Game Of Thrones: 5 Changes To The Books In 'The Gift'

2. Cersei's Arrest

In the show: Petyr Baelish and Lady Olenna are seen discussing their plan to kill Joffrey, when Littlefinger tells her that he has a gift for her. Later, we see Cersei emerge from taunting Margaery in her cell, only to be confronted by the High Sparrow, who brings out Lancel and has Cersei arrested. Although it isn€™t actually said, it€™s intimated that Lancel was the gift Littlefinger referred to, and that Olenna took the information to the High Sparrow. In the books: Olenna is back in Highgarden, although doubtless keeping up with events in King€™s Landing, and with a plan in mind to save her granddaughter if required. Lancel does confess his crimes to the High Septon, who Cersei then has killed. She sends Osney Kettleblack to falsely confess to the High Sparrow about having an affair with Margaery, however under torture he reveals the truth that it was actually Cersei he had the affair with, and she ends up being thrown in jail, with the prospect of facing up to the crimes admitted by both Lancel and Osney. Why the change? Not having the Kettleblacks involved is simply a case of streamlining the show, which already has a huge amount of characters for its audience to try and keep track of. Lady Olenna was presumably brought back in because of how great Diana Rigg is in the role, and they needed to find some way to use her. The use of Lancel is interesting, because he would€™ve already informed the High Sparrow of his crimes before now in the show. That means he either withheld Cersei€™s name, or that he somehow wasn€™t the gift Littlefinger referred to (or that this is something the show will simply skirt around). Either way, when the Sparrow asks of Cersei €œwhat will we find when we strip away your finery?€ it more than hints at what€™s to come, and can probably be taken quite literally - something book readers have been looking forward to seeing all season.