☆ﾟ. * ･ ｡ﾟ

I remember an old Nostalgia Critic episode where he pointed out that one of the biggest problems with the original *The Last Airbender* live-action movie was that it kept “telling” us what was happening instead of simply “showing” us. And honestly? I think that's the biggest problem with these last few seasons.

I don't know if it's because they're stuck with an eight-episode format, or because they'd rather spend valuable screen time on weird fetish-y scenes, SA, and women being degraded and humiliated. Or maybe the writers just have the creative range of an amoeba. Because it genuinely feels like they have zero interest in developing their characters’ relationships, and instead expect the audience to do all the emotional heavy lifting themselves and piece everything together.

Harwin holds Rhaenyra's newborn, he and Laenor exchange a few knowing looks and *wink wink*, we're apparently supposed to assume there was this beautiful love story that somehow resulted in THREE KIDS. But apparently we don't need to actually SEE any of that before Harwin gets killed off in the very same episode.

Corlys hugs Rhaenys in bed once and then they never share another romantic moment again. Guess we didn't need to see any of that either.

Daemon and Laena exchange a couple of glances at a dance and... wait! They've actually been in love this whole time and nobody knew? I guess we're just supposed to make up that relationship ourselves because we'll only get a couple more scenes with Laena before she dies.

And remember Criston Cole? The guy that Saint Alicent literally stopped from falling on his own sword? Oh! Turns out they've been f*cking this whole time. Don’t ask me how they got there,l —we’re apparently supposed to figure that part out ourselves ;)

And I could honestly keep going forever. Not just with romantic relationships, but with friendships and family dynamics that never get to develop beyond a handful of lines.

Honestly, I think the only couple that hasn't been treated nearly as badly is Daemyra, and arguably the only genuinely well-crafted intimate scene in the entire show was Rhaenyra and Cole's back in Season 1. It genuinely feels like the writers don't understand that people need to SEE characters fall in love, drift apart, grow closer, reconcile, or simply exist together. Those quiet moments of intimacy and connection are what make us understand the depth of their relationships.

Instead, they'd rather spend that screen time showing us grotesque, uncomfortable sex scenes that nobody asked for and that add absolutely nothing to the story. It honestly feels like they fundamentally don't understand that it's precisely those quieter moments—between lovers, friends, siblings, parents and children—that make us empathize with these characters, especially in a story where we already know that every single one of them is going to die sooner or later.

But sure. Keep giving Daemon approximately three seconds of fatherhood per season. Keep stripping the brave Velaryon boys of their accomplishments just to hand them to other characters. Keep cutting every possible scene of friendship and siblinghood. Keep ignoring Baela when, last season, her scenes with Jace were arguably the emotional backbone of both of their character arcs, showing us that underneath all the duty and responsibility, these two kids were quietly falling in love in the middle of a war.

But sure... who would actually want to watch the healthiest couple in all of Westeros interact? Ew. Jace is going to die anyway, right?

Don't get me wrong—I'm still watching this show. But what I hate is that the reason I care so deeply about these characters is because *I already know who they are* through “Fire & Blood” and years of fandom, not because the show itself has earned that emotional investment.