5-at-10: Game of Thrones wrap, Warriors rolling, Bam-Bam baby Braves, Rushmore of 1980s TV catch phrases

This image released by HBO shows Emilia Clarke in a scene from the series finale of "Game of Thrones." (HBO via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Emilia Clarke in a scene from the series finale of "Game of Thrones." (HBO via AP)

Game of Thrones, that's a wrap

Not sure what to say or how to feel now that Game of Thrones has put an awkward and rushed bow on a show that had a chance to be an all-timer.

Truly, it was on an arc to join The Wire, The Sopranos and Breaking Bad as the best story-telling and character development that I have ever watched.

But the final season, which ended Sunday night with the series finale, was less than great. In fact it was less than that.

Forget the expectations or the change in writing staff or even the conversation and complaint of trying to cram so much into six episodes.

All of that is valid, and has been rehashed.

Simply put, if this had been season 5, it still would have felt forced and rushed and sloppy. Before we get into the nonsensical disconnects, can you remember even a third of the editing mistakes in the first seven seasons combined that happened in the last six weeks?

I can't.

First, let's discuss Sunday.

Like most of the season before it - other than the Battle of Winterfell, which was so dark it was hard to watch - it was visibly well-done.

The penultimate episode with Dany burning down King's Landing was amazing visually.

This built on that. From the shot of Jamie's hand in the rubble to the dragon's wings behind Dany after she lands to the images of the Unsullied cheering their queen to Jon being startled by the hiding dragon to the burning of the iron throne, visually, this was TV at its finest.

But, that seems like the easier end of this and for a show - wait for it, because here comes another expectation lamentation - that has earned a level of expectation far beyond just being pretty to look at, we wanted, needed and expected more.

And, like most of this season, we were left there waiting for more and it never truly delivered.

The dialogue was much better in the finale than the previous episodes of this season, but that bar is not overly lofty. From the exchange between Tyrion and Jon that sets in motion Jon killing his queen/lover/aunt (yeah, that certainly pushes the boundary of the Family-Oriented-Interweb-Based sports discussion) to Tyrion making the case for Bran the Broken, first of his name, the writing was better for the characters.

But the writing crafting the characters and the holes in the plot, seemed too glaring to ignore.

There have been too many all season, and the ones in the finale - when the dragon flew away with Dany's dead body, no one knew Jon did it; After the Unsullied sailed away, why did Jon still have to be exiled (granted Jon living north of the Wall seemed like the right conclusion, but he should have chosen that), , the quick turn by everyone to Jon's rightful claim - even though he never wanted it - the slew of new faces representing the six kingdoms, and so much more.

I was never going to have a real beef with whom assumed the Iron Throne, but I wanted the conclusion to be as remarkable as the near-perfect path laid during the seven seasons before.

(Side note: Love the conspiracy theories out there about how Bran is truly evil and immortal as the Three-Eyed Raven and, if you think about it, this was started with the killing of the Mad King, ended with the killing of the Mad Queen and finalized with the crowning of someone who can morph into animals ((how do we know Bran did not morph into the dragon and burn the city and make Dany look like the ultimate villain?)), but the animal-warber is not the crazy one? Really?)

(Side note, part II: This poster from season one looks mighty prophetic today, no? That's Ned Stark sitting on the Iron Throne and what is to his right? Yep, a raven.)

(Side note, part III: The biggest winner of all of this is George R.R. Martin. If he stopped writing because he wanted to live it up as the creator of an amazing epic and his new-found cash, cool. If he quit writing because he was out of ideas, hey that happens. If he quit writing because he wanted to show everyone how much better at this he is than everyone else, well mission accomplished. And the social media folks are begging for the final books ASAP. Here is a glorious little teaser Martin threw out there on his blog over the weekend: ""How will it all end? I hear people asking. The same ending as the show? Different? Well yes. And no. And yes. And no. And yes. And no. And yes.")

In the end, I guess the question remains, if you are happy with where the journey led - wanted Sansa to rule more than Bran, but whatever - even if there were several speed bumps at the end, is that a success or a failure?

And yes, series finales are tough, especially dramas and especially dramas loved as much as this one, so there was no chance to please everyone.

But a series finale that leaves you wondering if they purposely left open doors for a sequel in a few years feels incomplete.

Let's go to the report card:

Series as a whole: Still a robust A, and worthy of the highest of recommendations for anyone to binge watch this summer in between episodes of Wipe Out (severely underrated) and Ellen's Game of Games. (Shut up Spy. The family likes that one.)

Final season: C-, and again the expectations were unreachable by anyone without the initials G.R.R.M. Visually after the third episode, it was staggering. The holes were tough to fill, even if most were completed.

Series finale: B, but if you went higher or lower, I understand. This show has made a lasting impression on the landscape of TV by making the penultimate episodes of each season the ultimate episode of each season, and the final season was the same to be honest.

Thoughts?

Warriors roll

Wow, that was easy. Four games and on to the NBA Finals for the Golden State Warriors.

It's the fifth straight Finals trip for Golden State, which ranks second only behind the Celtics of Russell and Dem Boys back when the NBA had eight teams.

And this one was without Kevin Durant, who continues to rest his aching calf.

First, those who want to say the Warriors are better without KD, just stop. That's nonsensical.

And he will be needed in the Finals against Giannis or Kawhi. Period.

Still, if you are the Warriors and you think KD has one foot out the door toward free agency, what you have seen the last five games gives you great hope.

First, you have to resign Klay. Then take the left over cash and make a move.

The Warriors are going to be fine either way.

Bam-Bam Baby Braves

OK, it has been easy to get frustrated with the Atlanta Braves.

Last year's division title was unexpected. And the unexpected always seems better because of the surprise. And the newness.

This year, the hopes increased.

And to be fair the inactivity of the front office - when pledges to spend were made after last season's postseason sputtering - ranged from puzzling to problematic.

Well, it's doubtful many of us stayed up for the Braves' 4-1 toppling of the Giants last night, but the continuation of the collection and development of young pieces can not be denied.

And it can not be described as anything other than impressive.

It was not that long ago the Braves had the worst farm system in baseball. That overhaul took several years of stink and sacrifice. It took several moves that looked lopsided on paper but were focused on the future.

Now, look at the core around this bunch, especially last night.

Mike Soroka, who will be 22 in August, went eight innings, allowing one run, two hits and no walks last night. He's allowed one run or fewer in each of his sixth starts and, according to Jon Heyman, his 0.98 ERA is the fourth lowest for a rookie through six starts in the expansion era behind Fernando (0.33 in 1981), Steve Rogers (0.88 in 1973) and Zach Duke (0.92 in 2005).

The offense was delivered by the explosive bats of two premium right-handed sluggers.

Ronald Acuna, who will be 22 in December, homered twice, doubled and walked in five plate appearances. He's hitting .291 with 11 homers, 31 RBIs and 31 runs scored. He's ranked in top 25 in all of baseball in each of the last two categories, which is part of the reason the Braves and their fans are unsure where is the best spot for him - leading off or hitting clean-up.

Then there is Mashing Austin Riley, who we can all agree upon his best spot. It's anywhere in the lineup.

Yes, the rest of the league will get a book on him and yes, there will be an eventual rookie dip because there always is, but dear Lord of thunder and Louisville Sluggers, this kid is crushing.

Riley, who turned 22 in April, has made the most of his six big league games since being called up when Ender Inciarte (aka Wally Pipp) was put on the IL. (Side question: Anyone else still struggling with the DL to IL transition? I had to go back and change that one again.)

Riley's six game stretch is filled with interesting and impressive numbers.

In those six games the Braves are 5-1. Riley has a at least one hit in five of the games, and the Braves won each time he got a hit.

Riley is 9-for-22 with three homers and a double, and his connection rate is even more eye-popping than his .409 average. Right now, Riley is hitting .600 (9-for-15) on balls he puts in play with a slugging percentage of 1.267 in those 15 ABs.

Wow, and all of them pups, and along with Ozzie Albies (who also turned 22 in January), all of them on team friendly deals.

Yes, we had every reason to be frustrated by the lack of the moves in the bullpen, but we also must praise the amazing assembly done to roster, too.

Especially when you consider that current GM Alex Anthopoulos is more care-taker than crafter of this dazzling young collection of talent. A fact that makes his tweaks and additions over the next month to six weeks just as important for his reputation as it is for the team's and the fans' hopes for moving beyond NL East contender to NL contender and World Series contender.

This and that

- Not sure if I have ever seen this before. Yes, that's a walk-off hidden ball trick to advance to the DIII College Softball World Series.

- This Magic Johnson storyline is quite boring to me to be honest.

- Dude, Will Wade knows the way to hold on tight right? Here's the embattled Wade landing a five-star recruit despite the FBI whispers and hottest of hot seats.

- Good news for the Red Sox fans as David Price looked strong last night in his return to the mound.

Today's questions

True or false, Brooks Koepka gets to double digit major championships.

True or false, the Lakers are a bigger dumpster fire than the Knicks.

True or false, Game of Thrones is a top-five TV drama of all-time.

True or false, the Braves win a World Series in the next five years.

As for today, May 21, let's explore.

Today is national dinosaur day.

The first hour movie - Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde - premiered in Chicago on this day in 1921.

Susan Lucci won a Daytime Emmy on this day in 1999.

Mr. T was born on this day in 1952.

OK, in honor of Mr. T, let's go with Rushmore of 1980s TV catch phrases, and see if "I pity the fool," makes a run.

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