The other seasons weren't about exposition, they were about building a compelling story. Of course, they could have given us a Cliff's Notes "best of" version in a single 2 hour movie, but the fact that the story has unfolded in this sprawling, methodical manner is a big reason why it is as successful as it has been. For whatever reason, the powers that be want to wrap the show up in two abbreviated seasons, and that certainly explains why things are happening as they are. But it does feel like a different show as a result. What they have done in seven episodes would have in the past taken three seasons to cover. It's still good, and rushing things along is far preferable than a show like Deadwood that never got resolved at all of course. But I don't see why handling this season in a manner similar to the others would have been a bad thing, if it were possible. If done well, it would have made the story feel more organic and rewarding to my eyes.
