Love this recap! Hard to say who my favorite character was, but I may have to go with Viserys. Yes he was the source of the problems, but I loved the portrayal of the monarch who is just trying to hold it all together while fulfilling his duty, but also bucking tradition and naming his daughter as his heir. So complex! I'll miss him next season.
I agree that Luc's death lacked some emotional heft as compared to some GOT deaths. Overall, this show is missing some hallmark GOT elements - humor, exploring multiple lands and houses and how they interplay, epic journeys, House Lannister. Because it's all focused on one house there is a sameness to the characters and world that made it hard for me to get invested. I'm hoping Season 2 will venture out into more of Westeros.
HOWEVER this show is strong in the slow build toward war and getting into the nitty gritty of this family and their motivations, maneuvering, politics, conflicts, friendships. I LOVE all that stuff, a la Spielberg's Lincoln, Succession, House of Cards, and many others I'm forgetting. If I stop comparing HOtD to GOT so much, I can enjoy it in its own right. And overall, I enjoyed it a lot more than RoP!
(Apologies for all my tense-shifting in this comment).
Viserys had to be the most complex character -- AND loveable, despite everything! His death was the biggest loss for the fans, I think. No more Paddy!
You're so right about comparing it to Game of Thrones. The whole point is that it's really NOT Game of Thrones. It's those other things you mentioned -- Succession, House of Cards, etc. It's such a political drama less than a sweeping fantasy epic. LOVE your assessment!
“Who is your favorite character on the show and why is it Rhaenys!?“ 100% my favorite terrorist.
Matt Smith as “manic pixie chaos agent” is the most apt description I’ve ever read of anyone ever. 😂😂
I get what you mean about this ending not having the weight of GoT. I’m with you. But that ending watching Lucerys fear-tortured then killed — it came in with that GoT ability to make me absolutely LOATHE someone and want to see their head on a spike! 😬 Maybe cuz I have young boys — I was totally like, “NO NO NO NO NO” that whole scene!! And only Rhaenyra’s face at the end offered any rage-filled balm to my devastated soul!
"100% my favorite terrorist" LOLL!! She's been your favorite from early on - way to be first on the Rhaeny's wagon!
I thought about you when Lucerys got chomped!! And then what I would do if some dragon chomped my nephews and it would be A RAMPAGE. Her face was everything. I wish we had gotten a little murder spree to go with it. (I heard myself say it.... yikes.)
Love this recap! Hard to say who my favorite character was, but I may have to go with Viserys. Yes he was the source of the problems, but I loved the portrayal of the monarch who is just trying to hold it all together while fulfilling his duty, but also bucking tradition and naming his daughter as his heir. So complex! I'll miss him next season.
I agree that Luc's death lacked some emotional heft as compared to some GOT deaths. Overall, this show is missing some hallmark GOT elements - humor, exploring multiple lands and houses and how they interplay, epic journeys, House Lannister. Because it's all focused on one house there is a sameness to the characters and world that made it hard for me to get invested. I'm hoping Season 2 will venture out into more of Westeros.
HOWEVER this show is strong in the slow build toward war and getting into the nitty gritty of this family and their motivations, maneuvering, politics, conflicts, friendships. I LOVE all that stuff, a la Spielberg's Lincoln, Succession, House of Cards, and many others I'm forgetting. If I stop comparing HOtD to GOT so much, I can enjoy it in its own right. And overall, I enjoyed it a lot more than RoP!
(Apologies for all my tense-shifting in this comment).
Viserys had to be the most complex character -- AND loveable, despite everything! His death was the biggest loss for the fans, I think. No more Paddy!
You're so right about comparing it to Game of Thrones. The whole point is that it's really NOT Game of Thrones. It's those other things you mentioned -- Succession, House of Cards, etc. It's such a political drama less than a sweeping fantasy epic. LOVE your assessment!
Ugh, why do we have to wait so long for more!
“Who is your favorite character on the show and why is it Rhaenys!?“ 100% my favorite terrorist.
Matt Smith as “manic pixie chaos agent” is the most apt description I’ve ever read of anyone ever. 😂😂
I get what you mean about this ending not having the weight of GoT. I’m with you. But that ending watching Lucerys fear-tortured then killed — it came in with that GoT ability to make me absolutely LOATHE someone and want to see their head on a spike! 😬 Maybe cuz I have young boys — I was totally like, “NO NO NO NO NO” that whole scene!! And only Rhaenyra’s face at the end offered any rage-filled balm to my devastated soul!
"100% my favorite terrorist" LOLL!! She's been your favorite from early on - way to be first on the Rhaeny's wagon!
I thought about you when Lucerys got chomped!! And then what I would do if some dragon chomped my nephews and it would be A RAMPAGE. Her face was everything. I wish we had gotten a little murder spree to go with it. (I heard myself say it.... yikes.)
“Nukes with mood swings!” 🤣🤣🤣🤣