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.

I agree with you the show is a pale imitation of what's gone before it..the sooner its over the better.

So after some of the best TV ever produced, the show went out on a massive low; the final season seemed rushed, arbitrary and too intent on tying up loose ends - and the behaviour of the two main characters was inexplicably contrary to how they've been developed over the years.

I shan't be signing a petition or owt, but it was a huge disappointment.

Having just read the Gorge RR Martin books it seems clear that he had tied himself in knots. Perhaps this is why he has been unable to complete the saga. The final 2 books he wrote were a total confusion.

You need to be careful with the reading order. Even George RR admitted that events were out of cinq and can throw readers.