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I write this as someone who enjoyed the previous seasons, especially the 4th one. However, this one made me reconsider if I will keep on following this show. Before anything, I must say that animation and soundtrack were good; not the best, but good. Yet, the story managed to eclipse both in my opinion - in a bad sense. Therefore that's where I will focus on.

TL;DR: The execution of the story is bad, it doesn't feel clear why the characters do what they do. It is confusing and a downgrade from the previous seasons.

I read a few of the critiques here and I do agree ... with the harsher ones on a few points. However, I diverge in terms of the lack of dungeon. Sure, the anime revolves around the dungeon and, as the seasons went by, Bell got his own personal reasons to go through with the dungeon exploration. Still, the dungeon is but a part of this world and perhaps the most important developments come from above, where the gods and their familias are. One must not forget that in the Ishtar familia arc it all happened on the surface; and the same goes for the whole situation with the Apollo familia. With this out of the way, now I will vent my problems with this season.

The most jarring one is that, as much as the idea behind it may be interesting, the form in which it was accomplished is very dubious. One thing I have to commend is how the author managed to have Bell not overpower everyone he comes across; and this was done for 5 entire seasons! This is the only good piece of writing that I can unequivocally vouch for. However, what bothers me the most is how no one seems to be on the same page, yet all act on the same canvas. The result: a lot of disjointed parts fit into one narrative. I have read Hegel, Kant, and tried my hand - with some success - at linear algebra and calculus. Despite all of it, I still find at best confusing the Syr/Freya situation. Why did Freya fall in love so brazenly? Why make a huge deal out of this difference between both if they are the same person? This and a few other doubts popped into my mind as I went along with the story. I can understand the fascination Hermes has for Bell; it is shown clearly, especially when he talks about the 3 great quests - it was already clear, but now it is fully explained. Freya was either too rushed or poorly written, i.e., as I mentioned earlier, a failure of execution.

Another point in the story that bothered me is the betrayal at the war games. Sure, I understand why they acted as they did, but it is all thrown in the story "in the nick of time"; that is, it feels just like a deus ex machina. "I love my goddess and I have been a comrade in arms for years with the rest of the familia. But now I think this boy, whose maturity is questionable and whom I barely know, can save her even though he is the reason our goddess has turned away from us. Now that everyone on the other side of the battlefield is spent due to my strategy, I will fire lightning bolts at my own men - which are loyal to me and which I have known and fought alongside - to turn the tide". Amazing writing! I seriously am disappointed in this seeing how much better season 4's writing was.

If anyone wants to object by bringing up the novels or spin-offs, this is still bad writing. A story has to be self contained. Take for example Lord of the Rings. The trilogy is chronologically a sequel to The Hobbit, but this trilogy only came later as movies; yet everyone could understand what went on. Middle Earth's worldbuilding is so extensive and so complete that it feels exactly as a history handbook or manual is: events from the present draw on a multiplicity of factors from the past and, in turn, influence what comes much later in other books. However, one can simply watch The Lord of the Rings without having read The Silmarilion and still have a good time because nothing is lacking.