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u/Agreeable_Ad_8790

▲ 131 r/HouseOfTheDragon

I really like this scene. Ewan's performance is really good.

We are so used to seeing Aemond cool, calm and collected. But seeing this other dimension of him is so interesting.

Its kinda funny that even though he has the largest dragon in the world, he is Regent of the seven kingdoms, he killed the person responsible for taking his eye, he still thinks of himself as the child who was bullied and belittled

u/Agreeable_Ad_8790 — 3 days ago
▲ 81 r/HouseOfTheDragon

Funny enough, the show made Rhaenyra more involved in Blood and Cheese than the book ever did.

In the books

Rhaenyra has no involvement in Blood and Cheese

At the time of Blood and Cheese, Rhaenyra was at Dragonstone grieving the deaths of Viserys, Visenya, and Lucerys, which had hit her in quick succession. She is not mentioned as having any knowledge of, or involvement in, the plot. The scheme is attributed entirely to Daemon, who was at Harrenhal, and Mysaria, who facilitated it through her network in King's Landing.

Daemon is never confronted about Blood and Cheese in Fire and Blood. Not by Rhaenyra, not by the lords of the realm. The act happens, and Daemon's direct role in ordering it is simply left as part of the historical record without any accountability scene.

Furthermore, the reaction to Jaehaerys's death in the books is largely contained within the Green camp. Helaena, Aegon, and Alicent bear the grief. It does not become the kind of public, politically mobilising event that turns the broader realm against the Blacks.

In the show

The show ties Rhaenyra's words directly to the act

The show invents a scene where Rhaenyra, grieving Lucerys, says she "I want Aemond Targaryen". That line becomes the direct trigger for Daemon dispatching Blood and Cheese. Her words set the plot in motion, something that never happens in the books.

The show then invents an elaborate funeral procession for Jaehaerys through King's Landing. This public spectacle doesn't exist in the books, which focus on framing Rhaenyra as responsible for a child's murder in front of the entire city. Daemon is then confronted about Blood and Cheese not once but twice, by Rhaenyra and by the Riverlords, which keeps the Blacks' moral culpability front and centre throughout Season 2. There is no equivalent accountability scene for Aemond following Lucerys's death

Green supporters frequently argue that HOTD is biased toward the Blacks, which I find funny since the show has gone above and beyond to make the Greens more sympathetic. This is just one of the many examples that directly contradict that claim.

u/Agreeable_Ad_8790 — 3 days ago
▲ 518 r/HouseOfTheDragon

One of my favourite parts about ASOIAF is the locations. HBO has really done a great job bringing these castles to life. The Red Keep, Dragonstone, Harrenhal, and Hightide look great.

The Red Keep

Commissioned by Aegon the Conqueror and completed by Maegor the Cruel, who executed every builder who worked on it so its secrets could never be shared. Built atop Aegon's High Hill from pale red stone, the Red Keep is defined by its seven massive drum towers crowned with iron ramparts, connected by covered bridges and vaulted halls. At its heart sits Maegor's Holdfast, a castle within a castle surrounded by walls twelve feet thick and a dry moat lined with iron spikes.

Harrenhal

The largest castle ever built in Westeros, raised by Harren the Black over forty years on the north shore of the Gods Eye. Its five towers were built on a scale more suited to giants than men, its Great Hall could seat an army, and its godswood covers twenty acres. On the day Harren took up residence, Balerion flew over the walls and roasted him alive inside Kingspyre Tower, leaving the entire castle half-melted. Every house that has held it since has been destroyed.

Dragonstone

Built by Valyrians using techniques lost to the Doom, Dragonstone is unlike anything else in Westeros. The entire citadel is wrought from black stone, its towers carved into the shapes of dragons, with dragon claws holding torches and dragon tails forming archways and staircases. The central keep, Stone Drum, houses the Chamber of the Painted Table at its peak, a circular room containing a fifty-foot map of Westeros carved from a single piece of wood. Grim, cold, and built not for comfort but for power.

High Tide

Built by Corlys Velaryon after his nine voyages, which made House Velaryon the wealthiest family in Westeros. Constructed from pale stone with towers crowned by beaten silver rooftops, it sits on a tidal island connected to Driftmark by a causeway. When the tide rolls in, the castle is surrounded entirely by sea. Its Great Hall, the Hall of Nine, is named for Corlys's voyages and filled with treasures from Yi Ti, Leng, and Qarth. Inside sits the Driftwood Throne, ancient seat of House Velaryon.

u/Agreeable_Ad_8790 — 4 days ago
▲ 26 r/HouseOfTheDragon

My speculation on Season 3 episode titles, reasoning included. Please share your thoughts.

Been following Season 3 production closely and wanted to share my guesses for episode titles this season, along with the reasoning behind each one. Some are based on confirmed production details, others are pure speculation. Curious what you all think.

Episode 1: The Old, The True, The Brave

House Velaryon's words, fitting for an episode centred on the Battle of the Gullet, and their battle and their losses. HOTD has precedent for using house words as titles, most notably "We Light the Way" in Season 1, which are House Hightower's words.

Episode 2: Bloody Waters

A reference to the blood spilled in the Gullet's aftermath and the carnage to come at the Battle of the Lakeshore. Bridges two water-based conflicts without spelling either out.

Episode 3: Rhaenyra Triumphant

Taken directly from Chapter 16 of Fire and Blood, which covers the fall of King's Landing. HotD has consistently drawn titles from the book, including "Heirs of the Dragon", "A Son for a Son", and "Rhaenyra the Cruel". This one writes itself.

Episode 4: The Daring

A double reference with Daeron Targaryen's knightly title in the books, and the daring deception orchestrated by Ormund Hightower to trick Daemon with a false Daeron.

Episode 5: From the Ashes

Aegon and Sunfyre were both left for dead after Rook's Rest in Season 2. This episode marks their return. The title speaks to both.

Episode 6: Kingmaker

Criston Cole built Aegon II's reign from nothing and meets his end at the Butcher's Ball. The title is both his epitaph and a nod to the shifting power dynamics that follow his death.

Episode 7: The Siege

A tense, grounded title for the episode that sets the board for Tumbleton. Daemon consolidates power, pieces move into position, and the walls close in around the city. The calm before the storm.

Episode 8: The Dragonseeds

Following the pattern of character-centred titles like "The Rogue Prince" and "The Princess and the Queen," this centres the episode on the dragonseed riders whose betrayal at Tumbleton changes everything.

Obviously, this is all speculation. Some details are drawn from production leaks that have been accurate in the past, others are pure guesswork based on the book's structure. Would love to hear your thoughts and alternative ideas.

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u/Agreeable_Ad_8790 — 4 days ago
▲ 23 r/HOTDBlacks

Why does George say Dragons aren't nomadic, while his source material seems to contradict that?

George posted on his blog a while back, arguing that dragons are territorial and not nomadic; and that they stay close to established lairs such as Dragonstone or the Dragonpit, and that they won't travel far without riders. But:

  • In the current ASOIAF novels, Drogon has been roaming freely across Essos since Daenerys lost control of him. He established a lair in the fighting pits of Meereen temporarily, but has been seen as far as the Dothraki Sea.
  • After the Dance of the Dragons, Sheepstealer and Nettles are said to have settled permanently in the mountains of the Vale. They never returned to Dragonstone. George specifically mentions Sheepstealer as one of the three wild dragons with a lair on Dragonstone, so why did he end up in the Vale after the Dance rather than returning to his established territory?
  • After the Dance, Silverwing did not return to Dragonstone. She was found at the Red Lake in the Reach, far from her established lair, where she remained for years.

 Am I misunderstanding something?

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u/Agreeable_Ad_8790 — 4 days ago
▲ 34 r/freefolk

Why does George say Dragons aren't nomadic, while his source material seems to contradict that?

George posted on his blog a while back, arguing that dragons are territorial and not nomadic; and that they stay close to established lairs such as Dragonstone or the Dragonpit, and that they won't travel far without riders. But:

  • In the current ASOIAF novels, Drogon has been roaming freely across Essos since Daenerys lost control of him. He established a lair in the fighting pits of Meereen temporarily, but has been seen as far as the Dothraki Sea.
  • After the Dance of the Dragons, Sheepstealer and Nettles are said to have settled permanently in the mountains of the Vale. They never returned to Dragonstone. George specifically mentions Sheepstealer as one of the three wild dragons with a lair on Dragonstone, so why did he end up in the Vale after the Dance rather than returning to his established territory?
  • After the Dance, Silverwing did not return to Dragonstone. She was found at the Red Lake in the Reach, far from her established lair, where she remained for years.

 Am I misunderstanding something?

reddit.com
u/Agreeable_Ad_8790 — 4 days ago
▲ 0 r/HouseOfTheDragon

I am going to miss these Season 2 costumes, they were phenomenal. Season 3 so far is a downgrade:(

Characters in season 3 are repeating costumes from season 2 and if they are not repeating costumes their wardrobe has downgraded 😑😫🫠

u/Agreeable_Ad_8790 — 6 days ago
▲ 40 r/HouseOfTheDragon

Saw someone say the show focuses too much on the dragons, and that's just ridiculous. But more importantly, the data disagrees too.

Vhagar, Caraxes, and Syrax are the 3 most prominent dragons in the show:

Dragon Season 1 Screentime Season 2 Screentime
Vhagar 7 min 6 sec 3 min 55 sec
Caraxes 4 min 33 sec 2 min 24 sec
Syrax 3 min 43 sec 4 min 40 sec

Season 1 was 10 episodes with roughly 60 minutes each. In 600 minutes total runtime, Vhagar has 7 minutes 6 seconds, which is just 1.1% of the season.

Dragons like Arrax, Vermax, and Seasmoke each appeared in a single episode.

In Season 2, dragon screentime actually dropped across the board for most dragons, except for Syrax. The show is getting less dragon-heavy, not more.

The only time Dragons are prominent is during battles such as the Stepstones, Storms End, and Rook Rest. But the vast majority of the show is political scheming, family tension, and character drama. That's the point of HotD.

Also, the show has 20 dragons to portray, and somehow, certain people are saying that they need to cut the dragons??

The dragons aren't the focus. They're the punctuation. They show up to mark moments of consequence, a death, a turning point, a battle. That's exactly how they should be used.

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u/Agreeable_Ad_8790 — 6 days ago
▲ 114 r/freefolk

Balerion is that you??😂 GEEZ, Harrenhal can't catch a break

Vhagar is really reminiscing her times with burning Dorne

u/Agreeable_Ad_8790 — 6 days ago