House of the Dragon

Created by Ryan J. Condal & George R.R. Martin

★★★★½

Steve Toussaint, Rhys Ifans, Milly Alcock, Paddy Considine

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON

Season 1 - Episode 1

Remember when Game of Thrones was a good show, where a single episode was filled to the brim with character studies done through politicking? Multiple stories were being unwound at once, often being different perspectives of the same set of circumstances, and deciding who was in the right was often a difference of opinion for the viewer. Through this style of narration, the viewer was given the opportunity to see Westeros through the lens of different characters’ philosophies, all the while being reminded of the imminent danger north of the wall.

House of the Dragon brings back everything that was great about Game of Thrones (yes, even the opening soundtrack!) in full swing for what makes a nostalgic return to Westeros. Yet despite all the familiarities, there is plenty going on in the story that makes the viewing experience refreshing rather than an uninspired rerun. One of the biggest differences is the show’s fond use of time jumps, with there being four in the first season. Time jumps can be a frustrating narrative tool, with a lot of character development happening off-screen. However, given that the first season effectively serves as a prologue for the rest of the story, the time jumps were necessary to develop the characters in service of the story.

Much like Game of Thrones, there are many stories going on at once here. This first season keeps the story mostly reeled into the conflicts of The Red Keep, and at the center of this conflict is a king burdened by his grief, who wishes to be a family man more than a politician; a friendship torn apart by uncontrollable circumstances; a brother whose greed and lust compete with his love for family; the generational consequences that come with animosity; and of course, many people who wish to ensure they and their family will remain close to The Iron Throne. With this first season being much like a family drama, viewers who came to see dragons burning through armies may find themselves disappointed. However, there is an exhilarating chase sequence involving the much dreaded Vhagar which serves as the cliffhanger for season one, serving as a promise to fans that plenty of dragon action will come.

It would be a disservice to not mention this other ingenious aspect of the story. Fans who saw GOT will know that a Targaryen is on the throne before Robert Baratheon usurps him. Despite the differences between the cast, everyone in competition for the throne is a Targaryen. This decision is a workaround for the most common prequel pitfall that helps further the suspense in this show. In short, House of the Dragon does everything that worked well in Game of Thrones. It’s the apology that was needed after season 8 of GOT, and it’s being welcomed with open arms.