The double-D's caught up with GRRM's books and they ended up having to be fantasy writers as much as TV show producers. GRRM failed to write the final two books, but, provided the basic outline to the various character's story arcs. Dan & Dave had to fill-in the blanks, which resulted in the final 3-seasons slowly declining in story quality. The series was fun, plenty of characters to enjoy, as the budgets steadily increased the story's became more complex. The final two seasons, while they had their exciting moments, was also equally hair pulling frustrating as some of the stories petered-out resulting in the calamitous final season. HBO spent big and they were willing to continue but the double-D's I'm sure were spent and ready to move-on as each season was like managing a massive tent-pole movie. To HBO's credit, they actually showed battles, genuine action scenes whereas prior period-pieces usually were heavy on dialogue and light on action, like Rome and Sopranos.

I was pretty tired of it by the time it ended. Havent missed it yet.

No. They really blew it with the last episode. I did miss the Sopranos for quite awhile. I am hoping that HBO will come up with something new on the level of The Wire, the first season of True Detective and the like.

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Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
No. They really blew it with the last episode. I did miss the Sopranos for quite awhile. I am hoping that HBO will come up with something new on the level of The Wire, the first season of True Detective and the like.

I'm in the same camp. HBO has come up with some incredible series and mini series. They have the resources to give us great entertainment that's not filled with political undertones. Succession running s2 right now is very watchable. I hope there's more to come.

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Originally posted by Ryanp225:
It was an entertaining story but the world in which it took place was the real star to me. The story fizzled out. BAD. But the universe they imagined is still one of the best in recent television.

I think a lot of people were disappointed with the wrap up. Is the author going to finish the series? I think it got too big for Martin also and he couldn't figure out how to end it. I wouldn't mind reading the last book to see how it was supposed to turn out. But I"m thinking Martin was hoping that the tv series would give him the idea of how to wrap things up.

I greatly miss the show that it was, before season 8. I haven't anticipated a TV show like that in a long, long time. The last season was like Rocky 5 to me, just kinda pretend it didn't exist.

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Originally posted by Rey HRH:
But I"m thinking Martin was hoping that the tv series would give him the idea of how to wrap things up.

Well, at least they gave him an idea of how NOT to end it.

The show diverged from the books ever more as the seasons progressed. I'm hoping GRRM will finish, partly because I read the books before the show came out, but also in hopes he will stick the landing.