POLL: 5x10

if i'm being honest.

I didn't like it much at all. The points i'm giving are mostly because of Cersei, Arya and Mereen scenes.

5/10

Putting my general disappointment about LSH's exclusion aside and just focusing on what actually made it into the episode, instead on what didn't, I must say, this is still a 10 for me. Maybe a 9,5, because no episode is perfect, but I give 10s for everything that is a 9,5 or higher. Here are the things I liked and didn't like:

What I liked:
- David Nutter's direction throughout the episode. It was fantastic and much, much better than in 5x09, IMO.
- Arya's scenes. I actually cheered when she killed Meryn Trant. The scene was like a punch in the face, but in the best way possible. I love when Maisie gets to play this dangerous and somewhat crazy side of Arya. She was incredible. Probably my favourite arc of the season.
- Cersei's scenes. Of course Lena Headey nailed her performance, but I really thought the scene itself was very well done as well. I read that some people thought it was too long and had too many "shames". I understand where you are coming from, but I thought that actually added to the scene. It really felt like Cersei was trapped in a loop of eternal humiliation. That is exactly what this scene should be and the long duration and the "shames" are the reason why it accomplished that (for me). Well done.
- Jon. I really enjoyed the conversation between him and Sam. I love their friendship. For The Watch was well done and I don't get why some people (mainly on other fansites) are saying it didn't make sense. Sure, I agree that the reasons that caused FTW were better in the book, but to say that there were no reasons on the show is just plain wrong. There were reasons, they were just different ones.
- Meereen. Although not much happened, I really enjoyed the dialogue here. Also Varys grades up every scene he's in. I love to see Conleth Hill and Peter Dinklage together. Emilia did a much better job than in 5x09. And by the way, is it just me or is Drogon adorable... (for a dragon)?
- Dorne. Yeah, sue me, I liked it. Is it a bit dumb? Yeah probably, but I liked the dialogue between Myrcella and Jaime. I just hope that this doesn't become a plothole next season. Will they return to Dorne? How will Trystane react to Myrcella's death (is she really dead?)? Will Doran know what Ellaria did?

Things I didn't like:

- Actually there was nothing I hated. I just thought that the Winterfell arc was the weakest part of the episode, but still not bad. I really needed Sansa to kill someone and there are a lot of unanswered questions, like what was the purpose of Walda's pregnancy? But I guess we will see that next season.
- I was a bit disappointed that we didn't see the actual battle, but they obviously ran out of money.
- I wished they had made it a bit clearer as to why exactly Melisandre abandoned Stannis all of a sudden.
- Stannis's death was ok. I didn't love it, but didn't hate it either. Pretty much how I've always felt about Stannis as a character (books and show, both). I liked that he didn't beg for mercy, though and his last words were very Stannis-y.

So yeah, it's a 10. I missed LSH, but I will have to let it go and make my peace with it, however difficult it may be. I also missed Tommen, the Tyrells and a resolution to Littlefinger's plans, but I guess they simply ran out of time, so it got all postponed to season 6.

I gave it a 4. I would have given it a 1, except I am trying hard not to appear to be a book snob. But, I'm very disappointed. There were just so many things illogical, and so "wrong" about most of the scenes.

Arya scene was way too brutal? You're the first person I've seen say this.

I seriously don't mind the handling (length and cuts) of the BoI. Maybe because I didn't believe Stannis would have been able to win it after half of his men deserted.

Sorry, next time I won't give up on my opinion.

I can't believe so little came of Sansa's story line. Not a complete waste but I really expected to see more from her. I believe that D&D were too eager to show Jeyne Poole because I really doubt Ramsey would have locked up the daughter of Winterfell like a prisoner or that Roose would have allowed it. They should have made some bigger modifications to that story line, imo. But yeah, it's done now so let's see what comes next. Dorne was an even bigger disappointment since I was really eager to see a different take on medieval culture. I don't think the finale was the worst ever but there were these two disappointing ends. All and all, not bad.

I really liked some things in the episode and hated some, you can guess what.

Pros and cons:

Pros
+ Stannis!!!
+ Stannis realizing he can't win but still trying
+ Epic aerial shot of Battle of Ice: Stannis vs the Boltons
+ Though wounded, he still managed to kill two guys
+ "Do your duty"
+ Myranda's death
+ THEON is back, bitches
+ Jon & Sam talking
+ Jaime & Myrcella
+ Cersei's Walk
+ Pycelle's pervy look after seeing Cersei naked
+ CLEGANEBOWL!!! GET HYPE!!!
+ Varys
+ Peter and Conleth together are gold
+ Drogon
+ Dothraki are back
+ Trant's death
+ Davos yelling, I think he kills Mel next season
+ Mention of Benjen
+ For the Watch
Cons
- No Roose
- No Battle of Ice, running out of money is lame. How about having less dragon scenes? We had them like every second episode! Truly, I'd take full scale BoI over Daznak any day.
- Sansa left her door open
- Stan losing, @konradsmith was right
- Brienne of fucking Tarth killing Mannis, at least my man Roose the Manoose is alive
- No proper death scene for him
- No weirwood confession
- Sam trying to find ways to break his vows
- Ellaria you are dead
- Why would Myrcella be happy about the incest?
- No one freed V&R
- Stannis dying

I'll give this one a 10. Should have given 9 for Stannis' death but I'm not that biased.

I was more than pleased with the little they gave us of the BoI. At leasty we got an EPIC air shot with an EPIC Bolton charge with the EPIC Bolton theme and Stannis's EPIC last stand, so it's infinitely better than all of Robb's battles. They didn't really need to show us the fighting, the movement of the troops was enough for me.