It was realistic, savage and horrible...which really suits the tone of the series. Making it artsy would have been jarring to me.
I did try the "mute the episode, play the music" idea, and I was surprised how well it fit together. It was cool, even moving, but I still prefer the original.
Even knowing what was going to happen, the episode still ended with me staring at the screen in horrified silence, my mouth hanging open. The same expression was on the faces of everyone else in the room as well, spoiled and unspoiled alike.
I can't see how the season finale next week will be anything but anticlimactic after this episode, though.