I’ve been reflecting on this and wanted to hear what others think. Game of Thrones really drew me in, especially because the characters felt like real individuals with deep motivations. They were complex and not just defined as good or bad.
Take Cersei, for example. As ruthless as she was, her actions always came back to her children. That made her relatable, even when her decisions were horrible. Then there’s Jaime, whose journey with Brienne and return to Cersei in the end sparked a lot of debate. While many disliked that ending, it resonated with me; love can sometimes keep you tied to someone despite knowing it’s not right.
In contrast, House of the Dragon doesn’t give me the same connection. The production quality is excellent, and the acting is top-notch, but the characters seem shallow. I think about Alicent and Rhaenyra; their transformation from friends to adversaries could have been really poignant, but it’s muddled by time jumps. One moment they’re close, and the next, significant years have passed, and their relationship has soured.
I wish we could have seen Alicent’s gradual shift from caring for Rhaenyra to viewing her as a threat to her children. That kind of inner struggle could have added depth, but instead, we’re just told it happened.
Does anyone else think the characters in House of the Dragon exist only to drive the plot rather than feel like they have their own lives, or am I overlooking something?