Skipping the Aelfinn, Eelfinn

Adding a wife for Perrin

Making Mat a depressed slacker instead of just a scoundrel

Are just a few of the ways they've gone unforgivably off track.

If you've never read the books it's an Ok story but not compelling. My wife (never read the books) has said that she'll watch it when nothing else is on but she doesn't look forward to it. I've read the entire series 5 times, the first few books 7+ times and I cringe when they make that major changes. I look with dread when an episode or season comes along because I wonder how bad they are going to screw it up.