He was needed back by the lollipop guild

Olenna didn't go to Mereen.

Has anyone gone back and checked whether any of the events of the finale matched up with (book) Dany's visions in the house of the undying or other miscellaneous prophecies? (besides Cersei's prophecy from the Maggy)

That's in the category of things that cannot be spoiled because they cannot happen.

Why were they preventing her from leaving, anyway? I don't think she had any official business with Cersei's trial.

It would have been a great "cool shot" to show just Tyrion and Dany on the boat. But they forced Varys there in a hamfisted way to try to make it cooler, but I think it made the shot worse.

There's also a chance no one will every know that it would be incestuous.

Or they could have just simply not felt the need to force Varys onto the ship because it looked cool. They could have just shown Dany and Tyrion on their way.

I thought the helmet removal was to increase the terror experienced by the Septa.

That's not what I'm presuming.

Littlefinger doesn't speak for any northmen, so he wouldn't need to declare for Jon.

Then Hot Pie feeds everyone pancakes.

Pycelle ain't out there working spin…

He could have read like 3 comments to find out.

I think it's possible.

Good question.

Did you really think that none of the other 3,500 comments have pointed that out?

No, Robert would have been happy that he had a son with Lyanna. There was no need for Ned to keep that secret.

"Oh, here's a thread with thousands of comments; I'm sure none of these are pointing out what I want to point out. I could doublecheck by reading like 2 comments before posting. Nah, I'd rather look like an idiot…"

Yes, on the conflict. However, Cersei was torching her enemies in one fell swoop. The Mad King wanted to torch the entire city - himself and Jaime and Tywin included. Jaime saved his own life in addition to all the others by preventing that fire.