I personally don't like the beginning of the game because anyone in their right mind would kill the people trying to kill them. If it was the other way around and it was the Stormcloaks that captured you there is no evidence to support they would not of done the same thing and from the start you would have a negative opinion of the Stormcloaks. Same with Oblivion and Morrowind you either wake in an Imperial prison of some kind, you are lead from the beginning to not trust the Imperials. The thing I look at though is that they quickly take back why you were detained and don't just kill you when you are freed. I side with the Imperials because they only surrendered to stop the Thalmor from killing basically everyone, sure they are beheading people but these are dark times, civil war and the looming threat of elven steel. Skyrim wouldn't last a year against the Thalmor if they attacked during the war, the faster it is over the shorter it will take to recover. I don't pick a side because I think one is right or wrong I pick a side because whoever wins in the end needs to fight the real enemy of anyone that isn't an Elf; the Thalmor. In the end, like it has already been said, right or wrong is in the eye of the beholder. Rebels being executed or patriots being murdered, you decide how to view it. Both have their flaws but even the hero has his problems. EDIT: Ninja'd Talos worship is only banned because the Thalmor forced it. If they attack then the Imperials have no reason to continue the ban, they need the peace to prepare for more war. The question shouldn't be if the Stormcloaks or Imperials are right it should be are the Aldmeri Dominion or the rest of Tamriel right. The Dominion is already split on multiple fronts by Cyrodiil and if the Empire patched relations with Hammerfell they would have a fighting chance at reuniting the continent