# House of the Dragon, an HBO prequel series to Game of Thrones **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, hbomax-wb-dc\ **Created:** [May 6, 2021, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521 "2021-05-06T13:17:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 25
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/482 "2022-10-11T10:54:04Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > That mostly happened in the later seasons of _Thrones_, when the show had veered away from Martin’s story and worldbuilding, and the showrunners were looking for shortcuts. If we are talking about the legitimisation of Ramsey Bolton, then that was straight out of the books, if I recall correctly. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/483 "2022-10-11T12:20:59Z")
So when Valeryon the younger lost the services of his head , where exactly did Daemon sword strike? The mechanics are a bit unclear? His neck seemed fine. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/484 "2022-10-11T12:22:34Z")
It was pretty clear that the sword struck between the upper and lower jaws, leaving the tongue and neck intact, and severing the top of the head from the body. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/485 "2022-10-11T12:25:52Z")
Accusing the Kings heirs of being bastards results in losing at least a part of your head. It is known. And Ned Stark still sent the damn letter. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/486 "2022-10-11T12:30:03Z")
Well, it’s also the case that if the accusation of bastardy is _true_, then it’s the participants in that act of adultery–and the resulting issue–that would be punished. Presumably there would ordinarily be a hearing or trial in which the speaker would be accused of treason and get to offer evidence of the truth. I don’t think that decapitation on the spot is necessarily the precedential act of justice. Also, Ned thought he was lining up enough support amongst the powerful by revealing the evidence he gathered to get them to change the regime before he could be put to trial for treason. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/487 "2022-10-11T13:03:09Z")
I was expecting Alicent to say a bit more when she confronted naked Aegon about his raping the hand maiden. He’s whining “It’s so hard to please you!” So, you habitually abuse alcohol and drugs, and you _raped_ someone. It really doesn’t seem like you’re trying very hard. Of course, maybe we are seeing an example of Alicent’s poor parenting. But still, come on. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/488 "2022-10-11T14:01:51Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Of course, maybe we are seeing an example of Alicent’s poor parenting. But still, come on. She made a bigger deal out of it than I expected to be honest. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/489 "2022-10-11T14:12:04Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > She made a bigger deal out of it than I expected to be honest. Really? I think of her as a basically decent person. I would have expected her to be outraged. And it’s clear this isn’t the first time she has expressed her displeasure at his behavior. She doesn’t seem as doting and hands off as Cersei Lannister, certainly. She does seem to have a moral compass. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/490 "2022-10-11T14:16:46Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Really? I think of her as a basically decent person. I would have expected her to be outraged. And it’s clear this isn’t the first time she has expressed her displeasure at his behavior. > > She doesn’t seem as doting and hands off as Cersei Lannister, certainly. She does seem to have a moral compass. It doesn’t really matter how decent she is, I did not think she could even consider it rape for what she sees as the heir to the throne to take a serving girl. I think she was more concerned about him fathering a bastard before fathering a heir than anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/491 "2022-10-11T14:49:38Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I did not think she could even consider it rape She never said the word “rape,” but given how she has been portrayed and her experiences with not having control over her own body, especially sexually, I think it fit right in for her to at least have some compassion for Dyanna. An ongoing theme of the first half of the season has been the lack of self L-empowerment of women in the Westerosi upper classes. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/492 "2022-10-11T14:53:23Z")
Perusing online articles, it seems that a lot of people think that Alicent poisoned Dyanna. I wonder whether there will be any clarification. Aegon in the source material does have bastard children, so I think the scene was too ambiguous. I don’t know whether the show plans to clarify. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/493 "2022-10-11T15:12:20Z")
There seems to be very little reason to poison her. I doubt anyone would give a single shit if a serving girl was raped. The problem is if she gets pregnant, which she fixed. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/494 "2022-10-11T15:19:03Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Really? I think of her as a basically decent person. I would have expected her to be outraged. And it’s clear this isn’t the first time she has expressed her displeasure at his behavior. The fact that she had probably seen behavior like this many times before helps explain the lack of outrage. The first couple of times, she was probably outraged. By now she knows that he won’t change and she can’t punish him, so what’s the point? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/495 "2022-10-11T15:26:58Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > The first couple of times, she was probably outraged. By now she knows that he won’t change and she can’t punish him, so what’s the point? That could be a way for a mother to react. It’s not the only realistic way. Indeed, I would consider that to be a distinct minority in terms of real life, more like a Cersei personality. I certainly would not expect the mothers I have known personally to react the way you describe. I think Alicent’s reaction is closer to true for her character, but, as I said, I believe she would have said even more in reaction to Aegon’s whining. > [@DigitalC](#): > > There seems to be very little reason to poison her. I doubt anyone would give a single shit if a serving girl was raped. The problem is if she gets pregnant, which she fixed. Yes, not killing her would be more rational, and would fit more into what I think Alicent’s character is. Killing her so coldly and personally would make Alicent into a very different character. I think this story is stronger when we can see Alicent and Rhaenyra as both having some fundamental decency and goodness, making it difficult to choose sides between them. What still troubles me is the ambiguous way that that scene was edited. Why did they create that ambiguity? Was it intentional or was it a mistake? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/496 "2022-10-11T15:28:53Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > What still troubles me is the ambiguous way that that scene was edited. Why did they create that ambiguity? Was it intentional or was it a mistake? If it wasn’t for the scene at the end with the other serving girl I would have assumed it was just a mistake and it was never meant to seem ambiguous. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/497 "2022-10-11T15:37:46Z")
She isn’t a XXI century AD woman, She is a 126AC Queen consort in a world heavily influenced by medieval Europe. Her views on it are going to be different to what we have. She sees it as distasteful and unnecessarily cruel. Not a horrendous crime like we do. And before you say it, of course it’s a horrendous crime. I think it’s portrayed accurately as how a woman of that time would behave. She does not approve, she sympathises with the girl and in her own way offers restitution. She tells off her son, severely. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/498 "2022-10-11T17:31:29Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I was expecting Alicent to say a bit more when she confronted naked Aegon about his raping the hand maiden. > > He’s whining “It’s so hard to please you!” > > So, you habitually abuse alcohol and drugs, and you _raped_ someone… What drugs is he abusing? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/499 "2022-10-11T19:18:06Z")
Privilege. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/500 "2022-10-11T19:36:08Z")
I am pretty sure she did not poison her. If she had the show would have shown it to make it clear. I think some people are seeing wheels within wheels where none are there. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2022, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/501 "2022-10-11T20:14:05Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > I think it’s portrayed accurately as how a woman of that time would behave. She does not approve, she sympathises with the girl and in her own way offers restitution. She tells off her son, severely. If we are still talking about my comment about Alicent, remember that I was taking about Alicent’s failure to react to Aegon’s stupid whining about “never being good enough.” That was some Class A adolescent bullshit that I would definitely expect many mediaeval era mothers to slap down, not just modern 21sf century mothers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521.md?page=24) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521.md?page=26)