I'm nearing the end of the first season. I like it, and I also think that GoT simply raised the bar so high that flaws of this and LOTR series seem bigger than they would seem if GoT never existed. but that's how it goes.
the characters... I love that there are so many of them. but the problem is, I keep forgetting their names and that was never a case with GoT in the first season or even the original LOTR trilogy, where you learned every name in 20 minutes and remembered them even after 20 years. the guys you follow from the start... come on. how bland and boring can they possibly be? it's no wonder I keep forgetting their names. GoT is praised for many things, like great battles, visuals, locations, dragons, whatever. but the main thing about it were always characters and dialogues. this doesn't come close I'm afraid and you can't have great show without it.
meaning, nothing you see on the screen will ever feel important as it sounds or looks. whether it's village turned to dust or character dying, it doesn't really matter. I'm being led to believe something terrible is happening, but I don't really feel anything neither I see it on character's faces.
the episodes are long and I like it that way, as the show keeps throwing enough shit and some of it fortunately sticks. it's obvious to me that the full potential has been reached already and it won't get much better, but at least it's interesting enough to keep me going. regardless of how the last episode ends, I'm pretty sure I'm going to watch the second season as well.
6.5 or 7, if I had to rate it.