the books, the baker has tarts, and Arya first asks for a lemon one. This is an interesting choice as lemon is often referred to as Sansa's favorite. When Arya was invited to have lemon cakes with the queen in her wheelhouse, she couldn't care less. Now she appreciates them.
 * Arya drops the pigeon when the crowd draws her to the Sept of Baelor for Lord Eddard's trial, in the series. In the book, Arya takes the pigeon with her to the docks, where she discovers that the boat her father had hired to take her back to Winterfell was still at the dock, with men dressed in Lord Eddard's colors. At the last minute she realizes that it is an trap. She loses the pigeon, which is on her belt, as she is running away, but, whether it fell or was stolen by a pickpocket, she is unsure.
 * In the series, Shae is introduced as being Lorathi, one of the Free Cities and has an accent.
 * In the books, Tyrion, Bronn, and Shae do not play the drinking game, and it is much later before Tyrion tells them each, separately, about Tysha.
 * The story about Tysha in the books is slightly different than in the series: Tysha was orphaned daughter of crofter, not wheelwright's daughter; Tyrion was thirteen when he met her, not sixteen; after she was gang-raped by the soldiers, Tywin forced him to be the last.
 * In the books, Tyrion Lannister is depicted giving a battle speech, before riding in the vanguard and fighting a knight whom he eventually causes to yield. He is also described as wearing a mish mash of armour instead of his custom suit as shown on TV, because his armour is still at Casterly Rock. This causes the audience to miss him spearing a horse with a unicorn helm, the only thing they could find that fit his head. In the series, Tyrion is knocked out before the battle even starts by an errant warhammer and wakes up after everything is over.

Fire and Blood

 * In the series, it is Sandor Clegane who lifts Eddard's head instead of Janos Slynt.
 * In the books, Yoren tells Arya that the man (Varys) who brought Gendry to him was the same one who told him to delay leaving and be at the Sept of Baelor, because the trial of Eddard Stark was supposed to result in him being sentenced to take the black and he would be going with Yoren to the Wall.
 * In the series, Maester Luwin doesn't accompany Bran into the crypts below Winterfell; Osha takes him. In the book, it is Maester Luwin who takes Bran down to the crypts to show him that his father is not there, and Shaggydog bites him. Bran and Rickon then go with him back to his tower and are there when the raven arrives with word of their father's death (their wolves begin to howl and Rickon begins to cry before the raven comes).
 * An additional scene from A Clash of Kings, when Arya meets Gendry, Hot Pie, and Lommy Greenhands, is shown in the series.
 * Arya only threatens Hot Pie with Needle in the series. In the book, she beats him with a wooden sword and Yoren punishes her for that. This event also happens during their journey instead of on the streets of King's Landing.
 * Lommy doesn't use the nickname "Lumpyhead" for Arya in the TV series.
 * Rorge and Biter are seen, along with a hooded man who is presumably Jaqen H'ghar; Rorge is not missing his nose.
 * In the book, Sam does not ride out with Grenn and Pyp, after Jon who is deserting the Night's Watch. Sam tells the others, and seven recruits ride out to pursue Jon. Ghost gives away Jon's position, who hides from the recruits.
 * In the book, when Daenerys steps into the pyre, it all occurs in the same night. In the series, the scene ends the next morning.
 * The scene between Catelyn and the imprisoned Jaime is based on a similar scene between them in A Clash of Kings. This scene is broken into two parts. One half here and the other part is in season two, when she goes to see Jaime with Brienne of Tarth. The dialogue between the two here is only a small fraction of the whole conversation, and does not include Jaime's teasing comment about Bran: "I seldom fling children from towers to improve their health. Yes, I meant for him to die".
 * In the book, when Daenerys is found in the smoldering remains of the fire, the dragons are nursing mother's milk which she has as she was pregnant. Also, though her skin is unburnt, all off her hair has burned away.​

​See also
​
 * Differences between books and TV series - Season 2
 * Differences between books and TV series - Season 3