Originally Posted by
Madam-Shogun-Assassin
Tbh I think the show would have been better off if they had not cut a lot of subplots that added richness to the story. I don't read the books I mostly go by wikis, and lore videos, but For example:
-Shae was a lovesick imbecile instead of a clever whore was the change that bothered me the most. The show couldn't decide if she was a clever, empowering, smart woman or a complete idiot.
- Barristan is actually formidable (instead of literally dying in the only fight he's ever been in in the show)
- Benjen is still missing and presumably a character called Cold Hands.
- All of the Starks warg to some degree (by dreaming through their direwolves) except Sansa (Lady is dead after all)
- Gendry's character got merged with another of Robert's bastards (who Stannis wanted to execute) and Gendry isn't some wandering hero looking for a cause but a kid trying to stay alive. There's also a female bastard or Robert's hanging around the Vale. Don't know if she plays a bigger part tho.
- The Faceless Men aren't just training Arya as their sole purpose but are actually spread throughout the world working on some cause (?)
- The Maesters all seem to be up to something as well (something about killing magic and dragons)
- Bronn is significantly downplayed. He is made lord after Blackwater and we see little to nothing of him after, other than him naming his first son Tyrion as a joke that pisses off Cersei. Though personally I think he should have died around season 7 at least.
- Loras is actually a character instead of just "GoT gay guy"
- Tyrion and Jaime did not leave on good terms. Tyrion promised to kill Jaime next he saw him, while leaving Jaime with words that begin to eat away at Jaime as he begins to suspect Cersei of infidelity.
- Jon is actually a character, not a righteous do-gooder who just sulks and is emo.
- Tyrion is actually a character and the son of Tywin in that he's compassionate and good, but also vindictive, vicious, bitter, spiteful and cynical. Significantly more interesting character in the books. The show he's just a whitewashed quipping hero, akin a Marvel movie character.
- Dorne actually matters and is significant to the plot.
- Varys actually matters and is significant to the plot.
- Illyrio actually matters and is significant to the plot.
- Varys and Illyrio are actually backing another Targaryan (they didn't just save Dany but another boy) who is also raised in Essos. Varys works to spread chaos in Westeros, and when Kevan Lannister takes power as regent and begins to fix the continent effectively in Cersei's wake, Varys kills him. That other Targaryan (a Blackfyre, presumably) invades Westeros with the Golden Company. His advisor and mentor, Jon Connington, is actually the one with grayscale (who's plot got merged with Jorah's in the show, except that Jorah and Jon in the books actually have purpose).
- Littlefinger is up to something but we don't know what. He's also not stupid enough to take the knights north and then hang around waiting to be killed in a hilariously stupid trial.
- Arya is training to be an assassin, not batman. The idea that she can fight Brienne and stand toe-to-toe with her is remarkably stupid. She's washed bodies, had literally one archery lesson (which was to "not aim") and played it stick fighting. There is nothing exceptional about this training whatsoever.
- Syrio Forell is hinted at as still being alive.
- The Hound is presumably dead after Arya leaves him...though there's hints that the Faith have picked him up and he's a gravedigger living peacefully. The idea for Cleganebowl makes more sense considering Cersei's trial is coming up and it's led to believe she'll pick the Mountain as her champion. The Faith will presumably pick the Hound.
- There is a plot line that the Northern houses are rising up in a secret conspiracy against the Bolton's. "The North Remembers". I feel like this was actually going to be a thing until D&D decided they didn't want to be bothered. Other tale tell signs is that after season 5 there wasn't a lot of new major characters introduced.
- There is massive food shortages. There is a lot of hints that the coming Winter will be catastrophic, white walkers or no white walkers. And the chaos and expense of war aren't helping.
- The country is on the brink of civil war; Brienne's journey through Westeros is meant to give us an understanding of that. Looting, revolutionaries, self-made lords, lawlessness, and the rising problem of a fervent new religion.
- There are tell tales of magical horns; one of ice, and one of fire. The former is said to be able to bring the Wall down (since the Wall is kept up with magic) while the latter is said to be able to control dragons. Only the latter has been blown once and the man who blew it began bleeding from all his tattoos and died after of scorched lungs. Euron posses the Dragonhorn and he is after Dany.
- Sansa never goes north. Instead, one of Sansa's friends and maids is dressed up as Sansa and is sent North after the Lannisters lose her (Tywin's idea). She is raped and abused by Ramsey and Theon saves her. When he does, they head for Castle Black, not knowing Jon's been recently killed. This would have fixed season 5 by a lot.
Those are the major ones I can think of.