I've written about this here, so to avoid repeating myself, check out my reasons there.
2. Aegon is not a well-written character
Like yes, he was a standout in s2, but that's because everyone else was done so badly, he came out looking ten times better.
But, if we're looking at both s1 and s2 together, he's just as inconsistent as everyone else.
In s1, he's presented to us as a spoiled, cruel, vindictive prince who is callous about bullying his own brother and prioritizes his own gratification and hedonistic pleasures above everything else. He's a cannonical rapist on the show, who also enjoys child blood sport on the side, and despite supposedly craving parental love (a line which was add libbed by TGC if I remember right, so it was never even a part of the script) he still comes off as Temu Joffrey (there's a reason early reviewers for s2, frequently compared him to Joffrey or were just surprised that he wasn't like him; it's because thats what they expected)
Except when s2 rolls around that suddenly no longer applies. The rape is swiftly brushed aside (Dyanna might as well be set decoration that was brought back for... idk why) and the fighting pits no longer exist, nor do the bastards. He's now a harmless comedic relief character who exists to be either Alicent's punching bag, an annoying frat bro, or act the pathetic dumbass when the plot needs him to.
It's a retcon, one likely made when they realized they wouldnt be able to sell the teams shit if team 2 is led by Temu Joffrey. Granted, it's much less severe than what they did with Alicent (primarily because you can at least see him toning his behavior down now that he's King) but it's still there, if you pay attention. And while s2 was marginally better for him (primarily cause he was the only character who got a complete arc and solid and consistent development. Also TGC's acting is on point, no notes), it doesn't negate the bullshit they completely erased.
3. The Bias
I'm about to be crucified for this, but hear me out: no, I don't think the writers have a TB bias. At least in the sense that they genuinely like the book characters (cause they don't since they've changed everything that made them compelling)
No, the simple truth is, neither Ryan Condal nor Sara Hess have the writing chops necessary to create a compelling story with grey morality, without resorting to the classic 'good vs evil' dynamic. And even there, they fail, cause their characterization for the supposed "good guys" leaves everything to be desired.
Rhaenyra is an uncompelling protagonist who spends 1.5 seasons observing her story. She's positioned as the pinnacle of virtue, and is thus not allowed to do anything controversial, which in turn strips her of agency, and pathos, and hinders any real character growth or development. Thus, she becomes a husk; an empty caricature that portrays women under patriarchy as perpetual victims who can't escape their sex. (Stellar messaging for your feminist show)
It's only now in s3ep3 that she was finally allowed to do something, and even that something has the potential to be framed as just another s8 Dany copy paste: a woman driven hysterical by power. Which is probably not what the writers wanted, but like I said, they're not good enough to actually pull off such a descent without falling into sexist tropes.
I don't even want to mention the rest of TB. They either fall into the category of antagonist, aka the impulsive, warmongering men who exist to undermine Rhaenyra, or be the devil on her shoulder who pushes her toward violence (Jace, Daemon, her council and now Corlys, ofc), and the women, who exist to be her moral judges or her cheerleaders (Rhaenys and Alicent, Baela and Mysaria)
All these characters are whittled down and turned one note, to serve a specific agenda, which doesn't even amount to TB vs TG, but benevolent sexism masquerading as feminism. All the female characters are chaste, virtuous victims and moral guardians who only want peace while the men are the true progenitors of violence and deceit. They're all framed as responsible for the man's own moral actions and made to manage their feelings. Like this show had Rhaenys mock Alicent in s1ep9 for wanting to make a "window in the wall of her prison" only to have every woman be like that; a helpless dishrag desperately trying to steer the men in power.
And since TG is the metaphorical representation of patriarchy and the gender essentialist idea of men as violent actors, they get the brunt of it.
Its insulting, simplistic and so fucking cliche it's like it was pulled straight from the 50s. I saw a post recently that stated Ryan skipped his Wattpad phase and it hardcore agree.
4. The Book to Show Changes are not the Problem
And I say this as an unabashed book purist. S1, for all its flaws had potential. Changing Rhaenyra and Alicent's ages could have enriched the story, provided that their later fallout was handled with care. The issue is, Ryan couldn't stay consistent to his own damned cannon. He repeatedly ignored stuff he previously set up (16 years of animosity and betrayal), in favor of a predetermined goal (preserving the Rhaenicent friendship) and had characters change personalities and motivations on a dime to allow for this to happen.
If you've seen AKOTSK, you know it wasn't a 100% faithful adaptation. It changed things, added others, expanded the lore and the characters. And people LOVED it, primarily because it was internally consistent and it stayed true to the spirit of the source material. HOTD could have been the same if Ryan had just had the balls to drop the Rhaenicent friendship and turn them into what their book counterparts were; mortal enemies.
Anyway, those are my two cents. Feel free to agree or disagree, idgaf. Off to search for shitty HOTD memes
Nobody is talking about this so I will. May be a bit gooey in the grand scheme of stupid changes by C&H but Queens Landing is one of the worst titles of the show afaik. What does it even mean? ...For me it recalled to mind a previous season contender The Queen Who Ever Was 🥲...
Tbh, I don't think it is. The ep is bad, writing-wise, but the title itself is fine. King's Landing got that name because the area it was built on is the place where Aegon not only landed with his forces during the conquest, but got crowned King of all Westeros for the first time (before getting officially annointed in Oldtown later). The ep being called that is meant to draw a paralel between him and Rhaenyra landing to take her crown. Which is weak, considering she barely even wanted the throne in the first place, but it at least makes sense.
Wtf is the Queen who ever was? That legit doesnt refer to anything.
Where can I watch House of the Dragon TV Show without a subscription?
Edit : I stumbled on 𝖭𝖾𝖾𝗍𝖫𝗂𝗑.𝗑𝗒𝗓 and they actually have the whole thing in 4K UHD, completely ad-free with incredibly fast loading.
Every site I try requires a massive monthly fee or blocks my country entirely. I am so tired of dealing with region locks just to keep up with the latest episodes.
came here just to say ever since I first saw s2 of hotd n watched Cregan say "they will fight hard, like northerners" in that illegal cvnty accent of his something changed within me PERMANENTLY
HOTD let women be more than victims challenge: GO!
Clearing out old drafts (from season 2 but STILL relevant)
Yes, women suffered in a medieval setting, and it's important to acknowledge that a lot of things that happen in ASOIAF are based on things that actually happened irl. But, for HOTD to continue limiting the female character's stories is actually giving the opposite of the "progressive" stance they are trying to make. They continue to water all these women down, to the point they look mediocre and weak compared to their morally grey, complex male counterparts. They are passive, and the idea is that all the women in the show are only vying for peace and not revenge after all both sides have lost. (Writers definitely forgot about Luke and Jae atp) is SO LAME. Even in history, women were ambitious and sought power, women raged and plotted revenge, and they waged war for themselves and for their families.
One of the first things to get me into Game of Thrones was specifically the portrayal of women characters, they were just as interesting as the men even more so on many levels. My first favorite character was Cersei, not because of her actions, but because I was so excited to see a female character that has more depth than being a love interest or a crazy psycho (she's a bitch with a backstory >.<). I hate “girlboss” characters who are written with the intention of having no haters, and victimizing all the HOTD women to be soft-cry babies who are unable to stand on their own on par or against the evil men in their life is misogynistic in itself. Every single one of them is literally pathetic; Rhaenrya was the rightful heir to the throne she has a right to be angry and seek vengeance for her son and everything else the Greens have taken from her. Let her torture someone damn. Alicent's character should not surround and depend on Rhaenrya instead of her own children, who she has suddenly decided to sell out because she wants to go camping??
And there was some EVIL misogynistic BS going on when they made Aemond burn Aegon instead of Rhaenys.
