Game of Competence
–Isaac Asimov
Stories need conflict, and characters need flaws. My biggest issue with House of Dragons is the lack of competence of any character.
GoT
In the original Game of Thrones, there were flawed characters, but they were all extremely competent.
I asked a few groups of friends who their favorite characters were (only counting the first 4 or 5 seasons that followed the books). They said Cersei, Tyrion, Jamie, Tywin Lannister, Stannis Baratheon, the Red Lady, Little Finger, Varys, Ned Stark, Arya, the Hound, Oberyn Martell, Jon Snow, Samwell Tully, the Mountain, Denarys, Margery Tyrell, Olenna Tyrell, and Brienne of Tarth.
The one commonality these heroes, villains, and complex figures had is that they’re competent.
Rob Stark and even characters with a brief showing like Blackfish, Syrio (Arya’s sword instructor), Jeor Mormont (commander of the night’s watch who mentored Jon Snow), Qhorin Halfhand (ranger who got Jon Snow to infiltrate the wildlings), and Maester Aemon were all smart, competent characters. They were wise and thoughtful in their positions.
All these characters and others were extremely competent. They had flaws but were good at what they did best.
Even though Cersei was evil, at least she was competent at being evil. She was politically conniving and would figure out how to get her way. In life, we come across people uniquely competent in different ways. Game of Thrones was great because of the top-tier characters in the games played.
Competent Conflict
Great writing doesn’t create conflict by characters playing the idiot card. Great writing creates conflict where highly competent characters have competing incentives. My favorite is when beliefs differ, but their end goals are the same.
X-men– Professor X and Magneto both want to ensure the survival and prosperity of mutants. Professor X believes in peaceful coexistence with humanity, and Magneto views humans as a threat and advocates for militant resistance. Their divergent incentives—peace vs. self-defense through dominance—lead to an ongoing battle.
The Godfather (1972)-- Michael Corleone and his father, Vito, both want the Corleone family to be secure and powerful. Vito values stability and peace, preferring diplomacy over violence, whereas Michael turns to brutal force to achieve their shared goal. Their differing methods create family conflict.
The Lord of the Rings - Frodo and Boromir want to protect Middle-earth from Sauron’s evil. Boromir wants to use the One Ring as a weapon to defend Gondor, while Frodo believes it must be destroyed to prevent corruption. Despite their common goal, this difference led to the breakdown of the Fellowship.
Unthinkable (2010) – H and Agent Brody both want the nuclear bombs disarmed. H advocates for using extreme torture to prevent a nuclear attack, believing the ends justify the means. Agent Brody opposes this, insisting that ethical boundaries must be maintained even in dire circumstances.
Patience
Someone once told me that they grew more impatient with age. I’ve noticed my patience dwindling, but only when it comes to incompetence. Whether it’s a driver who misses multiple turns, a lawyer who makes a scrivener error, or someone who sucks at their job. I’ve become less sympathetic to mediocrity.
I struggle to emotionally connect with incompetent characters. So, only a handful of childhood books, like Ender’s Game, left a lasting impression on me. Sure, I enjoyed parts of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, but the characters made such frustratingly stupid decisions. Turkish delight? Really?
I’m biased. I care more about people I find both competent, principled, and curious. Competence is table stakes. True mastery reflects extraordinary effort. Society should respect and reward competence in every area.