Set 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen, House of the Dragon follows the story of a civil war between the members of House Targaryen. The series is now streaming on HBO Max.
Story
King Viserys I Targaryen awaits a male heir as his wife, Queen Aemma, is pregnant again. She has been through multiple failed pregnancies and wanted this to be the last time she will try to bear a son.
Unfortunately, the queen goes through a miscarriage and dies during childbirth, leaving the king with no heir for succession.
Traditionally, the claim to the Iron Throne goes to the brother of the King, and in this case, the notorious brother of King Viserys, Daemon.
The whole council believes that Daemon is unfit to be a ruler owing to his actions as the Commander of City Watch.
Daemon celebrating the death of the king’s wife and son results in Viserys breaking centuries of tradition to name his daughter, Rhaenyra, as his heir.
Though no one at the council questions this decision, everyone knows that the realm will never accept a woman ruling over them.
With enemies approaching the King’s Landing considering that the crown is vulnerable, King Viserys marries Rhaenyra’s friend, Alicent Hightower, to bear a son.
The decision not only disappoints Rhaenyra but also sows seeds for a civil war that will dawn upon King’s Landing in the near future.
Performances
Milly Alcock and Emily Carey give a strong start to the stories of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower. Their credible performances express the pressure that is put upon a young one who is supposed to fulfill the realm’s demands.
Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke later fill in their shoes after a time jump. The viewers may find themselves adjusting for the first time they meet the adult versions of these characters.
It’s hard to say goodbye to Alcock and Carey, but eventually, D’Arcy and Cooke prove why they are worthy.
Paddy Considine as King Viserys I Targaryen carries the mannerism and thoughtfulness of a wise king well.
Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen has this ability to switch between the cruel side of the character in the first half of the series and the more mature side in the second half.
The rest of the supporting cast easily and effectively fits into the political environment of King’s Landing portrayed in the show.
Positives
House of the Dragon retains all the good aspects of its predecessor. From good pacing to gruesomeness and from politics to intriguing characters, the show has it all.
Furthermore, the show doesn’t really try to side with one character to be on the good side and the other to be on the bad. It’s up to the viewers to decide who they want to root for.
It also continues to build the world of Westeros, which is quite intriguing. Despite the fact that men rule here, it presents a story of two women changing the course of the world.
The importance of the Iron Throne is depicted well, around which the entire story is formed. People are married off to each other or are killed just so that one can ascend it.
The beautiful visuals, sets, and magnificent dragons further aid the world-building of the show.
Negatives
The first season dealt with a lot of time jumps, leaving the viewers to catch up in order to understand the happenings at the King’s Landing at a certain time.
It becomes a bit harder to get comfortable when a new cast fills in the shoes. The show had brought a new cast just for two episodes to portray Rhaenyra and Alicent’s kids.
Verdict
House of the Dragon is a worthy prequel that not only brings back the drama that “Game of Thrones” had but also levels it up a tad bit. Thus, fulfilling the massive expectations fans had with it.
House of the Dragon
Director: Miguel Sapochnik, Greg Yaitanes, Clare Kilner, Geeta Vasant Patel
Date Created: 2022-08-21 06:30
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Also Read: House of the Dragon season 1 episode 10 recap & review: The Black Queen