I read all the GoT books. When it got too gory (which was often) I skipped ahead.  I didn't watch much more than the first season of the show, though.  It's harder to ignore the visual onslaught of a well-produced TV series.

I’m the opposite. I think the GoT production is one of the best things ever made for television. Not counting the last two seasons. Love it! Thinking of rewatching. It’s actually a whole family thing for us!

"Not counting the last two seasons."  That's what I was getting at earlier - up to that point  the producers and writers had the books as a map of the territories and boundaries the individual and combined stories were contained within.  That support framework was lost when the expected final book(s) didn't appear and what had been up to then some truly excellent television storytelling started to founder and lose its focus.

Anyway, I'm currently watching season 5 of The Expanse and hoping nothing similar happens to it when the final season drops next month.
 

Surtac wrote:

"Not counting the last two seasons."  That's what I was getting at earlier - up to that point  the producers and writers had the books as a map of the territories and boundaries the individual and combined stories were contained within.  That support framework was lost when the expected final book(s) didn't appear and what had been up to then some truly excellent television storytelling started to founder and lose its focus.

Anyway, I'm currently watching season 5 of The Expanse and hoping nothing similar happens to it when the final season drops next month.
 

Moving past the narrative of the novels may have been an issue in those last two seasons. But they did have access to GRR Martin and his understanding of the story arc. My thought is that the problem wasn’t as much with plot confusion as with pacing. It is very hard to hold a group of actors together for so many years, especially when a series is a popular s this one. Key figures have other opportunities, and the time available is finite. The biggest problem with the final seasons is that they were rushed. Those last seasons might have felt ok if done over four or five. Of course, this did lead to unsatisfactory choices, such as the ending of the threat of the White Walkers. I’m still disappointed and sad  at the wonderful successes and the finale which I try unsuccessfully to forget. But nonetheless those six exalted seasons were a triumph

I finished Dune too (The movie). Liked it a lot. I am very pleased that I lived long enough to see Dune made into a decent film, unlike the other attempts. Looking forward to 1) the second part 2) Rereading the original