House of the Dragon

:

Season 1
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Aug 21, 2022
Season #: 3, 2, 1
User Score
5.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 615 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 318 out of 615
  2. Mixed: 43 out of 615
  3. Negative: 254 out of 615

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User Reviews

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  1. Mathias01
    Aug 22, 2022
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Well... after watching the first episode I can already see where this show is going so I might end up not finishing the season. I'll give it another couple of episodes but this start was not a good one. Yeah seeing dragons flying around was cool but some of the characters were a little too tropey. And I saw some hints at wokeness here and there. Subtle but there. And (as was the case for GoT) the violence depicted so far was one sided. During the scene where people were being beaten and rounded up by soldiers one man would say "thief" and a man has his hand cut off. The same man said "rapist" and another man was castrated. Yet no women were accused of anything. Why? Only men are bad? This is a continuation of a disturbing trend in films and TV shows of today.… Expand
  2. lilkillpappy
    Aug 22, 2022
    0
    Still wondering where the ending to Game of Thrones is at, because what we got is not it. Go back and finish the original series and I might be interested in watching another show about it.
  3. jabloomf1230
    Aug 22, 2022
    10
    GoT went into the ditch when it started deviating from GRRM's books. Dragons is chock full of pure GRRM trivia and detail. This may be why the fans love it and many professional critics are baffled. Unlike Tolkien, GRRM's fantasy world is also tinged with science fiction. Also unlike Tolkien, the world's history is more detailed. My advice is to read the books that Dragons is based on. ItGoT went into the ditch when it started deviating from GRRM's books. Dragons is chock full of pure GRRM trivia and detail. This may be why the fans love it and many professional critics are baffled. Unlike Tolkien, GRRM's fantasy world is also tinged with science fiction. Also unlike Tolkien, the world's history is more detailed. My advice is to read the books that Dragons is based on. It helps in understanding the interplay between factions, families and characters.… Expand
  4. Trunkis
    Aug 22, 2022
    0
    More liberal garbage ruining beloved series
    Same liberal nonsense that is present in every single piece of media produced in the last few years. Black characters that make no sense. Men bad, women good. Teenage girls that are stronger and smarter than men. Just one episode in, and I already know what the main focus and theme is.
  5. donanja
    Aug 22, 2022
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It can be difficult to wash out the bitter taste left by Game of Thrones Season 8, but I’m personally trying to see this new series as its separate entity – set in the same universe, but adapted and written by completely different writers.

    There are many great things to say about this episode, but I think what shines through the brightest is the return of dialogue with some substance. After the mind-numbing dialogue that we got towards the end of Game of Thrones (“I dun want it”, “muh queen”), it’s so refreshing to watch these characters interact with each other in a meaningful way that feels human. Very reminiscent of the earlier seasons of the original show.

    I will also admit that I got a bit emotional seeing King’s Landing again. It may be about two centuries before GoT, but it’s still recognizable as the same city and it has a very familiar, nostalgic feel to it. The score and VFX were on point too.

    My only critique would be about the ending where Viserys suddenly starts talking about some weird “winter is coming” stuff and breaks the fourth wall by talking about the “Song of Ice and Fire”... I think that felt a bit shoehorned in and unnecessary, but that was literally in the last 5 minutes of the episode and I’m guessing it’s something they put in for the more casual audiences to help bridge the gap between HotD and GoT.

    Other than that I was very satisfied. It felt like a strong and faithful return to this world. I have nothing negative to say about any of the cast either, I think they’re all excellent from what I’ve seen so far (Rhys Ifans and Paddy Considine are probably my favorites).

    With my initial impressions, I’d give this episode a very generous 9/10.    … Expand
  6. farukh
    Aug 22, 2022
    0
    knowing that Bran is still going to be a king makes this all thing meaningless
  7. ToffeeHobitti
    Aug 22, 2022
    9
    Finally some good fantasy. All in all the first episode felt like more mature Game of Thrones, with more complex and deep characters. Great looking sets and CGI. Some of the armors look a bit plastic but it's really a minor thing. I can't believe how it has only 69 on critic score. Guess it does not have enough D I V E R S I T Y and Mary Sue women who bash the men for being incompetent morons lol.
  8. mndk9881
    Aug 22, 2022
    10
    به نظر من سریال فوق العاده شروع شد و امید وارم به همین طریق بره جلو ففط نقطه ضعفش مدت زمان سریال که کوتاه.
  9. andy24king
    Aug 22, 2022
    9
    You know what I really enjoyed that first episode of this new series from George R R Martin. Certainly sets it up for some cracking episodes to come. Very good acting, great set locations (something I’ve adored with GoT), and it’s just different but right thru it all is the handprint of George RR Martin. Brilliant. Westeros is back baby.
  10. Idahoe1984
    Aug 22, 2022
    8
    I hope that's a start of something great. Costumes and decorations are majestic. Actors inspire confidence. It's a great challenge to fit all dialogues developing characters in such short time, but I hope it'll get better in further series.
  11. Thynamis
    Aug 22, 2022
    10
    What a first episode. I love the casting and pacing so far. It feels like the old Game of Thrones is back.
  12. pedrwwgo
    Aug 22, 2022
    10
    Foi maravilhoso voltar a Westeros! Como fã do livro, eu amei demais! Muito promissora.
    Ryan Condal, junto de Miguel e do grandioso George R. R. Martin irão conduzir bem esse show!
  13. vgmkyle
    Aug 22, 2022
    10
    HBO's golden goose isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Production value is stellar, special effects are stellar. I expected the acting to be phony, fake cosplay - but I was completely wrong. The acting is realistic and enjoyable to watch. Is it better than the last two seasons of GOT? Oh, absolutely. 10x times better. I can't wait for the next episode, and this has boosted my interest inHBO's golden goose isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Production value is stellar, special effects are stellar. I expected the acting to be phony, fake cosplay - but I was completely wrong. The acting is realistic and enjoyable to watch. Is it better than the last two seasons of GOT? Oh, absolutely. 10x times better. I can't wait for the next episode, and this has boosted my interest in GOT once more.… Expand
  14. CalvinCrack
    Aug 22, 2022
    4
    *SPOILERS* It lost me somewhere between the guy getting his balls chopped off, the emergency C-section and the second or third brothel scene. To quote George Lucas, "they may have gone too far in a couple places." This episode's idea of character development was a 20 minute jousting scene starring a cartoon bad guy we already know we're supposed to hate because he chopped a guy's balls*SPOILERS* It lost me somewhere between the guy getting his balls chopped off, the emergency C-section and the second or third brothel scene. To quote George Lucas, "they may have gone too far in a couple places." This episode's idea of character development was a 20 minute jousting scene starring a cartoon bad guy we already know we're supposed to hate because he chopped a guy's balls off. George Lucas wouldn't have done that. If I were to judge this hour of programming on production quality alone I'd say, these people are talented but they have issues. I think the writers didn't have the guts to tell this story over 3 episodes because that would have required a great deal more depth instead of focusing on shocking violence, random sex and nearly every other reheated trope in the GOT playbook. The rushed storytelling of this pilot reminded me of the later (less well received) episodes of GOT. After 1 episode I feel burnt out and expecting to see a final showdown with the bad guy in episode 2.… Expand
  15. Marcroc
    Aug 21, 2022
    10
    AMAZING!!! MUST WATCH DESPITE GOT'S FINALE. It has everything to be perfect. Action, lots of drama and great script. Amazing.
  16. szeffffff14
    Aug 22, 2022
    9
    Great first episode! This was a feeling like The good old GoT. Recomend to all fan of game of thrones
  17. victorbutera
    Aug 22, 2022
    10
    House of the Dragon debuts in a solid, agile and consistent way with Heirs of the Dragon, which takes us back to the fantastic world of Westeros as if we never said goodbye, the palatial intrigue that haunts King's Landing in GOT is still present which makes us transports to something totally unique and new but with ties to the material we already know through nostalgia
  18. dunnyone
    Aug 21, 2022
    0
    GoT was so bad, and they messed it up so horrendously, that they have to go back in time as any future stories are totally borked. This is just more of the same, I won't watch the rest as HBO will just eff up the ending.
  19. Luke9648
    Aug 21, 2022
    4
    One of the worst trends in reboots/remakes/sequels is to rehash too many of the same things from the original. Some of the fan service is just goofy. OH! SHE SAID THE THING!!! One of the other off-putting trends is to make the villain, just, basically, white men in general. I hate the term "woke" but the people claiming wokeness aren't exactly wrong. There's a balance. To life, to theOne of the worst trends in reboots/remakes/sequels is to rehash too many of the same things from the original. Some of the fan service is just goofy. OH! SHE SAID THE THING!!! One of the other off-putting trends is to make the villain, just, basically, white men in general. I hate the term "woke" but the people claiming wokeness aren't exactly wrong. There's a balance. To life, to the human race. Sometimes shows these days seem to just send the message that men are bad. Like we all need to learn our lesson for being evil oppressors of everyone that isn't a white man. It feels like that's where this show is going. I think i could probably map out some basic plot points of where this is going after 1 episode. Another fault is that GoT had what, 25 compelling characters, and this show.... hopes to have some? Eventually? The only real highlight to me is that Matt Smith seems to have the potential to be the next great villain. I doubt i'll stick around.… Expand
  20. AlliDoisWatchTv
    Aug 21, 2022
    9
    Great dynamic between the characters. I can tell this wont be anywhere near as big or good as GOT butttt it will def be very good and do amazing in its own lane. I believe this is going to be a very successful spinoff like what better call saul is for breaking bad
  21. jmc2011
    Aug 21, 2022
    10
    Amazing show!!! Ryan and Miguel know what they are doing!! Westeros is in great hands!!

    It feels so good to be back in this world! I was a little skeptical with how the show would be handled after the debacle of the final seasons of game of thrones but I feel like this show is vindicating. Ryan's attention to details from the books and Miguel's direction is a perfect match.
  22. ZLZ61
    Aug 21, 2022
    10
    Fire episode Fire show
    Gonna be epic
    Gonna be amazing
    Fire and blood
    GOT
    HTOD
  23. Gabts
    Aug 21, 2022
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 9aoaoaakakakkakakakkwmwnjaajjaakajajajajaakjaakkiakkqia(9aoaoaakakakkakakakkwmwnjaajjaakajajajajaakjaakkiakkqia… Expand
  24. laughingal
    Aug 21, 2022
    9
    I'm not a big fan of the gratuitous bordello scenes, but the rest looks great. Milly Alcock is fantastic and has a great future ahead of her. Episode 1 left me wanting more. Don't compare it to GOT, treat it like a new thing. GOT was pretty campy in parts anyways. I don't mind them using actors of different races, it just doesn't bother me at all.
  25. Morgn
    Aug 21, 2022
    10
    AMAZING!!! MUST WATCH DESPITE GOT'S FINALE. It has everything to be perfect. Action, lots of drama and great script. Amazing.
  26. Nietzschebot1
    Aug 21, 2022
    6
    It was just okay. Where GOT attempted to insert as much violence, sex, and general mayhem as it could get away with (at least in the first few seasons), HOD seems as if it is trying to have as little violence, sex, and general mayhem as it can get away with (while still appearing to be edgy). We are in a new moral age, and this series seems to be made in the wake of that age. It mayIt was just okay. Where GOT attempted to insert as much violence, sex, and general mayhem as it could get away with (at least in the first few seasons), HOD seems as if it is trying to have as little violence, sex, and general mayhem as it can get away with (while still appearing to be edgy). We are in a new moral age, and this series seems to be made in the wake of that age. It may prove me wrong, but everything about it so far is much too clean. This, of course, also hurts the drama. Nothing about it provokes winces or shock. And (perhaps consequently), there was also an absence of awe.… Expand
  27. samusmaster64
    Aug 21, 2022
    10
    Despite the initial apprehension, “House of the Dragon” has succeeded at being a true adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s work. The scale has been peeled back, abandoning long battle sequences for biting words, political intrigue, and character drama. It may take viewers who enjoyed the spectacle of later seasons of “Game of Thrones” a while to get on board, but fans of Martin’s books andDespite the initial apprehension, “House of the Dragon” has succeeded at being a true adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s work. The scale has been peeled back, abandoning long battle sequences for biting words, political intrigue, and character drama. It may take viewers who enjoyed the spectacle of later seasons of “Game of Thrones” a while to get on board, but fans of Martin’s books and the lore of Westeros are in for a treat.… Expand
  28. bertobellamy
    Aug 21, 2022
    7
    I have never seen 'Game of Thrones,' and have little interest in doing so, but this turned out well. The first episode hooked me, and now I'm waiting for the obvious twists and turns the story will have. My main complaint is that there were so many names that I got lost several times.
  29. NicoTacos
    Aug 21, 2022
    10
    Westeros is finally back. This was such a great start, we can truly see there's so much potential in this show, I had chills.
  30. Maulcun
    Aug 21, 2022
    9
    When HOTD was first announced, I had doubts as to whether it would be good. But after watching the first episode... I am blown away. From the acting to the set design.

    If they maintains the quality and intrigue of episode one, HOTD could be better than GOT.
  31. felipesntn
    Aug 21, 2022
    10
    Show of the year! For those who still are resented by GoT's finale, please grow up!
  32. All_ButTrU4
    Aug 21, 2022
    6
    Honestly there's nothing too bad about this just an uneven start but it's a welcomed revival of the intrigue the earlier seasons carried. It feels like something potentially good and far removed from the quality decline apparent in the Game of thrones later years. Excited to see where this goes.
  33. kingdom007
    Aug 21, 2022
    8
    It cannot be said that it is as beautiful as Game of Thrones, but the first episode is reminiscent of the Game of Thrones series, although it is weaker than it in everything, because the book of Fire and Blood is weaker than the Song of Fire and Ice collection, and overall it looks good.
  34. Rooseweld
    Aug 21, 2022
    10
    Amazing First Episode, Reminded me of the early seasons of game of thrones, can't wait to see how the rest of this season progress.
  35. Jacko16
    Aug 21, 2022
    10
    Hated the last season of GOT, but rating this on its own merits, it was brutal and a solid first episode, felt like S1-S3 of GOT. I'm intrigued and will keep tuning in, hope they can keep it up.
  36. Drael6464
    Aug 21, 2022
    6
    First episode at least, very mediocre by comparison to GoT. Sound engineering is awful, CGI looks cheap, costuming looks very clean and new, music is unoriginal. The acting is competent, but the story starts very slowly, and there's really only one compelling scene. Few characters stand out as interesting. Targaryen's come across less like a golden age empire, and more like the any otherFirst episode at least, very mediocre by comparison to GoT. Sound engineering is awful, CGI looks cheap, costuming looks very clean and new, music is unoriginal. The acting is competent, but the story starts very slowly, and there's really only one compelling scene. Few characters stand out as interesting. Targaryen's come across less like a golden age empire, and more like the any other house with blond wigs (literally). Pacing is also quite wack.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

5
#5 Most Discussed TV Season of 2022

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 43 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 43
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 43
  3. Negative: 1 out of 43
  1. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Sep 9, 2022
    70
    Though the acting is exemplary, this grim, glum prequel sorely lacks a Tyrion, an impish jester to puncture the portentousness. [12 - 25 Sep 2022, p.11]
    Read full review
  2. Sioux City Journal
    Reviewed by: Bruce Miller
    Aug 24, 2022
    70
    It’s mainstream fantasy, blessed with sumptuous costumes, compelling settings and those “Avatar”-like swooping dragons. Dragons, in fact, turn up just when the plot needs them most. When the house seems like it’s going to fall, they’re there to shore it up. ... It’s good; it still has time to be great.
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  3. Salon
    Reviewed by: Melanie McFarland
    Aug 23, 2022
    60
    "House of the Dragon" takes about five episodes to warm up, which corresponds to the amount of time that we spend with the younger actors playing key roles before a time jump necessitates a casting change. ... Rhaenyra is not Daenerys. She doesn't have a hype squad cheering on her murderous inclinations – yet – or an unearned sense of destiny. She's learning the price of capability and lessons about what it means to be a Targaryen, and a woman, from noble sources and unseemly ones. That combination of influences makes her an enigmatic guide back to a land we haven't forgotten, yet aren't entirely sure we've missed very much.
    Read full review
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