Review: House of the Dragon (Season One)
For years, I was glad to partake in the biggest television phenomenon in recent memory with the release of HBO’s mostly-acclaimed Game of Thrones series. Appropriately recognized with countless awards and praise from critics and fans alike, Game of Thrones made the most of its source material, the “A Song of Ice and Fire” book series from author George R. R. Martin, by dramatically depicting its medieval fantasy drama and intrigue on the big screen. Where Game of Thrones went wrong, however, is when the series surpassed the incredible foundation that its original author established, navigating uncharted territory as the show-runners seemingly made important plot and story decisions on their own since their story had surpassed what books had released up until then. At this point, all of the incredible writing, tension, and build up that had made Game of Thrones what is was dissipated, culminating in one of the least satisfying and rushed final seasons in TV history. This fall from grace disappointed many, including myself, but the lore and richness of the world of Westeros never ceased to draw me back in. So when HBO and George R. R. Martin announced a prequel series based on the author’s writings in “Fire and Blood,” I knew I would have to check it out. * This post contains spoilers for House of the Dragon (Season One.)
Based almost 200 years before the events of Games of Thrones, House of the Dragon follows the political conflict that arose during and after the reign of King Viserys, who selected his daughter Rhaenyra to succeed him after his eventual death. His Queen, Alicent Hightower, misinterprets the king’s dying words later in the season, thinking instead that he has had a change of heart and that he wants his son Aegon to succeed him. While the prospect of Rhaenyra becoming the first woman to lead the Seven Kingdoms already didn’t sit well with many of the Westeros common folk, the Hightower’s coup after Viserys’ death leads to the civil war known as the “dance of the dragons,” which will define future seasons as bloodshed and betrayal are all that Viserys The Peaceful will have left behind as legacy. This controversy, along with other intergenerational battles for power, dragons, and explorations of the lore of Westeros, made season one a treat with political twists and turns I never expected this show capable of executing so well.
Although skeptical at first because of Game of Thrones’ disappointing ending, I was quickly enthralled by House of the Dragon’s competent writing, compelling storylines, and incredible performances. Although re-casting throughout the first season due to story-based time jumps, all actors involved serve their characters and the greater story incredibly well. King Viserys', portrayed by Paddy Considine, was particularly impressive as his diseased character navigated the difficulties of ruling over the Seven Kingdoms. Rhaenyra, Alicent, and Daemon feel just as significant as any of the characters we grew to love in Game of Thrones. Despite having a much lower budget than a series like Amazon’s The Rings of Power, the production design and world building establish much connection to the character’s emotions and experiences. To reconcile the feelings I had about the end of Game of Thrones while moving forward to House of the Dragon, I’m reminded of this: No television adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s direct source material has disappointed yet, so there is no reason to think this will change. Season one of House of the Dragon was a surprising treat, and season two can’t come soon enough.
