The plot line of Brienne of Tarth got changed for the worse. In the books, when being pursue on a ship, she dives from the ship, climbs a cliff, and causes an avalanche that destroys the pursuing fleet. How could they take this ultimate badass move away from her?

The ensemble cast were getting burnt out by the demands of the show. D and D certainly fucked up the franchise, but competent show runners would have had to rush the ending as well. It wouldn't have sucked as bad, but it still would have been rushed.

Big one here. Where the plot finished was mostly good. I actually like the last episode it was the garbage fire of the episodes before it that made everyone happy to hate it. Tyrion saying that Bran has the best story to tell makes sense to sell to anyone who wasn't part of it. Bran has a lot to show for his journey while everyone else isn't really any different physically from the common people.

My opinion of the show in general is wildly unpopular. I thought it was terrible from ep1. I thought it was rife with bad/terrible acting AND writing. I didnt finish the first season until years later, when i gritted my teeth to watch through it. I managed to arrest my hater nature, and began to sort of enjoy it for what it was... then the terrible last two seasons happened.

I do believe at the end of the day, that the more terrible aspects of the show were due to first it being an unknown entity.. and the network went cheap on the first couple of seasons to hedge their bets. lmost all of the rest of it was due to D&D.

A couple of weeks ago, I decided I would, against my better judgement give HOTD a shot. It was not as bad, but the effects were so terrible I turned it off. How a network can murder a golden goose twice over is past me.

I know not many people are as critical as I am of this stuff... I dont begrudge other people enjoying the shows. Its just not for me.