Littlefinger was on his way to the Vale to unleash the only fighting force in Westeros that wasn't decimated by the war of five kings.

and lets face it: he indeed was the rightful king by laws of succession

Ok, can we discuss the gender politics of Sansa's storyline now?

I'd hoped empty-husk-of-a-man rock-bottom Stannis would remain in play a bit longer

In the current book timeline I just can't imagine what the story looks
like if he loses there, there's almost no other way for the Boltons to
get what they deserve unless …

So she kills a defenseless girl who clearly had nothing to do with anything.

Oh! I have one! You wrote that you "appreciated" that Sam's assignment to Oldtown was his own idea. I didn't like that. I felt that it detracted from the perspicacity and far-sightedness Jon showed in the books.

Without 'the letter' it makes the Watch less sympathetic for me. Now
they look like utter traitors and bastards, whereas before I could
sympathize.

Curious what you're not buying regarding the theme

BTW, nice job Myles for this riff on "trust" in this review. I don't know if I buy everything you wrote, but good work pulling together a thematically coherent piece in just a couple hours after the finale.

Did anyone else do this, or just me? I stared fixedly at Jon's eyes during that whole overhead shot where we watched him bleed out, just to make sure his eyes didn't turn zombie blue just before the season faded to black.

Stannis has Jon Arryn's proto-genetics (which is not real-world plausible, but is meant to be in GRRM's fantasy world)

He's actually a lot more prolific than people give him credit though, for the record; I've really enjoyed what I've read so far of the novellas

But we know that Stannis is correct, and he knows it. That's why he claims the title. Renly claims it for no reason beyond wanting it.

GRRM didn't write an episode this year precisely because he's trying to get TWOW out

…and he isn't a pretender.

Stannis declared war on Joffrey because he knew that Joffrey was a bastard, and not the rightful king at all

Stannis, to whom he rightfully (under the feudal system in place in Westeros) owed allegiance, by declaring himself king and waging war on Stannis.

I don't agree it was murder

What makes you think Renly wasn't willing to have Stannis assassinated?