inherit
401
0
1
Sept 24, 2023 2:28:59 GMT
39,714
DragonKingReborn
19,908
August 2016
dragonkingreborn
http://bsn.boards.net/threads/recent/143
https://i.imgur.com/1myVt9D.jpg
DragonKingReborn
Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
887
590
|
Post by DragonKingReborn on Oct 18, 2022 20:36:08 GMT
So I saw an article about 'Why we shouldn't be rooting for Team Black', and while I haven't changed my mind, they make a couple of good points.
Not going to link the article, because they draw a parallel from Rhaenyra's lie about her children to the actions of a real world political figure, and I'm not interested in having that talk.
But on that lie, which everyone with even a passing familiarity with the people involved knows is a lie - it could have been so easily handled. Kings can legitimize bastards. They have Targaryen blood via Rhaenyra, who is the annointed heir, so the legal authority derives from her blood, not their fathers. Go to Viserys, explain, and he declares them legitimate. (One) Problem solved.
The rest of the article boils down to 'Viserys was a good man, but too horny and keen to avoid conflict with those he loved which will ultimately lead the realm to war'. Which...is true. Marrying Alicent was clearly a mistake. Too say nothing of how much ick is involved. And Otto Hightower being reinstated as Hand was obviously the wrong call. He was removed from the position for a reason. That reason didn't change. He had 16 years (from the start of the show) to correct the issues within his family. One dinner wasn't ever going to solve everything. Or even anything. But 16 years of them might have.
|
|
inherit
2044
0
Nov 10, 2016 16:47:07 GMT
9,447
AnDromedary
4,213
Nov 10, 2016 16:30:09 GMT
November 2016
andromedary
|
Post by AnDromedary on Oct 20, 2022 19:46:31 GMT
But on that lie, which everyone with even a passing familiarity with the people involved knows is a lie - it could have been so easily handled. Kings can legitimize bastards. They have Targaryen blood via Rhaenyra, who is the annointed heir, so the legal authority derives from her blood, not their fathers. Go to Viserys, explain, and he declares them legitimate. (One) Problem solved. I don't see this working tbh. Sure, there might have been some legal authority there but Rhaenyra's position as heir was precarious at best even before the whole issue with the children. You put a scandal like this on top plus some scheming and backhand slandering from the Hightower side and the civil war may very well have started right then and there.
|
|
inherit
401
0
1
Sept 24, 2023 2:28:59 GMT
39,714
DragonKingReborn
19,908
August 2016
dragonkingreborn
http://bsn.boards.net/threads/recent/143
https://i.imgur.com/1myVt9D.jpg
DragonKingReborn
Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
887
590
|
Post by DragonKingReborn on Oct 20, 2022 20:35:09 GMT
But on that lie, which everyone with even a passing familiarity with the people involved knows is a lie - it could have been so easily handled. Kings can legitimize bastards. They have Targaryen blood via Rhaenyra, who is the annointed heir, so the legal authority derives from her blood, not their fathers. Go to Viserys, explain, and he declares them legitimate. (One) Problem solved. I don't see this working tbh. Sure, there might have been some legal authority there but Rhaenyra's position as heir was precarious at best even before the whole issue with the children. You put a scandal like this on top plus some scheming and backhand slandering from the Hightower side and the civil war may very well have started right then and there. Fair. But that in and of itself might've worked in the Blacks favour. You start the civil war then and there, with Viserys on the throne and fewer flock to the Greens than when he's dead - though not yet cold. It could not have been clearer that many of the nobles were uncomfortable with the announcement that Aegon was taking the throne. Two defiantly stood against it and were taken away. A third noped out at the last moment, only to foolishly try and run. More still looked uncertain, but bent the knee because of fear or expediency. The balance of loyalty would've looked very different if this had all come out while Viserys was still alive. Balancing that, of course, is the possibility that Rhaenys might've been pissed at her family being embarrassed by the admission that none of her sons children were actually of his blood. And as E9's ending showed, she has a flair for dramatic 'statements'. A risk is taken either way, but on balance, I think attempting to legitimise Rhaenyra's sons may have been the path of least resistance.
|
|
inherit
2044
0
Nov 10, 2016 16:47:07 GMT
9,447
AnDromedary
4,213
Nov 10, 2016 16:30:09 GMT
November 2016
andromedary
|
Post by AnDromedary on Oct 20, 2022 21:25:24 GMT
I don't see this working tbh. Sure, there might have been some legal authority there but Rhaenyra's position as heir was precarious at best even before the whole issue with the children. You put a scandal like this on top plus some scheming and backhand slandering from the Hightower side and the civil war may very well have started right then and there. Fair. But that in and of itself might've worked in the Blacks favour. You start the civil war then and there, with Viserys on the throne and fewer flock to the Greens than when he's dead - though not yet cold. It could not have been clearer that many of the nobles were uncomfortable with the announcement that Aegon was taking the throne. Two defiantly stood against it and were taken away. A third noped out at the last moment, only to foolishly try and run. More still looked uncertain, but bent the knee because of fear or expediency. The balance of loyalty would've looked very different if this had all come out while Viserys was still alive. Balancing that, of course, is the possibility that Rhaenys might've been pissed at her family being embarrassed by the admission that none of her sons children were actually of his blood. And as E9's ending showed, she has a flair for dramatic 'statements'. A risk is taken either way, but on balance, I think attempting to legitimise Rhaenyra's sons may have been the path of least resistance. In retrospect, yeah. But I guess at the time it was a "problem of the hidden hand" situation, meaning they didn't know yet that a war necessarily had to come anyway. Sure, it was likely but inevitable. So I get that they wanted to avoid it (plus, I think Viserys at least somehow tricked himself into really thinking they were her legitimate children, so Rhaenyra may have hesitated to "break" the truth to him on that account as well).
So yea, if all these character have one thing in common it's that their instagram status would probably be "it's complicated" or something like that. 
Definitely true about Rhaemys having a flair for the dramatic though.  That last scene in Ep 9 can probably be summarized by the simple sentence: Just because you are king does not mean you are boss. 
|
|
inherit
113
0
8,424
Hier0phant
3,795
August 2016
hier0phant
|
Post by Hier0phant on Oct 20, 2022 21:38:07 GMT
I don't see this working tbh. Sure, there might have been some legal authority there but Rhaenyra's position as heir was precarious at best even before the whole issue with the children. You put a scandal like this on top plus some scheming and backhand slandering from the Hightower side and the civil war may very well have started right then and there. Fair. But that in and of itself might've worked in the Blacks favour. You start the civil war then and there, with Viserys on the throne and fewer flock to the Greens than when he's dead - though not yet cold. It could not have been clearer that many of the nobles were uncomfortable with the announcement that Aegon was taking the throne. Two defiantly stood against it and were taken away. A third noped out at the last moment, only to foolishly try and run. More still looked uncertain, but bent the knee because of fear or expediency. The balance of loyalty would've looked very different if this had all come out while Viserys was still alive. Balancing that, of course, is the possibility that Rhaenys might've been pissed at her family being embarrassed by the admission that none of her sons children were actually of his blood. And as E9's ending showed, she has a flair for dramatic 'statements'. A risk is taken either way, but on balance, I think attempting to legitimise Rhaenyra's sons may have been the path of least resistance. The greens directly opposing an edict of a sitting monarch especially Viserys who spent decades cultivating alliances would have been suicide because there would have been countless people waiting to profit from snitching on his opponents. Viserys' problem is that he viewed the situation through rose tinted glasses, and grew complacent. If he legitimized his grandsons years earlier it would have given him time to identify and neutralize potential threats to Rhaenyra's rule while he places her supporters in positions of power in order to make her coronation a guaranteed outcome.
|
|
inherit
401
0
1
Sept 24, 2023 2:28:59 GMT
39,714
DragonKingReborn
19,908
August 2016
dragonkingreborn
http://bsn.boards.net/threads/recent/143
https://i.imgur.com/1myVt9D.jpg
DragonKingReborn
Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
887
590
|
Post by DragonKingReborn on Oct 20, 2022 21:42:02 GMT
Fair. But that in and of itself might've worked in the Blacks favour. You start the civil war then and there, with Viserys on the throne and fewer flock to the Greens than when he's dead - though not yet cold. It could not have been clearer that many of the nobles were uncomfortable with the announcement that Aegon was taking the throne. Two defiantly stood against it and were taken away. A third noped out at the last moment, only to foolishly try and run. More still looked uncertain, but bent the knee because of fear or expediency. The balance of loyalty would've looked very different if this had all come out while Viserys was still alive. Balancing that, of course, is the possibility that Rhaenys might've been pissed at her family being embarrassed by the admission that none of her sons children were actually of his blood. And as E9's ending showed, she has a flair for dramatic 'statements'. A risk is taken either way, but on balance, I think attempting to legitimise Rhaenyra's sons may have been the path of least resistance. In retrospect, yeah. But I guess at the time it was a "problem of the hidden hand" situation, meaning they didn't know yet that a war necessarily had to come anyway. Sure, it was likely but inevitable. So I get that they wanted to avoid it (plus, I think Viserys at least somehow tricked himself into really thinking they were her legitimate children, so Rhaenyra may have hesitated to "break" the truth to him on that account as well).
So yea, if all these character have one thing in common it's that their instagram status would probably be "it's complicated" or something like that. 
Definitely true about Rhaemys having a flair for the dramatic though.  That last scene in Ep 9 can probably be summarized by the simple sentence: Just because you are king does not mean you are boss.  Very true. Hindsight is 20/20, as they say. You're right that they may have believed war was avoidable - certainly early on, at least - and she would have been very reluctant to clue Viserys in on the truth - for any number of reasons - but by the time we were caught up on the first time jump, the writing was very much on the wall. As I said - she would be taking a risk either way.
|
|
inherit
401
0
1
Sept 24, 2023 2:28:59 GMT
39,714
DragonKingReborn
19,908
August 2016
dragonkingreborn
http://bsn.boards.net/threads/recent/143
https://i.imgur.com/1myVt9D.jpg
DragonKingReborn
Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
887
590
|
Post by DragonKingReborn on Oct 20, 2022 21:52:33 GMT
Fair. But that in and of itself might've worked in the Blacks favour. You start the civil war then and there, with Viserys on the throne and fewer flock to the Greens than when he's dead - though not yet cold. It could not have been clearer that many of the nobles were uncomfortable with the announcement that Aegon was taking the throne. Two defiantly stood against it and were taken away. A third noped out at the last moment, only to foolishly try and run. More still looked uncertain, but bent the knee because of fear or expediency. The balance of loyalty would've looked very different if this had all come out while Viserys was still alive. Balancing that, of course, is the possibility that Rhaenys might've been pissed at her family being embarrassed by the admission that none of her sons children were actually of his blood. And as E9's ending showed, she has a flair for dramatic 'statements'. A risk is taken either way, but on balance, I think attempting to legitimise Rhaenyra's sons may have been the path of least resistance. The greens directly opposing an edict of a sitting monarch especially Viserys who spent decades cultivating alliances would have been suicide because there would have countless people waiting to profit from snitching on his opponents. Viserys' problem is that he viewed the situation through rose tinted glasses, and grew complacent. If he legitimized his grandsons years earlier it would have given him time to identify and neutralize potential threats to Rhaenyra's rule while he places her supporters in positions of power in order to make her coronation a guaranteed outcome. It would have been suicide if Rhaenyra's two eldest children had been of Velaryon blood. Yes, the Greens had a claim because Aegon - Alicent's son - was Viserys' eldest son. But that matter had been settled. Until Laenor and Rhaenyra couldn't conceive despite trying "a few times". Legitimising her sons would have been an insult to House Velaryon. And - lest we forget - they have got some shots to fire of their own. So it would all come down to how the Velaryon's responded. Very much a roll of the dice. I still think - with hindsight - that it was the less dangerous path, though. You're 100% right about Viserys and his rose tinted glasses. Nice enough guy - for a Westerosi ruler, at least - and dedicated to peace, which is great - but yeah, most of the issues are directly the result of him not willingly acknowledging the truth and confronting it when he had youth and vigour.
|
|
inherit
113
0
8,424
Hier0phant
3,795
August 2016
hier0phant
|
Post by Hier0phant on Oct 20, 2022 22:16:44 GMT
The greens directly opposing an edict of a sitting monarch especially Viserys who spent decades cultivating alliances would have been suicide because there would have countless people waiting to profit from snitching on his opponents. Viserys' problem is that he viewed the situation through rose tinted glasses, and grew complacent. If he legitimized his grandsons years earlier it would have given him time to identify and neutralize potential threats to Rhaenyra's rule while he places her supporters in positions of power in order to make her coronation a guaranteed outcome. It would have been suicide if Rhaenyra's two eldest children had been of Velaryon blood. Yes, the Greens had a claim because Aegon - Alicent's son - was Viserys' eldest son. But that matter had been settled. Until Laenor and Rhaenyra couldn't conceive despite trying "a few times". Legitimising her sons would have been an insult to House Velaryon. And - lest we forget - they have got some shots to fire of their own. So it would all come down to how the Velaryon's responded. Very much a roll of the dice. I still think - with hindsight - that it was the less dangerous path, though. You're 100% right about Viserys and his rose tinted glasses. Nice enough guy - for a Westerosi ruler, at least - and dedicated to peace, which is great - but yeah, most of the issues are directly the result of him not willingly acknowledging the truth and confronting it when he had youth and vigour. Agreed but we forgot something important...  Greens or Blacks?
|
|
inherit
401
0
1
Sept 24, 2023 2:28:59 GMT
39,714
DragonKingReborn
19,908
August 2016
dragonkingreborn
http://bsn.boards.net/threads/recent/143
https://i.imgur.com/1myVt9D.jpg
DragonKingReborn
Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
887
590
|
Post by DragonKingReborn on Oct 20, 2022 22:27:15 GMT
It would have been suicide if Rhaenyra's two eldest children had been of Velaryon blood. Yes, the Greens had a claim because Aegon - Alicent's son - was Viserys' eldest son. But that matter had been settled. Until Laenor and Rhaenyra couldn't conceive despite trying "a few times". Legitimising her sons would have been an insult to House Velaryon. And - lest we forget - they have got some shots to fire of their own. So it would all come down to how the Velaryon's responded. Very much a roll of the dice. I still think - with hindsight - that it was the less dangerous path, though. You're 100% right about Viserys and his rose tinted glasses. Nice enough guy - for a Westerosi ruler, at least - and dedicated to peace, which is great - but yeah, most of the issues are directly the result of him not willingly acknowledging the truth and confronting it when he had youth and vigour. Agreed but we forgot something important... Greens or Blacks? Indeed. 
|
|
inherit
2044
0
Nov 10, 2016 16:47:07 GMT
9,447
AnDromedary
4,213
Nov 10, 2016 16:30:09 GMT
November 2016
andromedary
|
Post by AnDromedary on Oct 20, 2022 23:03:01 GMT
Oh yeah, Blacks all the way of course (or as a friend of mine called them Team Incest ). No question there. |
|
melbella
N6
Trouble-shooting Space Diva
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Origin: melbella
Prime Posts: 2186
Prime Likes: 5778
Posts: 7,432 Likes: 22,648
inherit
214
0
Sept 23, 2023 23:05:34 GMT
22,648
melbella
Trouble-shooting Space Diva
7,432
August 2016
melbella
Bottom
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
melbella
2186
5778
|
Post by melbella on Oct 21, 2022 0:28:42 GMT
Oh yeah, Blacks all the way of course (or as a friend of mine called them Team Incest  ). No question there.
That moniker applies to both teams. Aegon is married to his sister after all, and it looked like they managed to spring some offs in the last few years.
|
|
inherit
2044
0
Nov 10, 2016 16:47:07 GMT
9,447
AnDromedary
4,213
Nov 10, 2016 16:30:09 GMT
November 2016
andromedary
|
Post by AnDromedary on Oct 21, 2022 0:47:20 GMT
Oh yeah, Blacks all the way of course (or as a friend of mine called them Team Incest ). No question there.
That moniker applies to both teams. Aegon is married to his sister after all, and it looked like they managed to spring some offs in the last few years. True. I think the term originated earlier in the season. But yeah, we should have known... In any case, the Blacks have both Daemon and the dragons. That puts their coolness and style factors into a whole other league than the Greens, really.
|
|
melbella
N6
Trouble-shooting Space Diva
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Origin: melbella
Prime Posts: 2186
Prime Likes: 5778
Posts: 7,432 Likes: 22,648
inherit
214
0
Sept 23, 2023 23:05:34 GMT
22,648
melbella
Trouble-shooting Space Diva
7,432
August 2016
melbella
Bottom
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
melbella
2186
5778
|
Post by melbella on Oct 22, 2022 22:13:47 GMT
I spoiled myself on the title of the season finale: The Black Queen |
|
inherit
1020
0
Nov 26, 2017 12:37:49 GMT
21,381
fylimar
5,342
Aug 16, 2016 18:31:34 GMT
August 2016
fylimar
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire
|
Post by fylimar on Oct 23, 2022 14:01:12 GMT
Alright guys who are you with, the Greens or the Blacks? Actually none of them. I only like Rhaenys out of the bunch. And all the incest just creeps me out.
ANd I btw understand, why she didn't kill the Greens then and there: the Blacks would have lost all credibility for being kinslayers (which is the worst you can be in Westeros), then the kids are her family and she knows how it is to loose your children.
Plus, I don't think that she wanted to burn all the bridges just yet.
Exactly that.
And I do think, that Rhaenys has a bit of a soft spot for Alicent, she was annoyed with her in the episode, but during their conversation I thought, she might also feel a bit sorry for Alicent.
About her breaking through the floor with the dragon: I wasn't happy about that either, but in this case, I think, it was the only way for her to get her dragon out of the pit.
|
|
inherit
✜ The Bunny Chaser
2824
0
Sept 24, 2023 3:47:15 GMT
5,654
Energizer Bunny 211
2022 has been a year FILLED with ups and downs (quite literally)...Here's hoping 2023 will be better
5,374
Jan 15, 2017 18:43:23 GMT
January 2017
energizerbunny211
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Mass Effect Andromeda, Anthem
Rumbler1138
|
Post by Energizer Bunny 211 on Oct 23, 2022 19:15:15 GMT
So....basically, what I'm reading/sensing from the BSN and a lot of other places (except paid critics and likeminded sites ) is that House of the Dragon is not anywhere near the first 5 seasons of Game of Thrones, and what has been aired thus far is a mix of hit and miss at best.
Soooo....in a nutshell, if I didn't bother with it I wouldn't be missing anything. (Does that about sum it up?)
|
|
inherit
1020
0
Nov 26, 2017 12:37:49 GMT
21,381
fylimar
5,342
Aug 16, 2016 18:31:34 GMT
August 2016
fylimar
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire
|
Post by fylimar on Oct 23, 2022 20:52:32 GMT
So....basically, what I'm reading/sensing from the BSN and a lot of other places (except paid critics and likeminded sites ) is that House of the Dragon is not anywhere near the first 5 seasons of Game of Thrones, and what has been aired thus far is a mix of hit and miss at best. Soooo....in a nutshell, if I didn't bother with it I wouldn't be missing anything. (Does that about sum it up?) I don't know, I find it entertaining and I don't even like House Targaryen. It has a different vibe than GoT, which has a far wider radius of events, while HotD basically boils down to the successor disagreement. There is mention of trouble that could rise in the North, but so far only in form of a kind of prophecy. Most of the show is set in the same few locations, mostly Kings Landing. So quite different from GoT. It has political intrigues, warfare, shady characters and some really good acting. |
|
inherit
✜ The Bunny Chaser
2824
0
Sept 24, 2023 3:47:15 GMT
5,654
Energizer Bunny 211
2022 has been a year FILLED with ups and downs (quite literally)...Here's hoping 2023 will be better
5,374
Jan 15, 2017 18:43:23 GMT
January 2017
energizerbunny211
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Mass Effect Andromeda, Anthem
Rumbler1138
|
Post by Energizer Bunny 211 on Oct 23, 2022 21:22:21 GMT
Oh yeah, Blacks all the way of course (or as a friend of mine called them Team Incest ). No question there.
That moniker applies to both teams. Aegon is married to his sister after all, and it looked like they managed to spring some offs in the last few years. I once heard it said.... "from incest...comes idiots"
|
|
inherit
401
0
1
Sept 24, 2023 2:28:59 GMT
39,714
DragonKingReborn
19,908
August 2016
dragonkingreborn
http://bsn.boards.net/threads/recent/143
https://i.imgur.com/1myVt9D.jpg
DragonKingReborn
Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
887
590
|
Post by DragonKingReborn on Oct 23, 2022 21:48:49 GMT
So....basically, what I'm reading/sensing from the BSN and a lot of other places (except paid critics and likeminded sites ) is that House of the Dragon is not anywhere near the first 5 seasons of Game of Thrones, and what has been aired thus far is a mix of hit and miss at best. Soooo....in a nutshell, if I didn't bother with it I wouldn't be missing anything. (Does that about sum it up?) In terms of ‘not missing anything’…probably not. It hasn’t captured the ‘zeitgeist’ in the way GoT did, as of yet. So you won’t be as likely to find everyone talking about it, as people were with GoT. In terms of the shows quality, it does have a more consistently high level of writing and acting than GoT did (in my opinion) - although we are only in the first season, so it is reasonable to expect fewer drops in quality. It is narrower in scope, as already mentioned, though. I thought the time jumps would bother me, but I think they’ve been handled really well.
|
|
inherit
156
0
Apr 22, 2017 19:25:27 GMT
6,498
Onecrazymonkey1
"A person of any mental quality has ideas of his own. This is common sense." Franz Liszt
2,228
August 2016
onecrazymonkey1
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by Onecrazymonkey1 on Oct 24, 2022 0:36:22 GMT
The good thing is that the book the show is based on is complete, so that should help with the layout of the seasons, unlike the later half of GOT. Now while I have spoiled myself on the story, I haven't read the book so I can't completely compare them. However, purely from a show watcher's opinion, (aside from one or two scenes) I've found the writing consistently solid and engaging, and I think the actors have been doing some phenomenal work.
This is only the first season though, if the writing all goes to hell in the end, who can say? But I'm simple, I love the dragons, actually like the tighter cast of characters, locations and less gratuitous porno shots.
Are you missing anything? probably not, especially since I personally don't even watch a lot of TV. That said, it's a fun diversion if you have the time imo.
|
|
inherit
156
0
Apr 22, 2017 19:25:27 GMT
6,498
Onecrazymonkey1
"A person of any mental quality has ideas of his own. This is common sense." Franz Liszt
2,228
August 2016
onecrazymonkey1
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by Onecrazymonkey1 on Oct 24, 2022 2:40:09 GMT
So I would say I’m of two minds on the scene with Aemond and Lucerys.
On the one hand, it would’ve been kind of cool seeing Aemond go full psycho, and I somewhat feel like this robs him of his agency and makes him look the fool. If this was his version of “it was just a prank bro” then what did he expect was going to happen? He’s on a living breathing war machine that spent years killing and has a mind of its own. Most people don’t even have 100% control of their own dogs at times, especially since it seems like animals vibe off of their owner’s emotions quite a bit. On the other hand, I sort of like it because it makes Aemond a more tragic and nuanced character. Aemond is still young at this point and young people make dumb decisions all the time before they gain some wisdom. What’s going to follow with B&C in response is also going to have another layer of tragedy to it, and will probably be the lynchpin that makes him a monster.
Anyway, they don’t have complete control of their dragons and that makes sense. Baby Arrax panicking from seeing Lucerys panic, getting stalked, and suddenly lashing out at Vhagar with a fireball also makes sense. The situation was heartbreaking, I hate seeing children die and I’m always pained to see the dragons harmed, RIP Lucerys and baby Arrax; kid was too sweet for that world. On another note, child actors are usually hit or miss but this one did an excellent job, you could really see his fear and courage.
I also found Aemonds “oh shit look” after it all played out kind of funny, the memes will be glorious. Had to be a long ride home.
Might add more thoughts later. Sucks to wait two years for season 2, hopefully it's not like that between each season. 
|
|
Noxluxe
N4
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR
Posts: 1,921 Likes: 3,315
inherit
10359
0
Mar 14, 2019 16:10:11 GMT
3,315
Noxluxe
1,921
Jul 21, 2018 23:55:09 GMT
July 2018
noxluxe
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR
|
Post by Noxluxe on Oct 24, 2022 17:12:21 GMT
So I would say I’m of two minds on the scene with Aemond and Lucerys.
On the one hand, it would’ve been kind of cool seeing Aemond go full psycho, and I somewhat feel like this robs him of his agency and makes him look the fool. If this was his version of “it was just a prank bro” then what did he expect was going to happen? He’s on a living breathing war machine that spent years killing and has a mind of its own. Most people don’t even have 100% control of their own dogs at times, especially since it seems like animals vibe off of their owner’s emotions quite a bit. On the other hand, I sort of like it because it makes Aemond a more tragic and nuanced character. Aemond is still young at this point and young people make dumb decisions all the time before they gain some wisdom. What’s going to follow with B&C in response is also going to have another layer of tragedy to it, and will probably be the lynchpin that makes him a monster.
Anyway, they don’t have complete control of their dragons and that makes sense. Baby Arrax panicking from seeing Lucerys panic, getting stalked, and suddenly lashing out at Vhagar with a fireball also makes sense. The situation was heartbreaking, I hate seeing children die and I’m always pained to see the dragons harmed, RIP Lucerys and baby Arrax; kid was too sweet for that world. On another note, child actors are usually hit or miss but this one did an excellent job, you could really see his fear and courage.
I also found Aemonds “oh shit look” after it all played out kind of funny, the memes will be glorious. Had to be a long ride home.
Mhmm, I had the same feeling I got when I watched Criston's "SIT DOWN! Oh shit I killed him." moment with Beesbury, making him look like a complete idiot when the scene was already well-set up for the guy's death or imprisonment by Otto, although the fact that it came to that point at all undermines Otto's competency as well. Even if the dragons running amok is rather more understandable, it still casts a really unflattering light on Aemond that he hounds a child through the sky while knowing that he wouldn't be able to control his dragon if something ticked it off. Might as well make it intentional and something he regrets afterwards at that point. It seems to be a theme, really, going back to the semi-ambiguity of Rhea Royce's death and Leanor Velaryon's "murder". That there's unverifiability about what actually happens during a killing that leads people to draw conclusions that lead to further conflict, regardless of what actually happened between individuals in the moment. Also makes Daemon, Otto and Larys seem even more badass for seemingly being the only people to commit murders on purpose.  Wasn't a huge fan of the dragon "fight", from a logistical standpoint. The two dragons being able to spot and maneuver around other in the clouds at any given moment felt very arbitrary, and I'm really not a fan of the 'Pull up!' faces and sounds both riders make, like they're flying jet planes. Don't remember if that was a thing in the original series. My impression has always been that the riders direct the dragons who more or less listen out of loyalty and devotion, but don't actually control them, and that only very experienced riders who are truly in tune with their mounts like Daemon and Caraxes and Rhaenys and Meleys can manipulate their dragons with any finesse. In which case both Vhagar and Arrax should realize that they probably shouldn't try to fly straight into the ground or through a cliff face without needing their riders to remind them. And if the riders' control really is that perfect then it kind of undermines what happens immediately afterwards. Still not seeing Rhaenyra as queen material. Was impressed with her for giving at least a single thought to the population of her country rather than her own priorities for once and letting Daemon lay out their tactical position like a pro without interrupting him just for overshadowing her, but both were seemingly close-run things. Forbidding him from acting to secure their position while she was busy killing her unborn child in her hysterics wasn't a great look though, and Luke calling her 'perfect' while knowing first-hand how her decision-making has undermined and destabilized the kingdom, leading to this whole situation, rang very hollow. And I still don't get what Otto hopes to accomplish by approaching Dragonstone sans a dragon of his own and getting himself into a bind trying to demand that they stand down, since he seems to be making a habit of it. He's too smart not to know that he won't succeed in convincing Daemon or Rhaenyra of anything, ever, and baiting them into attacking and incriminating themselves would be all well and good if he had any hope of escaping that with his life. That map on Dragonstone felt a bit overkill, too, if it's supposed to be that elaborate. Isn't that a hundred years old at this point? How do you update something like that when borders move and names change?
|
|
inherit
401
0
1
Sept 24, 2023 2:28:59 GMT
39,714
DragonKingReborn
19,908
August 2016
dragonkingreborn
http://bsn.boards.net/threads/recent/143
https://i.imgur.com/1myVt9D.jpg
DragonKingReborn
Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
887
590
|
Post by DragonKingReborn on Oct 24, 2022 19:47:52 GMT
Well...shit. That was intense. A quieter intensity than the previous episode, but still pretty tight.
Rhaenyra's grief/stress over losing her father and realising she'll have to fight her childhood friend for the crown (or her life and the life of her children) causing her to miscarry was pretty bleak.
Otto has balls of solid Valyrian steel, walking up that pathway, knowing there are at least 4 dragons at Dragonstone capable of reducing his guard and their ship to ash. I think it was a test. And possibly a trap, to offer peace and terms. Had Rhaenyra accepted, I doubt she and her children would've lived out the year, but the offer being made may allow the Greens some political leverage with the undecided houses (at the end of the episode being Stark and Tully - unless Boros Baratheon turned heel after what happened).
The Blacks have 13 dragons...??!!!? To the 4 for the Greens, even though the Greens have Bid Daddy. I like the explicit comparison of dragons to nuclear weapons. One guy suggests using them and Rhaenyra's response is to 'pump the hate brakes'.
Rhaenys very clearly shown not bending the knee to Rhaenyra, with a little smile each time. She had weighed and measured Alicent, and found her wanting. She did the same with Rhaenyra and found...something different. Rhaenyra looking - probably in vain - for a way out of the situation without war being the tipping point.
Corlys survives! Not sure I'd be willing to partner with someone who'd taken off my brothers head for speaking - lets face it - the truth, but he probably made the right call for his House. And I think his wife played big part in that decision.
The final sequence shows that rank stupidity is something of an inherited trait with Baratheons. And that Aemond, however 'mature', is still just a boy as well. Clear - at the end - he never intended to kill the young prince, but now peace is not an option. I guess it never really was. |
|
inherit
331
0
Sept 24, 2023 3:17:17 GMT
5,392
q5tyhj
philosophizing with a hammer
1,829
August 2016
q5tyhj
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Mass Effect Andromeda
q5tyhj
|
Post by q5tyhj on Oct 24, 2022 21:05:14 GMT
So I would say I’m of two minds on the scene with Aemond and Lucerys.
On the one hand, it would’ve been kind of cool seeing Aemond go full psycho, and I somewhat feel like this robs him of his agency and makes him look the fool. If this was his version of “it was just a prank bro” then what did he expect was going to happen? He’s on a living breathing war machine that spent years killing and has a mind of its own. Most people don’t even have 100% control of their own dogs at times, especially since it seems like animals vibe off of their owner’s emotions quite a bit. On the other hand, I sort of like it because it makes Aemond a more tragic and nuanced character. Aemond is still young at this point and young people make dumb decisions all the time before they gain some wisdom. What’s going to follow with B&C in response is also going to have another layer of tragedy to it, and will probably be the lynchpin that makes him a monster.
Anyway, they don’t have complete control of their dragons and that makes sense. Baby Arrax panicking from seeing Lucerys panic, getting stalked, and suddenly lashing out at Vhagar with a fireball also makes sense. The situation was heartbreaking, I hate seeing children die and I’m always pained to see the dragons harmed, RIP Lucerys and baby Arrax; kid was too sweet for that world. On another note, child actors are usually hit or miss but this one did an excellent job, you could really see his fear and courage.
I also found Aemonds “oh shit look” after it all played out kind of funny, the memes will be glorious. Had to be a long ride home.
Yeah I didn't like that either, it not only robs Aemond of agency it also just doesn't make much sense from a character or story perspective- he was demanding Lucerys put out his eye, and went after him on his dragon. Aemond's motivation was explicitly malicious/hostile: there's no way that demanding someone put out their eye and then chasing after them on your gigantic death-monster is going to end with anything other than someone being hurt/killed.
And I didn't like it when they did something similar to Alicent in episode 8/9, i.e. only having her advocate for Aegon to take the throne once she misheard/misunderstood Viserys talking about the stupid prophecy on his death bed. But parents advocating for their children, even unfairly and at the expense of others, is pretty normal behavior, so Alicent shouldn't really have needed any additional motivation to support her son's claim to the throne beyond the mere fact that he was her son. But that's fairly nitpicky, overall I thought the finale was entertaining and a perfectly acceptable way to conclude a promising 1st season that has gone a long way towards helping remove the bitter aftertaste of how GoT ended. Very much looking forward to season 2!
|
|
inherit
331
0
Sept 24, 2023 3:17:17 GMT
5,392
q5tyhj
philosophizing with a hammer
1,829
August 2016
q5tyhj
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Mass Effect Andromeda
q5tyhj
|
Post by q5tyhj on Oct 24, 2022 21:12:18 GMT
So....basically, what I'm reading/sensing from the BSN and a lot of other places (except paid critics and likeminded sites ) is that House of the Dragon is not anywhere near the first 5 seasons of Game of Thrones, and what has been aired thus far is a mix of hit and miss at best. Soooo....in a nutshell, if I didn't bother with it I wouldn't be missing anything. (Does that about sum it up?) I mean, the first couple seasons of Game of Thrones were arguably some of the best TV in the history of television or film. And House is not on that level. But then, very few shows are. So not living up to that lofty standard is not really a criticism. And it isn't perfect, the 1st season had some major issues with pacing, especially since it had to set up the whole background for the conflict to come. But its extremely well cast, reasonably well-written, reasonably faithful to the source material, and has reliably good production values. I see that Rotten Tomatoes has House in the ~85% range, which I think is pretty fair and accurate- a good show with a few moments of greatness, that will hopefully only get better/more interesting as they get into the meat of the conflict in future seasons. So I'd say that its a must-watch if you were a big Game of Thrones fan and/or fan of the books, and a recommended to watch for just about anything else. Like, you're not missing out on some amazing cultural phenomena if you don't watch it, but you are missing out on an imperfect but highly entertaining show.
|
|
inherit
401
0
1
Sept 24, 2023 2:28:59 GMT
39,714
DragonKingReborn
19,908
August 2016
dragonkingreborn
http://bsn.boards.net/threads/recent/143
https://i.imgur.com/1myVt9D.jpg
DragonKingReborn
Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
887
590
|
Post by DragonKingReborn on Oct 24, 2022 23:14:28 GMT
Just read a review of the final episode - it was extremely positive; calling it the best of the season and comparing the show positively to Better Call Saul (where Game of Thrones is Breaking Bad, obviously).
There were a couple of stings, though - both accurate enough to make me chuckle.
The series is about the Dance of Dragons civil war - but until the final frames, no dragons danced with each other. The review exclaimed 'the House of the Dragon is over. I can't wait for the House of the Dragon to start.'
But the better one was - 'If House of the Dragon was about World War 1, we would have just watched the 10 hour version of the Assassination of the Arch Duke.'
|
|
That last scene in Ep 9 can probably be summarized by the simple sentence: Just because you are king does not mean you are boss. 
That last scene in Ep 9 can probably be summarized by the simple sentence: Just because you are king does not mean you are boss. 
). No question there.
