#also thank u guys for actually paying attention to my *redacted* rant tags

[cosmic-walkers]

:re your tags, but why do you like s1 stephen better than s2.

Before I begin, I do wanna make it clear that I don't dislike s2 stephen. In fact I think he brings an extremely villainous fire that will add a lot of angst and tragedy to his relationship with Thomas. Like, Alex Jennings is a great actor. He has thomas shaking in his boots lol.

I just loved the chemistry between the two Marks (Gattis and Rylance) in season one. The relationship they began in S1 was extremely unique to me - they weren't quite friends but they weren't enemies. And their casual banter made me feel like I was reading the book, even with the little interaction they got.

When you have two characters who are pivitol in each others lives, I really love how actors can take that relationship and make it something that draws me in. And since that was something started in season 1, with their unique chemistry, i would've loved to see the destruction of that relationship, and the fallout with the same actors? Because at least to me, there was more of an emotional tie to it.

I hate to use this analogy like I do, but if i were watching s2 of HOTD, i'd want to see olivia cooke's alicent and emma's rhaenyra pick up from where they left off in s1 - that's just me!

When two actors are able to start something, and make a very unique relationship, i love seeing that relationship carried on by the two who began it, whether it falls apart or not.

That's just MY opinion, and i also don't think this stephen/jennings is a bad stephen - at all. In fact, like i said in the tags, he really *does* bring Stephen's vicious personality to the table in a way we didn't see in S1. He is actually scary and he puts Thomas on edge; we've been building up for him since the beginning of the season, and we see how he terrifies Thomas. The way Jennings is able to portray an extremely intimidating, terrifying Thomas, that is so divorced from the Stephen that Thomas knew is excellent. He doesn't give Thomas a chance to breathe, he doesn't give Thomas a chance to regain himself. He is completely undoing him and he is not shy about it- and he portrays that very very well. There is no doubt that Stephen is Thomas villain and that he is going to be his end.

But i do like the chemistry with s1 stephen and thomas a lot more. and i would've loved to see those two have a conclusion.

ofc this is just my opinion!