House of the Dragon

In truth, the show presents all the GOT trappings, but offers none of its heart. Consider why we cared about GOT. First, we watched the Stark family children and their trials, torn from their home in the North: Sansa in King's Landing, then worse; Arya among the Nameless Men, then wandering Westeros with the Hound; Jon Snow at the Wall and beyond on his northern quest, then finding his truth with Dani. Secondly, the Lannister story-arc had legs. We came to care about both Jamie and Tyrion. Finally, we watched Dani rise from trophy wife to Targaryen queen. That is, we experienced these complex and beautifully written characters as they grew.

Contrastingly, House of the Dragon offers no one to support, truly; no main character to root for. Thus, it descends quickly into mere palace intrigue, cut with gut-wrenching violence. Who do we like, here? The arrogant and self-serving Rhaenyra offers little empathy; and while the young Queen Alicent seemed sympathetic, she grows icy cold. The King's weakness undermines our connection to him and, finally, Daemon is just unfathomable. Put simply, we don't care about these people and, without character sympathy, the show is empty. Great stories aren't about what happens to people. They're about what happens to people we care about. A lesson HOTD should learn.

Season 1 was awesome. I was still defending the show untill this episode 6 of season 2. Enough is enough, the writers have no new ideas anymore, they don't follow the book and now this season is just super boring episode after episode. It's a Mexican soap opera now. I find it disgraceful. And it kinda is a bait and switch as well. They baited us with a very good season 1 just so they now use season 2 to push all their propaganda and personal beliefs. Is it so hard to follow the original story from the book?

The western world is having a really big writers Crisis in the entertainment industry.

Anyway, I might still keep watching this, but not with the same excitement as before. Might put it on just as background noise and go check it out when I hear a dragon. A shame.

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.

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.

No emotional connection whatsoever with characters, and this is why it is not working. In 'House of the Dragon,' the narrative struggles to engage viewers on a deeper level. The characters, while visually striking and well-portrayed, lack the development needed to foster genuine attachment. Unlike 'Game of Thrones,' where complex backstories and evolving relationships drew audiences in, 'House of the Dragon' fails to provide sufficient depth. Without this emotional investment, viewers find it challenging to care about the fates and motivations of the characters. The intricate political plots and spectacular battles cannot compensate for the absence of heartfelt connections. Consequently, the show risks becoming a mere spectacle, losing the compelling human element that once captivated fans. For 'House of the Dragon' to succeed, it must cultivate richer character arcs and more intimate storytelling. Adding more personal stakes and emotional dilemmas could help bridge this gap, making the audience genuinely care about the characters' journeys.