8 Things Game Of Thrones Did Better Than A Song Of Ice And Fire
4. Character Pairings
One of the first ways that Game of Thrones deviated from A Song of Ice and Fire came in the way it paired up characters who never interacted much in the books.
In Season 2, Arya and Tywin cross paths, which never happened in A Clash of Kings. She acts as his cupbearer while hiding out in Harrenhal, and their constant game of cat and mouse gives nuance to her story. In particular, it gives her, and us, insight (and even a little sympathy), for her family's greatest enemy.
Similarly, the show pairs up Jaime Lannister with Bronn in Season 4, about when Bronn exits the books. The pair have great chemistry, and stand out, even trapped in the bland Dorne plotline. Their banter improves a scene which, in the books, pairs Jaime with Ilyn Payne, who can't even speak.
Another great show pairing comes when Theon and Sansa escape Winterfell together. Though skeptical at first, she recognizes that he is trying to redeem himself, and she becomes the first Stark to forgive him for his crimes against her family. Within the show, their friendship carries enough weight that seeing her weep over his dead body hurts way more than TV should.
Unfortunately, none of these characters interact much in the books, so only show watchers get to see these relationships.