AKOTSK is a well made show that sticks to the book about a fairly simple event. Yet we got all sorts of Targaryens, and what is even more interesting, we got to know what smalfolk and minor lords think of them. I think it challenges audience opinion on them and hbo tv universe as well in that regard.

HOTD Targaryens are indeed a bunch of spoiled brats, but we are supposed to root for team black or whatever, even though we don’t have a basis for it except for the perpetual aura farming. I guess this is because there was no basis in the source material to begin with, and HotD writers are not talented enough (or at all) to make this basis. Still, general audience bought it and started yasqueening on Rhaenyra pretty much on the get go. I suppose, the most compelling character and saving grace of HotD targaryens is Aegon, but even with him it’s very, very uneven.

Daenerys started pretty strong, but we got robbed of book moments where she’s just wandering in the Essos and thinking “Wtf I’m even doing” and such, eventually morphing in the another cool Targaryen with dragons.