Game Of Thrones Season 5: 9 Book Changes And What They Mean For The Show

7. Barristan Dies

In the show: In Sons Of The Harpy, the titular group launch an attack on Meereen and the Unsullied. Ser Barristan arrives at the fight, displaying the kick-ass fighting skills one would expect of Barristan the Bold, but ultimately the numbers are against him and, while Grey Worm prevents his throat from being slit, it does seem he's been killed. This is confirmed at the beginning of the next episode, Kill The Boy. In the books: Barristan doesn't die (no such fight really takes place, with the Sons of the Harpy being much more secretive and underhand in their attacks), and indeed chapters of A Dance With Dragons are from his point of view. He instead continues to advise Daenerys, futilely attempting to push her down the right path - one that leads away from the likes of Daario Naharis and a marriage to Hizdahr zo Loraq. He begins to train knights, and becomes Hand of the Queen when Daenerys disappears on Drogon's back. He leads a plan to seize control of the city and arrest Hizdahr, who he believes attempted to assassinate Dany. What it means: There have been some changes to Dany's character this season on the show, showing her to be a more decisive leader, which may lessen the need for an advisor such as Ser Barristan. There is a good chance he would die in The Winds Of Winter, but the show has seemingly expedited that for slight shock value (although they never fully established the character enough for it to hit that hard), and also because they appear to be speeding up the meeting of Tyrion and Daenerys. It's very possible that Tyrion or Jorah (if he isn't turning to stone too quickly), or a combination of the two (Tyrion's wits, Jorah's fighting skills) could replace him in the show.