Thought the second half of the season was much better than the first, even though they might as well have scrapped the entire Dorne storyline for all the good they did with it. Terrible Sand Snakes fight and acting. It says something when an unnecessary nude scene was the highlight for them. Doran looks like a powerless weakling that likes to make threats but never brings the hammer when his underlings constantly undermine his orders. Jaime and Bronn's plan made about as much sense as having a snow cone party at the Wall. Unless they showed a desire Jamie had to die, it sounded like the plan of an idiot or someone suicidal to attempt that rescue every step of the way. I also would've turned the ship around after Myrcella's death and slit Trystane's throat right in front of the Dornish for their betrayal. Makes no sense for her to get revenge by killing someone inconsequential to everyone except Jaime and Cersei while giving your enemy your sole heir. I would send Ellaria to Ramsay Bolton if I was Doran.
Liked all the stuff with Arya, Cersei, and Dany. Interested to see where they go with them. Hopefully Arya will start warging and become the Cat in the Canals. My heart was beating through the whole walk. I know it's fiction, and I know Cersei is a horrible character/person, but I couldn't help but feel nervous and sorry for her. The faith seems extremely hypocritical though in their judgments and punishments. Hope they get their due even if they are screwing with the Lannisters.
Liked Jon's 'final' scene but had a big issue with Sam forcing Jon's hand to go to Oldtown. Jon should've made that call. It makes him appear weak. Sam asks if he can go hide out on the southern end of the world to read books, learn about healing, and to bang his gf even tho nights watch and maesters both pledge celibacy. I know Jon broke his vows on that end too but it seemed weak to have Jon just say, "Okay, go ahead and take off. We're not trying to save the world or anything and you're the only one that knows how to run all the paperwork and letters we send out. Go take a vacation with your chick. Sure the guys will be happy I let the most hated Brother leave with a woman because he asked his friend Lord Commander."
I think they had Stannis burn Shireen in the show because they needed a better and more satisfying reason for his failure besides Melisandre misreading the signs. They needed a fatal mistake or flaw for him to earn his fate and keep another 'good guy' from being taken out by the bad guys, especially the Boltons. No one was shedding a tear. It was a tragic buildup. Stannis knew he was screwed. Mel looked like she **** herself when she realized half the army wasn't cool with her burning a child, and Stannis' dead eyed stare, knowing he is beat but marching forward anyway was a cool/hard way for a proud warrior to go.
Lastly, all I could think about during the Brienne/Stannis scene was Brienne saying, "I, Brienne of Tarth, sentence you to die with this sword, Oathkeeperrrrr oh ****! I knew there was something else I was supposed to do today." Have she ever kept an oath? Renly? Dead. Cat? Dead. Kingslayer? Had to save her to get back to Kings Landing. Stark girls? Let Arya get away, follows Sansa and bails the moment she finally has an opportunity to help for personal revenge. In terms of character sins and flaws, this could be the choice that costs Brienne her life down the road, especially if they really do bring in Stoneheart next season.
I think next season is the season of Bolton/Frey revenge. Direwolf dreams, Stonehearts, meat pies, and more. Maybe some Iron Islands and Riverrun where my favorite Jaime scene unfolds where instead of negotiating, he simply has a harp player play 'Rains of Castamere' for Edmure Tully as a warning if he doesn't yield the castle and Blackfish who will also hopefully return as well. Lot of good, few weird changes, but I'm pumped to find out what happens next.