Entertainment
4 Years Later, HBO’s 3-Part Fantasy Series Is Already Considered a Classic
For two seasons, House of the Dragon has struggled with the allegations that it is a slower and less interesting version of Game of Thrones. Even after the divisive finale of HBO’s flagship fantasy series, George R.R. Martin’s labor of love is beloved in prestige drama circles. After its conclusion, the prequel series about the Dance of the Dragons was intriguing but didn’t provide the same zest as its predecessor.
Now into Season 3, House of the Dragon has achieved the potential it was always meant to. The series has rewarded audiences’ patience for its slow-burn pace. The political intrigue of the fantasy story has differentiated the show from Game of Thrones in the best way possible, elevating it to a modern classic.
‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Is the Highest Rated Yet
House of the Dragon seasons 1 and 2 did the hard work of setting up the generational trauma of the characters, and now the show is yielding results. The early years of the fantasy were instrumental, setting up the lifelong friction between Princess Rhaenyra and her childhood best friend, Alicent Hightower. As they grew, so did their resentment, and Season 3 finally reached the boiling point.
After an adult Alicent (Olivia Cooke) orchestrates a coup to put her son, Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney), on the throne instead of his older half-sister, Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), the tension rises. It is the Battle of the Gullet, however, that marks the best years of the show. House of the Dragon Season 3 marks a Rotten Tomatoes best for the series and has been a decided improvement from Season 2.
The sophomore season of House of the Dragon was divisive, to say the least, particularly with fan-favorite character Daemon Targaryen’s (Matt Smith) plotline at Harrenhal. The Rogue Prince was wasted in the cursed castle as he grappled with his niece-wife’s claim to the throne and was plagued with nonsensical visions for a time. Daemon returns at the end of the season to pledge fealty to Rhaenyra, and the story finally reaches its full potential.
Now with Daemon being Rhaenyra’s unrelenting supporter, the Dance of the Dragons has finally begun, promising more fire and blood than ever before. This is a comeback that fans have been waiting for and one that is as thought-provoking as it is exciting.
‘House of the Dragon’ Has Surpassed ‘Game of Thrones’
Game of Thrones was such a popular fantasy show in its day that it would be difficult for any fantasy series to surpass it. House of the Dragon was slow going in establishing itself, but it was time well spent. The Fire & Blood adaptation is at its best when it is nothing like its predecessor. Game of Thrones was high-octane from the first episode, but House of the Dragon succeeds in drawing out the drama.
At its core, the prequel is an anti-war narrative that needs time to gestate. It can – and should – exist outside the realm of Game of Thrones. Its recent success proves that the Song of Ice and Fire adaptation doesn’t need carbon copies. Shows that exist in the extended universe should be different from one another.
Streaming hit A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms demonstrates that as well. It takes archetypal characters, but instead of placing them in life-or-death situations, it succeeds with comedy and low-stakes drama. Additionally, House of the Dragon isn’t the long-form epic that Game of Thrones is. This is a brutal civil war where there is no obvious winner.
Whether viewers root for the Blacks or the Greens, neither side comes out ahead. This is the war that drives dragons to extinction and decimates more than one House. Westeros may survive, but it is never the same. Thanks to Season 3, House of the Dragon has become must-see TV that has established itself as a classic.
- Release Date
-
August 21, 2022
- Network
-
HBO
- Showrunner
-
George R.R. Martin
- Directors
-
Clare Kilner, Geeta Patel
- Writers
-
Gabe Fonseca
-
-
Fabien Frankel
Ser Criston Cole
You must be logged in to post a comment Login