I've been reflecting on this for a while ...
Was listening to the Prestige TV pod as they were discussing the last episode of Presumed Innocent (GREAT show; highly recommend) and the hosts were bemoaning how the networks pay by the episode and not for the entire season. Presumed Innocent, they think (and I agree) could have been done just as well with one or two fewer shows. Too much fluff that drags the show on. I feel the same way with HOD.
Though not quite as good as GOT (mostly because there are no characters quite as compelling as Tyrion or even Jaime Lannister. BTW, I thought the last episode was pretty awesome, even again absent the big set piece battles in recent episodes.
The pacing issues have been:
- Daemon - How long do his visions have to go on before we fully understand he's going mad? I was okay with the first batch of dreams/hallucinations, but it has grown tiresome (and rarely work in any context). I was pleased to see the plot of his character move along in the last episode.
- Rhaenyra/Alicent Hightower. I like how these powerful women represent the idea of keeping peace and prosperity within the kingdom while also playing chess matches to consolidate their power. However, this has gone on for too long. Their indecision dulls some of the early S2 epdisodes. The latest episode does move things along for Rhaenyra (Great! - more dragons). Alicent deciding to go camping at least got her out of her over-extended power struggle with Aemond. Perhaps she's off in the woods while dragons burn up her sons.
Once again, the last episode was great, with the dragon burning up the bastards at the end of show one of the best-ever scenes in HOD or GOT. So looking forward to the finale on Sunday.