10 Game Of Thrones Scenes WAY More Brutal In The Books

10. The Battle Of The Fist Of The First Men

While all the political scheming and ill-advised squabbling was taking place in the southern realms of Westeros, the true enemy was approaching from the north. The looming threat of the Walkers was only teased at, before we eventually got a glimpse of their army during the final episode of season two.

Season three opened with the tattered remnants of the Night's Watch hopelessly pitting their way back to the Wall. The audience was never shown the horrors inflicted on the Night's Watchmen, but it was revealed they suffered a devastating attack by the Walkers.

In the book we see the full horror of the undead assault. The event is told from the perceptive of Sam. He witnesses the undead swarm over the defences and overrun the camp. Frozen in fear, he watches a giant undead Ice Bear tear the head from a Brother, and sees a panic-stricken horse kick shatter a man's skull. Eventually Lord Mormont orders the survivors to mount up and make a break for it, Sam among them. Many Whites cling to the fleeing horses, disemboweling the shrieking animals, and pulling men from their saddles.

In the show around 100 Brothers escaped the initial assault, in the books it was less than 60.