10 Things We Need To See In House Of The Dragon Season 2
9. Fewer traumatic birth scenes
Faithfulness to Martin's source material and a devotion to the principle of authenticity is one thing but one of House of the Dragon's few shortcomings has been the show's scenes depicting childbirth - to say that these scenes have been gratuitous would be an understatement of overwhelming proportions.
In a universe historically unkind to women, the show has featured four legitimately traumatic birth sequences that have made for genuinely unpleasant viewing, with many fans decrying the potential psychological effect such scenes may have on pregnant women - three of the aforementioned four end in abject tragedy. Regrettably, for a show of House of the Dragon's quality, this criticism sticks out like a sore thumb.
While the argument could be made that Aemma and Laena's deaths served narrative purpose by advancing House of the Dragon's storyline, the appallingly graphic depiction of Rhaenyra's miscarriage doesn't even form an indispensable component of the story. As such, viewers are left to question why HBO thought it was necessary to treat them to the harrowing image of the lifeless baby's deformed head and motionless toes while lamenting the textbook over reliance on visually shocking sequences designed to grab headlines.
Such tactics are wildly unnecessary, notably unsettling and a disservice to a show purportedly meant to focus on the relationship between two women, who are already posed enough problems by the universe which they inhabit. Authenticity is a beloved staple of HBO's take on Westeros but when scenes depicting women in excruciating pain doesn't serve to advance the narrative in any way, one is left to beg the question as to why they are included at all.