Update: What a disaster. They finally built it up to getting near GOT standards, we get somewhat attached to the characters etc and then they burnt it right to the ground all in one episode (6). They really are rushing the timeline, this is a writing failure, changing (some, which is laughable too) actors and actresses mid-season is just ridiculous wow, again some age a decade (more?) and others not a day lol. They could of had lots of action in the shows without rushing to future bigger events and resorting to these drastic measures good grief. There are some other writing failures in this episode too which I won't mention to avoid spoilers but suffice to say its one big flop (did they change writers too, crikey).

So my rating for EP6 would be a big fat 2, sadly. You feel lost as you watch it because too much time passed, too many things changed and worse the same atmosphere is just not there with the new cast, not to mention just how jarring it is and it was SUPER boring to top it all off. EP5 would rate an 8 or 9 it was really great. Apparently it does get good again in EP 8&9 but to be honest I really feel let down by the writing and cast changes and am very tempted to just stop watching, what a cluster.

---- Original review below -----

So it is not up to GOT standards, mostly, and that shouldn't surprise anyone since that is one of the best (if not THE, my fav for sure) shows ever made. Acting, Directing, Writing etc are all decent to good; probably writing being the weaker link and production also some scenes are WAY too dark can't see anything at all. So there are little issues here and there for sure, not a single blond actor chosen for Targs LOL, worse they forced the racial card sticking blonde wigs on black folks, yes it looks as dumb as it sounds. They skip large amounts of time and some kids grow up, and the Princess doesn't age a year, etc things like this. You can let this stuff bother you, or you can let it go and enjoy the show.

It starts off a little slow sure, but there is some intrigue there from the onset and some characters show, they are, "characters" indeed (Daemon in particular...). Every show draws you in a little more as the "pot stir" starts ramping up more and more, and you get some action in different ways in each episode as well. All fairly pedestrian though to today's standards, but then BAM! Things ramp WAY up in EP5 and you really get that GOT vibe again nice! So much stuff happens, remember EP 9 or 10 in GOT, yeah, it was just like that! Good stuff and glad I ignored the negative reviews.

My rating before seeing EP 5 would be 7 or 7.5, but EP 5 was so good I give it a full 8, at least for now.