On a minor note, is Coldhands the Tom Bombadil of Game of Thrones or what?   Maybe he just isn't that important and there's no big "reveal" to come in the books after all.

Wait'll you see what they do for Mother's Day next year... 

Not sure I understand the objection... the siege of Castle Black lasted for days, Snow even says in the episode that this is just the beginning.   If nothing else, I understand the choice to hold off on Stannis' arrival for production reasons.  The episode was expensive enough without having to include an entire other army.

The preview for the final episode suggests Stannis will arrive next week when Jon is meeting with Rayder.  Which is pretty much exactly how it goes in the books as well.   Also makes sense dramatically to put Tywin's fall right next to Stannis' victory, since that improves Stannis' claim and triggers his march south.

Pretty clear now that we'll never get Coldhands meeting with Sam and Gilly, but that's not particularly important to the story.   He still may or may not appear to Bran and co next week.  Seems just as clear that next week will mostly feature the two whammies we most expect - Tyrion and Tywin, and Arya and the Hound.   There'll be something with Danaerys, my guess is still "bad dragons, bad!" but it could be anything.   

But - no tease at all for Brienne... I'm suddenly less sure we'll see Stoneheart this season.   Could make just as much sense to bring her in next season, which is already going to have a lot of stuff about Stannis and the Red King and so on.

It wasn't X-men or Spiderman or Batman or based on a TV show, or a sequel to something I saw already.   It told an interesting story, had some fun doing it, didn't insult my intelligence nearly at all.  The last movie that was all of the above was... hell, maybe Gravity?

The last big action setpiece was a tad too greenscreeny cartoony, but after so much good stuff before that, I'm willing to be forgiving.

Overall - Best movie of the year so far.