Nowadays, when a franchise is successful, it’s rare that the studio behind it doesn’t invest in following it up. A sequel or prequel for the big or small screen. With “Game of Thrones”, this dilemma was even more evident thanks to the rich fantasy world created by George RR Martin in his novels. For this reason, two years after the (controversial) end of the parent series, ‘The House of the Dragon’ arrives on HBO and HBO Max. This prequel series travels back nearly 200 years, to when the House of Targaryen ruled all of Westeros. And, unlike her older sister, her focus will be solely and exclusively on that family and its heyday.
The plot of “House of the Dragon” centers on the kingdom of Viserys I Targaryen. Faced with the impossibility of conceiving a child, the king has Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen as his only child. This, due to her status as a woman and therefore her alleged inability to inherit the crown, must dispute the Iron Throne with her uncle Daemon Targaryen, the king’s younger brother. From there, conflicts and gossip within the family give rise to numerous divisions and alliances to see who will be the new monarch. An entire dance of dragons that will endanger the stability of the Targaryens and their kingdom.
The importance of inheritance
Perhaps one of the things that might interest fans of “Game of Thrones” most was knowing if “The House of the Dragon” would be up to the task in terms of production. Being a spin-off series, many rumors have sensed less care, which would be understandable given that The Matrix is to date the most expensive series of all time in its last few seasons. However, there is nothing to be alarmed about. This new approach to Poniente meets expectations perfectly, displaying impeccable sets, costumes, sets and special effects. In fact, being mostly inside the palace of King’s Landing, a land known to fans, the atmosphere that reigns from the first minute is identical to that of its predecessor. Add to that a new epic soundtrack that manages to save some melodies from the original series and the ensemble is made to be savored with gusto.
Something similar happens with the entire narrative framework, where the viewer who has followed the previous books and series will be particularly comfortable with rewards that constantly remind them why they love this franchise so much. Those who approach the new saga will find no obstacles to discover this world and the rules that govern it, but it is clear that ‘The House of the Dragon’ deliberately has many elements very similar to the success of HBO. The main purpose of the creators was to resemble “Game of Thrones” as closely as possible in order to travel freely from then on. And that’s exactly what it does.
dance of dragons
Located primarily in King’s Landing, the series kicks off with a formidable pilot episode that introduces who the big players in the story will be and the relationships between them. Thus, from the very beginning we are introduced to the palace conspiracies. Each character has their own goals, which leaves magnificent sequences with powerful dialogue discussing power, betrayal, family, freedom, patriarchy, or the duties involved in the crown. It was one of the big components to the franchise’s success, and in “House of the Dragon” they completely morphed into it from their script, successfully building a latent tension that could explode at any moment. As if that weren’t enough, it does all of this – at least in the beginning – without skimping on action scenes or dragons.
The tone that sows “The House of the Dragon” is exceptional, vibrant, allowing the viewer to enter between walls that see and hear everything. However, it is also true that with the passing of the episodes the series loses a bit of vigor at certain moments. Some debates about politics and society end up being too repetitive, materializing in overexposed scenes that, in reality, lead nowhere. And while there are spicy and dark love triangles, there isn’t as much violence or sex as in “Game of Thrones,” ingredients that added more interest. This makes the initial dizzying pace slower and jerky, although it should also be noted that the series always finds a way to bounce back. Whether it’s a high-flying episode close, a new conversation that brings more to the story and reconnects the viewer, a bloody battle or a dragon’s flight and glow, there’s always an ace up your sleeve. .
One of the points that can weigh it down more, and in which it loses in the inevitable comparison with ‘Game of Thrones’, is the lack of that spirit of adventure so rooted in characters like Arya, Jon Snow or even Jaime. . The title itself warns that “The House of the Dragon” will work on a single family whose conflicts take place in the palace, whether in King’s Landing, Dragonstone or any other enclave in Westeros that has a castle to access. And that part is worked with great care. But there is only one protagonist, Daemon Targaryen, who allows himself to experience things outside these environments and break the monotony of the established rhythm. For audiences looking for something more in the series than a dialectical crossroads of power and control, it can end up being a bit of a climb.
Despite how loyal and affiliated “The House of the Dragon” is to “Game of Thrones”, there is a purely creative decision in which it completely distances itself. For reasons of script and plot, the series is forced to make several temporary jumps. With them, the foundations that were presented before change again and again. The protagonists have a new context, some gain power and others lose it. There are new alliances while others have been diluted. Even the casting of some characters, as already announced, changes to exemplify the passage of time, being the most striking part of the process as it occurs when the eye has already taken a liking to those faces. They are a series of decisions that will upset the public, from which we will have to wait for a response, whether it be positive or negative. It is true that when this happens the series begins to walk immediately and effortlessly but, at least, it is clear that the decision is quite risky.
The Targaryens, a charismatic family
As for the cast of “The House of the Dragon”, it should also be noted the effort with which the actors try to impress all possible charisma on their characters. Particularly good are Milly Alcock as the young version of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Matt Smith as her uncle Daemon Targaryen. Both of them sparkle with works that allow them to explore in depth the nooks and crannies of two complex and machinated characters. Along with Paddy Considine as King Viserys, they carry the entire series on their backs, earning points every time they enter the scene.
As for the secondary, none stand out in particular, if anything, the duet Emily Carey and Olivia Cooke in the role of an Alicent Hightower who is gaining ground with the passing of the episodes. It is actually absurd to stop and judge which performances deserve more recognition because, in a saga like this, we know that every character can become important at any moment and in the most unpredictable way. For now, it’s too early to judge whether the large cast can keep the pulse of the original series and the immense legacy it brings. But, of course, with the choice of different cast members, the wickerwork that can lead the protagonists of ‘The House of the Dragon’ to take root in the hearts of the fans has been intertwined.
The conclusions drawn from “The Dragon’s House” are, in essence, very positive. It is true that some aspects still need to be cleaned up, such as leaving the rooms of King’s Landing castle to open up a little more to the almost limitless possibilities that Westeros offers. But, in general terms, the series is very fresh and at the same time very faithful to the tone of ‘Game of Thrones’ that he fell so much in love with in his day. The Machiavellian conspiracies and worked scripts make it a very solid proposition that will amaze fans from its portentous pilot episode. “Game of Thrones” is still very much alive.
Note: 8
The best: At the beginning of the series, the interesting palace intrigues as a leitmotif and the charisma of its protagonists. Everything is reminiscent of “Game of Thrones”.
Worse: Some moral debates raised become repetitive. It lacks more exploration and a spirit of adventure.
Source: E Cartelera
