I'm usually the same, but with this season I haven't been able to help it. The storylines, plot twists, suspension and sense of theatre created, is like nothing else I have ever watched.

Really looking forward to next weeks finale to see what happens, but just don't want it to be over so quickly - but would rather the episodes be as full as they can be and be a short season, than drag it out for 16/20 episodes just for the sake of it.

I've come to the conclusion that TV, in its new incarnation, suits me better than film; I don't binge watch or look for spoilers - I like to watch a season in weekly chunks, as intended, and I think the slow burn of a series that allows for plot and character development, along with the ginormous budgets that are now enabled by the huge success of certain shows, lends itself very well to storytelling. There are still some brilliant films being made, and some terrible TV, but when it's done well, TV is winning - I guess The Sopranos and The Wire have paved the way for a whole new approach, along with the arrival into the market of Netflix and Amazon Prime. Great for actors too I guess - they can now 'do' TV, without being perceived as dumbing down - as evidenced by some of the major Hollywood stars who've appeared in TV - and some of the TV stars who've become global household names.

Anyway, GoT is awesome; not a word I use very often.

Have you guys checked Vikings out? it's right up there with Game Of Thrones, first season is good to fair but just keeps getting better and better and better, great characters superb writing based on real history and will fill the gap when GOT finishes and the new season on Vikings starts in November.

Well that ended superbly well.

I'll give that a go, thanks. The upcoming rlBrittanniarl also looks as though it could be decent.

I do wish someone would consider adapting Bernard Cornwell's utterly brilliant 'Warlord Chronicles' trilogy. It's an Arthurian saga although Arthur isn't the main protagonist, rather one of his Captains, Derfel Cadarn. It's got everything you could want - intrigue, treachery, murder, battles, romance, and a hint of Druidic magic. No dragons. Always been surprised they've been largely overlooked for his other works.

Now I've mentioned them I might dig 'em out...again.

Yes, GoT was superb.

Well I have to say I must be in the minority re GOT this season.

I feel it has gone downhill.

All the great dialogue, character development, intrigue etc is missing.

It seems to have all being sped up to finish te se'ries as the actors all want Hollywood roles.

The worst examples being the hound who says the word Canute in every sentence.

Complex family / relationships / history/ story lines all being summed up in one or two lines.

Gendry You tried to sell me. Beric yea sorry. Oh well it's all in the Pastlet's be mates again.

Littlefiger a huge important character. Lord of the vale ended in one three minute scene no trial on the basis of three kids saying you did this. No evidence, no trial, no twist not even brandon stark boys vision from the past to at least explain it.

The whole thing has become formulaic and Hollywood .

I still,watch it but it is not what it was. Cersei is the only decent complex character in it.

This is not a fight between the living and the dead.

It is a fight between GRr Martin and Hollywood and hollluwood is winning.

Nothing clever , new or subtle just lots of set pieces to appease the masses.

Sadly, in terms of the direction of the programme, I think I agree with many of your points.

I had no issue with the Littlefinger part, the three "kids" are the established powerbase of the Northern lineage (in Jon's absence) so whatever they said went.

I liked this season but it was rather predictable, maybe because the the story is all coming together now, but saying that I'm not sure how predictable it would have been without the interweb.
they cut the scene with Sansa asking Brandon for help out of the show , prefering to not spoil the reveal at the trial.

The fact is that George RR Martins books have been left behind, stories still in his head allegedly. What we have seen this series is someone elses imagination that does not sit anywhere near the inticate level of Martins!

I think your right, it used to be a fantasy version of The Wire and is now more like a Fantasy version of 24!

Having said that, if it is now trying to be more of an action-drama, the action in it is pretty brilliant.

Well, that was tense!

Episode 3 - Battle for Winterfell

The thing that gets me about where the show has split from the books is that the popular characters all survive.

Jamie or Bronn should have been killed in the convoy.

Tormund, Dolorous Edd etc at the wall.

And I’ll go out on a limb and say Jon and Danerys should die and Cersei remain on the throne in true GOT fashion but I think it will go all Disney.

Episode 3 was pretty epic - although due to HBO's transfer rate, I became convinced I had cataracts; I'd recommend watching it online, or at least retuning your TV to compensate.

Bloody brilliant though - for a fan of sci-fi/fantasy to see a properly realised pitch battle involving dragons, giants and the undead, was pretty spectacular; hats off to the makers!

I've found the Internet outrage over this series hilarious so far.