House of the Dragon Round Table: Did the Game of Thrones Prequel Live Up to the Hype?

Welcome again to Westeros, TV Fanatics.

House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 1 picked up nearly 200 years earlier than Game of Thrones, leaving us with a lot to discuss.

Below, TV Fanatics Denis Kimathi, Diana Keng, and Paul Dailly talk about “The Heirs of the Dragon.”

Princess Rhaenyra is inheritor to the throne. React.

Denis: I imply, that is the most important plot level in the collection. It is what’s going to drive the narrative ahead as varied characters act about and react to the declaration. Daemon looks like he’s owed that throne, whereas Rhaenys should additionally really feel a way about it.

She ought to have been the inheritor if patriarchal precedents didn’t rob her of it. It should all really feel unfair to her. Rhaenyra can be fairly younger, and her father is previous. If she is to ascend to the throne at this age, it will likely be fairly a problem for her. It can be attention-grabbing to see how this performs out.

Diana: Knowing that Rhaenyra’s scenario relies on England’s Matilda, whose father, Henry I, had his nobles swear fealty to her as his sole inheritor, it’s greater than foreshadowing for the conflicts down the highway.

Those nobles instantly forgot their oaths as quickly as Henry handed, and we see that many of the lords of Westeros have no real interest in bending the knee for a queen. I agree that Rhaenys might be royally irate about this. According to the supply textual content, there really was no precedent to select Viserys over her. It was the misogyny of the lords that set the precedent.

I imagine that Daemon needed the function of Hand of the King as a result of he is aware of that’s the place the true energy lies. He might search to puppet his niece as her Hand or ingratiate himself to Rhaenys if it seems to be like her declare might show profitable. Rhaenyra herself is a reluctant inheritor. The inner battle of obligation and inclination might develop extra absolutely as she ages up.

Paul: We knew it was coming, however it did not make it any much less fascinating. We do not know a lot about this timeline, and I’m excited for the collection to delve deeper into it.

There can be a lot of civil unrest in the playing cards, which can absolutely make the whole lot significantly totally different going ahead.

Daemon stole a dragon egg and left King’s Landing with Mysaria. What do you suppose his subsequent transfer is?

Denis: The power of House Targaryen lies of their possession of the dragons. The largest false impression from the normal public is that they management the dragons. Daemon will attempt to check this principle with devastating penalties. His subsequent transfer is to attempt to lay declare to the throne – utilizing the dragons. He is a person full of himself, believing that justice is his to meet.

Diana: To use dragons to battle a warfare in opposition to his family would require a breeding pair to guarantee extra dragons to shore up his declare to energy and increase his standing. That additionally takes time. Furthermore, he’d want extra help from these in energy.

He has the Gold Cloaks’ loyalty and the charisma of Mysaria, however being Prince of the City/Lord of Flea Bottom has not and won’t impress the lords of the Small Council. We know from Game of Thrones that the Vale and the Royces aren’t folks to be trifled with.

Daemon could be smarter to use his spouse’s affect to climb the Iron Throne, however I don’t suppose that can even happen to him.  I predict he’ll connect himself to Rhaenyra or Rhaenys. He would possibly even attempt to play each side of that battle.

Paul: Daemon is such a multi-faceted character that I need to see him go full carnage, however there have to be some repercussions to his actions. He desperately desires to ascend the throne, however he’ll in all probability attempt to get nearer to individuals who could make his dream a actuality.

If meaning stealing a dragon, then so be it.

Aemma’s demise was heartbreaking to watch. Do you suppose these scenes had been mandatory to present how a lot Viserys needed a male inheritor to the throne?

Denis: Absolutely. In a society the place having a son is seen not solely as an indication is safety for the bloodline but in addition power, it was mandatory. It was painful to watch, however that’s half of the Game of Thrones Universe’s allure. Graphic scenes that can perpetually be embedded in our brains. For Viserys, having a male inheritor is the summit of his existence that he couldn’t fairly get to regardless of being a robust man in Westeros.

Diana: It very a lot demonstrated the triumph of worry over love. Viserys is aware of that his declare to the throne was solely sanctioned by the lords of Westeros as a result of he was the male claimant.

He is rife with insecurities regardless of being the king. The Iron Throne actually wounds him. He wants a son not solely to inherit however to show to himself that he’s in a position to dream true like the Targaryen kings of previous. He suffers from imposter syndrome, and Daemon sees it and throws it in his face.

Paul:  It was harrowing. I believe even individuals who did not learn Fire & Blood would know that was coming, and for me, it reiterated how vital it was for all of these folks to have a male inheritor to the throne.

I would not say they had been mandatory, however it undoubtedly highlighted the desperation of Viserys and people in his interior circle. However, the funeral was lovely, and I’m way more invested in the ramifications of this motion.

Viserys shared particulars of Aegon’s dream with Rhaenyra. Now that we all know how that performs out in Game of Thrones, what are your ideas on it?

Denis: These particulars are an vital piece of data to be had by anybody who sits on the throne. It reminds them that they don’t seem to be combating for his or her home or their very own pursuits.

They should attempt to maintain the complete of Westeros collectively, for there’s something greater than them. But that’s so distant it’s solely pure that they’ll’t maintain out that lengthy.

Diana: As a spin-off collection, I believe it was vital to them to tie the narratives collectively. Even the opening display screen textual content drew particular consideration to how this collection related to the time of Daenerys. Along with the glimpses of members of the Houses we’re aware of, I believe it was an efficient approach to set up the continuity of Westeros.

However, I’m actually extra involved in their introduction of Ten Thousand Ships and the Dornish lineage, which might ship them again in time even additional on the subsequent spin-off collection.

Paul: It did not really feel as compelled as I believed on the first watch, and hey, it was an honest approach to tie the two reveals collectively. However, understanding what occurs, it leaves a nasty style in my mouth.

I’m by no means one for retconning something, however I’d take a multiverse of Westeros at this stage to rewrite, or not less than decelerate the tempo of the closing two seasons.

That’s how bummed I nonetheless am about the finish of the unique collection.

Now that the premiere is over, do you suppose the collection lives up to the hype?

Denis: Usually, I give a brand new present three episodes to decide whether or not it’s good or unhealthy. I didn’t want greater than the pilot to decide that this can be a fantastic present.

The episode didn’t drag on. It put the viewers proper into the social and gender politics of Westeros, the violence, the intercourse, the love, and the loyalty – or lack thereof – that’s half Game of Thrones.

Diana: The premiere lands properly for each followers of HBO’s Game of Thrones and potential newcomers to the world. It does a greater job of casting characters based mostly on the literary supply materials than Game of Thrones did in that GOT wanted to age up a number of characters to make many of the exploitative scenes filmable.

For instance, Milly Alcock was possibly a pair of years older than Rhaenyra after they filmed the heir-naming scene, however that’s much less important than in the event that they’d married Drogo to the 14-year-old Dany of the books. I recognize the manufacturing worth and visible constancy to the established world.

When Game of Thrones premiered over a decade in the past, it was revolutionary in its appear and feel. House of the Dragon has the job of preserving that presence whereas innovating its personal characters and conflicts. I might use rather less of the musical rating always beating us over the head with the nearly-GOT theme.

Paul: Personally, I went in with low expectations and got here out pleasantly stunned. There’s all the time that fear {that a} spinoff will wreck the good of the predecessor, however there are real tales right here that may span seasons.

What are your hopes for the season forward?

Denis: All I need is to see Rhaenyra kicking ass. I need to see the narrative develop past House Targaryen and see different households and their sentiments in direction of the ruling class. While Daemon is an absolute software, I’d love to see him rise to be an enormous villain solely to fall tougher. Oh, and the dragons. I need to see these majestic beasts roar and lay waste to the whole lot of their path.

Diana: Knowing what attention-grabbing characters Corlys and Rhaenys are in the guide, I’m hoping to see extra of their relationship and the way their courtly machinations play out.

I’m curious how the present will deal with the time bounce from Rhaenyra’s childhood to her younger maturity when the Dance of Dragons actually begins up, though I think Season 1 will solely lay the groundwork for that.

We’ve been promised seventeen actualized dragons. I count on some spectacular visible results. Mostly, I’m hoping for some actually intelligent plot twists and What-The-Tyrion? moments. Less intercourse, extra technique.

Paul: I need bloody battles, difficult household dynamics, and backstabbing. This specific plot can have all of these elements, so I’m right here for it.

House of the Dragon continues Sundays at 9 p.m.

Edit Delete