Disclaimer: I think this season has been good overall as television, and like it more than S1
It wouldn't even have to be an extended chase scene. Basically it's stuff like this that makes me question the writers. This is a case where you have to ask "is the new material an improvement over the book, is the book scene too expensive to shoot, etc." I won't spoiler tag this, I'd love to get non book reader's opinions
What we got: Jon walking around with Ygritte for two episodes. I love Ygritte, she had some great lines and I loved seeing her tease Jon. After an unlikely escape, Jon re-captures her and attempts to track his comrades but is led into a trap.
What we could have gotten: Jon capturing Ygritte and bringing her to the Halfhand/NW ranger camp. After determining she will offer no value, Halfhand tells Jon to "do with her what you must." Jon eventually lets her escape, and shortly afterward an eagle starts following the rangers. Initially it seems like a small wildling scouting party is hunting them, but quickly they realize it's a much larger group. One by one, rangers start dying or disappearing. Eventually they're led into a trap
Basically the show has put Jon, Dany, and Robb in a giant holding pattern. Jon walking around with Ygritte, Robb hanging out in camp doing nothing, and Dany waltzing around Qarth doing nothing - even after her dragons are stolen and her people are killed. That has given the writers the chance to create scenes that aren't in the book, and just about all of them have been average or bad. Like Robb's abrupt romance last night, or everything with Xaro/Qarth (although I liked the warlock killing the Thirteen).
