1. The Rains of Castamere
At long last, the scene all the Song of Fire and Ice readers were waiting for, both to see the Red Wedding in its terrible glory, and also to watch as the non-readers lost their minds. The big event itself is depicted mostly the same as it is in A Sword of Storms, though there are some smart changes, most notably stabbing Jeyne/Talisa, having Arya witness the killing of Robbs wolf, and the fact that it is Roose Bolton who finishes off Robb, not just some random soldier. Whats even more remarkable, though, is the selection of scenes that precede the Red Wedding. The Sandor Clegane/Arya choice is obvious, but effective. In A Sword of Storms, the real meat of their relationship doesnt come until after the Twins. With the "Rains of Castamere," the interactions between the Hound and Arya make the climax even more crushing. Major action happens elsewhere during this episode, too. Though probably at the same time chronologically, Daenryss scene takes place a hundred and some pages before the Red Wedding, as does Jon Snow breaking cover and almost meeting up with Bran (great changes in those sequences too, such as the role Daario ends up playing in the fall of Yunkai). By moving those scenes into The Rains of Castamere, Weiss and Benioff manage some misdirection. The non-reading viewer thinks something will probably happen at the wedding, but surely nothing all that important, since the episode is already full of importance. And then that viewer gets his or her face blown off. "The Rains of Castamere," an episode that stays true to the source material while coming up with awesome new approaches that suit the new medium. Thats what adapting is all about.