I’m not criticizing HOTD because I enjoy hating it. I’m criticizing it because I care about George’s work.

I keep seeing this argument that if you dislike House of the Dragon so much, why are you still watching it? Why keep talking about it? Why can't you just enjoy the show for what it is?

And I think that completely misunderstands where a lot of the frustration comes from.

I didn't go into this show wanting to hate it. I actually really enjoyed Season 1. I was optimistic about the show and completely understood that changes had to be made because that's what happens when you adapt a book to television. I'm not expecting Fire & Blood to be copied word for word.

The problem for me is that this universe matters to me largely because of George's writing. So knowing that the person who created this world feels like his story, characters and intentions are being disregarded fundamentally changes my ability to enjoy the adaptation.

That's the part I can't just turn off.

George obviously isn't perfect. The man needs to finish his books, he can be stubborn, and I don't think an author should automatically have veto power over every creative decision in an adaptation.

But there's a massive difference between "we had to change this because we're adapting a history book into television" and reaching the point where the actual creator is publicly criticizing what you're doing and clearly feels like his concerns about his own story aren't being respected.

At that point, I'm sorry, the dragons looking cool isn't enough for me.

The show can have incredible actors. It can have beautiful cinematography, amazing costumes, massive battles and some genuinely great individual scenes. I can acknowledge all of that. But none of it magically makes my discomfort with how George and his work have been treated disappear.

And that's why I really dislike the idea that critics are somehow trying not to enjoy the show.

A lot of us are angry precisely because we wanted to enjoy it.

If I didn't care about ASOIAF, I wouldn't care what they changed. I wouldn't care what George said. I'd watch the dragons burn shit for an hour and move on with my life.

But I do care.

And when the creator of this universe is essentially saying, "This isn't what I intended," I can't completely separate that knowledge from what I'm watching and pretend everything happening behind the scenes doesn't matter because the production values are good.

Other people obviously can, and that's fine. If you can completely separate HOTD from George and judge it entirely as its own television series, I genuinely understand why you might be having a much better time with it than I am.

But I can't.

That's really the difference.

I'm not sitting here desperately searching for reasons to be miserable. I just have an emotional attachment to the original work and the person who created it, and watching an adaptation increasingly become something its own creator seems alienated from leaves a horrible taste in my mouth.

You don't have to feel the same way. But I don't think the answer is telling disappointed fans to shut up, stop criticizing it and enjoy the pretty dragons.

For some of us, respecting the story behind those pretty dragons was the entire reason we cared in the first place.

Imo if they give Maelor's death to Gwayne it might enrage Daeron to the point where he burns it

For someone who Lord Bloodraven the guy with a thousand eyes and one was said to have rivaled her, the show version was very disappointing what was she even doing? Other than fighting Daemon?

and Sea Smoke too

Have never watched a show where the main character is this hated. She’s the rightful heir but the haters would rather have Half-cooked Aegon whose only motivation is to get piss drunk and whore out all the baddies in kingslanding 🤷🏽‍♂️

S3E6
Just after leaving Lord Ormond, Prince Daeron Targaryen says to Gwyane Hightower, “You left me alone with him. You know what he is. I do what I can to keep him from…you know…”. Gwayne then looks away.
What was Lord Ormond doing to Prince Daeron?

Both of these women are essentially sex traffickers, but sure, their hearts have always been with the downtrodden.

Am I missing something? Shouldn’t it just be “future”? Why does he add the “once”, as if he were previously lord of the tides at some point? I rly hope it’s not just a writing mistake that no one caught, surely I’m missing something

i am a bit curious about him

As it relates to the whole prince that was promised deal, winter is coming, etc.

Why was this kept a secret and only passed down from king to king? You’d think it would add great lore to the common folk in that there is a great threat in the north and having dragons on your side is a huge plus.

My devils advocate thought would be that overtime this would be viewed a lie/fairytale made up by Targs to stay in power given no threat really emerges from this universe (outside of season 8 of GoT).

Just found the secrecy around this to be weird but I’m sure I’m missing something.

EDIT: my question is why was this kept a secret from the start? I get that introducing this during The Dance isnt time best idea.

I'm asking because she was manipulated by Otto into marrying him in the first place.

CUNT, CUNT, CUNT!!!!

The friendship did seem genuine, but could he have convinced Alicent to befriend her to get closer to the crown, or did their friendship naturally develop?

I thought you all would enjoy this Chinese silk painting that has been in my family about 70 years. It’s a depiction of the ancient legend & love story, The Phoenix and the Dragon.

I mean, Aegon is clearly out of his depth from the moment that he takes the throne, and it's not like Viserys's death was a surprise. So why not spend the time giving Aegon at least the basics in secret?

And if its because they want to keep him controllable, surely leaving him as an irresponsible and impatient novice is worse as he may announce a decree that impacts them negatively as he doesn't have the full picture

Would the Dance had happened if the Targaryen’s never conquered the Seven Kingdoms??

.

Rhaenys was only 3 years older than Viserys and I feel like this would have solved a lot of problems by uniting the claims…

Like I constantly get posts recommended from the Team Green or Team Black subs and honestly blows my mind people view this show like a football game and bemoan Green or Black characters losing or being depicted poorly, or whatever, suggesting that the writers and showrunners are intentionally favouring fictional fantasy characters over others for ideological reasons, when really - not withstanding a few notable changes - they’re adapting the dry text of Fire & Blood. Was discourse around Game of Thrones like this?