I think what was also happening is that the writers knew that if they wrote anything more than a sketchy account of what was going on, they’d need more time on the show, which they didn’t have.

I agree that the implication is that Littlefinger was set up. Which doesn’t really make sense considering that the show makes clear he has paid informants around Winterfell who should have tipped him off, if he hadn’t figured it out already.

The problem for me is that the characterization of a cold war between them seemed really bogus and contrived. It’s certainly plausible that long-separated sisters would struggle to connect and replay childhood rivalries, but the show seemed to throw out a bunch of random incidents without any strong connection or…

That was just some random loudmouthed sailor who got turned to a bloody pulp.

The Golden Company thing is just a way to pump up the stakes. They’re there because somebody in the writers room thought it would make Cersei sound clever. If the Second Sons showed up, the writers would just make the Golden Company big enough to overwhelm them, but that would take time they don’t have, so Daario and…

In season 6 there was a scene where Lord Royce gave Littlefinger a hard time in front of Robin Arryn. Littlefinger then claimed Roose Bolton had captured him and Sansa, and falsely accused Lord Royce of betraying him. Yada yada Moondoor, and Royce backed down at the time, but in theory Royce would have plenty of…