Content Warning! This List Contains Spoilers For The Series Premiere of House of the Dragon And It’s Source Material, Fire & Blood!The premiere of House of the Dragon has finally arrived. The Game of Thrones prequel series has been highly anticipated since the show’s contentious finale in 2019, and so far, it looks to be living up to the hype.
House of the Dragon partly adapts George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, detailing the history of House Targaryen, specifically during the civil war called the Dance of the Dragons. From the dragons, the political intrigue, the violence, and the romance, fans around the world have shared their excited reactions to it all on Twitter.
Locked In
Unfortunately, the final season of Game of Thrones left a particularly sour taste in the mouths of many fans, which has led to feelings of hesitation or frustration already before House of the Dragon actually premiered. However, for those who chose to give the prequel a chance, it quickly brought back the feelings that grabbed their attention when they first started watching Game of Thrones.
Tweets such as this one spread like wildfire all over Twitter as audiences expressed how they’re committed to the new show. The familiar setting and ambiance invited viewers in, while the fresh perspective, stunning visuals, and intriguing story sealed the deal.
A Sight To Behold
House of the Dragon clearly benefits from Game of Thrones as its blueprint, but in the first episode, it manipulated those foundations to give audiences something new. The dialogue is refined and eloquent, delivered exceptionally by the seasoned and talented cast. Even the effects and visuals seem improved compared to the last time fans saw King’s Landing in Game of Thrones.
To many, House of the Dragon started off strong, so here’s to hoping it can build momentum and keep it up as well as its predecessor did for most of its run.
172 Years
They made certain that audiences would know for certain when this show takes place, establishing that the show is starting in 110. Importantly they linked back to Game of Thrones with a simple mention of Daenerys Targaryen.
This ever-so-brief moment had a deep impact on viewers just by referencing their lost and favorite character. There will be another time jump down the line this season, possibly meaning it’ll be ten to fifteen years or so closer to the age of Daenerys.
Ramin Djawadi’s Firing On All Cylinders
Beyond the blood, nudity, and dragons the Game of Thrones was casually known for, its most recognizable feature was actually its theme music and score. Composer Ramin Djawadi returned to continue his good work in that regard in House of the Dragon.
Obviously, Djawadi composed some beautiful new music, but smartly, he was able to further link House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones by seamlessly repurposing the popular theme into the new show’s score.
The Great Wide World Of Ice And Fire
As with nearly any fantasy franchise, the names of characters and locations can be quite confusing to casual audiences. That goes double for House Targaryen given their proclivity to reuse the same names generation after generation. Despite that, many fans expressed pride and excitement that they remembered the houses and locations mentioned in the first episode.
Along with those confirmed a while back, it was delightful to simply hear the name Stark again and see who is heading House Baratheon.
DRACARYS!
With the return of the Targaryens also comes their native tongue, High Valyrian. There are couple key phrases in High Valyrian that became some of the most defining quotes of Game of Thrones, including “dracarys”. Interestingly, while Daenerys primarily used it to obliterate her enemies, Rhaenyra instead said it for her mother’s funeral – one typically for destruction, the other out of love.
Fans will certainly be hearing dracarys repeatedly throughout this season and those to come when the Targaryens being to aim their dragons at each other.
The Realm’s Delight
The performances of the cast already were quite exceptional, especially Milly Alcock. The latter, playing the young Princess Rhaenyra, shone in this episode.
The series already established the deep connection between Princess Rhaenyra and Alicent Hightower, showcasing how they go from being practically sisters to mortal enemies. In only one episode, Alcock and Rhaenyra have quickly earned the devotion of audiences. From what’s been shown so far, it already looks like Emma D’Arcy will keep it up as she goes on to tell some of Rhaenyra’s darker and more complex stories.
RIP Queen Aemma
Of course, it really couldn’t be a Game of Thrones spin-off if there wasn’t an inordinate amount of blood and guts. While the actions of Daemon Targaryen, whether on the lists jousting or his bloody crusade through Flea Bottom leading the Gold Cloaks, were shocking – especially for those still getting acclimated with this world – that was nothing compared to what happened to Queen Aemma.
Frankly, this sequence was utterly horrific. Queen Aemma is essentially sacrificed by Viserys to birth his son – who in turn tragically doesn’t survive – and her torturous screams and reaction to his decision did make some viewers uncomfortable.
Don’t Mind Me Just Watching
Matt Smith, best known for his role in Doctor Who, stars as Prince Daemon Targaryen. He’s already done things and said things that could make audiences hate him, yet he has a sort of charm that has captivated many viewers.
While he is primarily a man of action, he is no stranger to the secrecy, deception, and manipulation that comes with being royalty in Westeros. He took the time to spy on his brother, King Viserys, and his small council, listening to them lambast and condemn him. Of course, he should’ve known that they too have their ears and eyes watching him, and should’ve known better than to call his dead nephew, the “Heir for a Day”.
When The Snow Falls And The White Wind Blows…
Naturally, experienced audiences knew to expect House of the Dragon to connect back to Game of Thrones thematically, but it came as a shock when King Viserys told Rhaenyra about Aegon the Conqueror’s vision. For decades, readers had been told that he simply set his sights and ambitions westward to Westeros from Dragonstone, and that’s what led him to conquer it.
It’s interesting to think about how this prophecy could relate to the popular on of the savior, Azor Ahai, and whether it was in fact, Daenerys or Jon Snow as fans had been theorizing relentlessly.
