House of the Dragon (GoT Prequel)

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by PegCityFlamesFan

Maybe it's just me but I find people are using a fine tooth and comb to find anything wrong with the show. It's not going to he Game of Thrones, it's based on one book and won't ever live up to expectations that Thrones had since we never had anything like it before. I think if I get to the point where I'm not happy with a show because a pregnant woman runs too fast I'll stop watching TV. It's almost like people are trying to find reasons not to like things before the story has really begun.

If it’s not going to be Game of Thrones, it should stop using the Game of Thrones theme song.

Look, the problem isn’t that it’s “not game of thrones”.

The problem is it’s boring.

What’s your favourite line?

Who’s your favourite character?

What story thread are you enjoying?

If you were recommending this to a friend who’d never seen any of the preceding story, what would you tell them?

And knowing that the first five episodes contain a pregnant woman begging for her life before a fatal c-section and a romance between blood relatives that culminates with an encounter in a brothel, does that impact who you recommend it to?

The complaints about pregnant women not moving fast bely a larger issue - the tension in that scene is entirely the result of the audience knowing “this is a show that kills babies and pregnant women - I don’t want to see that. Please don’t make me see that. Oh thank god that didn’t happen. Wow, wasn’t that intense?”

No. That wasn’t intense. It was manipulative, and gross.

Which is Westeros for you.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

If it’s not going to be Game of Thrones, it should stop using the Game of Thrones theme song.

Look, the problem isn’t that it’s “not game of thrones”.

The problem is it’s boring.

What’s your favourite line?

Who’s your favourite character?

What story thread are you enjoying?

If you were recommending this to a friend who’d never seen any of the preceding story, what would you tell them?

And knowing that the first five episodes contain a pregnant woman begging for her life before a fatal c-section and a romance between blood relatives that culminates with an encounter in a brothel, does that impact who you recommend it to?

The complaints about pregnant women not moving fast bely a larger issue - the tension in that scene is entirely the result of the audience knowing “this is a show that kills babies and pregnant women - I don’t want to see that. Please don’t make me see that. Oh thank god that didn’t happen. Wow, wasn’t that intense?”

No. That wasn’t intense. It was manipulative, and gross.

Which is Westeros for you.

I think people are forgetting what the original GoT episodes were like. The first episodes features Jaime doing Cersei doggy style and then pushing Bran out a window. All of the characters were kind of pieces of crap. You had brothers using witches to kill each other, Joffrey abusing women, needless executions, a pregnant woman being stabbed in the belly, etc..

The only really good characters, who actually survived, in the first few seasons of GoT were the children and Dany (who was still a child). But they were all basically used as plot devices so that they could be victimized by the bad characters.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by blankall

I think people are forgetting what the original GoT episodes were like. The first episodes features Jaime doing Cersei doggy style and then pushing Bran out a window. All of the characters were kind of pieces of crap. You had brothers using witches to kill each other, Joffrey abusing women, needless executions, a pregnant woman being stabbed in the belly, etc..

The only really good characters, who actually survived, in the first few seasons of GoT were the children and Dany (who was still a child). But they were all basically used as plot devices so that they could be victimized by the bad characters.

Oh I remember.

But that show was overflowing with vibrant characters that you could root for, root against, and who you wanted to see more of.

It was charming and well-written, and though it had an edge, it isn’t until the red wedding that it descends into the realm of the grotesque.

This isn’t charming.

This is like Succession, if Logan was the doddering old fool his kids think he is.

None of the potential heirs are worthy of the throne, and if any of them actually tried to usurp the king, they’d win.

Instead, they’ve been waiting for him to die for 6 episodes.

[bdubbs]

I was kind of getting attached to Harwin/Lyonel Strong... until the last episode took them away too. Now I have to find someone else to cheer for. Maybe Vhagar?

[Ashasx]

I'm cheering for Daemon's daughter now. Hope she gets to ride the big dragon.

[bdubbs]

You know, I'm on board with that too. Team Rhaena

[OptimalTates]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

And knowing that the first five episodes contain a pregnant woman begging for her life before a fatal c-section and a romance between blood relatives that culminates with an encounter in a brothel, does that impact who you recommend it to?

The first couple episode of Game of Thrones had incest, a child being thrown from a window for watching incest and a teenager being sold as a sex slave by her brother (who was also cool with the incest). Who would you recommend that show to? lol.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by OptimalTates

The first couple episode of Game of Thrones had incest, a child being thrown from a window for watching incest and a teenager being sold as a sex slave by her brother (who was also cool with the incest). Who would you recommend that show to? lol.

It had all of that and 20 characters I liked.

This doesn’t have one.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Oh I remember.

But that show was overflowing with vibrant characters that you could root for, root against, and who you wanted to see more of.

It was charming and well-written, and though it had an edge, it isn’t until the red wedding that it descends into the realm of the grotesque.

This isn’t charming.

This is like Succession, if Logan was the doddering old fool his kids think he is.

None of the potential heirs are worthy of the throne, and if any of them actually tried to usurp the king, they’d win.

Instead, they’ve been waiting for him to die for 6 episodes.

I really enjoyed GoT, but don't think I ever rooted for any characters.

The "good" characters were purposely made to be overly self-righteous and naive. Their lack of self-awareness often resulted in the people around them suffering. This was true of characters like John Snow, Stannis Baratheon, Robb Stark, etc....

There was also a bunch of cringy characters, like Theon, Bran, Joran Mormont, etc...

I can't honestly say I was ever rooting for anyone. Although it was definitely good to see certain people get their revenge. You also wanted to see some of the evil characters, like the Hound, turn a new leaf.

One thing to keep in mind is that with HoD we don't actually know much about the characters who will ultimately compete for the throne yet. We've only seen immature versions of the characters that will compete for the throne.

[ben voyonsdonc]

For me, the main thing this show is missing is a true villain. I guess the new Littlefinger might be the villain but he’s so weak compared to King Joffrey or Cersei. Cersei was one of my favourite characters from GoT because she was such a great villain.

The show needs a likeable character but it really needs a despised one.

Also, it just seems to meander without really a driving narrative.

I’ll keep watching but it hasn’t done much for me.

[dammage79]

I've lost steam for this series. I find RoP attracts all my attention. This Targaryan world is kind of Meh. Thought I'd be stoked to see all sorts of different dragons. It's left me wanting.

[edslunch]

The cast change and the king STILL dying (wasn’t he coughing up blood years ago?) reset my interest back to square one. I also dislike all the princelings. Daemon and Larys keep things interesting though

[GreenLantern]

I wouldn't say the show as a whole is boring, the episode before this last one had a really well done and built up end sequence. Honestly one of the better pieces of television I've seen in a long time with the wedding.

The problem is that there are more boring or disinterested parts than there were in GoT. GOT had its snoozer parts to me for me, but they were few and far between. This show they seem to be more prominent, and I let it slide as a world and character building exercise, but then they just jarringly re cast these characters I had become attached to, casually created this psychotic supervillain out of nowhere and showed a bunch of kids and births. I just don't even know whos playing what part anymore. It's all a big jumbled mess.

[Machiavelli]

Originally Posted by bdubbs

I was kind of getting attached to Harwin/Lyonel Strong... until the last episode took them away too. Now I have to find someone else to cheer for. Maybe Vhagar?

I really liked Harwin. He and Criston are beautiful men, the Princess has taste!

Speaking of her, I'd have to agree with others that her character's casting change was very jarring. This is probably a testament more to Milly Alcock's acting than the writing, but teenaged Rhaenyra had an endearing impish and mischievous air to her. Adult Rhaenyra is perhaps understandably jaded, but there isn't even a whiff of the personality we'd witnessed the first four episodes.

[AltaGuy]

Finally got around to watching the last episode. Gah, that was crap. Similar to someone else in the thread, I'm disappointed that Alicent's fearsome green dress at the wedding turned into ten years of waiting around chatting with the crippled fella and seemingly plotting nothing else. A crippled fella who is himself just horribly written/conceived.

Then there's Rhaenyra, who thought it might be ok to have a bunch of babies with someone other than her similarly-white haired husband? Nobody will mind, right? I mean, I know the Queen hates me and my claim to the throne is on thin ice, and I know the likely punishment is my head on a stake, but... I'm horny? What is this?

The whole Dragonstone thing was just kind of thrown in there because, well, I guess it'll be important eventually.

Also, new Rhaenyra is nothing like young Rhaenyra. I'll keep watching, but... Meh.

[Ashartus]

At first I thought Daemon was being set up as the villain. Now I think he was in the right all along and every other character deserves whatever horrible fate is coming.

[AltaGuy]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

I'm cheering for Daemon's daughter now. Hope she gets to ride the big dragon.

Seems like she's being set up to marry Rhaenyra's son would be my guess.

If I'm not mistaken, in GoT the Baratheons were somewhat related to the Targaryens, which made them next in line to the Iron Throne. And one of the themes there was that the dark hair of the Baratheons was a strong genetic marker (that blacksmith kid). So maybe House Baratheon comes out of Rhaenyra's indiscretions, since her brood all seem to have their father's dark hair.

[Sr. Mints]

One thing that I liked in the last episode was how the show appears to be laying track for how Daenerys/Viserys ended up in Pentos. It could end up being nothing, and the Pentosians <?> just wanted something from the two, or could be that they owe the Targaryen family. It's at least something I'm looking forward to in House of the Dragon

[getbak]

Originally Posted by AltaGuy

Seems like she's being set up to marry Rhaenyra's son would be my guess.

If I'm not mistaken, in GoT the Baratheons were somewhat related to the Targaryens, which made them next in line to the Iron Throne. And one of the themes there was that the dark hair of the Baratheons was a strong genetic marker (that blacksmith kid). So maybe House Baratheon comes out of Rhaenyra's indiscretions, since her brood all seem to have their father's dark hair.

House Baratheon already existed at this time (we see the Lord of the house in at least one of the earlier episodes this season). The founder of the house was rumoured to be a bastard brother of Aegon the Conqueror.

Robert's claim to the throne was legitimized because his grandmother was a sister of the Mad King. After Robert's Rebellion left all of the Mad King's descendants either dead or fled, Robert was the oldest descendant of the Mad King's father who was still alive in Westeros.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Nm. Misread.