House of the Dragon (GoT Prequel)

[blankall]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

I actually hesitate to venture into this thread because of the negativity. I enjoy the show a lot. Is it as good as GOT season 1? No but, how many shows were that good? Band of Brothers?

A lot of complaints in here about how the villains are too well rounded and not straight evil enough.

I thought the pacing and storytelling in the first season was great. They did a great job of showing how a stable kingdom breaks down into madness, without any single person being responsible.

As Hack&Lube stated, the show is based on a book, which is multiple retellings, from various perspectives, of a historical conflict. One that from an outsiders perspective involved a single family needlessly fighting over power, only to end up back at square one, and destroying most of Westeros in the process.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

i've been listening to the F&B audio book since last night . the somewhat underwhelming finale will be water under the bridge when season 2 hits . wow things are going to get crazy .. I can't wait

[Inglewood Jack]

GoT started off as a niche medieval fantasy book adaptation and slid further into mainstream with each season and ratings increase. HoTD is basically starting from there, as a mainstream show designed to capture as wide a demographic as possible. so long as you don't have expectations of it being a super intricate, cerebral drama experience then it's fine. I still look forward to watching it every Sunday evening, gripes or not.

that being said, Crave started showing GoT S1 right after the HoTD finale, and boy what a difference there is visually and tonally. everything from early GoT looks far more realistic, as if they're standing in real places rather than a CGI painting. and the dialogue is quick and small and easy to miss details with. HoTD is more like LoTR now where every scene is a HDR fantasy haze and each line spoken is more grandiose than the last.

I'm still trying to determine if I prefer lots of dead babies to lots of exposed boobs. bigger sample size needed I guess.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

That was the first episode of the season I really liked. Rhaenyra 2.0 has grown on me a lot, and I'm starting to figure out who's who both in the present and future Game of Thrones.

I shouted a great big 'F-U' at that cliffhanger, though.

We watched the House of Dragons with a picture of a Targaryen family tree open. Kind of spoiled a couple of things, but we found it really helpful.

Really liked season 1 of HoD. I'll be watching it again I'm sure. Not because I liked it that much, but by the time season 2 comes out, I'll have forgotten everything

[KTrain]

I kind of wish this finale happened around episode 7-8. Then launch season 2 in the war between the two sides.

I didn't mind this season but there was A LOT of build-up and showing character motivations that could have been condensed.

[bdubbs]

I think the bigger dragon is Sheepstealer, the Cannibal, or Vermithor (Jaehaerys' (the King prior to Viserys) former dragon).

I can't wait for Season 2.

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I don’t think Daemon’s scene where he’s courting that large dragon has anything to do with the dragon attack scene. It appears that Daemon may have recruited a large fire breathing dragon that will likely wreak some havoc in the next season.

Is that not the missing dragon Balerion?

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by KTrain

I kind of wish this finale happened around episode 7-8. Then launch season 2 in the war between the two sides.

I didn't mind this season but there was A LOT of build-up and showing character motivations that could have been condensed.

I don't blame them for taking it slow.

The biggest complaints of the last two seasons of GoT was that "It went too quickly" and that people wanted the slower pace of earlier seasons.

If they had to over index on it being a bit slower then that's fine by me.

[Sr. Mints]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I don't blame them for taking it slow.



The biggest complaints of the last two seasons of GoT was that "It went too quickly" and that people wanted the slower pace of earlier seasons.



If they had to over index on it being a bit slower then that's fine by me.

That's a good point I hadn't thought of. I guess when the entire internet is pissed off at you, there'd be a bit of trepidation with rushing things.

[#-3]

Originally Posted by dino7c

You guys complain a lot...this is the best show on TV currently IMO

I've actually been watching a lot of stuff on a week to week time frame for the first time in a long time.

And in terms of actively running TV seasons, the edge has to go to Andor right now. They are doing a really good job of defining the character, the story and the place and making sure the audience is coming a long with them. HotD you almost need to watch a youtube explainer video after every episode then rewatch the episode just to have any clue what happened between the entries.

That said it's a good time to be a fantasy fiction fan LotR, SW, MCU, GoT all putting out quality shows at the same time, no need to complain about season 7 or episode 9, everything is watchable and enjoyable.

[bdubbs]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

Is that not the missing dragon Balerion?

Balerion has been dead for a while. His skull is on display in the Red Keep already. I've checked and most sources show that the dragon that Daemon is singing to is in fact Vermithor, which is the 4th largest dragon alive behind The Cannibal, Vhagar, and Sheepstealer.

Whether or not Daemon will be able to find a rider to bond with Vermithor is another question.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by bdubbs

Balerion has been dead for a while. His skull is on display in the Red Keep already. I've checked and most sources show that the dragon that Daemon is singing to is in fact Vermithor, which is the 4th largest dragon alive behind The Cannibal, Vhagar, and Sheepstealer.

Whether or not Daemon will be able to find a rider to bond with Vermithor is another question.

Yes, apparently you can’t switch dragons once you’ve bonded, so not sure who Daemon is doing it for. This one could come in handy since his own dragon is half the size (but still huge)

[getbak]

Isn't one of Daemon's daughters still without a dragon? The one we saw with the egg sitting by the fire in the earlier episode who was consoled by her mother.

When he was listing off all the dragons they had on their side, he mentions that some are still riderless and it cuts to a shot of her.

[Hemi-Cuda]

In GOT I remember someone mentioning that the Dragons died out because the Tagaryens kept them locked underground so they couldn't fly anymore, eventually withering away and not reproducing. I'm guessing the upcoming war is going to be the last hurrah of dragon warfare, where most of them die and the rest are locked away to prevent further carnage

[FireGilbert]

Not a big fan of the writers turning the anxiety inducing tension up to 11 but definitely compelling television and I’m looking forward to season 2.

My biggest issue compared to GoT is the cinematography. GoT featured amazing set pieces shot on location in Dubrovnik, Iceland, and Northern Ireland, while every HotD scene feels like it is filmed on a cramped set or in a front of a green screen.

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

Not a big fan of the writers turning the anxiety inducing tension up to 11 but definitely compelling television and I’m looking forward to season 2.

My biggest issue compared to GoT is the cinematography. GoT featured amazing set pieces shot on location in Dubrovnik, Iceland, and Northern Ireland, while every HotD scene feels like it is filmed on a cramped set or in a front of a green screen.

They used the same virtual soundstage as the Mandalorian. It's great technology but real locations are superior.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

given the pace of the first season (really took their time with major developments) , they have so much content yet to cover .. this show could go 8-10 seasons with ease

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

given the pace of the first season (really took their time with major developments) , they have so much content yet to cover .. this show could go 8-10 seasons with ease

I believe GRRM said he thinks 4 for the dance

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by bdubbs

I think the bigger dragon is Sheepstealer, the Cannibal, or Vermithor (Jaehaerys' (the King prior to Viserys) former dragon).

I can't wait for Season 2.

Subtitles confirmed Vermithor. So he would be the 2nd biggest living dragon behind Vhagar. The actual size of Cannibal is wholly unknown and given to much conjecture.

Also, Daemon already has a dragon, Caraxes. We even saw him this episode. What Daemon is doing is trying to test whether Vermithor would be ready to accept some new rider, as he was proposing during the council meeting directly before. No one has claimed them yet, but Daemon wants people to start trying. Rhaenyra disagrees for now.

This is an intensely important plot point to the remainder of the series.

[Coys1882]

Will the dragons accept people not of Valryian blood? Is it possible for someone like Otto Hightower or Larys to ride a dragon?