5 things House of the Dragon could have done better

4. Edgy scenes need a little more context

Remember how absolutely disturbed we all were when we witnessed the horrors Joffrey Baratheon inflicted on those around him on Game of Thrones, especially when he murdered Ros? And that feeling in our stomachs every time we saw Ramsey Bolton look Sansa’s way? We knew these two were absolutely twisted and evil. We knew their motivations. We understood where this violence and abuse came from — not that it was ever ok, I should add — but we knew those two were evil little shitheads who loved to torture and kill others. We had context.

Now, think back to Ser Crispy Criston Cole turning poor Joffrey (what a coincidence, eh?) Lonmouth into a bloody pulp full of brain matter in the middle of a wedding on House of the Dragon. And… for what? Because Joffrey could see right through him and how much he wanted Rhaenyra, and said “hey, I’ll keep your secret if you keep ours”? I mean, I get it — I have anger issues myself, but my guy, that is not how you handle things after your one-night stand moved on. He didn’t just kill a man, he killed Rhaenyra’s now cousin-husband’s boyfriend (yes, I know, it gets confusing) at their wedding. Over a hookup. After someone offered to keep his secret. A “no, thanks” would have sufficed.

But wait, there’s more! Ser Krispy Kreme Criston Cole does it again by smashing Lord Lyman Beesbury’s head onto the table when he tried to protest against the plans to take the Iron Throne from Rhaenyra and kill her and her family. Why does this man kill everyone he has one ounce of beef with? What is actually going through his mind? What are his motivations? Are those scenes just for shock value or are there actual reasons for his senseless violence? He really needs to see a psychologist, stat. Or a writer.