Game of Thrones

:

Season 5
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Apr 17, 2011
Season #: 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 1705 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,441 out of 1705
  2. Mixed: 119 out of 1705
  3. Negative: 145 out of 1705
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User Reviews

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  1. outraaageous
    Aug 23, 2015
    5
    A sharp decline in quality seems to have coincided with the divergence from the book material this season. The lengthy, often Herculean effort to flesh the plot out with character development, exposition and interesting dialogue seems to have given way to the writers trying to "top" the shocks of previous seasons. Two major shocks were not only needlessly brutal, but did not add up in theA sharp decline in quality seems to have coincided with the divergence from the book material this season. The lengthy, often Herculean effort to flesh the plot out with character development, exposition and interesting dialogue seems to have given way to the writers trying to "top" the shocks of previous seasons. Two major shocks were not only needlessly brutal, but did not add up in the sense of how key figures have been characterised so far - they acted directly against their previous motivations. This was simply lazy writing on the part of D&D. Dorne was a missed opportunity (the Sand Snakes diabolical) and too much time was spent on Arya stalking a man selling oysters. Season 5 finally faded away, culminating in one of the most disappointingly incoherent finales I can remember. It feels very much as if it has been downhill since the slightly disappointing end to the otherwise excellent Season 4. Here's hoping this is a case of transition and the plan is in place to make improvements in Season 6.… Expand
  2. celenaalg
    Apr 5, 2016
    5
    I love game of thrones!! but was really unhappy we lost JOHN SNOW he was by far my favorite!! and I really looked forward to seeing him more but that got shot down!! :-( bring him back lol
  3. EPMD
    Jul 1, 2016
    5
    The settings are the show's greatest strength. They do a fantastic job of removing you from Earth and placing you in an exotic location from long ago. The characters have great potential, but some of them are just too one dimensional. Evil for the sake of being evil isn't much fun to watch, especially when the majority of virtuous types face brutality on a regular basis. The plot...wellThe settings are the show's greatest strength. They do a fantastic job of removing you from Earth and placing you in an exotic location from long ago. The characters have great potential, but some of them are just too one dimensional. Evil for the sake of being evil isn't much fun to watch, especially when the majority of virtuous types face brutality on a regular basis. The plot...well that comes and goes. Some of the stories are dull and aimless, and some stories just seem like a contrived way to put bare breasts on TV. The shame walk at the end of the season was particularly egregious in this regard. 10 seconds into that scene we got the point of it, but I guess they needed a few minutes of bare breasts to meet the season quota.

    Specifically for Season 5, the biggest weakness was the Arya plot. It doesn't tie in with any of the other plots (which is a common problem for this show), but more importantly, it was just completely boring and nonsensical.    … Expand
  4. daviduarte
    Jun 16, 2015
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Up to season 4, GOT lived up to the books, and albeit some questionable differences, still maintained the quality bar high. Season 5 just goes downhill, with episode after episode looking more and more like a soap opera. The characters simply went full retard (never go full retard); Bronn and Jaime going alone into Dorne in full power rangers mode? The Tyrells being destroyed then forgotten? The most skilled army in the world (unsullied) being defeated by a bunch of pathetic unskilled and unequipped noble men... twice?

    This kind of cheap plot and plain character behavior is what I would expect from a stupid cliche Hollywood movie. But at least we got a full action packed episode with lots of fighting, blood, deaths and... oh wait!    … Expand
  5. Shiverfox
    Jun 16, 2015
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. In pursuit of shocking and buzzworthy moments, Game of Thrones Season 5 lost sight of what made the show special.

    The best example of this would probably be Sansa being moved to Winterfell. In the books she continues to develop her politicking and manipulation (as Season 4's ending hinted she would.) In Season 5, any progress her character had was discarded so that she could play useless victim for another full season, just so we could have a shocking rape scene.

    Similarly, the writers elected to have a small mission by Ramsay Bolton (who has a fraction of Stannis's battle experience) completely incapacitate Stannis's entire army so that the season could culminate in his death.

    Both of these examples illustrate the problems that have emerged with Season 5. As the writers simplify and modify the story (which in itself is a noble pursuit), they sacrifice complexity and cohesiveness. The first two thirds of this season felt like moving dominos into place just so that we could watch them all die in episodes 9-10. It feels like rather than telling an interesting story that may lead to a shocking twist down the line, the writers have settled for telling a mediocre story that becomes interesting solely due to a twist. But in many cases it doesn't work, since if the character isn't engaging, their death won't be either.

    Hopefully the writers don't neglect the story's complexity in lieu of plot-hole ridden simplifications in further seasons, as the ones preceding this one were all excellent.    … Expand
  6. TributeMan
    Feb 20, 2016
    4
    The Winter… Fu*k this sh*t!

    Oderwanie się od fabuły książek było ogromnym błędem. Historia już nie porywa, efekty komputerowe przeważają nad analogicznymi (wyglądają okropnie), w kółko słyszymy ten sam utwór w minimalnie różniących się formach. Zgniłą wiśnią na tym przeterminowanym torcie są "niespodziewane zwroty" akcji. Nie czerpałem ŻADNEJ przyjemności z oglądania tego ścierwa i po    The Winter… Fu*k this sh*t!

    Oderwanie się od fabuły książek było ogromnym błędem. Historia już nie porywa, efekty komputerowe przeważają nad analogicznymi (wyglądają okropnie), w kółko słyszymy ten sam utwór w minimalnie różniących się formach. Zgniłą wiśnią na tym przeterminowanym torcie są "niespodziewane zwroty" akcji. Nie czerpałem ŻADNEJ przyjemności z oglądania tego ścierwa i po tak dużym spadku jakości zastanawiam się czy warto obejrzeć sezon 6.    … Expand
  7. DrSpaceCowboy
    Jul 26, 2015
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This season was extremely hit and miss in my opinion. Even as someone who has read the books, I understand that certain story lines have to be cut for TV, it's just a matter of the medium. What I don't understand is writing completely illogical and pointless story lines when the good source(admittedly not perfect) story lines of books 4 and 5 are right there. I give this season a four because just under half of the story lines in this season were actually good and the other ones were just utter flops.
    As far as good story lines go, the main ones that were both entertaining and contained actual plot were: Jon/Sam, Tyrion, Cersei, and specifically Theon in the Winterfell story. Jon follows a logical progression given his previous interactions with the wildlings, goes off book to deliver the best scene of the season(Hardhome), pisses his brothers off by doing so and understandably gets killed in a mutiny.
    Sam finds himself only useful around books, so it makes sense that he would want to go to the citadel.
    Tyrion's rediscovery and him being given hope by Dany through Jorah and Varys works well. He uses his wit to get by and delivers some very entertaining television.
    Cersei has paranoia established by Maggy the Frog and her poor decisions reflect that. It all catches up with her in a very satisfying way. On top of that, the Walk of Shame and all the small council scenes were excellent.
    And Alfie Allen as Theon can act. He was the best part of every scene he was in, nails the Reek character. None of these storylines were perfect; but they were both compelling and logical, and they saved most of the episodes.

    On to the bad. Sansa, Arya, Dany, Stannis, and most of all Dorne were the true pitfalls of season 5. Baelish sending Sansa to marry Ramsay seems stupid and like it is throwing away his master plan; but it is Littlefinger so you never know. But, as for Sansa in Winterfell, it was a complete character regression. She just escaped from being Joffrey's torture target to being Ramsay's just doesn't work for character development. She goes back to being weak and is saved again. Brienne's role in the whole thing is pretty pointless as well; but that pretty much lives up to her in book 4(although I do believe the small details in her chapters will prove meaningful eventually), so I can't really complain.
    The Arya story benefits from good acting and an interesting setting, but falls flat on writing. She acts so reckless the whole season that it is hard to believe that she is progressing in the house of black and white and away from being Arya Stark. Also, making Meryn Trant such a monster was a poor choice in two ways. One because it provided a bunch of needless HBO shock value, and two because Arya killing a monster doesn't progress her down her dark character path. If anything it makes her more like Arya and a force for good, more character regression.
    As for Dany, the week to week events did make entertaining TV, but overall her story is meaningless and severely lacking a moral. Both her book and show story are an allegory to the Iraq war, with the Sons of the Harpy being a metaphor for terrorism. Through episode 9, she struggles with the occupation of Meereen and the terrorist threat. She can either impose Western law or assimilate to their culture and win over the people. Even though she chooses the latter, it all doesn't matter because every one in Meereen is a savage terrorist anyway. A horrible message for an incredibly popular show to be giving.
    With Stannis, we see the supposed greatest general in Westeros act like a fool. He shows no concern for morale in an army full of non-loyal sellswords by burning Shireen who had been set up the whole season as a super likable character. His entire march on Winterfell is a failure; and barring any twists, the burning of Shireen was completely pointless in terms of the plot, and was purely for shock value.
    And finally... Dorne. Horrible writing, horrible acting, and a horrible plot don't combine for anything less than the worst TV that I've ever seen. Nearly every scene was unwatchably bad, and even the shreds of plot that escaped those disgraces' to acting(Jaime and Bronn excluded) mouths made no sense whatsoever. Nearly every action by the characters seems like a surefire way to start a war yet somehow doesn't. The cosmic coincidences that bring the characters together are embarrassingly bad. And in the end, Doran's famed Dornish master plan ended up being avoid war with the Lannisters for nine episodes, only to start one via a sucker punch to get the early advantage.

    Again, hit and miss. The failures of some of the no training wheels/source material parts of the season have me worried for season 6, but hopefully they can learn from their mistakes. For example, RECAST THE SAND SNAKES AND GET NEW WRITERS. Also, shoutout to Preston Jacobs who provided some of the analysis for this review.    … Expand
  8. weirdcryo
    Nov 28, 2015
    4
    The story just got boring after lot of epicness season after season, right now everything related to the plot just seems "unnecessary prolonged" and when something really happens it feels like something that we already saw in past season plus bad special effects and poorly performed action scenes.
    Lot of people hyped about a couple of scenes that "saved the season", personally I found    The story just got boring after lot of epicness season after season, right now everything related to the plot just seems "unnecessary prolonged" and when something really happens it feels like something that we already saw in past season plus bad special effects and poorly performed action scenes.
    Lot of people hyped about a couple of scenes that "saved the season", personally I found them not worthy of the show I was used to see, specially the fights because to be honest never like most of GoT special effects.    … Expand
  9. Aesteril
    Jun 16, 2015
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Cons- Poor Character Development on new characters (Dorne)
    -Story that drags on at some bits, and then speeds up
    - actions of some characters that go against common sense
    ex. (Stannis's behavior this season on acquiring the Iron throne, and then securing it with a l family lineage).
    Sand Snakes attitude toward their own King, their foolish form of "revenge"
    -Not enough screen time for a season with so many characters

    Pros
    -Excellent execution of a 20 minute battle scene
    - Problems Westeros is facing is made clear
    - Some excellent dialogue among old characters
    - some very emotional and powerful scenes (Cersei)    … Expand
  10. badd3vil
    May 19, 2015
    3
    worst season. From beginning of 4th season i cannt see any logic. All heroes have superpowers - can fight with whole army. Why Ned was so weak? Also i try to find some sense in Sansa's line.. and.. its gone . Books are better.
  11. qwerty8883
    Jun 16, 2015
    3
    Loved game of thrones up until this season where they just started making it up as the go along in comparison to the books. The whole "lets kill off everyone" idea lost its novel appeal after season 2 and yet they team behind GOT still think its a fresh thing thats going to impress the fans. Apart from the aforementioned, season 5 has been boring, slow and generally lacking any form ofLoved game of thrones up until this season where they just started making it up as the go along in comparison to the books. The whole "lets kill off everyone" idea lost its novel appeal after season 2 and yet they team behind GOT still think its a fresh thing thats going to impress the fans. Apart from the aforementioned, season 5 has been boring, slow and generally lacking any form of fluidity in comparison to the first 4.… Expand
  12. Jaguar84
    May 10, 2015
    3
    Season 5 is the most boring to date (thru episode 5, and there's only 8 episodes?). They're rehashing the same storylines, and it's obvious the season is just a stalling season.
  13. ambientdrop
    May 29, 2015
    3
    I have not read the books, so I'm not trashing the show for diverting from the original story line. However, once the show runners decided to take over there has been a huge difference in quality. Characters and plot points aren't given proper set-up or arcs. Even though the geography of the world has expanded, the scope feels smaller. What was once a sprawling epic now feels like aI have not read the books, so I'm not trashing the show for diverting from the original story line. However, once the show runners decided to take over there has been a huge difference in quality. Characters and plot points aren't given proper set-up or arcs. Even though the geography of the world has expanded, the scope feels smaller. What was once a sprawling epic now feels like a soap-opera. I hope HBO turns this around.… Expand
  14. akp333
    May 30, 2016
    3
    Departing from the source material was not bad on principle, but the choices made were poor ones. Important characters such as Jaime, Sansa, and Stannis go through reductive storylines, while others like Arya and Daenerys merely tread water. The finale was especially insulting, ending almost all the characters on episode 9-like cliffhangers rather than the traditional resolution andDeparting from the source material was not bad on principle, but the choices made were poor ones. Important characters such as Jaime, Sansa, and Stannis go through reductive storylines, while others like Arya and Daenerys merely tread water. The finale was especially insulting, ending almost all the characters on episode 9-like cliffhangers rather than the traditional resolution and development of seasons past.… Expand
  15. Denis_IRL
    Aug 26, 2015
    2
    The violence and the sex of the final episode were desperation compensating for a storyline, Anyone can write that stuff. Unworthy of a big budget and a previously great production.
  16. Alsmir
    Jun 19, 2015
    2
    In the fifth season it feels like it's more of a fan fiction rather than a show that is based on the books.

    I have to say it: Game of Thrones is a Miley Cyrus of TV shows. When the amount of viewers drop it either does something shocking like killing some of the main characters or shows us more boobs Killing off characters got more and more boring with time so they went one step further    In the fifth season it feels like it's more of a fan fiction rather than a show that is based on the books.

    I have to say it: Game of Thrones is a Miley Cyrus of TV shows. When the amount of viewers drop it either does something shocking like killing some of the main characters or shows us more boobs Killing off characters got more and more boring with time so they went one step further and started murdering characters that live in the books.

    Well, I give it 2 points for the boobs Right now they are the best thing about this show and some of the chicks are really beautiful.    … Expand
  17. LucasFelipe
    Aug 28, 2015
    2
    All-shocking and no faithful to the book. Congratulations HBO, you guys just ruined the show. It was so hard to see the whole season. Why burn a girl on a fire if it wasn't on the book? I think HBO forgot how to do good shows
  18. Casejuh
    Jun 16, 2015
    2
    As a reader of the books, this season was an absolute disaster to me. It helped me realize that the show will spoil the books in a way that is extremely POORLY written. The saddest thing is that even if I don't watch the show any more I won't be able to escape the spoilers.
  19. IAC
    Jul 8, 2015
    1
    How could this season possibly be getting all positive reviews from critics? It is a structural disaster, one of the worst seasons of television I've ever endured, fro a series that five years ago was top tier.

    Game of Thrones no longer has any visible objective. All contenders for the throne and any protagonist worth rooting for has been killed off, leaving us with no particular    How could this season possibly be getting all positive reviews from critics? It is a structural disaster, one of the worst seasons of television I've ever endured, fro a series that five years ago was top tier.

    Game of Thrones no longer has any visible objective. All contenders for the throne and any protagonist worth rooting for has been killed off, leaving us with no particular investment in what happens to the remaining characters. When Rob Stark died, it actually made a difference to the direction of the show, but at this point, no one's death has any consequences. No one's life has any particular consequence. This is a classic storytelling blunder, and I'm really amazed that GoT has fallen into it, and that critics are still lapping it up.

    In its favor, the cinematography is still incredible. The performances are stellar. But the story is plodding, full of cumbersome monologues and heavy-handed exchanges between talking heads. I find myself at this point kind of rooting for the White Walkers to kill everyone.    … Expand
  20. mosconstein
    Jul 2, 2015
    1
    Really?! How can you give such a high rating to such a stupid show?! It looks like a medieval beautiful. Characters are dull and stupid, the story itself is even non existent. Does this boobs-show deserve such a standing ovation ?
  21. imthenoob
    Apr 15, 2019
    0
    While previous seasons have focused on a wide variety of characters, Season 5 is very limited and really just focuses on the same 5 people (Tyrion, Sansa, Cersei, Jaime, and Daenerys) and not much of else. The storyline is painfully slow and unrewarding for the time put into them over the course of the season. A lot of characters show-cased in previous seasons have very limited screenWhile previous seasons have focused on a wide variety of characters, Season 5 is very limited and really just focuses on the same 5 people (Tyrion, Sansa, Cersei, Jaime, and Daenerys) and not much of else. The storyline is painfully slow and unrewarding for the time put into them over the course of the season. A lot of characters show-cased in previous seasons have very limited screen time. House Martell has been totally axed from the show, aside from two 3-4 minute scenes the whole season, and I feel like that's more than likely a budget issue rather than a story issue and it freaking sucks. Especially when there are so many rich characters in Dorne but they're all so poorly used.

    Season 5 is a mess. A total and utter mess.    … Expand
  22. xd9
    Apr 17, 2015
    0
    One of the worst shows is even worse. Creators done the impossible and overcome terrible last season. Perfect spitting originals. Be the warning terrible actor, screenplay and direction.
  23. Kelembribor21
    Jun 17, 2015
    0
    This is worst season of Game of thrones series.
    Biggest divergence from books happen here , and show looses its spirit, sense and only gives shock factor.
    Two final episodes are the worst in the series. Dorne plot line horrible and also War in the north. Only some great performances manage to salvage this show and decent Hardhome episode Major fault lies in the show runners , and some    This is worst season of Game of thrones series.
    Biggest divergence from books happen here , and show looses its spirit, sense and only gives shock factor.
    Two final episodes are the worst in the series.
    Dorne plot line horrible and also War in the north.
    Only some great performances manage to salvage this show and decent Hardhome episode
    Major fault lies in the show runners , and some directors in my opinion , not actors or original author.

    I cannot recommend series to anyone , just read books it is much more satisfactory.    … Expand
  24. ShetlandViking
    Mar 24, 2016
    0
    You don't need to be a book-purist to know this season was not up to par. Some moments were embarrassingly bad and overshadow the good. Turns out I was right to be concerned for this season and now I'm even more so for the future of this show.
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Awards & Rankings

5
#5 Best TV Season of 2015
10
#10 Most Discussed TV Season of 2015
60
#60 Most Shared TV Season of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Apr 16, 2015
    90
    It's a lot to digest but well worth the effort. [20 Apr - 3 May 2015, p.13]
  2. St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    Reviewed by: Gail Pennington
    Apr 13, 2015
    100
    In the four episodes provided for preview, the action seldom lags, but just when we think we’re in for a fun ride this season, something darkens the sun.
    Read full review
  3. Vox.com
    Reviewed by: Emily VanDerWerff
    Apr 13, 2015
    90
    Everything that was always good about Game of Thrones is still good. The ensemble cast remains one of TV's richest, from top to bottom, and even actors who seemed weak in the past (like Sophie Turner, who plays increasingly embittered Sansa Stark) continue to rise to the level of much better material.
    Read full review
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