They really didn't fuck around, they got EVERYTHING in. That was impressive... although I did feel like the Stannis plotline needed more time; it wasn't really a satisfying cap, it was like Stannis Lite. They should have really just bitten the bullet and made it a 90-minute finale. I'm really glad, though, that half his men left him and his wife hung herself. What happened in e9 was bad enough to warrant that as a believable outcome... and at that point, what's he supposed to do after sacrificing Shireen? Stop, and make the sacrifice useless? At least Brienne is finally avenged, and I'm glad it was in the vein of Ned Stark's death, versus "someone shoots her in the back unexpectedly to stop her." I'm disappointed in that we never get to see Davos have to face Stannis again; that would have been interesting.
It wasn't QUITE clear what happened with Melisandre, but I'm going to guess that when she touched him in his tent, while it initially looked like she was upset that Stannis was so cold to her, she actually saw his future and realized he was going to die and that her prophesies for him had come to naught. So she left for Castle Black in shock, to figure out what to do next.
The Meereen bit was okay; sensible, but the highlight of it was really Varys showing up with Tyrion. Again, it's a reminder that the two are the wittiest characters on the show, and the ones with the most sense of what is going on. I was kind of meh on Dani and Drogon.
Reek and Sansa. Again, I felt like it could have used a little more space for Reek to turn. What made this time different than another? Maybe just that Sansa was willing to die, and Reek/Theon hated that Myranda bitch. I'm glad she's gone. But what did they jump onto?
Okay. Finally the payoff on Dorne. The scene started with me thinking that Ellaria's flipflop was so full of shit... and then we got the payoff. If King's Landing wasn't in such a mess, Dorne and the Landing would be at war. I really didn't see it coming, but I'm kind of glad it did, if only to redeem Ellaria's character. And it was more horrific based on how great that scene was between Jaime and Myrcella; I was proud of Jaime for having the balls to finally own up and embrace his choices, and even thought it was cooler that she already knew. And then, everything going to crap.
Arya... wow, they even squeezed that in. The brutality of the killing was horrific but it's a huge payoff for all these seasons where we've been waiting for her to be able to work on her list. Meryn was deserving, at least. I really liked the scene back at the temple, and the final face shuffle where we really finally understand that these people have no identities anymore. They are... something... some force of will... but no self to speak of. Where is the "blindness" thing going? No idea.
The Cersei segment was pretty great. You know it's great when you feel bad for someone you loathe. Shorn, stripped, humiliated, abused: It was like payback for an entire lifetime of pride, in the space of 45 minutes. I actually was telling her to get up, block it all out, focus on the goal... and get there. And now it looks like the Mountain is back in play. No idea what's up with Tommen, or about poor Margaery.
Unfortunately, someone here spoiled the Jon Snow ending, so I was kind of waiting for it to happen; it might have had more impact if I hadn't known. At least the "trap" was believable, and it was shot well, including the final bit with Ollie. Is he dead? Isn't he? No one will know, and that's what we're all left with until next season, regardless of book or show. But almost all of his friends were gone. So who would even look after him? I'm glad at least he sent Sam and Gilly away, even if he knew that would leave him all by himself.