Honestly, yeah, I can understand having some hang-ups about the show. My main issue with it is that I didn't reallly mind the changes that they made in the first season because there was still some intrigue to what they were doing, and I hadn't read the book yet. Making Viserys and Alicent's marriage something that she didn't really want makes her later choice to defend her son's succession because she thinks that her family is genuinely unsafe, due to the woman that she once called a friend would have been interesting. The story that they built in the early parts of season 1 was actually pretty good but then season 2 happened and it just was kinda inconsistent with season 1. Also, the women are constantly made to be wishy washy at best. You're telling me that Alicent groomed her sons for the idea that war was inevitable for all the years that they can remember and then suddenly when this inevitable war comes she wants no one to do anything because suddenly she realizes that her feelings for someone that she has not had a kind word for for more years than they were friends is more important than the family that she brought all this on? They could still have Rhaenicent, but there's this strange aversion to toxic yuri all of a sudden. Well, on the side of Alicent, like at least let her want to capture Rhaenyra or something. Make Alicent even more steadfast in her religion while also yearning for Rhaenyra and that turning into a clusterfuck of her wanting to own that bratty princess who always got what she wanted. Now it's Alicent's turn. Give me an Alicent that doesn't always agree with her sons' way of doing things but understands that they're in a war and certain things can be forgive/turned a blind eye to, once they know to bring their pretty half-sister to her unharmed and in chains. Honestly, it's really fun to think about because I think that show Rhaenyra still thinks that there are some things that Alicent limits herself to but war Alicent is different and cruel and fun. Sorry this became a rant about Rhaenicent being better written.

Also the Vermithor thing just makes no sense to me from what I know about the whole dragon lore of it all. I just think that it's some way for them to replicate some Daenerys moment for her. Which, I don't understand why we're trying to reheat GOT nachos when we saw how that ended. Like, let's do better please.

The whole thing with the dance, in my opinion, is that a lot of these people are just not fit for the throne and most people who are, GRRM likes to kill off before they can get a chance to but also you have to question if the people that are assumed best for the throne are really the best for the throne and not just seen through rose-colored glasses tinted by the young blood that was spilt and not actually able to be realized as adults. There's no definitive answer to who someone that died early would grow up to be and even some fans turn a blind eye to undesirable character traits that a prince or princess/lord or lady would grow into as people who usually escape consequences. The guidelines for good varies for highborns. Speculation is not reality and headcanons are just that at the end of the day and my headcanon will not always be a 1:1 with someone else's and that is okay. It depends on how things are dealt with and discussed.