But did it deliver? Because ever since the writers couldn't fall back on the sourcematerial from season 6 onwards, the quality has been dwindling down.
The short answer? No, it didn't. For me, season 8 was overhyped and underperforming, and after the weak seventh season really does shame to what was a fantastic series up to and including season 5.
And boy are my grievances long. Take for a start the Battle of Winterfell. It had been announced as the biggest battle in the history of TV AND cinematic fantasy battles. Even putting aside it was horribly filmed (rain and nighttime is do-able, remember Helm's Deep), in which the best excuse they could offer was their visuals guy saying 'learn to tune your tv'... seriously, pompous prick? The battle was by no means either big or impressive, and FULL of 'retardo moments' in planning.
The defences: horses before catapults before elite troops before barricades before the wall. It would have been far more sensible to turn that around right... and the putting on fire of said barricades by Melissandre at the last moment; because the Walkers fear fire... they could have lightened them up hours before that...
No, the whole, seasons long build up to the terror that was the Night King was a big sof... and then we move to the even bigger battle, that off King's Landing. Now, I for one WASN'T amazed by Dany going all Darth Vader on the city. After all, in all her previous 'liberations', she coldheartily spilled lots of blood as well. But that was a far off world and characters that we knew for 2 episodes tops, so we cheered. But the battle is itself was... rubbish.
The week before, her second dragon got simply shot down (despite Martin stating in his books that a full grown dragon's scales are nigh impenerable) from miles away, while now a full frontal assault by Drogon reduced the fleet who just couldn't fire back. Then we have the mighty Golden Company, hyped weeks in advance (ever since s7's finale) of being so good and mighty... and burned down in seconds. Which brings us to the burning part. Suddenly, Drogon could blow fire for almost an hour on end, burning down the armies and the city of King's Landing... so why weren't they toasting the zombie horde two weeks before... when they even had 2 dragons... instead of throwing lifes away?
And then the many, many unaswered questions. Why didn nobody reveal Jon had a rightfull claim to the throne on the final episode. Or how could he even have his head amidst the Unsullied, who killed all that even dared oppose their Queen, yet her killer can go to trial? Sure, he comes away clean, returning to the Night's Watch (and so into Freefolk lands to start a new life apparantly), but WHY is there still a Night's Watch. It's purpose is gone now that the North and the Freefolk are at peace, and the Walkers destroyed...
Craster's Babies? Who WAS the Night King? Bran suddenly becoming king, yet two weeks before stating he 'wants' nothing anymore and certainly not rulership, and sure he took it reluctantly, he knew it was coming as he saw the future...
But perhaps my final gripe was Arya and the Prophecies (you know, the one she would fae a green eyed enemy). I would have changed the whole how Dany got killed sequence, with Arya attacking her, and being thrown back. While Arya lies on the floor, Jon, torn between family and adopted family, makes his choise and stabs Dany through the heart... same result, more drama (sure, it reminds of Return of the Jedi, but it is only a brainspin). And instead of Arya sailing away, her closing shots for me would be her returning to the Faceless Men temple to train further, now that she has suffered defeat...
No, this season wasn't good. It left me with a bitter taste, one that has been brewing for me ever since the Hardhome episode at the end of season 5...
Still, hats off though to the actors, and the "concept" of the whole series. the former performed admirably, and the series made fantasy a well accepted television niche, something Lord of the Rings did in theatres, and now has been done to the smallscreen.
And that is something GoT is righty credited for for all time...
All your points are well taken. Working without back stories from George Martin and running out ofsource material, the writers did what writers do often - they failed to maintain the quality of the original vision. Still it was fun while it lasted.
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