Smallfolk

Come on you guys, this episode is not bad. This is the exact same slow build up that made the first 4 seasons of GOT so great. We inevitably more towards a big clash of the parties, slowly but surely.

I see everyone just saying that nothing happened this episode, but that is just wrong. There were a lot of amazing scenes and moments, some intricate schemes and revelations.

The only thing I can understand though is Daemon. He is chilling in Harrenhal not doing anything for a bit too long now. It's time for him to come back.

Other than that, I really liked this episode. Get your head out the gutter guys, this is just what Westeros has always been.

I happens rarely, but this is the second time in the entire series, that I used the fast forward function in some scenes.

It wasn´t bad but it also wasn´t good either. I don´t care about action as long as there is either real character development, a clever or catchy story development, the introduction of something you feel that really matters or anything with a bit of special wit, charm other something that would be genuinly simply exciting.

Many things felt kind of random, the dialogues are ok, but without verve and certainly not to the point. Some story elements that were introduced in the episode, will drag on a bit but as viewer you expect they will be kind of pointless and basically will just provide the "action cannon fodder" for the final episodes.

All in all it´s still solid but authors shouldn´t complain too much if they get replaced by an AI soon.

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?

I still can't believe we waited so long for a whole lot of nothing this season. There are so many sub-par plot points going on that it makes it a chore to get through at times. I hope the writers and creators learn their lesson and concern themselves more about telling a good story and keeping it interesting than virtue signaling. Almost nothing has been gained so far this season except for the battle of Rook's Rest. It shouldn't be hard to make a compelling series with such great source material but here we are. Can't say I'm excited for the next episode now if we stay on this track. Very disappointed.

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.