If you look at discussions, you'll see that the actual decline started earlier, by some opinions as far as the end of season 4. The problem is that back then, it was not as clear that the series was declining - it could've been a super interesting new story thread or a new intrigue starting out. But now, with the knowledge that it leads nowhere, you can clearly see the problems starting out.

Also, of course, it's less fun watching the stuff now, knowing that it will slowly fade out into a bad ending.

I felt like I was being gaslit during seasons 6 and 7. It was already pretty damn bad by that point, but all my friends kept telling me I was just being negative and that it was still an amazing show.

I hated being right about that one.

That's true, though I suppose if they had stuck the landing the relative decline after the end of season four (which I agree with) would have been forgiven.

Yeah, it could have been a franchise for the ages, even maybe another Star Wars... maybe.

But that last season killed all that dead. Hell, there might have a way to rescue it until the last couple of episodes.

It was truly remarkable to watch potentially billions of dollars of future value evaporate in real time.