Smallfolk

I remember that after sixteen episodes of Game of Thrones, there were many interesting characters, some of whom we became attached to, some of whom we hated, some of them whose intelligence astonished us, and some of them whose conversations about politics and cleverness were amazing.

If you want a strong female character on the good side or the bad side, you have Cersei, Daenerys, and Catelyn, and without the need to remind us each episode, she is a "woman," strong, and understands more than men.

If you want intelligence and cunning, watch how the dialogues between Lord Baelish, Lord Varys, and Tyrion Lannister were written.

If you want friendship and honor, watch Jon Snow, Sam, or the greatest Ned Stark.

All this and I am only talking about the first sixteen episodes of the series. I am not comparing a complete series to another that is still running.

House of the Dragon series lacks everything mentioned, in addition to the fact that it has become one of the most professional series in destroying the characters that attracted our attention in the first season. Its main motive is agendas and treating the viewer as "stupid," just as the actions of most of its characters are, "Stupid." It is a master of repetition, it is a master of boredom, it is a master of bad writing, it is a master of what is known as FILLER episodes. How do you write an entire episode like the fifth episode or the sixth when it is empty of any events or developments and the entire season is eight episodes!

For me, this season ended up being one of the worst I have seen in general inside and outside the world of ice and fire, and hope remains in the next season because the current one has disappointed expectations.

You need the characters of Lord Balish and Lord Varys, you need the malice of Cersei and the charisma of Daenerys. Even the only shrewd and intelligent character in the series, Otto Hightower, was marginalized and hidden from the events for 3 episodes for the second time in the events of the two seasons. What kind of drug are the writers on?

Just like the last episodes this one was lacking what makes the series great that is, strong situations and strong characters

instead, most of what happens is a bit naive and uninspired, to say the least... they sent a few ships with food and this was enough to start a riot ? One could claim that this is not realistic and even if it was it should be set-up correctly... it should have been developed more...

the episode did not go any deeper into the lives of the protagonists... it did not follow anyone a bit closer or dug a little deeper... remember Tyrion Lanister, how he was always drunk, looked down on, always in brothels and taverns, meeting new people and getting into situations or adventures which he resolved his own way? Well, this character was phenomenal... the characters in S02 are shallow and uninspiring, taking up space than giving flavor to the outcome...

given the above one has to consider that GOT hadn't revealed its quality before the end of S01. But the expectations are high for House of the Dragon.

With Rhaenyra's endless laments about her inaction, Daemon's frustrating Harrenhal sequences, and endless stares of a downtrodden Alicent, the story has grown stagnant.

The Dance of the Dragons is a story of epic tragedy. Let us see it and feel it with these characters. Show us the manoeuvring rather than always verbalising it in the same settings. Show us the familial bonds between these characters so they feel like an actual family. Let the characters make choices (and not via 'accidents'). Let the Velaryons have dimension rather than existing as mere tools to say 'yes' to Rhaenyra. Let us scream with rage at these characters and cry when they cry. Just make us feel something worthwhile, because with each episode, it's becoming harder and harder to care.

Warning, not for people with a 2-minute attention span who can only find stimuli for themselves, should the production they are watching throw bloody and hard-hitting action in front of them. What we are offered here is an incredibly well-staged character development that will reach its next climax soon enough. By whining about there being too little action, the poor undemanding Marvel fans are causing negative reviews and can therefore possibly be held responsible for the ratings falling. You might regret it, because what follows will overshadow everything that has come before and make up for the botched 8th season - if it continues to be written as well as it has been so far.

Season 2 - It is soooo unbelievably slow. Waiting for a week for one episode where literally nothing happens. Bits and pieces that's all.

As someone said in the review it is just a filler episode.

I am so glad I was late to the party and I could binge watched HoD season one and it was fantastic 9/10. But honestly, if I had to wait a year for this. I understand people's frustrations. But now to wait every week for an hour episode, stretched out without any major event, without suspense. The writing or directing or honestly I do not know what went wrong, but it is very disappointing and went from the wonderful high peak straight downhill.

We are in year of Dragon, we should make House of Dragon great again.