Pretty lame finale. I expected a little more mustard behind it. I agree with Austruck: it seems D & D wanted to end on something uplifting, but it came off as pretty hollow and definitely went on too long. I don't think it was as resonant as they had hoped. It just seems odd to end it with Danaerys becoming "mother" to slaves. That's important too, but it makes for a weak cliffhanger. People want to know when she's returning to Westeros; now it must seem like she'll be staying a while.
Introducing Ramsay Snow and "Reek" was a welcome inclusion, but I felt like they hovered too much on Davos/Gendry/Stannis/Melisandre. Those scenes chewed up precious time but added little, other than sending Gendry off (a la Edric Storm) and establishing Stannis' next move. Both of those could have been handled in half the time.
There should have been a bit more fallout from the Red Wedding. People expect it. In this episode, we get only the opening scenes and Arya's attack on Frey soldiers (vain attempt to give viewers some semblance of "payback"?). Now we wait a year for the next season. Will the Red Wedding still feel as shocking and awful and immediate as it should?
Jon's scenes were weird, but I actually liked the moment shared by he and Ygritte. It should have happened an episode ago (it makes no sense that she would be unaccompanied), but it was still an emotional bit of acting that actually rose above what we've seen thus far from the two of them. Still, it was a bit too melodramatic.
Re: Asha (Yara). Seems to me they needed a scene between she and Balon for a couple reasons, but now need to get her to Deepwood Motte where she's supposed to be. That's probably where she'll start next season.
Biggest disappointments:
WARNING: "Season Finale" spoilers below
No Lady Stoneheart. No Coldhands. No bungee-jumping Balon Greyjoy.
Catelyn's resurrection would have been an awesome surprise whammy for viewers and obviously would have taken some sting out of the Red Wedding without mussing the story too much. Coldhands, even just a brief appearance, would have been a nice bone to throw to readers. (I got kind of excited when Bran and company were heading down the Nightfort's tunnel and you could see an animal shape at the end. For a second, I thought it was an elk...)
Balon's death... eh, I could take it or leave it. But it would have jazzed people up with some hope that Joffrey, finally, might be next.
No Lady Stoneheart. No Coldhands. No bungee-jumping Balon Greyjoy.
Catelyn's resurrection would have been an awesome surprise whammy for viewers and obviously would have taken some sting out of the Red Wedding without mussing the story too much. Coldhands, even just a brief appearance, would have been a nice bone to throw to readers. (I got kind of excited when Bran and company were heading down the Nightfort's tunnel and you could see an animal shape at the end. For a second, I thought it was an elk...)
Balon's death... eh, I could take it or leave it. But it would have jazzed people up with some hope that Joffrey, finally, might be next.