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Here’s my first review post on Game of Thrones! Thank you so much for asking about Daenerys, @bixgirl1, @kikibluemay and @oceaxe-ifdawn. She was fascinating and tragic, and I couldn’t really stop talking about her… as in, I ended up writing a 4k+ word essay on her character.

Due to the length, I’ve crossed-posted to AO3 for those who prefer to read it there: https://archiveofourown.org/works/19119595 . As usual, never feel obliged to do anything! Fandom is a happy, carefree place for me :) .

This is the shortest, most concise critique of how a great show nosedived just before the finish line. (obviously massive spoilers for S8)‬

Yes I agree, I’m not sure how you can disagree, because it happened in canon? You can dislike it, but this isn’t something to be agreed with or not

First of all, of course he’s ‘changed in CC’, he’s twenty years older and a father of three children now, of course that will change him! If he was still exactly the same as he was at 17 then that would be terrible character development.

Secondly, you cannot disregard the context in which Harry delivers this line to Albus. It’s in the very peak of a huge argument which has come about after, in Harry’s eyes, he just tried to do something nice. He was so convinced the blanket was a good idea, so set on doing this, that he didn’t really take the time to read Albus’ mood. Albus doesn’t want his dad in his room at that moment. He doesn’t want to talk to him and he certainly doesn’t want to accept a deep and meaningful gift from him. Harry has misjudged things totally. One of his biggest problems with Albus (which he literally says in words later in the show) is that he’s trying to be the father he needed and not the father Albus needs. That’s where we see his being an orphan come into play, he doesn’t know what having a dad feels like and he has nothing to emulate, so he’s trying to be what he thinks he would have needed at Albus’ age.

And Albus is difficult. He’s not making it any easier for Harry, even though we as an audience can see that his dad is trying, however misguided his attempts are. He’s in a bad mood and he needles and pushes Harry over and over again with his words and with his actions. His rejection of the gift (he literally calls it a ‘mouldy old blanket’) cuts Harry so deeply, but Harry perseveres and keeps himself in the situation, and things get more and more emotional for both him and Albus. So of course things escalate, and Albus pushes Harry to say ‘there are times I wish you weren’t my son’. He really pushes him, he even sets up the moment with what he says before (no, I just wish you weren’t my dad) like he wants Harry to say it back. Albus is difficult.

It’s painful, the immediate regret is clear in Harry’s reaction. Because that’s not what he means exactly. Albus makes him feel inadequate as a father; we know Harry takes on blame and guilt for other’s pain, so seeing his son in pain triggers Harry to feel like he’s failing him. It’s an emotional mess and he says those words in the heat of the moment. That’s what Harry Potter does, that’s him. He’s not the epitome of a perfect father, I’m not sure how anyone expected that, and especially not when faced with a stubborn and difficult teenager. You don’t have to be a parent to understand this (I’m not) but I can’t help feel that anyone who can’t see how Harry could have possibly said that definitely doesn’t have kids. Or know what kids are like.