This scene in Meereen where everyone is deciding what to do with everyone else feels very rushed and half-assed. If there's anywhere where Meereen suffered, voice , it's here.
Not there yet, but I remember that scene. Definitely agree. Sam's "old books" are too easy a cop out in my opinion too. Is Sam the ONLY person to ever read the Wall's old books? Sure I know it isn't exactly common to have men who know how to read join the Watch, let alone avid readers, but there's not much to do. I'm sure others would have come across Sam's books. Coldhands was a far more plausible (yes, I know... he's a corpse... how "plausible" could he be...? Just play along...) fount of arcane gate knowledge.
"I can see it. You have more of the north in you than your brothers."