Everyone is disappointed with the ending of Game of Thrones – that’s already an established fact – but it looks like Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys Targaryen will find her match in a House of the Dragon character for the ‘worst character development’ title.
It’s upsetting to think that many fans wished for the best after the prequel series was announced, hoping this time they will make up for the underwhelming performance of the original show. It seems like they are just repeating the same mistakes they did with Daenerys in the form of Alicent Hightower.
Where Did Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys Targaryen Go Wrong?
The ascension of Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys Targaryen to the Iron Throne was perhaps the most anticipated plot in Game of Thrones. She started as a naïve Targaryen bride who became the powerful Khaleesi, the mother of dragons, the breaker of chains, and the conqueror of cities.
With such an impressive résumé, one could never assume she would end up becoming the Mad Queen. That would go against everything she built for herself, but why did it happen? Why did she lose control and kill innocent lives in Season 8 Episode 5? It looks like the showrunners are to blame.
David Benioff and Dan Weiss gave an insufficient explanation behind their rash decision to give Daenerys the worst character development in Game of Thrones. They said that it was the series of her personal tragedies stacking one after the other that made her snap.
The betrayal of Cersei Lannister, the discovery of Jon Snow being her nephew, the death of Missandei – and then seeing the Red Keep in King’s Landing, the home of her family for centuries, reminded her of everything that was taken from her. These were the catalysts that drove her into madness.
The controversial decision to make her the Mad Queen spawned countless debates online, with some claiming it’s in her Targaryen blood, while others argue that one scene swiftly undid everything she worked for in the entire saga.
At this point, we can all agree the whole arc of Daenerys Targaryen, one of the most promising characters in Game of Thrones, was wasted because of lazy writing.
Olivia Cooke’s Alicent Hightower Is The Most Inconsistent Character
The final episode of House of the Dragon Season 2 had the most horrific storyline for Olivia Cooke’s Alicent Hightower. For the longest time, she has been defending and protecting her children from the Blacks. She even refused to admit she made a mistake when Aegon became the king. But now, she’s giving up her firstborn just so she and her daughter could flee unscathed. What kind of mother does that?
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Alicent’s motivations are flimsy; she could not keep her principles the way Daenerys could not keep her temper. Like the Mother of Dragons, the Queen Dowager easily folded when her castle started crumbling. Aegon’s bedridden condition, the looming war, the loss of the council’s respect for her, and Aemond becoming unstoppable took a toll on her mental health. And just like that, she walks away.
Both unfortunate characters have become the product of lousy storytelling. Had they stuck to the books, these characters wouldn’t be as inconsistent as that of the show.
Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon are currently available to watch on HBO.
