I still stand by the fact that Season 1-4 is freaking fantastic storytelling for a television show. Maybe not as rich or good as the books, but as its own contained universe, it took what was good about the books, and delivered a quality story experience for the small screen that was an amazing adaptation.
Gonna complain a lot, so SPOILERS AHEAD!
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Season 5 and the beginning of season 6 have been ATROCIOUS in comparison. Seriously. These storylines are just terrible right now. Dorne being the worst one of all. There has been nothing but a complete and total character assassination being done to many characters at this point. From all of Dorne, to Stannis, to Jaime, and on and on and on... So much garbage is dragging this series down now that it is all a waste of time. If it wasn't for all the action at The Wall, the intrigue with Bran's flashbacks, or how hilarious Varys and Tyrion are together, there would be pretty much NOTHING interesting or worth watching right now at all to even bother with the show.
Daenery's is so far removed from the plot now that she is back to where she started in the beginning. What a waste of time THAT is... just waiting for the Wonder Duo to find her so this plotline can get back on freaking track, because, it really adds nothing right now. Then we have Arya. Talk about padding. The last three episodes were so pointless and a waste of time. She is also completely removed from the plot right now as well, except they REALLy like padding out her story that adds nothing to the plot what so ever. They spend two episodes of her getting beat up before going back to the House of Black and White... could of just did all that in one freaking episode. Don't get me started on Winterfell! My god, why the hell did the show give Ramsay so much attention? He is the most stock and boring character in the entire show. At least Joffery had some personality with his awful cruelty. Ramsay doesn't. He is just a cardboard cut out monster that has no real agency. The show is spending way too much time on his dreadful character that he doesn't deserve. He gets more screen time right now this season than any other god-damn character so far. Heck, he had more screen time than everyone not named Tyrion, Daenerys, or Jon Snow LAST season. WHY?? He is boring as hell! At this point it is just a roll of the eyes any time he does something evil. The show just has him around at this point for "shock" value. He serves no other purpose. Speaking of shock deaths for the sake of shock deaths, it is clear that D&D are trying really hard to make everything like the Red Wedding by saying "oh, this is worse than the Red Wedding!1!1!!!1" every damn season, without realizing WHY the Red Wedding worked as a shocking moment that people give a god damn about and were surprised about. Do they not know how to write? Do they fail to understand why that scene and Ned Stark's death worked so well? Are they that oblivious? They need Martin there to hold their hand obviously, because they just seem to think shocking for the sake of shocking is all that it takes to get people to care, when that is the farthest from the truth.
Also, Tyrion in Mereen... YAWN. If it wasn't for Peter Dinklage, there is nothing of value here. He is with characters that he can't play off of, and now he is reduced to just spouting one liners now. Yes, he was always sarcastic, but without his family or Bronn to work off of, he is lost. Heck, even Jorah had good moments with Tyrion last season that worked well character wise. Being stuck with these boring people he can't work off of is completely awkward. If it wasn't for Varys there would be no value here. Heck, Varys is doing more than Tyrion right now. He isn't as muted and is actually trying to move the plot forward.
I could go on, but it will go on too long. I am extremely disappointed with the last two seasons. The writing took a nose dive. I don't know if that has to do with them running out of book material, GRRM leaving all parts of the show, or the lack of writing skill of D&D. It is probably a combination of all of the above, really. The only reason I am watching at all now is for completion sake and the hope that when all this FAT (which is at least half of these dumb plot lines right now) is trimmed away, the show will be able to breath and flourish again.