House of the Dragon

House of the Dragon is a prequel to Game of Thrones. The television series was created by George R. R. Martin and Ryan Condal for HBO. It's the second series in Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire franchise. It is based on parts of Martin's 2018 book Fire & Blood.

The series begins about 100 years after the Seven Kingdoms are united by the Targaryen conquest, nearly 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, and 172 years before the birth of the Daenerys Targaryen caricature featured in Game of Thrones.

House of the Dragons portrays the events leading to the decline of House Targaryen, and the devastating war of succession known as the "Dance of the Dragons".

As I stated in my review of The Game of Thrones, I was not that interested in watching Game of Thrones for several years. And, after watching a bit of one episode, Game of Thrones did not look very interesting to me. But, once I decided to find out what all the hoopla and massive fan base was all about, I decided give it a try. I not only purchased the complete series of Game of Thrones on DVDs, but I also purchased House of the Dragon Season 1, and then Season 2, when it came out, all on DVDs as well.

And, yes, also as I previously stated, I subscribe to several streaming services, and could watch most of the TV series I want much more easily by streaming them. But, I'm a collector, and I love collecting, and I'm collecting TV series DVDs. Don't hate me.

Anyway, before watching Game of Thrones, I checked online regarding whether I should watch House of the Dragon first before watching Game of Thrones, since House of the Dragon is a Prequel. I read several opinions that stated that it was best to watch Game of Thrones first, because I would better understand the story in House of the Dragon given it is the same of the fantasy world creation in which both series exist.

Therefore, I watched Game of Thrones first, and thoroughly enjoyed it, and then watched the first two seasons of House of the Dragon and enjoyed that story as well.

After watching both series however, I gotta disagree with those opinions I read on the Internet about which series to watch first. I think watching House of the Dragon first would have better prepared me for watching Game of Thrones. I was easily able to grasp the story, characters, and what was going on in House of the Dragon fairly easily.

Season 1 of House of the Dragon, was more what I would have called a game of thrones than anything else. The intrigue, suspense and political rivalries of the characters in the different kingdoms, and they're quest for power and riches was interesting yet complex. I felt it was similar to watching the intrigue, suspense and political rivalries of the Borgia TV series', or even the political chess game of the Trump administration.

The story in Season 1 of House of the Dragon was mostly about the Targaryen King trying to keep his rule all the while trying to maintain the peace. It was entertaining in a way, but, after episode after episode, it sometimes proved a little boring. That was at least until the last few episodes where... Bammm upside your head and your side blinded by what happens in the story, leaving your mouth haning open. And, of course, the season ends in a cliff hanger, prompting me to immediately begin to watch Season 2.

Season 2 of House of the Dragon is more similar to the Game of Thrones series in that there is still that suspense and political intrigue, but there also seems to be non-stop action, adventure, war and bloodshed. And, of course... Dragons!!!

The writing is equally as good as Game of Thrones, except for the slower pace and some of the more anguishing relationship based episodes in Season 1, which like I said, proved to be kind of boring. But, what was never boring was Season 2, which I spent many hours binge watching. The acting, production, direction, cinematography and special effects were all also excellent and equal to that of Game of Thrones.

My review seems to be, in some ways, the opposite of many other reviewers who seemed to love Season 1, but hated Season 2. But, I guess everyone's got a right to their opinion, right.

However, now I'm faced with the problem I hate. And that is that when I begin watching a series before all the seasons have been released, I'm left having to wait, sometimes years, before I can get back to the story to see what happens.

So, I now have to wait until sometime in 2026 to watch the release of House of the Dragon Season 3!

House of the Dragon, the prequel to Game of Thrones, is a masterclass in political intrigue, family conflict, and high-stakes drama. Set 200 years before the events of its predecessor, the series dives deep into the Targaryen dynasty, exploring their rise, power struggles, and the seeds of internal conflict that eventually lead to civil war. The show expertly balances sweeping visuals with intimate character moments, ensuring that viewers are invested not only in the dragons and battles but also in the nuanced human dynamics.

Matt Smith as Prince Daemon delivers a magnetic, unpredictable performance, while Emma D'Arcy's portrayal of Rhaenyra Targaryen captures a mix of vulnerability, ambition, and defiance. The show's writing emphasizes moral ambiguity; characters are rarely purely heroic or villainous, reflecting the harsh realities of a world driven by power. The dragons themselves are visually stunning, with CGI that feels both realistic and awe-inspiring, adding weight to the narrative rather than overshadowing it.

The pacing, though deliberate, allows tension to build gradually, making political maneuvers and personal betrayals more impactful. Cinematography and production design immerse viewers in a richly detailed Westeros, from the opulent Red Keep to the vast, fiery landscapes of dragon flights.

While comparisons to Game of Thrones are inevitable, House of the Dragon establishes its own identity, focusing on the fragility of family bonds and the intoxicating allure of power. It's a compelling, visually breathtaking series that captures the essence of George R. R. Martin's world while promising an epic saga of ambition, loyalty, and betrayal.

Despite the high anticipation surrounding the series, it's unfortunate that the only captivating element is the presence of dragons. The actors lack charisma, failing to bring their characters to life in a way that engages the audience. This deficiency in performance makes it nearly impossible to form any emotional connections with the characters. The narrative, which could have been enriched by strong, memorable personalities, instead falls flat, leaving viewers disinterested and detached. The dragons, while visually impressive, aren't enough to carry the entire show and redeem its shortcomings.

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 Game of Thrones and I can say that without a doubt that it is. While it's obviously not as good as the original (not much is) but it's definitely still a really good show that is one of the most successful shows on tv. 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 seasons 3 and 4. This is going to have a long run so I hope it continues to get better and better like the original did.

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. I can't wait for season 3 to get here.