[nik-]

I don't think they were looking for her, I just think they came across her. How would they even know that she A) went to Mereen in the first place and then B) flew way north to be actively looking for her? Drogo died and then they just peaced out on her.

Yes, sometimes regression is a thing, and if Game of Thrones is just a character drama, then it totally works. However, this isn't "moving pieces into place" it's just character work. And it's not even new character work for some of them. Arya, Sansa and Tyrion are in a new situation as characters. The Lannisters? Oh, here's more suffering. Dany? Oh, you're likely a prisoner again or at best back to where you were before Drogo died. Jon's death punches a massive narrative hole in the show. And I don't even want to get started on Stannis.

My hope is that Game of Thrones isn't a character drama and that what was teased from the start, which was a futile power struggle between houses before a real threat presents itself, is the end goal. I saw this episode as moving away from this end goal and sliding back into old habit. After seeing a giant jump forward in Hardhome, it's frustrating. I don't need it to happen immediately, but I mean come on, we're 5 seasons in, do we really need to be treading water?

An honest question for you, where do you rank this season amongst the rest? Is it not easily the worst, even with the epic of episode 8?