I think back a lot to what you said about so much of what ppl really love in shows being accidents, or done by the actors/not intended by the writers. Like at the end of the day, there are so different ppl working on a show, with so many different POVs that like, even as show runner, if what you intended doesnt come across that way to viewers, then is it really canon? idk maybe im deluding myself, but if the general viewer would hear his take and go, "huh?!", is it really canon?
in my opinion, no. the only canon is what is on my screen. whatever people say behind the scenes is so much noise, because like you say, television is a huge collaborative business and they simply often contradict themselves. we also had sara hess saying daemon and rhaenyra are meant for each other with a primal bond that goes beyond love that no one else can understand, which is deeply at odds with ryan saying that daemon views rhaenyra as an extension of his brother/some kind of consolation prize since he can’t have viserys. so which is the truth? that is pointless to determine - the only thing i can do is watch what is put on my screen and make my judgement of the characters and relationships for myself. i think it’s clear based on this blog which writer’s take i favor more, but i know other people disagree. we can mutually think the other is wrong and bad at watching TV or whatever and move on with our lives, but i will never take a showrunner’s word as gospel over my own eyes and brain because the magicians season 4 episode 13 radicalized me and i now understand all TV writers are stupid and sometimes yes, i do understand their show better than they do, because sometimes they are simply very bad at their jobs and what they intended does not make it to my screen, or they fucking straight up lie to you about what they intended. they sometimes very much do that!
