Is the Game of Thrones Hype Train Getting Out of Control?

Heavy spoilers below for the book series and television show.

Fans of HBO’s premiere cash cow Game of Thrones have been solidifying a fan base of dedicated and at times overly-invested Watchers on the Wall. However, season 5 saw its first huge series of deviations from the books which resulted in the show’s first real mutiny of fans who finally had it up to Hodor-height levels of HERE. The first half of the season was ehhh. It still included wonderful scenery and spot-on pace of classic Thrones, but lacked that familiar umph we’re used to every single episode of the season. Luckily David Benioff and D.B. Weiss knew to give us that real for the second half of the season, and boy did they deliver. Yet, we still had some grumpy individuals across the world dropping venomous hate all over the internets. Kill off Ser Barriston on some wack ass Harpy attack in the alleyway way shit when Selmy should’ve been able to carve up those Astapori dirtbags like freshly roasted turkey? “Hell na, I can’t fucks with this show no more, he aint even dead in the books!” Send Jaime and Bronn on a lackluster mission to Dorne instead of King’s Guard member Aerys Oakheart? “Fuck outta here!” Include a Sansa rape scene that may not have been necessary to include? Fans start jumping ship. Have Stannis burn his child at the stake in front of momma and poppa? Denounce the show for good.

Absolutely and unequivocally nail the Cercei atonement walk of shame and deliver a visually stunning, heart pounding,…