There was a lot of criticisms in season 5, but then Hardhome happened and that was so cool everyone just forgave the mess that came before. Season 6 was just one payoff after another. Jon being King, finding about hes a Targ. Starks taking back Winterfell. Finding about Hodor, Cersei blowing up the sept. That season was just filled with shit happening, the writing wasn't great but there was so much fuck ya moments people didn't really care. Season 7 was pretty much par the course until the wight hunt and people could no longer deny how stupid every character had become in order to make the plot work.
We traded good writing for crazy spectacle, and most people that's good enough. Problem with season 8 was the spectacle was shit, so all we were left with is terrible writing.