Yeah, they're definitely consolidating interests this season (i.e. Littlefinger and Olenna) to create a final showdown. It's become much more defined with 3 sides remaining which is in direct contrast to the intricate web of politics the rest of the series was based on. I'd be surprised if the final season is rated as highly as the earlier seasons. It's too black and white now.It pains me to say this but this show has really diminished in terms of quality and interesting plot lines. This was the first finale since the show began where I was genuinely bored in some spots. Not for lack of stuff going on, but for lack of unpredictability.
The big "reveal" was Jon's lineage? Anyone with a brain had already pieced that together 2 seasons ago; book readers had that pegged going back years. And the show couldn't even give us someone telling Jon this before ending this season??? Jesus man.
Also these "all star" reunions are feeling really forced and cheesy.
The best part of the episode was the dialogue between Tyrion and Cersei.
And Theon! Why do we give a shit about Theon? Or Yara? They continue devoting lots of time to these people who seem totally irrelevant to the larger plotline. Unless the grand scheme to save mankind is posting them up on the Iron Islands while the walkers overtake all of Westeros.
The big reveal for Jon last night wasn't just his parents but that he isn't a bastard due to the marriage. That gives him the legitimate claim for the throne. Also revealed is that Robert's Rebellion was based on a lie. They said Jon's mother was abducted and raped, but in reality they ran away together. So the Targaryan's loss of power was entirely a political maneuver by Robert Baratheon to take the throne. I didn't mind it as an ending because it fleshed out the backstory.