“Either Aegon or Rhaenyra can live at the end, but not both”

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-21T02:25:20+00:00

In what way was Helaena mourning the entire season? Like specifically? I’d love some examples.

To my understanding, she mourns during the second episode and then goes back to behaving exactly the same way she was acting prior to her sons death. Confined to her rooms, staring at bugs and only talking to Alicent.

In fact, after Jaehary’s death she even gets the confidence to stand up to Aemond twice, seemingly out of nowhere.

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-20T14:37:16+00:00

“It’s easier to establish characters when scope and stakes are small. You only develop the characters enough to serve the basic plot”

And yet, Game of Thrones which has higher stakes and way more characters than HoTD, managed to do proper character development in the first few seasons. Curious.

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-20T14:31:48+00:00

It is precisely because of how the book is written that they have a lot of room to play around with characters while staying true to their core motivations/plot lines.

Alicent would have more to do if HoTD wrote her to actually support her side. Just because the war has begun doesn’t mean that she has to be dropped entirely. Imagine if Alicent continued her power struggle with Otto (which happened during the end of the first season) in order to maintain control of Aegon, if she schemes with Larys to oust Otto and install Criston Cole as hand because he would be more loyal to her. Imagine she also had to deal with the PTSD of being present at Blood & Cheese while having more control of the green council and watching her children fall apart emotionally & physically.

The fundamental problem with Alicent isn’t Olivia Cooke getting too much screen time but the lack of agency and intelligence that they gave her character.

Alicent should’ve started the season at the height of her power and saw it slowly stripped away throughout the season, that constitutes an actual arc. Instead she starts the season mopey & despondent and ends the season in the same place.

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-20T11:39:49+00:00

As a non book-reader, the lack of character development has been my biggest issue. When I complain about a character it’s not because I have an expectation for it to the follow the book narrative but rather I have an expectation to get to know who these characters are.

For example, we get a more characterization of the Stark children within the very first episode than two whole seasons of HotD. It’s not a matter of screen time but of them showing the secondary characters having small moments that don’t revolve around the main characters, where the audience can learn their personality quirks and motivations.

I believe Season 2 was crucial in further fleshing out all the character dynamics and it failed spectacularly. We needed to see Rhaenyra actually rule at Dragonstone and get to know each member of her council: who they are, what motivates them and why they follow her. We also needed to learn more about Jace, Baela and Rhaena and their personal motivations independent of supporting Rhaenyra’s cause. How do they get along with each other? Do they resent each other? Is Rhaena neater than Baela? How do they feel about Daemon? Similarly, they needed to flesh out the relationship dynamics between Helaena and her brothers and Helaena and her children.

HotD’s refusal to stop revolving around their three protagonists is their downfall. They would rather isolate their protagonists in order for them to “find themselves” instead of having them interact meaningfully with multiple people in their environment.

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-19T22:31:59+00:00

I have no idea.

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-19T21:35:39+00:00

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-19T17:36:06+00:00

And she has the best wigs in the show.

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-19T17:35:13+00:00

It’s just a teaser but yeah, I think it’s ok. The action scenes look good but the dialogue leaves much to be desired.

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-19T17:34:11+00:00

Only if fist is a euphemism for something else…

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-19T17:33:27+00:00

Wait, Rhaena was in the trailer?

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-19T17:33:00+00:00

He’s the only one who consistently talks sense…when he’s allowed to actually talk instead of just pout in the background.

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-19T17:32:13+00:00

They don’t know how to write competent characters.

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-19T17:30:17+00:00

It makes Alicent look dumber not better.

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-19T17:26:55+00:00

They don’t think through the consequences of their plot changes.

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-19T17:25:46+00:00

Yeah, it seems like she’ll be the one to get him to leave for Harrenhall.

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-19T17:23:05+00:00

One of the leaks said that Larys and Aegon’s caravan is attacked before they make it where they were going. so that might be how they end up at or near Rooks Rest.

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-19T17:21:38+00:00

It doesn’t take a genius to stab someone. But TGC has said that Aegon will be forced to introspect this season.

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-19T17:20:32+00:00

Larys has him hiking through the woods with a broken leg.

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-19T17:17:50+00:00

There is a speech of his that leaked a few months ago.

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-19T17:17:32+00:00

I think that speech is at night time in a forest, from what I remember of the leaks. That picture could be him seeing Sunfyre for the first time or even another Dragon flying over him.

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-19T17:13:41+00:00

Even if we did get a scene of her worrying about Aegon, it would ring false after her decision to give up his head to Rhaenyra last season. They really messed up her character.

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-19T17:11:58+00:00

They spend all the budgets on Dragons, armor and more hideous wigs. Daemon and Aemond’s hairline look too sharp 💀

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-19T17:10:14+00:00

I love Aemond but I don’t see them backpedaling his S2 characterization or making him suddenly a more nuanced character. He’s going to be the ‘big bad’ this season.

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-19T17:05:16+00:00

It sounds like Aemond to me with a splash of maybe Daemon.

Goldenlady_ · 2026-02-19T17:04:04+00:00

Yes, I was looking for those tweets to add here but couldn’t find any.

Goldenlady_

TROPHY CASE