I just think the writing is catering to the new broader fanbase it's acquired a bit and that is why the narrative approach has changed so much. Also wouldn't surprise me if they are saving more characters now because it's in their own financial best interest.
The core who started with the show were the book ppl, nerdy fantasy readers who lived for the details. It's so popular in the mainstream now... There are folks watching it who would never in a million years have picked up one of the books. They want to spend time with the people they like after almost a decade, see big action and have a couple easy to follow backstabbings or other dramatic twists and probably are going to glaze over if they try something too complex like that bran/lord of light thing.
HBO knows they'll probably devour spinoffs involving the characters they like too. HBO'S new mandate is to move from boutique into large scale content generation to fuel a streaming service. If the characters all survived that bloodbath it wouldn't surprise me if most of the core come through alive and in 5 years you'll be watching the equivalent of the Sansa chronicles as she navigates a diplomatic posting in braavos or something that's like the GOT version of the bachelorette and there are 3 or 4 other shows hitting different niches.
Regardless has been a fantastic ride. When you like a book a lot it's pretty much a dream to see HBO pick it up and put this much into it and it'll spawn tonnes of imaginative fantasy writing, TV and movies in the years to come with how influential its been. And it's still fun to watch so regardless no complaints.
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