Martin's writing is often full of symbolism, other times it is written so well it reads like poetry.

1) The Brand, Master Luwen discussion is an entire chapter in AGOT, I repeat the whole chapter. It shows off that Bran and the wolves are not just normal human beings and that magic somewhat still exists. Bran dreams that his father is still in the crypts, and he begs to go down there and see if this is still true. Maester Luwen who is a Maester, a learned man, a man of rationality tells Bran that he is just dreaming and that his father is south at Kings Landing. Maester Luwen tries to comfort Bran as an uncle would, for he cares for his lord as a child, but Bran insists that his father is down in the crypt. Maester Luwen then switches to the rational teacher and takes Bran down to the crypt to prove him wrong. During this journey into the crypt they meat Rickon and Shaedydogg and Shaedydogg bites Maester Luwen. Rickon has had the same dream as Bran. Luwen though savaged appears triumphant for their is no body of Lord Stark in the crypt. It is at the end of the chapter that after being proven wrong Luwen recieves a message from a raven, both Rickon, Bran, and the wolves knew what the message contained before Luwen opened it, even after Luwen showed them the crypt. Luwen then starts to cry, and says "we...we shall need to find a stonecarver who knew his likeness well."

2) The Mirri Maz Duur prophechy is beautiful language and has a deeper meaning than just the words said. Instead they shortened the line to a cliche about the sun rises in the west Here is the prophecy in full.

"When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east, When the seas go dry and the mountain blow in the wind like leaves. When your womb quickens again, and you bear a living child. Then he will return, and not before."

They cut a 3 line quote so they can have Maester Pycelle have his whore scene that was not in the books.

3a) It is important for Sam not be there when the other men of the nightwatch return Jon to the wall. The reason why it is important is that Sam was the only person that Jon seriously connected to with the wall, the only one who Jon was Jon's age that could understood his pain, understood how the night watch was beneath his prior status as Lord's Stark Bastard (in fact Sam had it much worse than Jon.) It was seven low people who chased after Jon and brought him back, people who Jon could barely call friends. It was these seven people who did the chant repeating the words of oath of the nightwatch. These scene was not supposed to have Sam for it was a scene of initiation, a scene where it becomes quite apparent that strangers are now brothers.

4) I think it was important to show the Arya Hotpie scene (which really happens in ACoK not AGoT, but the rest of the scene is the same) for Arya really goes to town on Hotpie. It shows Arya could be savage and evil, for Arya went far past what was required to defend herself, she almost cripples Hotpie and she enjoyed causing Hotpie pain. It shows that even the good guys can do evil acts (even though it was fun)

5) Having no Roose Bolton army is going to be a problem for a story telling perspective for Robb having his armies split is the reason he can not advance against Tywin's army. Robb if his army was one and with the riverlords had an army the size of Tywin or in fact larger, but he could not advance due to the fact the army was on the wrong side of the trident, and there was no chance of reuniting without attacking/being attacked via Tywin, and with his army split in two he would surely lose such a frontal assualt just like Jamies army was defeated at riverun since it was really three armies due to the river splitting it in thirds.

This probably is happening due to the fact HBO is killing all the battle scenes and telling the stories off camera. Probably due to budget reasons. The biggest battle so far has been the Men of the Mountains attack Catelyn Stark's party on the way to the Vale.

6) I miss the cracking of the eggs for that scene was like poetry and it would be quite easy to add to the scene they did in the end.