So I finished the whole season. On a whole I liked what they did better than the bloated books. They streamlined the plots and made them relevant. Particularly Sansa's storyline was much better bringing her right into the action, Jamie and Bronn as well.
It wasn't without some serious flaws however.
The Dorne story (which was already incredibly weak in the books) was made inconceivably worse. The only redeeming thing about Dorne in the books was the allusion to Doran's grand plan. Instead there's a miscast actor with no mention of the plan. The sand snakes were incredibly clumsy and only there to provide t&a, in all that was a huge fail.
Jon's death was much worse. In the book there was a whole political reason for killing Jon, in the TV version the animal spirits of men do it. Much less compelling, much less story driven. That was a big mistake honestly. Making Jon's death about some mutiny regarding bigotted nights watchmen is just much thinner than making it about Jon foresaking his oath to not attack Westeros.
Anyway, in all I enjoyed the season. I liked the big set pieces in Episodes 8 and 9. Hardhome was much much better than in the books where you only get vague allusions to what happened. Cersei's walk of shame was very well done. Dany's assasination attempt was greatly improved upon.
I can't wait for Season 6 when they really can free themselves of the books now. I hope they use this opportunity to build in more political drama and less interpersonal human conflict. I want story about the battles between houses, alliances, and the vices of power seeking men. Less about oaths and petty conflicts.
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