House of the Dragon – Review Season One
The grandeur and scale of Game of Thrones revolutionized long-form storytelling. While comparisons to the original are inevitable, I evaluated House of the Dragon on its own merit.
HBO's "House of the Dragon," created with George R. R. Martin, Ryan J. Condal, and Miguel Sapochnik, depicts the pivotal Dance of the Dragons, a key event in Targaryen history. Based on Martin's novel “Fire & Blood” from 2018, the premiere season introduces the key players and sets things up as House Targaryen faces internal turmoil.
House of Dragon summary
The prequel, set almost 200 years before Daenerys and Jon Snow, follows the search for a suitable heir to the Iron Throne. We are introduced to the ailing King Jaehaerys I Targaryen (Michael Carter), a monumental figure in Westerosi's history. Following the death of his male heirs, the realm's future hangs in the balance as the Great Council of 101 AC gathers at Harrenhal to determine his successor.
Among the fourteen candidates, the two primary contenders emerge: Viserys (Paddy Considine), Jaehaerys’ favored heir, and Princess Rhaenys (Milly Alcock/Emily D'Arcy), the daughter of Jaehaerys’ eldest son. Tradition and patriarchal norms led to Viserys's selection as successor, leaving Rhaenys with the bitter moniker, “The Queen Who Never Was.”
After a prologue, the show jumps ahead nine years into King Viserys I's rule—172 years before the Mad King died and Daenerys was born. A tumultuous court surrounds Viserys, with his brother Daemon (Matt Smith) and a secretive council exerting their power behind the scenes. That includes the King's Hand, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), and his daughter Alicent (Emily Carey/Olivia Cooke), who's close to both Rhaenyra and Viserys.
Viserys faces the agonizing choice of saving his wife, Aemma Arryn (Sian Brooke), or securing a male heir to the throne. This decision changed House Targaryen's history, and Westeros' fate, until Daenerys finished what they started.
Shallow characters and one-dimensional plot
In theory, House of the Dragon has all the elements necessary for an enthralling series: drama, intrigue, betrayal, and passion. But the show falls flat. It’s less a high fantasy and more a melodrama in the vein of "Melrose Place." Throwing in some violence and sex doesn't fix how pointless it is.
The show's biggest problem is that none of the characters are very likable. Instead, the show presents a slew of unlikable contenders vying for the throne, each more power-hungry and arrogant than the last. Moreover, the characters are stereotypical and predictable. Where is the character growth? Where is the internal conflict?
What the show truly lacks is a ‘hero’, someone driven by duty, not personal gain. The initial portrayal of a strong, independent woman rising to leadership is promising. But she turns into a promiscuous mother fighting with another mother over whose kids get what.
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Polished aesthetics
In the first season of Game of Thrones, each episode had a budget of an unprecedented $6 million, which later increased to $15 million in the last season. To put it in perspective: HBO spent $20 million for each episode of House of the Dragon. This investment is evident in the improved CGI technology, with dragons displaying intricate detailing, vibrant coloring, and fluid movements, down to the smallest flaps on their skin.
The cinematography in House of the Dragon is top-notch. The show's visuals flawlessly depict King's Landing, including its cityscapes and palace grounds. The same goes for the opulent architectural designs. Sun-dappled cliff tops and blood-soaked beaches serve as backdrops for the tale of war. The season largely unfolds in semi-darkness, a failed attempt to build suspense.
House of Dragon rating
The first episode was a struggle, but I powered through. But then episode six threw us ten years into the future. Suddenly, we met a fresh ensemble of actors. It's strange, though, how some characters didn’t age…
To be honest, I had little interest in the original cast, and now I'm expected to embrace this new one. That's when I gave up, even though I forced myself to finish the season.
The show's visuals are stunning, but the story suffers from its frantic pace and time skips. Condal and Sapochnik clearly wanted to reach a specific plot point to launch the Targaryen Civil War in season two. Unfortunately, the haste resulted in a lack of compelling characters and plot. The actors' performances suffer from the characters' lack of depth. Despite their efforts, none leave a lasting impression.
2 Stars
