How can you follow up on such a massive pop culture phenomenon as Game of Thrones? The solution is easy: you return to the fundamentals. The first episode of HBO's brand-new jewel-in-the-crown prequel series offers an intriguingly personal look at the most dysfunctional family in Westeros.
While the first episode of Game of Thrones introduced us to the Starks, Baratheons, Lannisters, and, yes, Targaryens. The first episode of House of the Dragon concentrates on a small number of significant characters almost 200 years before the events of the first series. The prominent Targaryen family is there, as well as the father-daughter team of Otto (Rhys Ifans and Emily Carey), Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), the enigmatic Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), who defeats Matt Smith's erratic Prince Daemon Targaryen in a brutal competition, and Dameon's lover Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno).
Each character's concerns and goals are skillfully established in the first episode, laying the groundwork for the subsequent brutal fights. That's no easy task in a realm as complicated as the Seven Kingdoms, but it's achieved by staying within that more constrained framework. By the time the credits start to roll, the fracture lines are clearly visible, and as usual, the Iron Throne plays a crucial role.
The focus of "The Heirs of the Dragon" is succession right from the start. This is intricately entwined with oppressive misogyny; in the very first scene of the series, Eve Best's Princess Rhaenys is denied the crown in favour of her brother Viserys (Paddy Considine), earning herself the moniker the Queen Who Never Was.
King Viserys' overwhelming appetite for a son drives him to authorise a terrifying, gory caesarean section that murders his unwilling wife in the vain attempt to save their stillborn baby. The present heir, Daemon, is not a favourite of Otto's. As a result of Daemon's conceit and Otto's deft manipulation, Viserys must choose a new heir, making his daughter Rhaenyra Targaryen (Milly Alcock), the first female heir to the realm.
This episode wonderfully refrains from engaging in showy, dragon-fueled spectacle for the sake of it, and it's a refreshing return to form. Such political manoeuvring and minor council rivalries harken back to the early days of Game of Thrones. The Red Keep's corridors are currently the scene of power conflicts rather than large-scale warfare.
By moving the king's brother Daemon out of the way, Otto declares himself the most threatening player on the board right away. The Hand of the King is portrayed by Ifans as a calm, severe, and quiet man. Yet it soon becomes evident what he wants when he sends his anxious daughter Alicent, who also happens to be Rhaenyra's best friend, into the mourning king's bedroom in the middle of the night. Such cunning, brutal manoeuvring is typical of Thrones.
There is no doubt that this is a true Game of Thrones episode, complete with dragons, sex, and blood. The introductory text even mentions Daenerys Targaryen by name, while the tune and setting are both well known. When Viserys mentions a prophecy that predicts the demise of humankind due to a winter from the North, he is also alluding to future events.
However, there are issues with this that are inherent. How can we really get committed in the Targaryens handing down a prophecy that hinges around stopping the Long Night when we already know it turns out to be a damp squib? When Rhaenyra discovers this long held family secret, it should be an epic, spine-tingling moment, but instead it serves as an unwanted reminder of the difficulties this prequel confronts.
However, for the time being, House of the Dragon demonstrates that it is a worthy successor to one of the best TV programmes ever produced. Although, something still seems to be lacking. While it's still possible that lightning will strike twice, it's apparent that the first episode of House of the Dragon doesn't quite achieve the same spellbinding heights as the Game of Thrones premiere did in terms of engaging plot, magnetic characters, and fascinating setting.
This is largely due to the fact that the show is set up to be slower-burning than its predecessor: we begin with Rhaenyra and Alicent as young girls before a (previously-announced) mid-season time jump will plunge us into an even more complicated political web with the adult women, who are now fierce rivals. In order for the dracaries to fully set the House of the Dragon ablaze, the firewood is there and ready to go.
Overall, a strong opening episode of this prequel series. I’m looking forward to how each episode is going to progress.
Performance | 4.6/5 |
Enjoyment | 4.5/5 |
Overall Rating | 4.5/5 |