I know I said I didn't mind the change from the books, but a terrible though crossed my mind. They're not changing the show. They're just trying to dumb it down as much as possible. They're just systematically trying to get rid of as many characters and plot arcs as possible. Jorah Mormont will become the new Barristan. The new Targaryen will never show up. Sansa replace that other girl. Mance Raider really died. I don't think we'll see the shenanigan with Mance's son. The vikings are gone, and the Dornish are limited to the Sand Snakes (Which I guess got to be in because boobs.)
I get the feeling their marketing department just asked them to dumb it down.
Now, do you think we'll see Bran and Rickon again?
We'll see Bran because we have to have the old
guts gods. Rickon maybe not. The new Targaryen has to show up
because he is the fake dragon
, Jorah will be Barristen and Gryffon combined (which may suggest that new Targy will not appear), Sansa has replaced that other girl indeed (not much of value was lost other than the meeting with Jon Snuh which will not happen because he's gone north again), the old lady (now dead) replaced the wildling women, Mance is bants in heaven, all the kingsm00t and vikings are RIP, other Dornies... Could reappear. Who knows. Don't forget that Kevan Lannister buggered off to Casterly Rock, and I suspect the show will keep him there forever. The archer boy in the wall also replaced the prostitute one, which really comes as a surprise considering they're missing out on yaoibux that would actually be canon. Aemon got cut short. There appear to be only 4-5 sand snakes as opposed to about a dozen. The faith militant is more like ISIS than the Knights Templar. Missing out on so much Rh'ollor bants. And 2GOD, DEAD 2GOD WHERE IS 2GOD