This show is amazing, make no mistake. The costumes, the set design, the blended use of CGI and practical effect are all phenomenal and well above anything on TV before. The actors as well are top-notch with nearly everyone excelling in their role, or at least coming into it quickly.
The first 4 seasons are nearly flawless. They are equal parts dramatic, enjoyable, horrific, and ultimately fun. I would give them 8-9 stars.
Season 5-6 are a bit rougher, the writers have less book to go off of and it shows. That said they still manage to build on the previous seasons in a satisfying and entertaining way. I would still give them a solid 7 stars.
Season 7 is like watching a window shatter in slow motion, at first you can only see the cracks and they're small. The plotlines get a little less logical, things happen inorganically because the story demands it, and characters start to feel a lot more shallow and/or different. I would give this season 5 stars at best.
Season 8, the window has shattered and now there are glass shards flying at your face. Everything here is an unmitigated trainwreck. The characters feel like caricatures, the pacing is awful, and the choices both in the show and in the writer's room are baffling and at times offensive. It's a painful and frankly stupid end to an otherwise entertaining story. I would give this season 1 star.
All in all it's good, but held back from being great by one of the worst endings in storytelling.
The first 4 seasons are nearly flawless. They are equal parts dramatic, enjoyable, horrific, and ultimately fun. I would give them 8-9 stars.
Season 5-6 are a bit rougher, the writers have less book to go off of and it shows. That said they still manage to build on the previous seasons in a satisfying and entertaining way. I would still give them a solid 7 stars.
Season 7 is like watching a window shatter in slow motion, at first you can only see the cracks and they're small. The plotlines get a little less logical, things happen inorganically because the story demands it, and characters start to feel a lot more shallow and/or different. I would give this season 5 stars at best.
Season 8, the window has shattered and now there are glass shards flying at your face. Everything here is an unmitigated trainwreck. The characters feel like caricatures, the pacing is awful, and the choices both in the show and in the writer's room are baffling and at times offensive. It's a painful and frankly stupid end to an otherwise entertaining story. I would give this season 1 star.
All in all it's good, but held back from being great by one of the worst endings in storytelling.
