The producers are likely stretching out stories, putting in filler arcs to avoid the series from catching up to the book too soon.
I think a lot of it has to do with giving the characters something to do. Theon isn't in SoS so they use his memories from DWD instead. Bran's journey is kind of boring and he only has 4 chapters in SoS (4 chapters as material for 2 TV Seasons) so they make up some stuff that isn't in the book to keep him on the show. They obviously have it planned when they want him to meet the 3 eyed crow. But if it's still somewhat a ways away, how are they supposed to keep the character on the show most weeks? They can't just ignore him until he gets there because the audience will stop caring. And they can't just show him sitting somewhere doing nothing except showing the audience that they're STILL traveling. So the producers invent stuff for him to do. I do find it amusing that Bran & Co. have been traveling since the end of Season 2 (a season and a half ago) and Locke is able to go from the Dreadfort to Castle Black and catch up to them at Craster's in about 2 1/2 episodes.
Yeah, well travel on the show in the scenes the writers made up has always completely ignored consistent and realistic time lines for travel. See Littlefinger teleporting from the remnants of Renly's camp in the south where he is visiting Margeary to Harrenhal in a week, or Robb marching his army from the west, ~500 miles east to Harrenhal to find it abandoned, then back over ~300 miles to the twins to the red wedding. They pretty much completely ignore the maps, distances, and geography when they write new scenes or make changes. I get that some of the actors need additional scenes to give them something to do, but at the same time they condense the typical chapter to about 2-3 minutes and cut or re-write most of the content. It seems they could just leave more of the chapters that exist closer to the books and have plenty of material without having to make up new stuff especially for the PoV characters. I also get to an extent the desire to keep the cast number as low as they can by cutting Coldhands, but if you are looking for something to make Bran's story more interesting, then including him would have been a good idea.
They're trying to show more of a two-faceted character. Not just a seething she-beast who could spawn a creature like Joffrey. At the same time I think she's playing everyone a bit. Getting them to let down her guard. See how she softens Tywin, but leaves him with words against her younger brother. See how she gets Oberyn Martell to reflect: "I hate Lannisters, but she does love her daughter..." And if you've read the books, you know she and Maergery have a long and protracted hatred. They're also folding elements of Books 4 and 5 into this season, even though most writers have been too lazy to mention it and have gone with "roughly the second half of Storm of Swords". Coldhands wasn't cut. They hired an actor to play him this season, so he'll pop up sometime or another. I think they pushed his first appearance back, like Jojen and Meera, who were in Clash of Kings but didn't appear until TV's SoS timeline. Now, WHAT they do with all the characters from Dorne and the Iron Islands next year, who knows? The producers state (give away?) that Indira Varma's character becomes important in the future. And the Greyjoys' actions are central to some future plot points. Hell, I thought they did too much jumping around as it is.
There is no cast listing for Coldhands. They delayed the Reeds appearance for a season, which made some sense casting wise, but they showed up pretty much at the start of the season 3. If they had cast Coldhands and didn't have him appear for more than half of this season including the obvious opportunities that have just past, it would not make any sense. There isn't much left for him to do out of the books that have been written so far to bother casting him at this point, compared to all the things he should have done by now that they have cut.
Yeah, I just re-checked. Got it mixed up. The Three-Eyed Crow makes an appearance. There is some dude on Facebook who claims Coldhands will yet show up but to me that's like relying on NBA message-board insiders. Now that I think about it, it does kinda suck that Coldhands' scenes (so far) have been cut. Maybe he'll still show up but sometimes the show's omissions are baffling. Maybe they're saving him for a big reveal.
If they haven't introduced Coldhands yet then I'm pretty sure they won't bother with it at all...which makes me think that is partially a confirmation that Coldhands is NOT Benjen in the books.
Or he's introduced in the season finale or next season. Instead of a straight sequence they do many loops to fill out a few extra seasons so GRRM will have time to finish his books. I wouldn't be surprised if they left Tyrion Spoiler killing his father to next season's finale or mid-season climax
Thoughts on possible events tonight? Looks like Davos and Stannis are going to Braavos (finally we get to see Braavos!), Tyrion's trial begins, and Danny meets masters?
I just hope this doesn't feel like another "filler" type episode. Excited for Tyrion's trial and see if Shae shows up to testify against him. And I'm trying to remember did Davos and Stannis ever go to Braavos in the books? I don't remember but this is probably setting up where one of the Iron Banks representatives shows up in the fifth book to back Stannis since the Lannisters aren't paying their debts contrary to their house words
Damn that episode was so hype tonight. Glad they brought Shae back. I was afraid they were gonna cut her testimony out. Can't wait till Tyrion pays his debt to her and Tywin
No kidding, they've kept Tywin pretty charismatic and likeable in the show, but he was in full heel form tonight. Also looks like they are gonna kill Lysa next week, moving quick on that story. Good episode after a few snoozers.
Dear lord... That end speech by Tyrion gave me some serious goosebumbs. I'm pretty sure I shed a tear there.
Yeah it's surprising they are killing off Lysa this quickly. Maybe that preview is a fake out. Figured they would want Lysa for a few filler episodes next season before they kill her off
In the books, didn't the goat herder also claim that Drogon killed his child as well? Or am I just remembering incorrectly?
No you're right, but they are gonna have to come up with a lot of original filler material for Dany, and I'm sure her dragons killing a person and having to be controlled will be a significant plot point next season.
So question. I haven't read much of the books, but in the show "The East" seems so much more awesome than Westeros. The Slavers Bay obviously had the slave issue, but the cities/architecture were far superior and the population seemed higher. Then there was Braavos today which blew away anything we've seen in Westeros. So, what's the big deal about Westeros? Seems like The East is where it's at. Why would the Targaryan want to leave and come back to take Westeros?
Well, in the book, people make complaints about Drogon killing their sheep and then the goat herder comes in and says Drogon killed his daughter. So maybe they're just setting things up for later. Guy comes back and you think "oh, another goat". Nope. Daughter.
