HOTD S2 - Episode 5 Isn't 𝙏𝙃𝘼𝙏 Bad

This episode had some top tier Daemon acid trips

It's only slow because streaming services have destroyed people's attention spans by cramming everything into 8 episodes, sometimes even less, just darting from plot point to plot point, giving nothing but a hollow experience. What people these days call "filler" is what character development and world-building used to be about.

I think the reason why Corlys dosnt interact with anyone on dragonstone is to emphasise (by him being alone in driftmark) that he is now isolated and on his own, with most of his family now being dead.

War has started! Meanwhile at Harrenhall:👻👻

I started laughing super hard at the scene where Daemon is sitting down and there's just silence and then he says "I did not think they would be so eager to die."

“ I am blood and fire. Driftmark must pass to salt and sea.” Was such a top tier line

For the love of God, put my man Simon Strong on the Iron Throne.

people complain when GOT was rushed, then complain when HOTD isn't rushed lol

I swear, people have NO patience and attencion span

I love how your list of the things that happen in the episode doesn’t include Aemond becoming Prince Regent

"Nothing" happened!? Daemon is establishing a potential third claim, Aemond is also scheming for the throne, they are furthering the subplot of a potential rebellion of the small folk, Jace presents an alliance with the Freys, I could go on. The reason people are bored is because it didn't have the same spectacle as the previous but everything major that happens is subtle but long term will have story impact

Ok, but, Olivia Cooke’s facial acting/expressions during the small council scene where Aemond is made regent and you can hear the dialogue behind the zoom in on her face, has got to be some of the best wordless acting I’ve ever seen…

Honestly this is the first time I’m hearing people thought it was boring. I really liked the episode, it was slower but really interesting for what the payoff was and what they’re setting up next. And the realization moment at the end has me insanely excited for the next episode so that was a big enough revelation for me at least to count as a big way to end the episode

i feel episodes like this are important for character development if every episode was a battle it would just get boring and overwhelming dont know why people hating on it.

I felt bored not because there were no action set pieces or because the pace in itself was too ‘slow’. I felt bored because some scenes were less interesting or were rendered uninteresting by the way the scene was written. At times this show makes the choice to focus on something less dramatic while glossing over opportunities for more entertaining drama. For example, an actual full scene with Halaena confronting Aemond in the throne room would have been a far better use of the show’s time than the Rhaena and Lady Arryn tit for tat about the size of the Dragon’s.

The scene of Alicent at the table slowly realizing that she's surrounded by sycophants now serving her psychotic son, that she's all alone and has made a terrible mistake, thinking (Ralph Wiggum's voice in her head) "I'm in danger...". Chef's kiss It was a great transition episode where we witness the aftermath of Rook's Rest, the dragons' destruction joining the war, and the loss of Rhaenys. Agreed that some scenes seemed cut a little too early.

People seem to have 2 brain cells that try connection when there is an episode in which there are no fights or dragons

I felt the episode was fine, until I learned that this season only has 8 episodes. I thought we were just half way, so I was fine with the show taking it's time and being slow, but now that I know that we are more than half way through I'm a bit more frustrated with the pacing. I feel like there is still so much stuff that needs to happen in this season and will either be rushed by the end, or pushed for the next one, and to have that happen so that we can watch Daemon get high for the tenth time in this season, and rhaenyra being disrespected by her council AGAIN, and Alicent being frustrated with the outcome of her actions AGAIN, is just really disappointing. The moment I learned that there are 8 episodes the seasons immediately went from like a 9/10 for me, to an 8 or even a 7.

The fact that none of the small folks believe aegon actually killed melys was the topping of the sundae of his kingship.

This is not the first battle of the war. It’s more like the fifth. You’re forgetting the battle of the burning mill also assaults on Rosby, Stokeworth, and Duskendale. It was just the first battle audiences were allowed to see because characters were involved that we were invested in.