One thing I learned from this thread: I never stick around for the end of a series.*
*MASH is the notable exception.
What I get out of this thread is there are precious few TV series with great endings, especially if BSG is being held up as one of the good guys! I do agree with Firefly/Serenity and the Wire being good. The main plotline of The Wire S5 was pretty shaky, but the actual ending was absolutely perfect. In addition to GoT going bad places, I also hated S2 of Westworld and gave up halfway through.
Two ongoing shows that I have high hopes for: Stranger Things (both individual seasons have had great endings IMO) and The Good Place (these writers can do no wrong).
If you count "mini-series" type shows that are telling one story in one season, there's lots of great examples, e.g. The End of the F***ing World, Season 1 of True Detective, Season 2 of American Vandal. But I guess those are really just like movies.
If you count movie series like MCU, then Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings have solid endings IMO.
Okay, I’ve never seen GoT and would not understand an explanation of the ending anyway. Looking for one word or phrase from those of you who did as to the quality of the ending.
"The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge" -Stephen Hawking
JasonEvans can do it in about a hundred words. That's sort of his wheelhouse.
Personally? If I had to be held to one word, I would say "inevitable." As a book reader and avid show fan, I agree the last two seasons were subpar, but there was no universe in which the rabid fans would have been satisfied. Probably someone smarter than I could draw a Venn diagram of possible endings and the group it would satisfy, and show that this particular ending was suboptimal. *shrugs*
I thought it was fine. It didn't give me goosebumps, but it wrapped up most of the dangling participles. I felt the creators were in a lose/lose situation, that yes, they had some part in creating.
I will read the books when/if the come out, and I will try the prequels/spin-offs or what have you. I enjoy the universe GRR Martin created.
I am incredibly curious to know Martin's true feelings about reaction to this season. I wonder if there's a level of schadenfreude given the massive success and praise the show has earned over the years. I wonder if it has made him rethink his own endings to the story. I wonder if he is personally upset that people are so strung out by his story.
I am sure we won't know.