HBO House of the Dragon - Prequel of one of the most recent cultural trainwrecks

[Tom Servo]

It's a plot point in the Dance of the Dragon story, where after the Blacks take over Kings Landing, Rhaenyra has Alicent and her daughter gangraped repeatedly over the course of a year, with each raped by men day and night and told that the rape will only stop when they give birth to a bastard, as far as Rhaenyra being butt hurt that her own whoring and reputation as an uncle fucking cocksleeve is public knowledge and why no one wants her as queen, especially after ordering the killing of Alicent's grandson

To be fair the account of the "Brothel Queens" comes from Mushroom, who is considered an unreliable source. He also claimed that Alicent fucked Daemon and that Alicent murdered Viserys.

Rhaenyra goes from being called the Realm's delight to Maegor with teats mainly due to the Blood and Cheese incident (which the show massively fucked up) and Helaena's eventual death.

The show has completely botched pretty much all the characters. Rhaenyra lacks any of her negative characteristics because God forbid she have flaws. Alicent is a weak willed pawn willing to have her own child killed. Helaena is reduced to weird autistic bug girl with prophetic visions she does nothing with.

This turned into a bit a rant sorry. Fuck I hate this show.

 

[Lobster Cult High Priest]

To be fair the account of the "Brothel Queens" comes from Mushroom, who is considered an unreliable source. He also claimed that Alicent fucked Daemon and that Alicent murdered Viserys.

Rhaenyra goes from being called the Realm's delight to Maegor with teats mainly due to the Blood and Cheese incident (which the show massively fucked up) and Helaena's eventual death.

The show has completely botched pretty much all the characters. Rhaenyra lacks any of her negative characteristics because God forbid she have flaws. Alicent is a weak willed pawn willing to have her own child killed. Helaena is reduced to weird autistic bug girl with prophetic visions she does nothing with.

This turned into a bit a rant sorry. Fuck I hate this show.

Only character that is compelling is Ser Criston Cole and they are going to massacre him this season

 

[ConsentAccidentVictimNo98]

sorry. Fuck I hate this show.

Oh it gets worse, leaks are repeatedly going on about aemond kissing Alicent, and the Gullet being butchered. Granted we all knew that since they cast philosophy tube

 

[Lobster Cult High Priest]

Oh it gets worse, leaks are repeatedly going on about aemond kissing Alicent, and the Gullet being butchered. Granted we all knew that since they cast philosophy tube

It will be the Troon Tyroshi Admiral kidnapping Viserys (to do what Troons do to little boys)

Literally every time they try to make their shows woke they end up making it worse for themselves. See the Shire Race War that had to occur between Rings of Power and LOTR or James Potter hanging Nigger Snape from a tree.

 

[Chuckwagon]

No less a GoT shill site than Winteriscoming.net has found itself unable to sugarcoat the upcoming season of HOTD after being treated to a preview of its first half, pretty bluntly admitting that basically 'well the spectacle will be cool to look at but the writing is absolute shit' in so many words. Not that this should be any surprise for a show which has so blatantly degenerated into The Writers' Barely Disguised Fetish Fanfiction (With A $200 Million+ Budget) that it's been quite loudly disowned by Gurm himself. (Archive)

House of the Dragon's writing fails what should be a great season
At a press conference ahead of season 3, showrunner Ryan Condal reiterated multiple times that the show is a "very faithful adaptation" of Fire & Blood. Yet while it does land some of the large beats well, like the Gullet, I can't help but feel this is completely, utterly untrue. Once it leaves behind its two big story moments in the first two episodes — plot points that are so essential they are all but impossible to cut — the show makes so many deviations it may as well be telling a different story, albeit with a few familiar sign posts along the way.

Were that story good, I could get behind those deviations. Episode 3, for example, certainly has many plot elements that aren't in Fire & Blood, but does most of them so well I didn't mind it outside of one particular storyline. But often the deviations are just plain odd, or take something from the book and implement it in a just slightly worse way that left me wondering why it was altered at all.

To be clear, these aren't all things that will just jump out to book readers. There are also moments I fully expect show-only watchers to frown at, too, including some absolutely horrible handling of Alicent Hightower in the season's first few episodes and a scene which should stand as a dark turning point for Rhaenyra but makes absolutely no sense in the wider Game of Thrones franchise as it's established on screen.

There were many of these moments, enough that even when I was fully invested in watching House of the Dragon, I could count on there being at least one scene each episode that would jar me out of the episode. Ormund Hightower is another example; for as much as I have looked forward to the character, and as much as James Norton is absolutely killing it in the role, I think the writing has utterly failed at making him feel like a cohesive member of the same great house as Otto (Rhys Ifans), Alicent, and Gwayne (Freddie Fox).

There are also a number of moments that do the exact opposite of what George R.R. Martin laid out in his book, or speed-run them in a way that isn't nearly as coherent. Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell) has a plotline this season that is pretty much guaranteed to be controversial with book fans, and so far I'm still not convinced it was a good choice for the series. Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) quietly became one of the most interesting characters on the show last season, only for much of that hard-won development to go out the window here.

Daeron Targaryen, the youngest son of Alicent Hightower, is another similar sticking point. The show held back Daeron until season 3, which put an unnecessary amount of pressure on landing his introduction well. I wish that I could say that it pulled it off, but from what I've seen, I have very little confidence in how the show is handling Daeron or anything associated with him and his dragon Tessarion.

I could keep listing the things that took me out of House of the Dragon season 3, but I think you get the idea. For every storyline House of the Dragon is handling seemingly well, such as Rhaenyra's descent, there are two others that left me shaking my head. And it all comes back to the writing, and the overall plan for the season, more than the execution of anything that actually ended up on screen.

The problem with these writing issues is two-fold. One is that this show is adapting the work of George R.R. Martin, and for as good as the writers on House of the Dragon often are, they simply are not on the same level as Martin, who is a generational talent in the fantasy field. When the show goes off on its own trajectory, many of the beats it introduces simply do not live up to those they're trying to replace from Martin's book, regardless of whether they're big ones or even small lines of dialogue.

That spills over into the second problem: Martin is an extremely methodical writer when it comes to one event causing the next, and the next, until it all becomes a total pressure cooker that leads to breathtaking moments like the Red Wedding. House of the Dragon plays fast and loose with its cause and effect, to the degree that the next big battle it's setting up after the Gullet already feels destined to fail to me, because thus far it has so thoroughly botched the set up of it. I don't doubt the spectacle will be fun to watch, but I'm much less convinced it will make any sense.

There's still time for House of the Dragon to turn around these frustrations I've had, but it hasn't given me a lot of confidence that it's going to do it. So for as much as I have enjoyed season 3, I have a feeling that by the time all's said and done, it's going to be remembered as a season which frustrated fans of the source material just as much if not more than season 2. I hope it goes over better with the general audience, and I don't doubt that it will...but I'm not expecting it to have the sort of impact of say, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a small-scale show that proved astute storytelling and charming performances were more than a match for dragons any day.

Also some of the actors are revolting against the shit that's been shoveled onto them by the script, I watched a video clip of Fabien Frankel (Criston Cole's actor) positively seething about how dirty his character was done - saying he wanted to make Criston (a character who's canonically said to have embodied the best of the Kingsguard too, not just the worst of it) more human & likable but that the writers would never have any of it, joking/'joking' that Condal & Hess's stupidity is derailing his career, and especially directly criticizing the inconsistency of Cole's core motive (his code of honor, which definitely does not seem to be as inflexibly committed to principle, male primogeniture or anything else really compared to the books). Reminds me a bit of how D&D fucked over Stannis' characterization in GoT actually. Frankel also apparently gave so little of a shit about HOTD these days that he casually threw spoilers (which were cut out) around in that interview, nigga definitely seems pretty pissed with this shitshow.

1:11

Speaking of spoilers - finally, some more purported leaks have been circulating through ASOIAF-related subreddits & forums these last couple of days & weeks, found someone had conveniently compiled most/all of them into an easy-to-read list here. Sucks ass if true but, again, wouldn't at all surprise me.

Spoiler: Purported HOTD S3 leaks

Rhaena

Rhaena bonds with Sheepstealer.

Alicent & Aemond

Alicent enters the Red Keep throne room and finds Aemond sitting on the Iron Throne. Aemond wants to know where Alicent has been. Alicent sends a secret message to her cousin, Lord Ormund Hightower. Alicent begs Ormund to shield Daeron from the war. Daeron is given a red wig as a disguise. Ormund hates all Targaryens except Daeron. Ormund’s plan is to let Daemon and Aemond kill one another and crown Daeron king.

Aemond gives Alicent the news is that Aegon has escaped with help from Larys.

Alicent begs Aemond to leave King’s Landing. Aemond accepts, knowing he cannot fight multiple dragons by himself. Aemond kisses Alicent, and she is taken aback by the kiss.

Aegon

Aegon and Larys are captured by men from House Staunton. While boarding a boat to Essos. Aegon is unsure about leaving behind his identity as King. Aegon also gets kicked in the crotch to no avail.

Cole & Gwayne

In The Riverlands, Gwayne catches his soldiers raping and murdering children. Gwayne asks Cole about why he isn’t punishing his soldier for Rape. Cole replies Gwayne should be the one who execute the men. Gwayne tells Cole, He will NOT lose his humanity for him. Cole has lost all feeling and the ability to care. Cole says death and ruin will find us eventually.

Dragonseeds

Hugh, Ulf, and Addam are sent to Harrenhal to watch out for Aemond and Vhagar. Addam meets a Green Man. The Green Men are the protectors of the Gods Eye, an island near Harrenhal. Hugh meets Alys, She tells him, “Your Queen Needs You”. Hugh asks who she is? Alys says im a witch. The comment of your queen needs you is directed to battle of the gullet. Where Hugh, Ulf and Addam should be fighting. Ulf is bored waiting for Vhagar, Ulf also complains about not getting a castle when he is knighted. Hugh tells Ulf that he gets a horse. Ulf respnds, “Why do I need a horse, I have a dragon”. Ulf winks and then says “A dragon to pick up “The Ladies””.

Battle of the Gullet

A Small Council meeting at Dragonstone descends into chaos when Rhaenyra informs everyone that Alicent came to Dragonstone with a deal. Alicent will open the gates of the Red Keep and give Rhaenyra Aegon’s head. Jace protests, telling Rhaenyra that she cannot trust Alicent. Everyone leaves in disgust.

The Velaryon fleet engages the Triarchy in the Gullet. Jace and Baela are convinced Rhaenyra in not in her sound mind. Jace makes a bold move by locking Rhaenyra in her chambers, while Mysaria and a maid does nothing to stop him. No Hugh, Ulf Or Addam at the Gullet. Jace and Baela help burn Triarchy ships, when another dragon shows up and starts burning Valeryon ships. It’s Rhaena on Sheepstealer, whom can’t control her dragon. Jace flies to miss Sheepstealer and drives down too low. Vermax and is hit by harpoon bolt from Sharako Lohar. Vermax falls into the sea and dies. The Triarchy begins pelting Jace with arrows, and he drowns with his dragon. Rhaena is the cause of Jace’s death

Corlys’s ship, “The Queen Who Never Was”, cracks and takes on too much water. Alyn and Corlys abandon ship and end up with Sharako Lohar, Corlys & Alyn vs Sharako with Alyn killing Sharako, and Tyland Lannister sinks

Jace’s dead body floating away

Rhaenyra’s Fury

When everyone returns to Dragonstone, Rhaenyra is let out of her room. Her fury knows no bounds. Everyone is a target. “Have You NOT Betrayed Your Queen.”

Baela stares out into the Gullet, hoping Jace might somehow reappear.

Alyn and helps his father, Corlys, walk after he suffers a leg injury in the battle.

Jace’s body is found and brought before Rhaenyra. Rhaenyra as she sits next to her dead son.

Battle of the Red Fork

In the Riverlands, Daemon meets with Oscar Tully and Alysanne “Black Aly” Blackwood, the new regent of House Blackwood. Daemon and his army of Riverland men face off against the Lannister army, led by Lord Jason Lannister. Before the battle begins, the Winter Wolves emerge from the forest. Rodrick Dustin, known as Roddy the Ruin, proclaims that he and the Wolves have come to fight for the Dragon Queen. The Battle of the Red Fork is a victory for Rhaenyra. After the battle, Roddy gives Daemon the head of Jason Lannister. The Winter Wolves celebrate with a song.

Aemond Takes Harrenhal

Prince Regent Aemond Targaryen leads an assault on Harrenhal. Aemond burns everyone trapped inside. Aemond fights off the remaining defenders on foot. He murders Ser Simon Strong and his sons. Aemond is badly injured and he meets the local healer Alys Rivers.

Fall of King’s Landing

Daemon returns to Dragonstone and learns that Jace is dead. Rhaenyra and Daemon decide it is time to besiege the capital. Daemon goes on a black ops mission as a gold cloak. Seven dragons descend over the Red Keep. Rhaenyra has come for the Iron Throne. Alicent, knowing she cannot hold up her end of the deal, takes her daughter Helaena and her granddaughter Jaehaera and tries to escape. Alicent does not open the gates as she promised. Ser Luthor Largent, Lord Commander of the City Watch, breaks down the gates. The City Watch and Daemon begin slaughtering Hightower soldiers.

In the chaos, Alicent and Helaena are caught. They enter the Red Keep as Daemon continues the bloodshed.

They come to the throne room. Rhaenyra screams at Alicent, “Where is the Usurpers head!”.

Daemon kills all the men guarding the iron throne, clearing Rhaenyra’s path. Rhaenyra ascends the Iron Throne while Alicent looks on.

Otto Hightower is brought before Queen Rhaenyra. Otto says that Viserys would be disappointed.

Rhaenyra gives the order and Otto is beheaded by Daemon.

Other Storylines In Season 3

Daemon knights Ulf, Hugh, and Addam.

Episode 3 might include flashbacks, including the return of Emily Carey as young Alicent.

Rhaenyra holds a feast for the noble lords, where they are forced to eat rats.

Tension grows between Daemon, Rhaenyra, and Mysaria during Small Council meetings. Over war efforts and the treatment of Baela and Rhaena.

Alicent becomes a maid as punishment.

Ulf takes over the bars in King’s Landing

There is a parley at the beginning of episode 3, between Ormund and Daemon, where Daeron, Alicent’s son, becomes a hostage. However, Daemon and Rhaenyra later finds out that Ormund tricked him and that he has the wrong Daeron. Ormund takes the city of Tumbleton, where Hugh’s wife, Kat, has taken refuge.

Aegon finds Sunfyre.

Alicent goes on a side mission to Harrenhal.

Aemond burns the Riverlands.

The Butcher’s Ball takes place, where Criston Cole is killed and Gwayne Hightower is taken prisoner.

Helaena and Rhaenyra meet.

During the Siege of Tumbleton, Hugh’s wife, Kat, dies in the battle. Hugh and Ulf betray Daemon.

Multiple characters have weirwood visions at both Red Keep & Harrenhal, including Ser Criston Cole, Aemond, Daemon, and possibly Alicent Hightower and Rhaenyra.

Rhaena and Baela vs Rhaenrya; Rhaena and Baela both leave KL, possibly banished by Rhaenyra. Corlys Quits as Hand in protest.

Birth of Maelor

 

[Tasty Tatty]

It's really a pity because the cast was, for the most part, good. Also was the acting. It's like the actors were playing the characters well, but the characters were all acting possessed by bad writing.

 

[Chuckwagon]

It's really a pity because the cast was, for the most part, good. Also was the acting. It's like the actors were playing the characters well, but the characters were all acting possessed by bad writing.

Writing gets even worse, according to another leak the 'conceptual' episode steered by Sara Hess will be dedicated to Rhaenyra & how she didn't ackshually cut herself on the Iron Throne, that is supposed to be a metaphor for her being on her period. This will be why she's pissy at everyone, has Otto Hightower executed ASAP, undertakes her most 'tyrannical' acts (well the ones C&H leave her with - according to the older leaks and rumors she'll tax the nobles to replenish the depleted royal treasury instead of the smallfolk even though Book Rhaenyra imposing draconian taxation on the poors is a vital misstep on her road to the great riot of KL & by extension her downfall, and the war crimes of her Ironborn allies will be given to the Hightower army among other things), etc.



Now of course that rumor (like all the others) could be bullshit and we won't know for sure until we watch (j/k, I ain't watching this shit outside of Youtube clips I might get morbidly curious about). But I believe it based on how retarded the rest of Hess's writing choices have been. And I'll say, if it does turn out to be true, it's a very bold fucking choice for a supposed turbofeminist show to put so much emphasis on a woman having her time of the month making her fly off the rails & rule her realm so poorly that it's supposed to set up her eventual doom.

 

[Slurgle]

Let's also retcon Dany's story in season 8 and specifically blame everything that happened on her cycle as well.

Genius

 

[Tasty Tatty]

Writing gets even worse, according to another leak the 'conceptual' episode steered by Sara Hess will be dedicated to Rhaenyra & how she didn't ackshually cut herself on the Iron Throne, that is supposed to be a metaphor for her being on her period. This will be why she's pissy at everyone,

I could get that Rhaneyra being on her period made people believe the throne cut her, but she's making it that she's on her actual period and kills people... Lmao.

 

[Lobster Cult High Priest]

I could get that Rhaneyra being on her period made people believe the throne cut her, but she's making it that she's on her actual period and kills people... Lmao.

Can't wait till the Shepard storms the Dragonpit and they take out the Dragons

 

[TheHarbinger]

Let's also retcon Dany's story in season 8 and specifically blame everything that happened on her cycle as well.

Dany was originally pregnant in the last season but they carefully edited the shots showing her stomach to retcon it out of the show in post.

 

[Tasty Tatty]

Dany was originally pregnant in the last season but they carefully edited the shots showing her stomach to retcon it out of the show in post.

So, according to HBO, hormonal women are insane...?

I mean, ok...?

 

[Sean_Igger]

YAS QUEEN The Show is turning out to be more of a comedy than even A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

 

[William Murderface]

Writing gets even worse, according to another leak the 'conceptual' episode steered by Sara Hess will be dedicated to Rhaenyra & how she didn't ackshually cut herself on the Iron Throne, that is supposed to be a metaphor for her being on her period. This will be why she's pissy at everyone, has Otto Hightower executed ASAP, undertakes her most 'tyrannical' acts (well the ones C&H leave her with - according to the older leaks and rumors she'll tax the nobles to replenish the depleted royal treasury instead of the smallfolk even though Book Rhaenyra imposing draconian taxation on the poors is a vital misstep on her road to the great riot of KL & by extension her downfall, and the war crimes of her Ironborn allies will be given to the Hightower army among other things), etc.

Ver archivo adjunto 9153551

Now of course that rumor (like all the others) could be bullshit and we won't know for sure until we watch (j/k, I ain't watching this shit outside of Youtube clips I might get morbidly curious about). But I believe it based on how retarded the rest of Hess's writing choices have been. And I'll say, if it does turn out to be true, it's a very bold fucking choice for a supposed turbofeminist show to put so much emphasis on a woman having her time of the month making her fly off the rails & rule her realm so poorly that it's supposed to set up her eventual doom.

I hope the writers credit Elizabeth I for that line about having the heart and guts of a king.

Her speech at Tilbury on 9 August 1588, on the eve of the Spanish Armada:

My loving people,

We have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety to take heed how we commit ourselves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery. But I assure you, I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people.

Let tyrants fear. I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects; and therefore I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust.

I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm: to which rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field.

I know already, for your forwardness you have deserved rewards and crowns; and We do assure you on a word of a prince, they shall be duly paid. In the mean time, my lieutenant general shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble or worthy subject; not doubting but by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over these enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people.

 

[ConsentAccidentVictimNo98]

Criston

Cole is probably the most egregious example of how mishandled fire and blood was, and really represents how the shows political messaging and bias became centre.

Lets begin with the Great Council. It was about who should succeed King J. The show of course, put the issue of Rhaenys being a woman centre stage, when in reality, she would not have ruled and it was about the line flowing through her to Laenor, who would have been King after the old boy. So even at the start, it elevated sexism as the main theme which really wasn't the case.

The main theme of the dance was about how everyone suffered because of the Targayens. Sure the show covers this somewhat but Rhaenyra is made to look like their champion, which is not the case. No clue how the Kings Landing riot will be delt with.

So when we get to how Aegon was presented, he is shown to be the big old rapist (did not exist in the book). Nor were the fighting pits. Daemon was stated to like fucking kids but the show runners settled on the incest theme with him and Aemond bc girls get it done.

So now we return to Cole. You know, the guy who was a small folk and central to the story but the character goes from wanting to fuck Rhaenyra, to becoming suicidal after she said "only fwbs" to then becoming an incel, to then becoming a nihilist who will now be permissive of rape. There is stuff that can be done with this. Coles main character element is his vows, and the debates around duty and honour. Part of his vows were to obey the Royal line, but also not to have kids or sex.

So Rhaenyra quite naturally forced him into an impossible situation, and as a result he broke down and suggested leaving everything behind. In theory he could have asked to leave the King's Guard for marriage to Rhaenyra at that point, but Coles home is the guard and he, again, was basically raped because of his vows as he had to obey her. This is the main reason why he grows to dislike her because of how she flaunts everything, but because of Rhaenyra being promoted as perfect and in the right we get this incredibly flawed predicament with Cole being explicitly targeted, and with this the writing becomes 1 dimensional.

This is also why the Greyjoys are basically being written out, as despite a slight mention of them they make Rhaenyra look bad with the sacking of Lannisport.

Because this is a story of virtuous women vs evil men. Gotta love how Blood and Cheese became about killing the one with a cock, and not a game of cruelty against Aegons first born. But the show always likes to make Aegon look good when he looks bad. Case in point, being the only dragon rider to teach a dragon English and not High Valyrion.

it would also be great if the show ends up with Rhaenyra feeding herself to Sunfyre as that would mean Aegon wouldn't be a kinslayer, the worst thing to be in Westeros and vindicates him of that.

Oh and on the Cole hate...

And the Incest...



This is also a 5 episode season when ep 1 and 2 are from last season, and ep 3 is that experimental episode.

 

[Humble Architect]

It’s really amazing how in such a feminine production, it is the men who are the better actors, the better characters and the only ones acting like they belong in this universe.

In making something so “charged” with the “girl power” nonsense, they looped into unintended depictions of women being incompetent whores who impede the men who actually have their heads in the game.

Cole, Aemond, Aegon, Viserys, Daemon, Otto and even Littlefinger 2 were the highlights of what I actually watched in S1 and S2. Alicent gets points for her actress being attractive and not looking like a shar pei like both of Rhaenyra’s actresses.

Gregor Clegane is more likeable and respectable as a man than the whores in House of the Dragon, at least he’s honestly a piece of shit.

 

[draggs]

Only character that is compelling is Ser Criston Cole and they are going to massacre him this season

They already butchered him, Fire & Blood Cole turns on Rhaenyra because she keeps asking him to betray his oath and cast his honor in the gutter, show Cole turns on her because she rejects his attempts to betray his oath and throw his honor in the gutter

 

[TheHarbinger]

It’s really amazing how in such a feminine production, it is the men who are the better actors, the better characters and the only ones acting like they belong in this universe.

This happens because the men HAVE to give a strong performance. The women deliver mediocre performances then because of political correctness are never told "that was bad let's go again". So the women often have their worst performances make the final edit because any criticism is seen as "wrong think" or being "problematic". But the men are pushing themselves to the limits like any other HBO production and their characters are memorable and often surpass the books or the script.

We've seen a few of the actresses in interviews talk about how they tried to suggest changes and were turned down. Some of the men as well. The showrunners and writers are just not talented enough to make a proper show. And then you throw in the social justice commentary, bizarre nigger and troon castings, and budget cuts, and you have some of the most bland ASOIAF material yet. I'm letting the last season's finale play in the background right now before the premier and I'm laughing at how bad some of the wigs and costumes are.

 

[Humble Architect]

This happens because the men HAVE to give a strong performance. The women deliver mediocre performances then because of political correctness are never told "that was bad let's go again". So the women often have their worst performances make the final edit because any criticism is seen as "wrong think" or being "problematic". But the men are pushing themselves to the limits like any other HBO production and their characters are memorable and often surpass the books or the script.

We've seen a few of the actresses in interviews talk about how they tried to suggest changes and were turned down. Some of the men as well. The showrunners and writers are just not talented enough to make a proper show. And then you throw in the social justice commentary, bizarre nigger and troon castings, and budget cuts, and you have some of the most bland ASOIAF material yet. I'm letting the last season's finale play in the background right now before the premier and I'm laughing at how bad some of the wigs and costumes are.

I put the show on in the background as I started painting my bretonnian birthday present and a few times I had to put brushes down and rewind. That thing with the “wives” offended me on a cellular level.

This is the only show where the nigger in the black male/white female relationship was not the most difficult character for me to like and I found him pretty bro-tier, continuing the trend of the men being simultaneously more immersive but also more thematically “this is the era of legends and heroes.”

You can’t have Aegon change character between seasons. Because suddenly he’s not a lecherous freak and is just a dim but good-meaning frat boy, mourning his son and being a king unwanted and unloved by everyone. It is not a “girl power” moment when his mom turns on him, it is a very lonely and sad man getting yet another betrayal from a woman who ruined his life.

Same with Aemond’s mommy issues, they do this to try and make it so the badass character can’t be cheered on but it makes him more sympathetic if anything. He’s fantasy Homelander because the creators are hacks but I got a dopamine hit from his scenes of tearing shit up and killing unlikable strong characters.

 

[ConsentAccidentVictimNo98]

Black guys kills Troons, I stan the realism!

There are problems, but that is that. I can't wait to critique the show after the season in quite a lot of detail as there wouldn't be the excuse that it was cut down (which was true, like with last season). But for casuals, it was a decent episode. - It was meant to be a GOT episode 9. Which, would have partly mirrored the Blackwater but with dragons in the battle for King's Landing.

I still would have preferred the Green Characters being all in. Rhaenyra taking King's Landing was meant to be a trap to keep her forces there.