‘Game Of Thrones’ Set To Disappoint Book Purists?

If you are a die-hard fan of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, prepare for more disappointment from the newest season of Game of Thrones. At least that’s what Forbes Magazine thinks.

Forbes Magazine recently explored just how much Season 5 of Game of Thrones has diverged from the source series, A Song of Ice and Fire. For those who have not yet read or not yet caught up with the series, it’s an eye opener.

Warning: From this point on there will be spoilers. Lots of them.

A major plot point in Game of Thrones Episode 5.02 was Brienne of Tarth encountering Sansa Stark and Petyr Baelish. The encounter ends spectacularly, with Sansa refusing Brienne of Tarth’s protection much the way her younger sister, Arya, had.

In a sample chapter of The Winds of Winter posted to his website, author George R.R. Martin confirms that Sansa Stark, now known as Alayne Stone, is at the Eyrie with Baelish and her cousin. Yet, Episode 5.02 of Game of Thrones ends with Sansa and Baelish traveling to an undisclosed location to keep her out of Cersei Lannister’s hands.

The isn’t the first time the producers of Game of Thrones have altered the plot lines written in A Song of Ice and Fire, but the alterations are likely going to become more frequent beginning this season. This is because, for the first time, Game of Thrones is ahead of the source material. The next book in the A Song of Ice of Fire series, The Winds of Winter, isn’t expected to be published until at least 2016.

While this does mean that fans who want Game of Thrones to remain as faithful as possible to A Song of Ice and Fire will inevitably be disappointed, it allows the writers of Game of Thrones to explore some avenues that would never be included in A Song of Ice and Fire.

For example, the International Business Times noted that Arya Stark’s kill list changed significantly at the beginning of Game of Thrones Season 5. The name Meryn Trant belongs to the man who killed Syrio Forel. However, in a series rarity, Forel’s body was never shown. This fact, and the return of Jaqen H’ghar, has led many fans to suspect that Syrio Forel and Jaqen H’ghar are the same faceless man. The theory also stems from the fact that Jaquen H’ghar, who made his mysterious return in Game of Thrones Episode 5.02, has yet to resurface in A Song of Ice and Fire.

Game of Thrones airs Sunday nights at 9 p.m.

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