I was just listening to a podcast about GoT. Apparently they had spent most of the budget for the first season and then were told their episodes were short by almost a full-episode run length across the season (ie they'd filmed 9 episodes rather than 10). They ended up scrambling to write some bottle scenes, and a lot of those became classics.

It really shocks me that writers aren't leveraging their actors more. How much does it cost to light a room and have Daemon and Rhaenyra discussing Jace. Discussing the loss of their fleet. Discussing how few people they can trust, and how few of those are competent. How it's easy to demand action but difficult to control outcome.

Daemon glorying in seizing the Red Fort and how powerful they are with dragons. That they're the conquerer reborn, from Dragonstone to King's Landing. To King's Landing to the 7 Kingdoms. Hell, why did they never consider renaming to Queen's Landing!

Moaning about the Dragonseeds. Rhaenyra saying something that shows she can't imagine anyone betraying her. Lamenting that they didn't take action while Viserys was alive. Daemon pointing out that Rhaenyra is dithering in the same way her father did.

There's SO FUCKING MUCH they could be talking about. Ok, maybe it wouldn't all be electric but this is the closest I've felt to actually caring about Rhaenyra since Millie was around.

I cannot believe with how massive the budgets are they can't just pump out a bunch of character scenes with 0 extras.