Game of Thrones fans around the globe held their breath as the premiere of the new series set in George R. R. Martin’s iconic universe took flight on Aug. 21st of this year.
With an 8.7/10 on IMDb and an 85% score on Rotten Tomatoes, it is clear that the show has made a profound impact on its audience. However, what makes House of the Dragon so great? After the internet dumpster fire that the end of Game of Thrones left, can House of the Dragon live up to the massive expectations of its fans?
Of course not. However, it can expand the Game of Thrones universe in a way that Game of Thrones could not – with more creative license and interpretation available, it can grow from its source text without the same resistance Game of Thrones faced.
Based on a history book called “Fire & Blood”, House of the Dragon takes place 200 years prior to the events of the “A Song of Ice and Fire” series. With a primary focus on the Targaryen family, the show features a consistent focus on a smaller central group of characters. Conversely, the Game of Thrones series focused on members of multiple families in Westeros – leading to some getting more screen time than others.
By following the Targaryens, the episodes available of House of the Dragon feel like more of a coherent unit – while the series features time skips, the focus on one key family makes it easy for viewers to “catch up” with the years lost in between.
After episode 5, the series will feature new, older actresses in the central roles of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower. By recasting these roles, the story will continue to move at a rapid pace that is sure to keep viewers fixated on the continual strain placed on the show’s central family.
Alongside a riveting plot, House of the Dragon also features masterful cinematography, acting and costumes. Each actor is clearly passionate about their role – helping the script and world come alive alongside calculated cinematography that fluctuates from sweeping halls to claustrophobic chambers. In addition, the costumes for each character assist greatly in asserting their rank as well as their personality – members of the Targaryen family frequently clad in red to symbolize their power and connection to their dragons.
Of course, the dragons featured on the show are another large pull for audiences – while Game of Thrones also had dragons, they did not feature as prominently as the ones shown on House of the Dragon. This fact was a pull to the show for many former Game of Thrones fans, making them curious to see how the creative team behind the Game of Thrones prequel would show the connection between the Targaryen family and their dragons – Daenerys Targaryen being the only central example prior to this.
Excited about the upcoming episodes of House of the Dragon? Wishing to give the show a try? New episodes release on Sundays and can be viewed on HBO max.
