Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon have received considerable praise from critics and fans alike. In spite of this, no show is perfect, and viewers often find themselves wishing certain events turned out differently. Because of how popular they are, the two shows are more closely examined and in return receive more criticism when fans realize they are not enjoying what they previously loved.
On one hand, many of the most disliked episodes are part of the eight and final season of Game of Thrones. On the other, the latest episode of House of the Dragon represents the culmination of dissatisfaction that built up throughout its second season. This could be interpreted as an indicator of the quality of future seasons, or it could represent a valley before an eventual peak.
5. "The Queen Who Ever Was" (Season 2, Episode 8)
Fans of Game of Thrones are used to strong season finales, but the second season finale of House of the Dragon did not meet expectations. Rather than action scenes, major revelations, or cliffhangers, "The Queen Who Ever Was" mostly contains buildup without any climactic or iconic sequences. The entire season acted as buildup for the war to come, so finding out that it begins and ends the same way was frustrating for many.
Disappointing moments include Alicent Hightower's sudden and drastic change of heart where she seemingly agrees that her sons must die and Daemon's ambition collapsing because of an unrelated vision. Rather than pushing the plot forward, the episode feels like we are right back where we started. The season having to cut itself down from 10 episodes to eight almost certainly contributed to the lackluster finale.
4. "The Long Night" (Season 8, Episode 3)
"The Long Night" was one of the most anticipated events of Game of Thrones, yet it failed to deliver in several respects. There was little room for error when it came to the final confrontation between the living and the dead. However, as soon as the episode started, problems cropped up and would only grow as it continued.
Issues included poor lighting that prevented viewers from enjoying the battle, incompetent strategies and choices like placing catapults outside the walls and the townsfolk inside the crypt, and blatant plot armor for a number of characters which decreased the stakes. While having only one episode to conclude one of the biggest plotlines makes matters difficult, there were simply too many mistakes that left viewers feeling unsatisfied.
3. "The Last of the Starks" (Season 8, Episode 4)
"The Last of the Starks" proves the previous episode was just the beginning of a decline in enjoyment for Game of Thrones fans. Following such a climactic battle with only three episodes to finish the series is hard to pull off, and unfortunately the immediate aftermath does not cut it. Rather than building excitement for the end of the show, the episode disappoints.
Daenerys Targaryen's dragon Rhaegal being killed by the Iron Fleet despite everyone being aware of the danger the fleet should have posed frustrated fans, as did Jon telling Sansa and Arya about his heritage offscreen. The previous episode had entertaining action scenes to conceal its flaws, but not here.
"2. The Bells" (Season 8, Episode 5)
"The Bells" shocked fans with its big twist, but few were pleased with how it transpired. In the final battle for control of the Iron Throne, Daenerys Targaryen emerges victorious against Cersei Lannister, thus ending the Lannister reign that lasted for most of the series. However, the manner in which the Dragon Queen went about achieving her dream both surprised and frustrated many fans.
When King's Landing signaled its surrender by ringing the city bells, Daenerys commands Drogon to burn the citizenry alive. The queen who selflessly freed slaves became unrecognizable to the audience, as her villainous turn was far too abrupt to feel earned.
1. "The Iron Throne" (Season 8, Episode 6)
How a story ends is vital to its enduring image. Every character arc and storyline needs to be effectively and skillfully concluded, but the final episode to Game of Thrones angered fans for many reasons. Nearly every major character was negatively affected in some way.
Perhaps the most disliked aspect of the episode is Bran Stark becoming the new king of Westeros instead of someone like Jon Snow. After saying he cannot be lord of anything not long before, Bran becomes the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms despite not being connected to the Iron Throne in any way. Other components that upset fans include Jon being exiled beyond the Wall while Tyrion Lannister becomes the new Hand of the King to Bran even though he encouraged Jon to commit regicide. In one scene, Tyrion walks around and moves chairs in the Small Council room, an example of a moment that could have been used to further explore the fates of characters fans had grown to love over the course of years.
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