If you've read the Song of Ice and Fire series then you're probably just as pissed as I am at the Season 3 finale of Game of Thrones. I understand that the show cannot and does not follow the books in their entirety or even sequentially in some cases. For example the Theon torture and castration scenes are not present in the third book at all. Of course I won't give any spoilers, I'll just really antagonize you by saying that somehow this season failed to include the most satisfyingly epic part of the third book! And I can't believe I now have to wait almost an entire year to see it happen!
The third book is probably my favorite in the series and I was rarely disappointed in how it was presented on screen, particularly Daenerys Targaryen's storyline. In episode 4 when she tricks the Astaporian slaver Kraznys mo Nakloz into trading her 8,000 Unsullied soldiers and then commands one of her dragons to kill him with fire afterwards, it solidifies her transformation from submissive slave bride to true queen and army commander. It's one of my favorite moments in both the third book and the third season because it proves what a badass she really is and reveals her sincerity in doing whatever it takes to regain her rightful place on the Iron Throne. The freed Yunkai slaves carrying her while chanting "mother" at the end of the season finale also shows her aptitude for gaining adoration, and only further solidifies the power she possesses.
The storyline I was not so fond of this season was Bran, Hodor, and the Reeds journeying to the Wall. In the book the story was somehow more interesting, perhaps because Martin goes into more detail of Bran's adventures as a warg when he enters the mind of his direwolf Summer. Understandably the POV aspects of the book are sometimes difficult to duplicate in the show, but I was often very bored of Bran's segments this time around and felt that the cliff notes version would've sufficed.
The romance between Jon Snow and the Wildling Ygritte did not fail to deliver, and it was much more intense to see than to read. I think this can primarily be attributed to the fact that Kit Harington is smokin' hot. I mean come on, a celibate sex symbol? I don't think so! It was hormonally satisfying to see him get some action this season. Plus Ygritte is also a total badass, going so far as to shoot Jon with three arrows even though she's clearly in love with him.
Then of course there was the OMG "Red Wedding" episode last week that had everyone literally screaming when Catelyn and Rob Stark are brutally murdered at the hands of Walder Frey. Because I knew what was going to happen I actually really dreaded seeing it in the show. Reading the books makes it much easier to become emotionally attached to the characters, so even though I know what was coming it was really hard to watch. But I'll admit that it was sort of hilarious to see the intense reactions of my unsuspecting friends.
Then came last night's episode, and in my preparation to feel satisfied at the end of this season, I was left feeling somewhat betrayed. How could they not show the thing that's suppose to happen?! Actually, there are two huge things that happen at the end of the third book and they didn't show either of them! What the heck George Martin and HBO? After the amazingness of last week's episode I trusted that the finale would be of an even higher caliber. It's not that I think they have eliminated these elements of the storyline; I'm sure they will be shown in the fourth season. The problem is that because it's HBO, we now have to wait almost an entire year to see them happen! Maybe this only applies to the book readers, but after a great season of Game of Thrones I am ultimately left feeling disappointed and unfulfilled.