My opinion could evolve after further evaluation, or after rewatching the episode with a different mindset, or as the season progresses...but this last episode might be a good candidate for the worst in the entire series.
Just can't remember an episode that was so disruptive to prior storytelling work, or so full of bizarrely rushed scenes. The jarring tonal shift of going from watching Dany burn alive a father and his son, to watching her appear over Jon to the tune of a blindly triumphant song. Jorah appearing out of nowhere, having his reunion with Dany awkwardly fitted into her post-battle reunion with Jon, and doing absolutely nothing before leaving her again. The ebb and flow of war that was established over the past four episodes suddenly morphing into a quest to capture a Wight. The fact that motherfucking Gendry went from being a meme to finding himself north of the wall as the Wight Crew's resident Berserker over the course of 10 minutes.
I ended the episode not knowing how to feel, but not feeling good overall. If the next couple episodes build on it well, I'm sure I'll think about it much more charitably.
Gotta agree with this. It all feels so rushed. I'm not talking about just teleportation, but the
story transitions here are just too quickly. Dany was literally just getting her ass handed to her in the battle and I know the dragons turned the tide but everyone seems really too happy to just put aside this shit for what probably amounts to weeks or months as Jon goes to capture a fucking wight? Does she even believe him at this point? For being someone so skeptical she's really going to give Cersei time to come up with a plan?
And how the fuck are they going to capture a wight. There's no planning at all shown and it's just such a crazy transition from the previous focus of the show and every character.
Jorah being reunited and then peacing out so quickly over a quest Dany isn't even heads over heals for because why the fuck would she be is just strange, too.
And then yeah the fan service of Gendry was so brazen. Especially after killing off the sand snakes this season that line was basically D&D saying "Yeah we hear you and this shit is just exactly what you wanted, because why the fuck not?"
Some of this could have been fixed by Sam and Jorah having some conversation about the White Walkers and what Sam saw as he was helping Jorah. Give them a bond that pops up a bit more. Have Jorah go back and tell Dany what his healer, Sam, said. Make that be the catalyst that gets her to listen even more intently to Jon and decide she'll hold off for a bit, but make her firm on just how long Jon gets for her ceasefire to return with his proof.
Boom, shit makes more sense.