re: House of the Dragon: S2 Episode 4 'The Dance of Dragons' (Spoilers)

quote:

---

It wasn't the smartest thing to do, but I'm assuming her thought was that if she could somehow kill Vhagar,

---

I'm just making it clear that she wouldn't get run down if she wanted to flee.

quote:

---

Because the writing was fricking stupid and you could see it coming from a mile away.

It's one thing to be outraged about Ned Stark's execution or the red wedding. Those were rational in the setting. You were angry and shocked. You were angry and shocked at believable characters and scenarios.

That's much different than being pissed off at shitty writers.

---

I agree that having her be in the clear AFTER she engaged Vhagar the first time and then going back for more made her look dumb. BUT they have made her look like a poor war tactician the entire show so it does add up as logical for Rhaenys. While she has shown to be capable and competent in many aspects of ruling and decision making, every choice she has made regarding the war has been a bad one. Doesn't mean she is a dumb person but some generals are good war time generals while others are good peace time generals. Not many are good at both.

Bad decisions:

1) Not killing the greens when she busts throughthe floor.
2) Not going with Daemon to kill Vhagar before the ground war even started.
3) Not retreating once she saw Vhagar.
4) Not retreating once she injured Vhagar and had a second chance to escape.

She is smart in a lot of ways, just not the strategic planning/decision making of war.

Somebody said last week they wanted to see more dragon battles…well there you go.

quote:

---

I’m a show watcher only fan, so I’m sure I lose all respect with you true Westerosi folk, but is it crystal clear to everyone in the show that Aemond purposely took down Aegon? Or is Cole the only one who really knows?

---

I don't think even Cole knows anything. Aemond can easily defend himself by saying that he had no choice. Vhagar would have killed them both if she goes in with her talons.

quote:

---

I’m a show watcher only fan, so I’m sure I lose all respect with you true Westerosi folk, but is it crystal clear to everyone in the show that Aemond purposely took down Aegon? Or is Cole the only one who really knows?

---

This is a show watcher question anyway. Not really anything a book reader is going to give you extra insight on.

I saw it as a "Yea this is my opportunity to kill her and if it kills my brother too then so be it."

Cole was knocked out while this happened right? So he didn't actually see that happen. Or maybe I'm misremembering.

I personally didn't see it as Aemond was standing there and going to kill Aegon until Cole walked up. He could have stabbed Aegon by the time Cole came up or he was just standing over him confirming that he was already dead so he didn't even have to stab him.

I’ll have to rewatch but I thought Cole was knocked out when both Dragons crash landed.

quote:

---

Cole was knocked out while this happened right? So he didn't actually see that happen. Or maybe I'm misremembering.

---

Cole saw the King fall from the sky which is why he knew to try to go find him when he came to. I still don't think anything definitive can be drawn from what he saw from the ground.

quote:

---

I haven't read Fire & Blood, but I'm debating it. If you had the chance to watch the series without knowing what happens, do you think you would have preferred that? Or do you think that having a general idea of what's to come makes the show better?

---

I read the book after the first season. Wish I had not, fwiw.

quote:

---

Meleys turning back to look at Rhaneys before her eyes went dark was heartbreaking.

---

You isn't kidding. Gut-wrenching.

quote:

---

All I know I wanted to do after that scene was pet my dog for a while.

---

Legit lol'd.

quote:

---

This all supports my earlier post stating that she was good at a lot of things but had poor judgement when it came to war. She passed up capitalizing on clear advantages and then pressed herself into action when at a clear disadvantage. Strong, honorable, politically savvy, but bad at war.

---

I think it remains to be seen whether she was actually bad at war or not. Similar to Rhaenyra, she seems reluctant to fully commit to the fact that they're actually at war. She keeps looking for another way out besides all-out war and dragon on dragon conflict.

This incident appears to be the first time that she's finally committed fully to the conflict, and it, unfortunately, didn't turn out well for her (note, I'm going entirely by the characterization in the TV series.. I've read a Dance with Dragons, but I can hardly remember any of the characterization within it and didn't really like the book very much).