I really enjoyed this backstory series, rich characters. So much opportunity to expand the histories of GOT characters. I would love to see someone like James Spader make an appearance. Every episode is such a feast for the eyes, making one homesick for a place you've never been. Although it is not without its cliches of forbidden love, scheming relatives and the like, it doesn't hurt to have dragons and Rhys Ifans to soften the blow. I don't usually like a spin off, they are often disappointing and lacking, but House of the Dragon had me hooked from the first episode. Even the into draws you in.
1,982 Reviews
Fire and blood.
Pjtaylor-96-13804425 February 2024
Season 1: The first season of 'House Of The Dragon (2022-)' is definitely up there with the best seasons of 'Game Of Thrones (2011 - 2019)'. Asserting its dominance early on, the show details the consequences of the peaceful Targaryen King's decision to name his first-born daughter heir to the iron throne - consequences which only become more complex after he later sires a son (who, according to tradition, should supplant his older sister). The core of the narrative is based around political intrigue, with the various players plotting to give the throne to whoever's ascension would benefit themselves the most. The backstabbing, betrayal, heel-turns and revelations are all incredibly compelling, and the show manages to weave a tight-knit tapestry out of its various factions and conflicts. It's in some ways more focused than its older brother, focusing entirely around a decades-long issue of succession and more-or-less bouncing between two primary characters (although it takes a while for the pieces to all fall into place). There's still plenty of intrigue to be found, though, and the narrative twists and turns many times. It remains wholly engaging throughout, even as it navigates several hefty time-jumps and even recasts its core characters. It's really well-executed, a mature and impeccably written affair from start to finish. It also looks amazing, with immersive costuming and set-design and tactile special effects (the dragons look fantastic). The acting is all great, too, with the stand-out being the phenomenal Paddy Considine - although Olivia Cooke, Emma D'Arcy, Millie Alcock, Emily Carey, Matt Smith, Rhys Ifans and Eve Best are all notably strong as well. It's all just really entertaining, an often jaw-dropping and delightfully frustrating experience that puts you on the edge of your seat and keeps you there. It also features some palpable character arcs and is surprisingly affecting on occasion. It's just a brilliant series overall, even though it does have a few slower episodes (which thankfully tend to have great endings). It also leaves you wanting more, much more, so it's a good thing that season 2 isn't far away. I watched 'Game Of Thrones (2011 - 2019)' after it had all been released, so I didn't experience the wait between seasons which I'll now have to with this show. Honestly, I just can't wait until it returns. I hope that it continues to be as good as this. Incredible stuff.
Blondes, Dragons, and Timeskips
suse-040986 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I really really enjoyed this show and loved all the lore we got. The actors were, in my opinion, cast really well and did a great job. However, I think the big time jumps lost were not the way to go. It distanced me a lot from the characters and any events I was expecting in my head. At first the forbidden and more or less secret admiration between Rhaenyra and Daemon is such a big thing and we get Rhaenyra being extra bold when asking Daemon to take her to Dragonstone and then suddenly we skip ten years. Oh and then suddenly they are married with kids. I really really would have loved to see their relationship develop further and what others think of it and the wedding and and and... time to read some fix-it fan fiction I guess.
Terrific
Rob13317 March 2024
Game of Thrones was one of my favorite shows of all-time so I couldn't wait for House of the Dragon. After just finishing it I can tell you it's fantastic! While it's not as good as Game of Thrones it's still very good in its own right. It's already another hit for HBO. I've never read the books to these shows so I had no expectations when it came to that but I wouldn't care if it varied from the source material even if I did. I don't get why so many people care if a movie/show is different from the source material. As long as it's entertaining...who cares? They have to adapt these books for the screen. The first few episodes may start a little slow for some as they build these characters and the world they live in but stick with it because it definitely pays off. This is definitely one of the best new shows of the year and I'm looking forward to more seasons in the future.
Incohesive
Deux_Vega27 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The first few episodes were quite promising. I thought the initial cast was interesting. Especially Paddy Considine (the king) surprised me on how well he could carry the role. Milly Alcock was intriguing as well as Rhaenyra, the princess.
And then episode 6 happened. A 10 year jump with randomly some "older" cast, mixed with the same actors, nearly not aged at all.
From that point on I lost interest. Emma D'Arcy couldn't deliver as the older Rhaenyra and some of the other new cast also felt like a downgrade.
Not just that, It's also the moment that, considering such a long timespan the story takes place, you start to notice how one-dimensional the show Is. It becomes a bit soapy. GoT had a surplus in races, traits and storylines going on, all in a somewhat chaotic but inspiring cocktail to build up suspense and intrigue.
This still has the look and feel, but not the content.
It had a few highlights after that which made me somewhat come back to It, but I'm not super impressed. I hoped on a bit more, maybe not to the epic level as GoT, but a bit closer to It. I don't know what to think of It actually. The keyword that seems to come up is mostly "whatever". I guess, that's how I feel after watching this: a whatever show.
And then episode 6 happened. A 10 year jump with randomly some "older" cast, mixed with the same actors, nearly not aged at all.
From that point on I lost interest. Emma D'Arcy couldn't deliver as the older Rhaenyra and some of the other new cast also felt like a downgrade.
Not just that, It's also the moment that, considering such a long timespan the story takes place, you start to notice how one-dimensional the show Is. It becomes a bit soapy. GoT had a surplus in races, traits and storylines going on, all in a somewhat chaotic but inspiring cocktail to build up suspense and intrigue.
This still has the look and feel, but not the content.
It had a few highlights after that which made me somewhat come back to It, but I'm not super impressed. I hoped on a bit more, maybe not to the epic level as GoT, but a bit closer to It. I don't know what to think of It actually. The keyword that seems to come up is mostly "whatever". I guess, that's how I feel after watching this: a whatever show.
Love It
Supermanfan-137 May 2024
I've been looking forward to House of the Dragon since the spin-off was first announced. The majority of the reviews and ratings have been great so that only enhanced my excitement. I told myself I'd be happy if it was half as good as the original and I can say that without a doubt that it is. While it's obviously not as good as the original (not much is) it definitely is still a really good show that will no doubt be successful. It has the same Game of Thrones feel with all the action, drama, mystery, etc. People who don't like it either didn't want to because they hate everything or are comparing it to the original...don't. Just take it for what it is and that's a really good show! It was the most watched premiere in HBO history and has already been renewed for another season. This is going to have a long run so I hope it continues to get better and better like the original.
Whats the rush?
carinnalowther23 September 2022
GoT not only was beautifully shot. With wonderful acting and compelling characters but it was also complex. This show feels like its just trying to rush through some plot. GoT had multiple characters that you felt deeply for, both loving and hating. None of these characters have deep substance. Additionally we aren't following the grand and unique stories of several characters and anxiously awaiting to see how they collide. We are watching a single plot seem to race towards the end. This is visually beautiful but there is no emotional connection beyond hoping to see a glimpse of the connection to GoT.
I'm very disappointed and I hope that next time a spinoff is made they take their time crafting the characters and the plot and less time pandering to the perceived desires of the audience.
I'm very disappointed and I hope that next time a spinoff is made they take their time crafting the characters and the plot and less time pandering to the perceived desires of the audience.
The dragons looked great !
redx170827 October 2022
Some reviewers have claimed that I shouldn't compare it to GOT, but how can I not ? After all, it wouldn't have been here if not for GOT.
And while the first couple of episodes didn't exactly impress me, I decided to watch the whole season before judging it. I mean, giving it the chance to develop the characters, it was bound to get better, right ?
Wrong ! It didn't !
The crew in charge of lighting must have gone on strike, cause most of the season played out in semi darkness, and it also seemed like most of the episodes had plot for about 30 minutes of time, which caused scenes to be dragged out painfully, and supplied with fillers like 10 minutes of soft porn in #4, and 10 minutes of people dancing in #5.
And then there was the time jumps. The season spanned about 20 years, so we were treated to a lot of changing actors, but oddly enough some characters didn't seem to age at all. Otto, Daemon, Rhaenys and Criston looked pretty much like they did at the beginning of the season. I guess the makeup crew was too busy turning Viserys into a crypt keeper lookalike, to do something about that.
As for the acting, I'm not gonna comment on that, since the lack of character build gave the actors very little to work with. That also meant that whenever somebody was killed, I was mostly like "right, so that happened", because they hadn't build up the character enough for anyone to care.
If they wanted to make a spin off, from a popular show, they could at least have tried to maintain just a bit of the quality of the original, but this was just a very sloppy production way below what we have come to expect from HBO.
The dragons looked great though :)
And while the first couple of episodes didn't exactly impress me, I decided to watch the whole season before judging it. I mean, giving it the chance to develop the characters, it was bound to get better, right ?
Wrong ! It didn't !
The crew in charge of lighting must have gone on strike, cause most of the season played out in semi darkness, and it also seemed like most of the episodes had plot for about 30 minutes of time, which caused scenes to be dragged out painfully, and supplied with fillers like 10 minutes of soft porn in #4, and 10 minutes of people dancing in #5.
And then there was the time jumps. The season spanned about 20 years, so we were treated to a lot of changing actors, but oddly enough some characters didn't seem to age at all. Otto, Daemon, Rhaenys and Criston looked pretty much like they did at the beginning of the season. I guess the makeup crew was too busy turning Viserys into a crypt keeper lookalike, to do something about that.
As for the acting, I'm not gonna comment on that, since the lack of character build gave the actors very little to work with. That also meant that whenever somebody was killed, I was mostly like "right, so that happened", because they hadn't build up the character enough for anyone to care.
If they wanted to make a spin off, from a popular show, they could at least have tried to maintain just a bit of the quality of the original, but this was just a very sloppy production way below what we have come to expect from HBO.
The dragons looked great though :)
Don't miss this spinoff
Dawson-3137 May 2024
I don't even know how to describe how much I loved House of Dragon. First of all, Game of Thrones is my favorite show of all time. I love it so much I've watched it all the way through several times and will again. I was hoping House of Dragon would be half as good. Well, it's more than that. It's not quite as good as Game of Thrones, it's pretty close. It's definitely the best new show that's come out in a while. I'm glad it was nominated for a few Emmy's including best drama, it didn't win but glad to see the show is getting the love it deserves. The entire cast is unbelievable, not a bad actor on the entire show.
If you liked the original you'll like this too
Freakazoid11757 May 2024
This has to be one of the best spinoffs ever made. This is a show where you can't be playing on your phone, cooking dinner or doing something else, it requires your undivided attention. It's a show that never gets stale. I can't remember ever being bored, even for one episode. I loved every second of every episode and I think you will to if you give it a chance. The one thing I didn't like was the time jump came to early. I would've liked to seen more of the earlier episode years. I've already watched this show twice from beginning to end. The new season should be here sometime this summer and I'm sure it'll be just as good as the first.
I created an IMDb account while a loooong staring scene
alonaserpetska13 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I must confess, the first 5 series were okeish (we had enough of scenes to make jokes about, while still the show was not completely lost and kind of entertaining). But.....starting from the episode 6 we can't even make jokes anymore. The scenes are so slow and boring, the dialogues are not dialogues but just staring scenes. And there is even a bigger disappointment:
What happened to the wild and rebellious Rhaenyra? She was shown as a promising character, that she is there for something bigger, she talks to mother and says she does not want to give a birth.. she want to fly a dragon and may be to change the order of the realm (oh oh!) and become a first woman ruler. Intrigue! The next episode: years passed...she gives a birth..years pass again.. she gives a birth to what..6th child? And she does not make anything else. She is shown as a MOTHER without no other interested. This really makes me sad.. The only thing this character is missing to take all my hope from this life is to show how she and Daemon discuss mortgage and bills..(I am ok with having kids, but man.. does it have to end up with all your dreams and make you sooo boring and kill your character?)
another mind blowing "twist"was with Alicent: "ooh she wears green! Hightowers wear green when they announce war." Intrigue! Next episode: X amount of years passed... she also has a lot of children. Wow! That was a shocking revenge indeed.
I better watch my cat.
I better watch my cat.
If GOT Wasn't Interesting
sunnyn-5868013 September 2022
The issue with House of the Dragon is that it just isn't interesting. Game of Thrones had so much political intrigue that the audience paid attention to every single detail. There was always a massive payoff with some seriously shocking events. The seasons (prior to 8) had interesting and complex story lines.
With House of the Dragon, this is not quite the case. Where is the political intrigue? Where is the conflict? A plot centered around a daughter's refusal to marry/being a female heir is not interesting enough to be the sole plot for four episodes. There needs to be additional conflict. I will keep watching and praying that it gets more interesting. If this is a slow burn, it is VERY slow.
With House of the Dragon, this is not quite the case. Where is the political intrigue? Where is the conflict? A plot centered around a daughter's refusal to marry/being a female heir is not interesting enough to be the sole plot for four episodes. There needs to be additional conflict. I will keep watching and praying that it gets more interesting. If this is a slow burn, it is VERY slow.
The Flames of Westeros Burn Bright: A Triumphant Return
harishnj21 April 2024
"House of the Dragon" reignites the fire of Westeros with a thrilling first season. From the opening moments, the show masterfully transports us back into the world of political backstabbing, noble houses, and the majestic power of dragons.
The Targaryen family takes center stage, showcasing complex characters whose decisions will shape the fate of the realm. Expect intricate relationships, power struggles, and stunning betrayals that will keep you hooked until the very last episode.
Visually stunning and emotionally charged, "House of the Dragon" delivers epic battles, shocking twists, and heart-wrenching moments. While there are time jumps that might initially feel jarring, the show ultimately delivers a gripping narrative that cements itself as a worthy successor to "Game of Thrones."
If you loved the intrigue, ambition, and spectacle of "Game of Thrones", then "House of the Dragon" is a must-watch. It's a captivating return to Westeros filled with fire, fury, and the promise of a devastating war to come.
The Targaryen family takes center stage, showcasing complex characters whose decisions will shape the fate of the realm. Expect intricate relationships, power struggles, and stunning betrayals that will keep you hooked until the very last episode.
Visually stunning and emotionally charged, "House of the Dragon" delivers epic battles, shocking twists, and heart-wrenching moments. While there are time jumps that might initially feel jarring, the show ultimately delivers a gripping narrative that cements itself as a worthy successor to "Game of Thrones."
If you loved the intrigue, ambition, and spectacle of "Game of Thrones", then "House of the Dragon" is a must-watch. It's a captivating return to Westeros filled with fire, fury, and the promise of a devastating war to come.
Has Potential, but Lacks Someone to Root For.
bozekmatthewj6 October 2022
The show contains all the necessary elements of a great show: suspense, drama, betrayal, passion - however it's biggest flaw is that it lacks a likable person.
Every character falls in either of two categories; arrogant or pathetic, and this becomes apparent immediately.
The show needs a hero with humility whose rise to power is mostly seen as a taking of responsibility for the good of the realm and not for one's personal ambition.
Where is the character development? Where is the struggle? What sort of values should we emulate and from whom?
Still, the show is worth watching - I just hope that one of the dragons goes crazy and eats everyone.
Ugh, where is Jon Snow when you need him?
Every character falls in either of two categories; arrogant or pathetic, and this becomes apparent immediately.
The show needs a hero with humility whose rise to power is mostly seen as a taking of responsibility for the good of the realm and not for one's personal ambition.
Where is the character development? Where is the struggle? What sort of values should we emulate and from whom?
Still, the show is worth watching - I just hope that one of the dragons goes crazy and eats everyone.
Ugh, where is Jon Snow when you need him?
Poor shallow attempt
objviewer30 January 2023
What was best about GOT was the character development and complexity: viewing a character's motivations through their history and experience, the character arc, the character's evolution. HOTD writers evidently confuse inconsistency with complexity. None of the characters are terribly interesting. They don't exist in any kind of world that's presented. There is no realm. We see mostly claustrophobic scenes of bickering families, like in a soap opera, except with some anonymous knights standing around, and occasional graphic violence.
And the banal, predictable dialogue: "That's your father talking", "My father's dead and he chose me as his successor". What I wouldn't give for a Littlefinger rapier monologue.
Scenes that should create tension and suspense, like when they're looking for Aegon to be crowned, don't, because- who the heck is Aegon? Just a name of a character we don't care about because he's not formed.
Too bad because first episode seemed promising; strong independent young woman becomes a leader. But then turns into promiscuous mother fighting another mother over whose kids gets what. Never clear what difference it makes who is in charge. They all seem kind of the same.
Just rewatch seasons 1-4 GOT.
And the banal, predictable dialogue: "That's your father talking", "My father's dead and he chose me as his successor". What I wouldn't give for a Littlefinger rapier monologue.
Scenes that should create tension and suspense, like when they're looking for Aegon to be crowned, don't, because- who the heck is Aegon? Just a name of a character we don't care about because he's not formed.
Too bad because first episode seemed promising; strong independent young woman becomes a leader. But then turns into promiscuous mother fighting another mother over whose kids gets what. Never clear what difference it makes who is in charge. They all seem kind of the same.
Just rewatch seasons 1-4 GOT.
A past that erupts
avindugunasinghe21 April 2024
A mythical kingdom where raw natures of human qualities shaping a realm. So much entangled games of politics that can keep the audience engaged without wanting to miss a beat. So much details with unique characters with many stories of their own. Flawless visuals that sets and symbolizes the background of each moment. Excellent CGI. Precise audio effects and excellent background music. Prequel is actually welcoming to the new audience and it's an opportunity to get a feel for the GOT series. Though it may sometimes strand new comers with the absence of a proper prologue HOD become interesting as the episodes goes on.
Best Produced Fantasy on TV
michaelscottbamford14 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I am a massive fan of the world of Westeros. My love of this world began with the original Game of Thrones TV show. I watched it, loved it, and then read all the books before the show caught up to the book's storyline and eventually went passed it. Long story short, I love the books, I kinda half hate the OG show for screwing up the conclusion so dramatically. Which is why I was not looking forward to this series when I heard it announced.
I was sure it was gonna be a cash grab, cynical slog at the same quality as the final season of thrones but... I was wrong. Very wrong.
This show is fantastic. Respect to those who dislike it, I'll just say that for me, this is everything I wanted and more from a show about Westeros.
I love this story. I love the themes of Duty vs Freedom and the conflict between those values. I LOVE the characters and their conflicts, flaws, personal histories and motivations. I love Viserys and Daemon and Raenyra and Alicent, Otto, and Christen, and Aemond, Aegon, and all the rest. There's so many characters to enjoy and each one is compelling in their own way.
Also, can we all at least recognize that this is far and away the best produced fantasy television series of all time? The sets are unbelievable, the costumes are gorgeous, the cinematography is stunning, the props, the makeup, the VFX, EVERYTHING is firing on all cylinders.
My only criticisms are that the time jumps are handled somewhat clumsily in terms of casting and characters develop off screen more than they should. And I thought it was stupid when Rhaenys killed all those people in episode 9 and then didn't kill her literal enemies who imprisoned and threatened her because she "didn't want to start something".
There are minor gripes I could flesh out, but why would I when the show offers far more in the way of enjoyable and downright addictive television?
I watched every episode as they came out and plan to do the same for season 2.
I was sure it was gonna be a cash grab, cynical slog at the same quality as the final season of thrones but... I was wrong. Very wrong.
This show is fantastic. Respect to those who dislike it, I'll just say that for me, this is everything I wanted and more from a show about Westeros.
I love this story. I love the themes of Duty vs Freedom and the conflict between those values. I LOVE the characters and their conflicts, flaws, personal histories and motivations. I love Viserys and Daemon and Raenyra and Alicent, Otto, and Christen, and Aemond, Aegon, and all the rest. There's so many characters to enjoy and each one is compelling in their own way.
Also, can we all at least recognize that this is far and away the best produced fantasy television series of all time? The sets are unbelievable, the costumes are gorgeous, the cinematography is stunning, the props, the makeup, the VFX, EVERYTHING is firing on all cylinders.
My only criticisms are that the time jumps are handled somewhat clumsily in terms of casting and characters develop off screen more than they should. And I thought it was stupid when Rhaenys killed all those people in episode 9 and then didn't kill her literal enemies who imprisoned and threatened her because she "didn't want to start something".
There are minor gripes I could flesh out, but why would I when the show offers far more in the way of enjoyable and downright addictive television?
I watched every episode as they came out and plan to do the same for season 2.
A song of blood and fire
Sh31kh_H0kv54 April 2024
The tables turned towards the end of the first season, in comparison like all always the house of dragons doesn't even come close as to what the game of thrones was, in fact and reasoning there was no need to even compare with both plots and characters likewise was in their own league power struggles through the ages but in some cases accidents do sure play a larger role as to the ignition of what's about come, setting the stage for an inevitable war between love,blood and power let the outcome be favorable to both the victor and the one who lost the war cause in the end we've heard the song of ice and fire but not of blood and fire, lett the raging flame burn.
HOTD Season One
kentakawada28 April 2024
After the disappointing last season of Game of Thrones, many predicted the worst for this other adaptation based on George RR Martin's novels, in this case, ''Fire and Blood''. However, not only is it a success, but in some ways, it is even superior to the original series. First of all, it is obvious that the creators of the series take their work seriously: the sets, the cinematography, the costumes and the special effects are all elements that elevate House of the Dragon to a high level of quality (the making-of of each episode are to be seen). Ramin Djawadi, a renowned composer of the GOT soundtrack, returns with even more beautiful, intense, emotional and epic pieces! Aside from the main theme common to the two series, we remember these GOT classics like ''The Rains of Castamere'', ''Winds of Winter'', ''The Tower of Joy'' as well as the music associated with Winterfell or Daenerys. From HOTD, we will remember the march of Viscerys on ''Protector of the Realm'', the coronation of Rhaenyra on ''The Crown of Jaeharys'', her marriage to Daemond or the sublime music which accompanies the intimate scene between her and Criston Cole.
But more than anything, it is the acting and the quality of the writing that make the series successful. Unlike GOT, which simultaneously followed dozens of characters across Westeros and beyond, HOTD takes place approximately 300 years before Daenerys and focuses on the intrigues of the Targaryen family, from its peak to its bloody downfall caused by internal wars. Some episodes feels extremely packed as lot is going on because the first season covers a period of around thirty years. As a result, characters sometimes appear and die in the same episode while Rhaenyra, Alicent and their respective children are played by different actors to emphasize the jumps in time, which constitutes one of the rare downsides of the season because some passages move too quickly and leave the impression that we are missing information. In short, we don't always have time to digest all the intrigues. We should also highlight the unusual fact that there are four childbirth scenes during the season, each equally brutal!
The strengths far outweigh the few weaknesses and make House of the Dragon the best series since... season four of Game of Thrones! I rated each episode and it gives me an overall total of 8.2/10. This is a must watch for sure!
But more than anything, it is the acting and the quality of the writing that make the series successful. Unlike GOT, which simultaneously followed dozens of characters across Westeros and beyond, HOTD takes place approximately 300 years before Daenerys and focuses on the intrigues of the Targaryen family, from its peak to its bloody downfall caused by internal wars. Some episodes feels extremely packed as lot is going on because the first season covers a period of around thirty years. As a result, characters sometimes appear and die in the same episode while Rhaenyra, Alicent and their respective children are played by different actors to emphasize the jumps in time, which constitutes one of the rare downsides of the season because some passages move too quickly and leave the impression that we are missing information. In short, we don't always have time to digest all the intrigues. We should also highlight the unusual fact that there are four childbirth scenes during the season, each equally brutal!
The strengths far outweigh the few weaknesses and make House of the Dragon the best series since... season four of Game of Thrones! I rated each episode and it gives me an overall total of 8.2/10. This is a must watch for sure!
House of the dragon season 1 review
chazharriman27 February 2024
For me this is on par with game of thrones or in other words on the same level as 1 or 2 seasons of it. Meaning in my book, it's close to a 10/10 but for me is a 9.5/10 cause I feel as if the start was a bit slow but that does not mean it did not exceed expectations after a few episodes. The story was very well written & it's definitely one of the strongest spin off shows of any recent universe/series. The ending got me gassed for the new season & makes me wonder what we'll get in the future in the game of thrones universe. The acting was phenomenal & each character just like game of thrones, although some were annoying as hell, they were great characters. The time jumps weren't even confusing either. Seeing more & more dragons was cool asf too, can't wait for season 2. I fw this show heavy I'll be so real.
Disappointing
rsewalsh22 August 2022
I was hoping to go the rest of my life without ever seeing another jousting match or brothel scene. But there were both in just the first episode. I think that's been done before!? I found the start of this new story to be boring, routine and not very original. I hope it picks up.
Starts up, ends down
victoragus18 January 2024
(To the first season)
It has a promising story, a lot of money and an interesting epoch to talk about. It starts really good, but suddenly jumps a lot of years with no notice, and later a lot of years more.
What was disgusting to me was the acting: the youngest stars take a fresh view of the character, while the older ones just cry, and cry, and cry.
They've only 2 faces: brave (as they're going to war) or crying because they've lost something.
I just hope that this doesn't become to a simple hight budget soap opera. While I saw the previous series from the very first chapter, this one is becoming tedious to follow. And worst of all, you know what will happen.
Really they couldn't do something bigger with this rich world? Really?
What was disgusting to me was the acting: the youngest stars take a fresh view of the character, while the older ones just cry, and cry, and cry.
They've only 2 faces: brave (as they're going to war) or crying because they've lost something.
I just hope that this doesn't become to a simple hight budget soap opera. While I saw the previous series from the very first chapter, this one is becoming tedious to follow. And worst of all, you know what will happen.
Really they couldn't do something bigger with this rich world? Really?
Meh, a soap opera with good production value, but lacks compelling plot
schlomo-jones12 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I'm four episodes in and I can say I don't feel strongly about this show. I was huge fan of GoT, but disappointed with the way it ended, so I was not really excited when they announced this show.
So far, it hasn't been that great. This takes place about 170ish years before the events of GoT, so we see what a Targaryean ruled Westeros is like. The plot so far heavily revolves around a looming war of succession between multiple Targaryeans. It's basically a soap opera, with a lot of double dealing and backstabbing going on.
One thing that really annoyed me was that they try to link it the original series by connecting the Targaryean rule to the prophecy in GoT. This makes little sense, and was clearly done as a cheap tie-in with little thought behind it. The worst part is, it's just a painful reminder of the way GoT ended, and how disappointing the whole "prophecy" thing was (not to mention a red herring) and how underwhelming the white walker invasion was after years of build up.
That brings me to my final complaint, in that there's no real compelling antagonists or protagonists here. We have a bunch of unlikeable characters vying for the throne, but all of them are pretty horrible. There's no Jon Snow or Tyrion Lannister, and after episode 4, it looks like Rhaenrys has more in common to Cersei than Daenerys. There is no one to root for, and no existential threat beyond the wall or from anywhere else. It's just palace intrigues and plots within plots.
Enjoyable for those like soap operas, with a little T&A and some brutal violence, with the occassional dragon thrown in. High production value for sure, and the end of episode three had a pretty cool battle scene. But this isn't the type of show you get obsessed with like GoT was.
So far, it hasn't been that great. This takes place about 170ish years before the events of GoT, so we see what a Targaryean ruled Westeros is like. The plot so far heavily revolves around a looming war of succession between multiple Targaryeans. It's basically a soap opera, with a lot of double dealing and backstabbing going on.
One thing that really annoyed me was that they try to link it the original series by connecting the Targaryean rule to the prophecy in GoT. This makes little sense, and was clearly done as a cheap tie-in with little thought behind it. The worst part is, it's just a painful reminder of the way GoT ended, and how disappointing the whole "prophecy" thing was (not to mention a red herring) and how underwhelming the white walker invasion was after years of build up.
That brings me to my final complaint, in that there's no real compelling antagonists or protagonists here. We have a bunch of unlikeable characters vying for the throne, but all of them are pretty horrible. There's no Jon Snow or Tyrion Lannister, and after episode 4, it looks like Rhaenrys has more in common to Cersei than Daenerys. There is no one to root for, and no existential threat beyond the wall or from anywhere else. It's just palace intrigues and plots within plots.
Enjoyable for those like soap operas, with a little T&A and some brutal violence, with the occassional dragon thrown in. High production value for sure, and the end of episode three had a pretty cool battle scene. But this isn't the type of show you get obsessed with like GoT was.
Expensive soap opera
wolfghostninja28 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
House of the Dragon, but is it any good, or is it just something people watch so they have something to talk about?
Its not very good. The show struggles, and the actors seem to lack confidence, with very few strong performances. It carries the vibe of one of those cheap British soap operas, only without the drama. Weak acting, dull dialogue, and some poor direction.
In the opening episode, a noble and his guard commit atrocities in a town square, in the final shot the noble raises his longsword intending to kill a man who is being held down by foot soldiers. The trouble is that had the sword actually swung as it did, it would have also likely removed the arms of both men holding the victim in place, but the next shot shows a severed head. This struck me as careless direction, and frankly that attitude permeates throughout the show. The actors seem to either lack range or they are on auto pilot, assured that the show is already a success on the back of its name. Which seems to actually be true if one looks at the many gushing reviews.
I found it to be dull and lacklustre, certainly not worthy of the press it gets online. Struggled to finish the first episode. The original show also started slow but soon found its footing after a few episodes, particularly with the death of Ned Starck, it's possible that this show will also grow into itself, but it does not look promising, especially since there are few secrets about the world after the first series - such as the white walkers ect.
A disappointment. 5 stars.
Its not very good. The show struggles, and the actors seem to lack confidence, with very few strong performances. It carries the vibe of one of those cheap British soap operas, only without the drama. Weak acting, dull dialogue, and some poor direction.
In the opening episode, a noble and his guard commit atrocities in a town square, in the final shot the noble raises his longsword intending to kill a man who is being held down by foot soldiers. The trouble is that had the sword actually swung as it did, it would have also likely removed the arms of both men holding the victim in place, but the next shot shows a severed head. This struck me as careless direction, and frankly that attitude permeates throughout the show. The actors seem to either lack range or they are on auto pilot, assured that the show is already a success on the back of its name. Which seems to actually be true if one looks at the many gushing reviews.
I found it to be dull and lacklustre, certainly not worthy of the press it gets online. Struggled to finish the first episode. The original show also started slow but soon found its footing after a few episodes, particularly with the death of Ned Starck, it's possible that this show will also grow into itself, but it does not look promising, especially since there are few secrets about the world after the first series - such as the white walkers ect.
A disappointment. 5 stars.
Beautifully filled the void left by GOT. A must see!
emanda19643 April 2024
The amount of ppl who gave this show a very low rating it absolutely blows my mind! I wonder if they saw the whole season or just an episode and for whatever reason they decided the show is a failure.
I was so sad when GOT ended and I was sure that I will never again get to see another one like it. Till House of the Dragon came along. I watched the whole season in one night, I literally didn't sleep because I couldn't stop watching. Finished season 1 and realized that season 2 is not out yet 🤦♀️. I have to wait till June omg nooooo I'm not going to talk about the plot, acting, dragons, scenes...anything. I'm just saying if you loved GOT you will love this one as well.
I was so sad when GOT ended and I was sure that I will never again get to see another one like it. Till House of the Dragon came along. I watched the whole season in one night, I literally didn't sleep because I couldn't stop watching. Finished season 1 and realized that season 2 is not out yet 🤦♀️. I have to wait till June omg nooooo I'm not going to talk about the plot, acting, dragons, scenes...anything. I'm just saying if you loved GOT you will love this one as well.
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