Hmm, I have to admit I was shocked that Arya revealed who she was to Gendry so quickly... When reading it seemed a lot longer before she finally revealed that to Gendry, but I may be mistaken as UI read the books some while ago.

If i am the first commenter , I will do the honor to note the differences from the books

First whats with Stannis making love with Melisandre? that never happened in books , and I think it was better that way... she was supposed to be this nun like god servant...

Davos son seems to be getting more story time than in books ... interesting where this is going in the show...

Was Rakharo really killed? When he went into the desert? somehow I didn't remember that..

An obvious thing, Jon Snow definitely didn't go anywhere in the forest to follow Craster. Thats gonna bring some new storyline in there. I imagine the writers want to take the Crasteer Snow conflict a bit further...

If I am any wrong in what I wrote, then please good book readers correct me. And add anything else I missed...

I didn't like the Stannis change either. Unless we've totally misread the books, it's a huuuge deviation from who I thought his character was! Stannis is JUST. Stannis is SELF-RIGHTEOUS. To a fault. A totally brittle man. I wonder if this was designed to make him more accessible? The only thing I ever liked about Stannis was how full-fledged cracked out he was on justice. Where's the justice in screwing your priestess and cheating on your sick wife?

I think Arya/Gendry reveal was resolved quicker because everyone will get through multiple "chapters" of their POV every time we see them, due to the condensed nature of the story told via film rather than book. I would imagine this is the last we see of Arya for a week or so, unless we just get a small peek next week. Arya/Gendry have a great chemistry together. "Milady!" indeed. :)

I was OK with Jon seeing the boy taken. It was a good way to "show not tell" and yes it is a minor deviation but doesn't really change the characters involved. Craster was always going to get pissed regardless of how they found out what happens to the boys.

One nice thing I think of getting out of our characters heads is we're able to see a wider swath of action. I like getting to see Davos's son a bit more, rather than just hear about him through Davos's internal monologue.

Crikey...I feel like I can't remember anything from the book anymore!

It was strongly hinted in the books that Stannis had sex with her. But none of Dany's blood riders were killed in the book.

Yeah, I thought that's how her "shadow babies" were created...

Really? I never saw it that way... hmm, that gives a new spin to the things...
I literally thought that she was impregnated by some holy fire shadow spirit ...

Perhaps I should re-read it but I thought that it was implied - also explains why the Renly-killing one looked like Stannis...

hmm , well maybe I should re-read :D..
But one is for sure, that this is were the show is going ! will see how it plays out .

I'm just near the end of the 4th book now and, although it never specifically mentions that Stannis has sex with Melisandre, the shadow she births was described as having Stannis' shape. The implication is certainly there, and the fact that Stannis 'remembers' the slaying of Renly, and the description of his drained and worn appearance makes a mystical connection to the creations. All-in-all, the shows do take some licence with departing from the book, but then they are trying to fit a complete book into one season.
As a parallel example: remember the Dune book and movie? They made two movies - one 2 hour one that no one who didn't read the book understood, and one 5+ hour one that made a lot more sense. :)

:D ye I know what you mean about the Dune... that's actually an interesting topic... as the director of the film was actually David Lynch, but because it was so bad , he took his name off the credits ..

I am at the 4th book ... But did you mean book three part 2? which is in a sense 4th book , but in the series 3rd... the shadow birthing was in 2nd book wasn't it? ...

well , it does make a lot of sense yes :) have to admit that .. Just in books I suppose it was stated because probably Davos didn't know about it( only suspected after the looking like stannis part) , and in the books he is the person that we see Stannis actions ...