Television SPOILERS

I think there's an element of network fuckery going on in the decision making. The show is so popular that it doesn't really matter if they piss off swathes of hardcore fans as long as the majority are happy. It seems incredibly short sighted though, do you want to create something with an enduring legacy like the Wire or Breaking Bad, or do you want to make another Lost?

I don't get why they're wrapping it up at 7 seasons though. It was so popular they could have carried on for a while. Unless the actors were getting fed up and planning on quitting then they could have spent a few more years doing the story properly rather than madly rushing everyone into place in season 6, then binning the undead storyline in one episode, most the support armies and a dragon in 5mins in the next, Daenerys from strong but a bit rash to Mad Queen in a couple of conversations and Brienne from Hound level badassery to blubbering girlfriend after a bunk up