@boomlover I think many of the 'bad characters' were written to be bad.
As much as Joffrey was an asshole I absolutely loved him as he represented what frankly most noblemen were in the medieval times were - sick twisted humans that had their own quirks. Sansa is the representation of a medieval girl -- albeit that she has received fantasy traits now. Never the less she is still a woman in the sense that she is meek and calm, quiet and doesn't speak unless spoken to. Now she's more like a Boudica, that stands up for her people, the Northerners.
Whichever it is.
I've always liked these flawed characters more -- Tyrion was cool, because he was flawed, and because his family hated him. It drives interesting characters. Now that he did what he did to his family, he is suddenly less interesting, because he went from being an underdog to being 'a hero' of sorts.
I've stopped watching every since last season. All my favorite characters died, and those few interesting ones that remained were quickly swallowed in the ever lasting cesspit that is heroism. Jon Snow is a hero now? Really? Last I heard a bastard was a bastard, and it's only wishful writing that allows him to take the position he has taken. It takes away from the 'gritty reality' aspect that represented history which I loved so much, and it has become a random fantasy saga at this point.
I think it is mostly that switch that made me stop watching. Little more than wishful writing remains, where plot twists were interesting and unexpected before (really, fucking red wedding, who saw that shit coming) they have become rather pale now. Everyone knew Jon Snow was alive before it was revealed to be like that (mostly because killing Jon Snow would kill the show. So many fangirls watch GoT just to get their panties wet off of a wet dream of Jon Snow being emo in their face.) and it's all become rather stale and predictable. :/
If you can get past that it's easily in the top 10 shows of modern times, but to be honest the plot holes are just too gaping for me to ever consider it like that.
Still better writing than Walking Dead though.