After this last episode I am a convert: Long live the show's adaptation, screw purism.
90% of the changes introduced in the last episode have been for the better:
- Great character building in Margaery's banter with Cersei. Witty, comedic, and wholly in character, it is a great way for putting in the front of the viewer's eyes the hate of Cersei towards the newcoming Queen.
- Yes, of course Tommen does have sex with Margaery, he's aged up in the show and the whole "underaged" controversy is irrelevant to his character and the world he inhabit, plus it would make a ton of sense for Margaery to manipulate him trought sex. Controversial, this is not.
- Great introduction to the Great Sparrow plot, and great casting decision too. The show has actually nuanced a character for once, showing both sides of The Faith coin (religious fanatics that also do help the poor in a meaningful, honest way)
- Brienne trying to rescue Sansa gives her plot an actual purpouse, makes her relevant to the story, and further developes her character, desperately in need of a great cause to defend
- Sansa replacing Jeyne puts higher stakes in the North subplot, makes her a constant presence during the season, makes Jon's decision about abbanoning his sister more dramatic, goes in line with her character development towards a cold-blooded manipulator able to withstand abuse in order to get her revenge, creates a great set up for a frey (or bolton) pie. Noone ever cared about Jeyne Poole, show watchers certainly won't
- Jon's plot has been speeded up, but it does work anyways. Why would you guys drag an already slow-burn character arc?
- Brienne's course of action against Stannis is the weakest link so far, it seems kinda forced to me. But her replacing the spearwive's role helps to tie in the meandering plots
People asking for the introduction of a ton of characters noone gives a shit about as a way to make the plot advance by bloating it as GRRM did in the book, Brienne's pointless road trip, Ironboring mary-sueing their way out of their shit stratgic blunders and Sansa disappearing for one entire season are simply out of their frigging minds. Hail to better version of the second parts of ASOIAF, I say