Shocking Twists Bring It Closer To Game Of Thrones

House
of
the
Dragon,
the
new
series
based
on
Martin’s
2018
companion
book
Fire
&
Blood,
a
prequel
set
roughly
200
years
before
the
events
of

Game
of
Thrones,
has
a
newer,
penetrating
and
compellingly
multi-layered
outlook
with
well-etched
character
work.
It’s
written
as
a
multi-generational
historical
account
of
the
Targaryen
family’s
prosperous
300
year
reign
over
Westeros.

This
series
is
predominantly
evolved
around
Viserys
I
Targaryen
(Paddy
Considine)
non-aggressive
efforts
to
secure
his
kingdom,
Princess
Rhaenyra
Targaryen
(Emma
D’Arcy)
attempts
to
assert
herself
despite
being
female,
Prince
Daemon
Targaryen
(Matt
Smith)
unhappiness
regarding
being
surpassed
for
the
throne
and
Rhaenyra’s
best
friend
and
Otto
Hightower’s
daughter,
Lady
Alicent
Hightower
(Olivia
Cooke)
acceptance
of
becoming
a
pawn
in
complex,
ever-shifting
power
dynamics
circulating
around
the
Iron
Throne.

The
premiere
featured
sequences
of
battle
and
a
jousting
tournament
while
bloody
childbirth
consequences
weighed
it
down
emotionally.

Game
of
Thrones
was
a
far
more
direct
depiction
of
heroics
while
this
series
tends
to
go
much
deeper,
depicting
shades
that
bring
out
character
traits
that
are
far
more
realistic.

ALSO
READ:
House
Of
The
Dragon
Episode
1
Review:
Intriguing
Game
Of
Thrones
Prequel

House
of
the
Dragon
Episode
2:
The
Rogue
Prince

Rating:
*
*
*

Palace
intrigue
continues
unabated
centered
on
themes
of
power,
gender
and
loyalty.
Rhaenyra
violates
the
Small
Council
etiquette,
Viserys
is
being
urged
to
secure
the
succession
through
marriage,
a
disgruntled
Daemon
appears
to
be
nesting
his
sinister
intentions
–
this
installment
basically
lays
a
strong
foundation
for
what
is
to
come.

The
Rogue
Prince
revels
in
developing
conflicts.
The
plotting
includes
potential
alliance
building
and
is
set
six
months
after
the
events
of
the
first
episode.
The
death
of
King
Viserys
(Paddy
Considine)
wife
Queen
Aemma
during
childbirth
has
opened
up
the
plot
to
intriguing
possibilities.

This
second
episode
of
the
spin-off
series
that
goes
back
in
time,
builds
up
audience
fervour
by
gradually
incrementing
its
decadent
glorification
of
medieval
shenanigans
evolving
around
succession
issues.
Brutality,
bestiality,
nastiness
and
perversity
continue
to
find
favour.

Considine
and
Smith
ace
their
roles
and
the
women
at
the
centre
of
it
also
make
their
presence
felt.
This
episode
makes
the
female
gaze
more
integral
to
the
battle
for
the
throne.

The
fierce
Rhaenyra
and
the
gentle
Alicent
are
contrasting
character
studies
but
both
wield
power
and
influence
that
can
rival
that
of
the
men.
Episode
two
is
fairly
cryptic
and
involving.
Relationships
develop
and
sour
and
startling
moments
like
[SPOILER]
Princess
Rhaenyra’s
landing
outside
Dragonstone,
add
up
to
the
surprises.
We
know
there’s
disaster
coming
and
we
can
only
hold
our
breath
in
anticipation.

House
of
the
Dragon
Episode
3:
Second
of
His
Name

Rating:
*
*
*

It’s
been
around
three
years
since
the
events
of

The
Rogue
Prince.
The
third
episode
of

House
of
the
Dragon
pitchforks
into
its
first
major
battle
set-piece.
There’s
a
skirmish
against
the
Crabfeeder’s
Triarchy
in
the
Stepstones,
a
war
instigated
by
Prince
Daemon
(Matt
Smith)
and
Lord
Corlys
(Steve
Toussiant)
–
an
effort
to
strengthen
their
claims
for
the
throne.

The
costumes
look
fantastic,
the
production
design
is
lavish
and
the
camerawork
is
dark
but
lush.
The
violence
is
also
fairly
gravitating.
Rhaenyra
(Milly
Alcock)
and
the
rest
of
the
realm
hear
about
Laenor
Velaryon’s
(Theo
Nate)
ascension
as
a
dragon
rider,
so
now
Lord
Lyonel
Strong
has
the
ammunition
to
justify
a
second
attempt
at
a
Targaryen-Velaryon
union.

The
writers
here
have
managed
to
create
a
strong
scenario
for
some
interesting
outcomes.
It’s
enthralling
to
see
King
Viserys
and
his
party
journey
into
the
Kingswood
for
a
hunting
expedition
for
the
wee
baby
Aegon
II’s
name
day.
The
dialogue
also
is
quite
weighty
with
subtext
and
nuance.

This
episode
sees
an
influx
of
new
characters.
Some
fresh
Lannisters
(Jefferson
Hall),
Larys
Strong
aka
“The
Clubfoot”
(Matthew
Needham)
and
Aemond
Velaryon
(Will
Johnson)
shore
up
the
intrigue
further.
This
episode
manages
to
increment
the
potential
for
action
considerably.
We
can
actually
feel
the
turbulence
coming
in
its
wake.

House
of
the
Dragon
Episode
4:
King
of
the
Narrow
Sea

Rating:
*
*
*

This
episode
focuses
on
sexual
politics
and
its
effect
on
the
contestants
for
the
throne.
Rhaenyra
goes
on
an
impromptu
night-out
with
her
uncle,
and
brings
into
play
contentious
socio-cultural
issues
like
age,
consent
issues,
power
dynamics,
and
incest.
This
episode
feels
much
closer
to
the

Game
of
Thrones
than
the
earlier
episodes.

Daemon
(Matt
Smith)
is
now
being
referred
to
as
‘King
of
the
Narrow
Sea’ following
his
successful
close
of
the
battle
for
the
Stepstones,
and
he
has
been
restored
to
the
king’s
court
with
honours
for
his
efforts.
He
also
renews
his
odd-ball
association
with
his
niece
while
She,
Rhaenyra,
continues
to
reject
an
increasingly
absurd
number
of
attempts
by
the
lords
of
the
realm
to
vie
for
her
hand
in
marriage.

There’s
not
much
plot
here
but
it’s
an
interesting
episode
nevertheless.
The
camerawork
is
really
dark
and
rather
indistinct
here.
There’s
a
fair
bit
of
intensity
and
the
sexual
by-play
is
rather
repulsive.

Rhaenyra’s
newfound
sexual
awakening
alongside
Alicent’s
coerced
marriage-bed
experience
brings
social
issues
to
the
fore.
Their
exploits
add
contentious
social
themes
to
the
basically
ascension
story.

While
this
episode
explores
Rhaenyra’s
coming
of
age
it
also
gives
us
an
insight
into
Otto
Hightower’s
makeup.
We
finally
get
to
see
Rhys
Ifans
coming
into
his
own.

Episode
4
of

House
of
Dragon
is
shocking
and
serious
and
gives
us
a
dekko
into
what
the
coming
episodes
can
bring
on
the
table.