So after finishing the books, I can say that this is easily my favorite adaption of any sort of novel or anything, possibly ever. The steps they take where they don't follow the books actually have their reasoning in the grand scheme of thing, and tend to make their own points. Some of the dialogue and monologues added just for the show are incredible as well. I feel like with some things I hate when they deviate from the original story and make it shyttier than it was (The Walking Dead). But when you can make it just as good and just as interesting, then goddamn. I have no problem seeing essentially another version of that story
Only a few characters really look like how I feel like they should look, however.
The main one tho, I think Stannis is absolutely fukking spot on. The guy playing Stannis is so goddamn on point in his role, it gets me giddy. Dude even makes his facial expressions the way I feel like its described in the book.
Weren't you just reading Book 2 a few weeks ago?! How many chapters were you reading a day?!
Anyways on that Stannis tip, I posted this video a few weeks ago & bookreaders seemed to agree that the show hasn't shown done him justice: