I really think the show is good in terms of acting and direction, but in my opinion it tried too hard to make certain characters likeable (even so, it didn’t work for everyone, like you). Mainly by removing their agency or making them very different from their book selves, the biggest offenders being Rhaenyra and Alicent.

Like, they saw these two extremely dangerous women who have no shortage of agency and influence in their respective factions and decided to turn Alicent into someone who’s oblivious to the schemes of the men around her and feels more like she’s only joining the bandwagon to mitigate damages and because she misunderstood her husband’s last words (which is not a thing in the book), when in fact she’s the biggest Green supporter in the books. And Rhaenyra into someone who isn’t dangerous at all (she’s just married to a dangerous guy), who’s extremely wise and reticent about starting a war, when the impression in the books is that she’d go to extreme lengths to secure her claim, no matter the cost. Personally, I think the story would be much more entertaining if they were true to their personalities from the book, even they didn’t have as many redeeming qualities.

I think it’s a story that functions much better if you’re not actively rooting for anyone, but actually seeing it as fascinating historical events unfolding, even though I admit I’m biased, because that’s how I consumed the books. I’m aware that this kind of storytelling wouldn’t be popular with everyone, but I genuinely believe it’s the best way to absorb it.