Redemption rings out as ‘Dragon’ soars over diseased offal of putrid predecessor
What is this brief mortal life, if not the pursuit of legacy? House Of The Dragon roars onscreen as the prequel to the widely popular television series Game Of Thrones. Based on George R. R. Martin’s Fire and Blood, the show serves as the resurrection of the A Song Of Ice and Fire series, which takes place 200 years before Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke, Me Before You) set sail across the narrow sea. Dragon follows the Targaryen dynasty from its height of power through the civil war that would cripple it. Spanning decades of rich world-building and storytelling, the show excels at spinning complex sociological tales while delivering astounding visuals. Revolutionary with a hint of nostalgia, HOTD proves television can be more spectacular and innovative than modern films.
HOTD follows the political and private turmoil of the Targaryen family after King Viserys (Paddy Considine, The World’s End) loses his wife and heir to the throne. As the vultures come to feast, Viserys names his daughter, the young princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock, Upright), as his heir, and other agents immediately begin plotting against the princess. This includes her closest friend, Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey, Wonder Woman), and Alicent’s father, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans, The Amazing Spider-Man). Positioned near the chaotic game of thrones is Rhaenyra’s love interest/uncle, Daemon Targeryan played by Morbius and Doctor Who star, Matt Smith, through a delightfully and thoroughly British performance. As evidenced by this brief synopsis and maze of linguistic monikers, the series may prove a bit dense for the average viewer unwilling to pay attention. It crams dozens of characters into a single season, which is not easily digestible for the casual fan intent on multitasking.
However, any simpleton can appreciate the dedication and class of the actors. Each performance delivers a lovely portrayal of truly horrible people. Considine shines especially bright as the weak and unsure King Viserys. Within the first episode, Viserys commits a downright atrocious act, but the audience understands his reasoning and even somehow sympathizes. This builds throughout the season in his relationship with his daughter, where Alcock and eventually Emma D’Arcy as an older Rhaenrya display immense potential. Smith also stands out as the charismatic and slightly sociopathic Prince Daemon, where his actions are always morally questionable, but he’s just charming enough to make the audience forget his evil.
While it may prove a cramped watch, the claustrophobia provides a delicious, rich nectar called character writing. HOTD’s main strength is its ability to weave beautifully defined characters into a wonderful tale of responsibilities. The world is built around centuries of complex and rich history, all based on real world events. The groundwork laid by the ancestor show and Martin’s writing provides countless story opportunities for the characters to play with, creating an ambient sense of uncertainty for those unfamiliar with the text. Which character will rule? Which character will die? No one knows. This adds to the drama and the conflict.
On the surface, this series may seem dull or lifeless, but there is more than enough dragon action to please all audiences. Giant lizards have never sparkled so brightly on the silver screen. In the modern age, where practical effects have gone the way of the Dodo, it’s refreshing to see filmmakers embrace their creativity with wonderfully decorated sets and costumes, tapping into VFX enhancements only when necessary. This is further enhanced by the astounding camerawork and cinematography, with every frame carefully crafted to draw the viewer into this fantastical world and into the perspective of the characters. The only area where it may falter is in terms of pacing.
The first half of the season uses minor time jumps to cover its wide, branching story, while the second half jumps entire decades in what seems like the blink of an eye. This causes cast changes that may alienate certain sects of the audience. Thankfully, this blazing pace does not remove the viewer from wonderfully crafted characters.
While HOTD provides a balanced and engaging experience, no discussion of Westeros can go without the abomination that was the ending of Game Of Thrones. Forged from the bottomless pit of stupidity named David Benioff and D.B Weiss, the latter four seasons of Game Of Thrones abandoned the clever storytelling of Martin to instead focus on ice zombies and potty humor. Due to these two butchering the last four seasons of the biggest television series in the world, A Song Of Ice And Fire has seemingly been marred permanently. Sitting at a lowly 55% on Rotten Tomatoes, the eighth season of GoT has proved heart breaking to almost every poor soul that gazed upon its awfulness. So the logical conclusion would be that the series is doomed, or that no one would give them another chance, right? According to WatchersOnTheWall.com, the pilot, “debuted to 10 million viewers”, making history as HBO’s biggest launch of a show. That’s not all. The already impressive pilot, “has now been seen by over 30 million” (Rosenblatt). The bittersweet taste of Game Of Thrones seems to slowly be evaporating from public mouths as their thirst is quenched by House Of The Dragon.
While the last few seasons of Game Of Thrones were lackluster to say the least, how does House Of The Dragon compare to the golden standard set by the first four seasons? In truth, the comparison is rather difficult. They may share the same coat of boat, but it’s comparing a pristine 1964 Mustang to a Lamborghini Urus. Both are beautiful, but in terms of storytelling, purpose, characters, and production, they’re formed from very different times, serving very different roles in the cultural zeitgeist. Game Of Thrones built the legacy of this world from the ground up while House Of The Dragon expands on what audiences already know to create a familiar sense of euphoria.
Overall, House Of The Dragon pursues a new legacy not disfigured by the sinful stain of their forefathers, but instead forged out of love for this world, these characters, and this platform. The show utilizes the boundless potential of the television format to stretch every detail in order to paint the picture of perfection.
Grade: A-
Bundled with dragons, excellent performances, circular family trees, and a hint of genuine humanity, HOTD surpasses all expectations and delivers an engrossing experience with only minor hiccups that will be ironed out in eventual seasons.
by Marcus Miller
Published October 31, 2022
Oshkosh West Index Volume 119 Issue II