8 Game Of Thrones Moments That Are So Much Better In The Book

5. Stannis And The Symbolic Peach

Symbolism is one thing that films and television really struggle with executing correctly. More often than not, literary symbolism is stripped of its subtlety upon translation to the screen, desperate to make sure that the audience understands exactly what's being said. It's entirely likely this is why one genuinely affecting scene was left out of the television series, but it's a total shame nevertheless, and is one of the many great things about the books. During a peace meeting near Storm's End during the War of the Five Kings (depicted in A Clash Of Kings), Stannis' brother Renly offers him a peach during a parley. Seeing Renly reaching for something, Stannis believes he is about to be attacked, but is confused to find Renly offering him the fruit. Stannis refuses, and Renly says: "A man should never refuse to taste a peach. He may never get the chance again. Life is short, Stannis." Though this is a rather throwaway moment, it greatly confuses Stannis, who spends a lot of time thinking about what the offer actually means. Even in A Storm Of Swords, Stannis is haunted by the memory of Renly and the peach. Given the fact that Stannis in season five becomes a frustratingly erratic character (at first he seems to have broken free from the influence of Melisandre, then he burns his daughter alive for her anyway) this detail would have gone a long way towards establishing Stannis' humanity, and possibly could have been used to elicit more sympathy coming up to his (apparent) death.