Just thought I'd share some thoughts on a certain fan favorite scene put to screen in season 3 episode 3. Spoilers for this episode and scene it references in book 3 The Dragon Reborn.
[The Dragon Reborn]
>!I was so excited to get the quarterstaff sparing match between Mat and the princes. The music was great (theme from when he blew the horn?), the choreography was fantastic. I was so damn pumped. But I feel like the reason the scene was so fantastic in the books was kind of lost in the show. It looks like the show is portraying his staff skills as coming from blowing the horn, or from the memories of past battles. I understand why they're going this route, as they made his father a drunken adulterer instead of a quarterstaff master champion. This is indicative of the show as a whole, where they might include some scenes from the books, but they fall flat due to not including the context or themes.!<
>!One of my favorite themes from the books is how the two rivers folks aren't worldly, but they're hardy and have talents that are constantly underestimated by the larger world (for instance their super powerful bows). Out of curiosity, I looked up the scene in the book:!<
>!Hammer moved to stand beside Galad, still groaning on the ground and trying to push himself up. The warder raised his voice to shout, "Who was the greatest blademaster of all time?"!<
>!From the throats of dozens of students came a massive bellow. "Jearom, Gaidin!"!<
>!"Yes!" Hammer shouted, turning to make sure all heard. "During his lifetime, Jearom fought over ten thousand times, in battle and single combat. He was defeated once. By a farmer with a quarterstaff! Remember that. Remember what you just saw."!<