Yes, House of the Dragon is worth watching: audiences and critics have both reviewed it positively. At the end of Game of Thrones, the creators were criticized for rushing things. Maybe that's why House of the Dragon, the latest series contribution from the world of A Song of Ice and Fire, was in production for so long.
The creators didn't want to repeat the mistakes of their predecessors and took their time. Did it work out?
Return to Westeros
There's no need to beat around the Iron Throne. House of the Dragon is positively reviewed by both audiences and critics. The return was a hit, mainly because the series returned to its roots.
It's not just about the setting, which takes place about two centuries before the original series and book series, but also about the intelligence of the script.
At the end of Game of Thrones, the creators were criticized for rushing things, poor character development, and putting too much emphasis on megalomaniacal special effects scenes.
Viewers won't find that in House of the Dragon, except for the special effects, which are dosed in much smaller amounts than before.
As mentioned earlier, House of the Dragon is not a direct continuation of the previous series, but a prequel.
This new effort from HBO doesn't primarily focus on the Stark or Lannister families, but instead features the Targaryens, at the height of their power, ruling all of Westeros.
However, beware, it's not boring. Even though no major houses have the ambition/power to overthrow the almighty albino at this time, the Iron Throne will still be contested.
This time, however, the Targaryens themselves will fight for it, specifically King's daughter Rhaenyra and the King's brother Daemon.
Sex, Blood and Dragons
The series is based, like its predecessor, on G.R.R. Martin's book series.
Although it also draws from A Song of Ice and Fire, the biggest source of inspiration in this case is the book Fire and Blood. And inspiration is a suitable word, as the series differs in many ways.
Originally, during the Dance of Dragons, as the Targaryen civil war in Westeros is also called, Rhaenyra and Aegon II, her stepbrother, faced each other.
Of course, there are more changes in the series compared to the book, but anyone who is not a complete nitpicker will not be disappointed.
It is still a work in which sex, blood and, of course, dragons are not spared.
Even two centuries before the Iron Throne was captured by Robert Baratheon, there were no softies in Westeros who would resolve their disputes with singing battles at folk festivals.
FAQ
Is House of the Dragon a prequel to Game of Thrones?
Yes. It's not a direct continuation but a prequel, set about two centuries before the original series and book series.
Who is House of the Dragon about?
The Targaryens at the height of their power, ruling all of Westeros, rather than the Starks or Lannisters. The Iron Throne is contested between the King's daughter Rhaenyra and the King's brother Daemon.
What book is House of the Dragon based on?
Mostly on the book Fire and Blood, although it also draws from A Song of Ice and Fire. The series differs from the book in many ways.
Is House of the Dragon good?
Yes. It's positively reviewed by both audiences and critics, mainly because it returned to the roots of the original with an intelligent script and much smaller doses of special effects.
It Has Everything It Needs
This is a well-crafted affair, both technically and script-wise, as well as in terms of acting. In this respect, there is not much to criticize about the series.
The question is where the story will go in the next seasons, which are already being prepared.
But if the series maintains the same quality as so far, fans of intrigues, streams of blood and naked bodies have something to look forward to.
