I had a 6 year old who just would not go to sleep last night, so I watched most of the episode thanks to a day off and the DVR this morning...
...and then went to see Avengers - Endgame. I saw about 1 hour of "The Long Night" and then Endgame. And I paused it just as Sansa and Tyrion were hiding behind the on crypt and drew their dragonglass daggers to go the theater for Avengers. Then I came home and saw the rest of the GoT episode. Talk about an emotionally exhausting day!!!!
I was a little surprised to see Melisandre reappear. But then this was what she had been foreseeing, wasn't it? When you have a chance watch the episode on HBO On Demand and watch the After the Episode segment with David and DB. The way they broke down the episode distilled the entire experience.
The army of the dead was like nothing we've seen. The looming threat of that darkness was nothing short of insidious. Especially when the Dothraki made their charge with their flaming Arakh's. That was amazing to see, but it was startling to see how quickly those hopes were dashed.
Bran spending so much time warging was puzzling. And I wonder what he might have been doing, too. But it also seemed like the Night King was warging, too, as he commanded the dead to lay down across the fire trench so they could bridge it and reach the walls of Winterfell.
It was difficult to see who was left standing following the battle. I can think of at least 6 significant characters who died: ****SPOILER TEXT FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET**** Beric Dondarrion, Theon Greyjoy, Dolorous Edd Tollett, Ser Jorah Mormont, Lyanna Mormont and Melisandre. The one who I was left hoping would make it out? Podrick Payne. I don't know why, but that guy has grown on me.