Reopening one of the oldest plot holes in Game of Thrones is House of the Dragon
A particular plot hole spanning the entire length of Game of Thrones is brought back into focus in a sequence from House Of The Dragon season 2. The travel problems from Game of Thrones resurface even though the prequel series digs deeper into the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons and features important locales like King's Landing, Dragonstone, Harrenhal, and the Vale. This is particularly true when it comes to the ability to travel by dragon, which was a luxury that was mostly lacking in the first series and which Daenerys Targaryen alone possessed.
House of the Dragon Has Difficulties Depicting Distance and Time Passage
The distance and travel time between sites are not shown as clearly in House Of The Dragon as they were in its predecessor. In the episode "The Red Sowing," for instance, Aemond follows Silverwing and takes a plane from King's Landing to Dragonstone. In this scene, Aemond arrives at Dragonstone in a matter of seconds, even though the distance between Dragonstone and King's Landing is approximately 400 miles. Even though it makes sense that a flight that far would take several hours, the scene actually shortens the amount of time and distance needed for the trip.
The show might use more nuanced methods to highlight the enormous distances involved, even though it doesn't place much emphasis on reality in its portrayal of travel. Long journeys could be highlighted through dialogue, or time could be gently indicated through editing. The way things are done in "The Red Sowing" diminishes the importance of Ulf's voyage with Silverwing by making it seem like a short trip rather than the difficult undertaking it ought to be.
In Game of Thrones, Travel Became a Plot Holes More Often
During its eight seasons, Game of Thrones was not immune to plot flaws, and viewers often talked about travel. Particularly, Littlefinger appeared to teleport throughout Westeros, showing up in different places with little to no explanation for how he traveled the great distances required. When multiple characters were brought together for significant conflicts in the narratives, travel inconsistencies became more visible.
Beyond the Wall: A Case in Point
The Game of Thrones season 7 episode "Beyond the Wall" serves as a perfect illustration of the show's difficulties with time. A strange flow of time was shown by the speed of ravens, dragons, and even the members of Jon Snow's party who traveled Beyond the Wall, reflecting the problems encountered in House of the Dragon. The episode had to compress the time period in order to make Daenerys's trek Beyond the Wall easier, which meant that Jon's team and Daenerys had to return to Eastwatch in one episode. This was a necessary cost for the plot, but it brought attention to the show's inconsistent portrayals of time and travel.
The Importance of Travel and Dragon Riders in the House of the Dragon
Compared to Game of Thrones, the equation of travel is drastically altered in House of the dragon due to the abundance of dragon riders. Characters can travel great distances quite easily thanks to dragons' unmatched speed and efficiency. This distinction highlights the inherent challenges and contradictions in depicting travel and time passing in a world where dragons are common means of transportation. The show might explore more inventive methods to visually and narratively communicate the scope and significance of voyages inside its expansive fictional universe, even though it might not follow real-world physics and travel distances.
