House of the Dragon (GoT Prequel)

[nik-]

Am I the only one who found that episode too dark to see #### for like half of it?

[GreenLantern]

So, the one thing this show has managed to do is a lot with very little. The scene as the sun is setting at the funeral was really well done, akin to the wedding scene before the last time jump. They get a lot across with just even looks across a crowd. But at the same time... it's all kind of foolish. "They called us bastards!"

That being said, it still falls short for me. As others have said they just kind of lost the flow. I really don't like the new actress playing Rhaenyr or however you spell it. I honestly just think she is a bad actress.

I do keep comparing this show and LOTR, like two giants of lore battling it out each week (even though Tolkien blows Martin out of the water on paper) and LOTR took a huge step forward while I think HOTD has taken a step backward.

I think they would have been better off having the king die like 3/4 way through the season and let us see some of the fall out, but right now it feels like they are just saving it for the last episode with some cliffhanger that everyone will be like 'meh' cause we don't actually really care about any of these characters anyway.

[PaperBagger'14]

The one thing I've noticed that really separates GoT from HotD is the threat from beyond the wall. GoT started off with an uneasiness and sense of danger from an unknown force (later found out to be the night king) along with all the inter house fighting. HotD just feels like quarreling and a relatively predictable battle for the throne post Viserys.

[Ashasx]

So was it Rhaenyra's plan to keep Laenor alive or was it just the knight's improvisation?

[Azure]

Outside of literally not being able to see what was going on during all the darker scenes, I thought the episode was well written. The political games are all of a sudden extremely interesting.

[bdubbs]

This episode was pretty good for me. I loved seeing Vhagar compared against the other dragons. She's impressive. Still maybe not as large as I want her to be, considering her description in the books versus Balerion...

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

So was it Rhaenyra's plan to keep Laenor alive or was it just the knight's improvisation?

We saw Daemon kill a random dude on the stairs which I'm assuming was the body in the fireplace, so it seems like that was their plan all along

[Sr. Mints]

Has The Wall been referenced in the show? I thought I heard a line yesterday about the Night's Watch, but I think I misheard the conversation and it was "...knight's watch...". I can't remember who/what they were talking about though.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

That being said, it still falls short for me. As others have said they just kind of lost the flow. I really don't like the new actress playing Rhaenyr or however you spell it. I honestly just think she is a bad actress.

A couple of things that I think have hurt the show:

1) The new Alicent has done a great job, but older Rhaenera is terrible compared to the younger version. Feels like a different person and she has none of the fire the younger actress had.

2) The bastard kids are a bit too obvious…I know it was written that way and that’s part of the point but I wonder if it would have been better if they were just blonde but white for this version of the story.

Would be a bit more intriguing if there was at least a question to be had instead of it being so overly obvious.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

Has The Wall been referenced in the show? I thought I heard a line yesterday about the Night's Watch, but I think I misheard the conversation and it was "...knight's watch...". I can't remember who/what they were talking about though.

Actually, I think it was "night's watch", as in the watch for the night.

When the king announced he was going to bed, the head of the King's Guard asked the king if he should stay and watch over the queen. The king said no, so the guard followed the king and told Ser Cristen he had the night's watch.



To answer your question though, yes, the Wall and the Night's Watch have been mentioned, but only in passing.

[calumniate]

Originally Posted by nik-

Am I the only one who found that episode too dark to see #### for like half of it?

Yup.. was revealing how bad my tv reflections are when there's little light. I dimmed everything down creating a black box around me. Show still disappointed as usual

[AltaGuy]

It was better than the last farce of an episode by a longshot, but I still find the story contrived and - ultimately - kinda boring. What we should have is some intelligent royal scheming by some well-written and considered characters, but instead we get bludgeoned with clunky plot devices like the two children of our primary antagonists going at it with a rock and a knife. And then the gay husband of the princess just up and leaves one full minute after declaring he loves his faux children and wants to be a better daddy. From Pentos with love, I guess.

The story could be clever and interesting, and it's maddening that it's just so damn mediocre.

[FireGilbert]

You’d think the cinematographers would have learned from the GoT long night battle. I’m not a fan of having to change my lighting/tv settings to properly view a scene.

The first half of that episode was mind numbingly dull but was somewhat redeemed by the drama in the 2nd half. I’m still impatient waiting for the story to get going. Wish they killed the king already and filled in the backstory with flashbacks.

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

You’d think the cinematographers would have learned from the GoT long night battle. I’m not a fan of having to change my lighting/tv settings to properly view a scene.

Same director as The Long Night episode.

[nfotiu]

You all need to buy a proper tv. It looked fantastic on an OLED with the HBOMax dolby vision feed. It's always going to be a bit of a value to produce these kind of shows to the lowest common denominator of cheaper tvs or to make it great on better displays.

I guess the answer is to make two different mixes.

I liked this episode, but it does feel like we're still building up to the real story and spending a whole lot of time on back story.

[nik-]

Looked like trash on my OLED

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

You all need to buy a proper tv. It looked fantastic on an OLED with the HBOMax dolby vision feed. It's always going to be a bit of a value to produce these kind of shows to the lowest common denominator of cheaper tvs or to make it great on better displays.

I guess the answer is to make two different mixes.

I liked this episode, but it does feel like we're still building up to the real story and spending a whole lot of time on back story.

I downloaded the Dolby Vision version and I agree that it looked great on OLED. Do any Canadian providers support HDR?

I loved the episode. It has been a slow build but things are going to get nuts pretty soon.

[calumniate]

1

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

I downloaded the Dolby Vision version and I agree that it looked great on OLED. Do any Canadian providers support HDR?

I loved the episode. It has been a slow build but things are going to get nuts pretty soon.

Happy to hear monochrome looks great on oled. Now go watch some Charlie Chaplin

I don't think crave over Google tv has Dolby or HDR

[sureLoss]

So judging by next episode's preview, we are in for another time skip.

Looks like the Targaryen and Velaryon kids we were introduced to will be young adults.

[nik-]

I hope Viserys is still alive and just straight up looks like Smeagol.