I just wanted to say this is AMAZING. I've been flailing around trying to explain exactly how it was different in the books, but couldn't even begin to articulate it as well as you have here. That scene just made me embarrassed for the books- I think there are other problems (basically, too many characters for the screentime they have to work with), but the rest of the show basically makes a good pitch for GoT as a good fantasy novel a new viewer might want to read... this scene, though, I just desperately want to cover up and make excuses for.

Anyway. This. Amazing. Thank you.