[chagrin]

IMO
So the season Finale was everything the rest of the season wasn't. Finally some actual progression! They turned 'Khaleesi' into a an interesting character (or the inexperienced actress just finally did a good job!)and the final scene with her in Qarth (spelling?) was outstanding with her and the warlocks and the dragons and finally getting access to some gold and lewts! Arya is getting more involved and finally at Kings Landing we have a turn in the boredom. I was disappointed in Stannis's reluctance to kill the boring witch and I did generally lose interest in the story overall during the last several episodes.

Again, I did not read the books but man after that abomination called "Blackwater" (WTF was with the author of the books trying to garner some sympathy for Cersei? She's no human, there's nothing there and even what people try to call the "love of her children being a redeeming quality" I say horse shit, she's just afraid to lose power and that's not a redeeming quality. (I get that George R.R.R.R.R.R. Martin is writing the anti good guy story but please, don't try to humanize A character like Cersei FFS!)And the dwarf keeling over in a slow motion, dramatic fight scene where he gets, ok, CUT IN THE FACE?", that whole fight scene was abysmal, and then having him cry in the finale was hilarious and not in a good way. Man there were some real low points of this season, not sure if the books are actually like this and if the episode Blackwater represented the "epic battle" everyone talked about on tv and on forums but it was pretty sorry I think, except for the green goo fire, and Dog leaving.
Ok sorry, ranting all over the place.
I was just very pleased with the finale, I think it turned a corner and brought the story out of the dull, darkness - it was really getting stale and I am absolutely hoping it will continue to improve. I'm thrilled they made the Dragon mother interesting, she was dreadful in the first two seasons to this episode.
I understand it's kinda like many shows, the sophmore effort not topping out, and I do see how it's all about evil taking over everything and basically "winning" ("because good is dumb" lol!) for lack of a better way of saying it and I know there's so many characters to write about, but man, pick more interesting parts of their story, unless they've already hit the high notes.
Personally I'm waiting for Jaime to lose his hand, Theon to get dehumanized by Ramsey and the Red Wedding to get here already!