Board Thread:TV Show Discussion/@comment-1600847-20150615133347/@comment-26339491-20150616225708

I felt a bit meh on most of the fifth season, because: - fewer brilliant character moments, - plot lines that seemed to go nowhere (Brienne, Sandsnakes), - cheap deus ex machina/coincidence moments that seemed just too deliberate and constructed to be realistic (Ghost showing up out of nowhere to save Sam and Gilly, Sandsnakes and Jaime/Bron showing up at precisely the same time, Tyrion and Jorah going to Valyria for no reason other than Jorah having to contract Greyscale because the script needed him to, Podrick just happening to spot Stannis' army at the right moment, Brienne finding him so easily and by himself in the aftermath of the battle, etc... ) - I agree with previous posters that more time would have done some story lines good. Nearly all of them could have used some more elaboration, more time to get invested in them.

But I really liked the finale. Cersei's walk of atonement may have been a bit tamer than in the book, and I missed some final word on Margaery and her brother. But Stannis' end was very fitting, the final conversation between the 2 1/2 men (Jorah, Tyrion, and Daario) was brilliant, and I loved seeing Theon and Sansa make a run for it together (though Theon's change of heart came a bit sudden).

The best moments for me were Danaerys with the dragon who, after rescuing her so heroically, is now just lazily disobeying her again, Pycelle's face as he sees Cersei humiliated, and Melissandre's face when she realizes that she'd been putting her money on the wrong horse this whole time. Brilliant acting in this episode, lots of surprises (even for someone who has read the book), many deaths, but well-done ones, and some great cliffhangers for the next season.

I don't know if Jon is dead. It certainly looks like it. I really really really want him to survive, though (or be resurrected). It seems there is so much he still needs to see and do. His death made sense in the context of the story, but if anything, it's even more shocking than Ned's death way back in season 1.