Game of Thrones - Season 5 Review

Season rating - 9-amazing
Highlight episode - Hardhome

The season spent its first half building up plot-points and while there was some high points, like episode 4, by episode 6 and 7 the show was beginning to falter a little. However, Hardhome completely changed that.

Anyway, starting with Dany in Meereen, her struggle against the Sons of Harpy was a pretty interest dynamic to explore and although her constant rejection of Jorah was tiresome by the end, her and Tyrion finally meeting was great to see. The whole arena sequence in episode 9, which was still amazing despite being the weakest penultimate episode yet, was fantastic and Drogon saving the day, although predictable, was pretty epic.

Onto Stannis and an early scene between him and Shireen in episode 4 where he finally showed a little emotion and hugged her was really beautiful, making his actions in episode 9 all the more brutal and plain evil. His 'death' by Brienne was a little rushed, as was the whole battle, but I guess the budget only lends to so much so I can forgive that. Oh, and Sansa's storyline was pretty bleak so I'm glad Theon finally snapped out of it and assume they haven't both died from that fall - blankets of snow, I guess?

Ayra's arc was interesting but on the whole kind of plodding, but the finale gave her best material as she pulled all of those faces off and then went blind. That was cool. Jaime in Dorne, however, was easily the weakest part of the season, and although Myrcella being posioned was pretty sad for him, overall he was wasted. Now, Cersei and the faith militant was a pretty scary concept although rushed, and her Walk of Shame was horrific stuff - did go on for a bit too long, but I suppose that was on purpose.

Finally, there was Jon Snow. My favourite character as of last season...and wow was the Hardhome battle absolutely brilliant. The eerie silence at the end was perfect and the entire sequence was easily the show's finest display, maybe even for TV action. His 'death' I already knew was coming sadly, however, it was still pretty effective stuff and I assume Melisandre being there could assist in a little revival of sorts. I'm praying...

All in all, the finale was pretty great and my only complaint being how rushed everything was, not enough to take away from its overall effect and accomplishment, though. Season 6 now...