The way C&H treat their poc characters reeks of racism. Why would they take a woman of colour’s story (Nettles) and give it to another woman of colour (whom, might I add, they *made* a woman of colour — Rhaena). Do they think their stories are interchangeable? Are poc interchangeable to them? Or is it just because they didn’t want Daemon to stray from Rhaenyra? Either way, it is beyond disappointing. We barely knew Laenor and Laena, Baela was reduced to Jace’s betrothed, Rhaena was given Nettles’s storyline, we saw Vaemond like 5 minutes, and it seems like they’re trying very hard to make Corlys dislikeable now. It’s just very disheartening to see.
C&H use diverse casting and progressive language as armor against criticism while repeatedly degrading the very characters they claim to represent.
I have said it for ages: HOTD treats nearly everyone with contempt, then hides behind identity politics whenever viewers notice.
Nettles being erased and her story handed to Rhaena does not become respectful simply because both characters are women of color. Laena, Laenor, Baela, Vaemond, Rhaena, and now Corlys have all been diminished, distorted, or treated as interchangeable pieces serving Rhaenyra’s narrative.
Everyone should be offended by this garbage and stop rewarding HBO for it.
