Game Of Thrones: 8 Changes To The Books That Were Completely Justified
1. Hardhome
Hardhome, an abandoned village beyond the Wall, isn't seen in the books. It's heard of through Jon, but the Lord Commander himself doesn't actually go there, as he sends Cotter Pyke to see what's actually happening and save the wildlings if possible. The situation is direr than he feared, with the wildlings eating their dead and wights lurking in the shadows, but it's never explored nor explained beyond a letter Pyke sends to Jon back at Castle Black.
On the show, however, Jon does lead the expedition to rescue the wildlings, and all hell breaks loose. The wights attack and so too do the White Walkers, coming out of nowhere in a quite literally chilling sequence that results in one of the most epic and harrowing battles ever put on the small screen, magnificently captured by Miguel Sapochnik.
Hardhome is but a footnote in the books, and yet Benioff and Weiss, along with Sapochnik, turned it into one of the show's greatest hours.
What other changes to the books were justified? Let us know down in the comments.