House of the Dragon(HBO) Aug 21 Premiere (Spoiler Warning)

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**nels1031**

Pretty excited for this after watching almost all of the trailers and promo interviews.

I’m going to try to go in with a fresh pallete, as the worst parts of GoT fade into memory. I did a brief read up on the timeframe of the show and it seems like its going to be a great story, if they keep it on track, since its a much more focused tale then its predecessor.

Anyone else planning on checking it out?

I’m only partially familiar with the overarcing story and honestly didn’t want to get too far into the saga and ruin any surprises for myself, so endeavour to put things in spoilers for those that haven’t read ahead!

**ccs**

I'll watch it eventually.

**Gert**

I'll watch it because it's there to watch.

**Turnip Jedi**

Another distraction for George not to finish the darn books..

But it'll be interesting to see if Dumb and Dumber's dragon gak sandwich of everything post books seasons has put folks off the franchise and we see a one and done season for this

**Mad Doc Grotsnik**

I’m up for it. But will wait until I can binge the whole thing, as I don’t want to have to sign up for NowtTV for any longer than absolutely necessary.

**Voss**

Anyone else planning on checking it out?

Nope. George lost me around book 3, didn't bother to watch the misery porn show.

So when sites talk about this being an 'even darker' prequel I just stare at the screen funny. Why would I want that?

**warhead01**

No plans to watch it.
noting in the trailers for this Dragons show was exciting or interesting as far as I could tell so meh.
We just watched the first 4 seasons of GoT a few weeks ago and I hated nearly every minuet of it. And we only like those 4 seasons.

No more GRRM for me. Yuck.

**Gert**

I'm still not entirely sure what the plot is beyond "Its the Targaryens".

**nels1031**

Turnip Jedi wrote:
Another distraction for George not to finish the darn books..

I’ve come to terms with him never finishing the books, at this point.

Turnip Jedi wrote:
But it'll be interesting to see if Dumb and Dumber's dragon gak sandwich of everything post books seasons has put folks off the franchise and we see a one and done season for this

Ya, that is going to be interesting. I hope it (and Rings of Power) succeeds, as its always great having more fantasy out there. And if either fail, it’ll be a spectacle to watch burn regardless.

**Azreal13**

Gert wrote:
I'm still not entirely sure what the plot is beyond "Its the Targaryens".

We start Thrones with dragons considered extinct, the idea that they were once huge beasts ridden into battle almost a myth, and the last two Targaryen children exiled and powerless.

We start this one with a Targaryen on the throne and dragons both powerful and relatively numerous.

So I guess we're seeing how we get to the former position from the latter. Insanity, inbreeding, paranoia, murder and betrayal. In other words, more Thrones.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Voss wrote:
Anyone else planning on checking it out?

Nope. George lost me around book 3, didn't bother to watch the misery porn show.

So when sites talk about this being an 'even darker' prequel I just stare at the screen funny. Why would I want that?

It'll make a refreshing departure from you watching each week's episode and then coming on here and telling us all the reasons it sucks then.

**nels1031**

Voss wrote:
Anyone else planning on checking it out?

Nope. George lost me around book 3, didn't bother to watch the misery porn show.

So when sites talk about this being an 'even darker' prequel I just stare at the screen funny. Why would I want that?

I feel you on the misery porn thing. There are quite a few shows that just stay in my queue because I can’t work up the energy to start/finish them. On the other hand, this’ll be a change of pace from the “zero stakes, formulaic action/comedy, maybe briefly push into PG-13 type territory” that so much “geek content” feels like to me right now.

Honestly, looking forward to some bloody betrayals, murder and intrigue.

**stonehorse**

nels1031 wrote:
On the other hand, this’ll be a change of pace from the “zero stakes, formulaic action/comedy, maybe briefly push into PG-13 type territory” that so much “geek content” feels like to me right now.

Too true, it is either edgy, swearing, misery porn or what you described. Guess that is why I just can not get on with a lot of modern 'geek content'. That and I'm bored of 'Fantasy' meaning 'psedo medieval europe setting'.

As for the show, nah won't be bothering with it at all. The disaster that was the last 3 seasons of GoT killed the franchise for me. I'm sort of glad that GRRM won't finish the books now.

**nels1031**

Episode 1 in the books!

I likey.

Its going to take some time to disassociate GoT characters from this series. Like “Oh, this guy is this shows Littlefinger/Jamie etc.”

Nothing really major happened, just some setup and getting the lay of the land.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Weeks to come trailer :

**Grey Templar**

So we are basically just getting the Dance of the Dragons as a show right?

Honestly it is probably a better foundation because at least it has a set end point and way the story can pan out. Unlike the main show which was building the train tracks as the train was traveling down them.

**Shadow Walker**

I liked it enough to see the next episode.

**creeping-deth87**

Just watched the premiere and I gotta say I'm very impressed. Matt Smith and Milly Alcock were great in this. I'm definitely not going to be reading any source material for this one, I want to be surprised this time when things happen

**ccs**

creeping-deth87 wrote:
Just watched the premiere and I gotta say I'm very impressed. Matt Smith and Milly Alcock were great in this. I'm definitely not going to be reading any source material for this one, I want to be surprised this time when things happen

Is there source materiel for this?

**trexmeyer**

Everything was fine, but I dislike the casting choices for pretty much all of the Targaryens. None of them have the familial look as described in the books. They're just average people with long white-blonde hair.

**creeping-deth87**

ccs wrote:
creeping-deth87 wrote:
Just watched the premiere and I gotta say I'm very impressed. Matt Smith and Milly Alcock were great in this. I'm definitely not going to be reading any source material for this one, I want to be surprised this time when things happen

Is there source materiel for this?

I thought the show was based on the Fire and Blood book George put out. I could be wrong though.

**Hulksmash**

To me it was pretty meh. But I'll give it a few episodes to see if it picks up speed. None of the current characters are likable in anyway yet except maybe McTavish and some stuff was just shock value for shock value like the wife scene.

**Lance845**

I think it was fine. It will be interesting to see how much of a following it gets considering the Great Game of Thrones Crash of 2019.

**ccs**

creeping-deth87 wrote:
ccs wrote:
creeping-deth87 wrote:
Just watched the premiere and I gotta say I'm very impressed. Matt Smith and Milly Alcock were great in this. I'm definitely not going to be reading any source material for this one, I want to be surprised this time when things happen

Is there source materiel for this?

I thought the show was based on the Fire and Blood book George put out. I could be wrong though.

Ah, I never remember that he's put out several related books.

**Grey Templar**

trexmeyer wrote:
Everything was fine, but I dislike the casting choices for pretty much all of the Targaryens. None of them have the familial look as described in the books. They're just average people with long white-blonde hair.

Well, its tough to find a bunch of people who look super related like the Targaryens are supposed to be. Heck, actual biological children can differ from their parents wildly such that there is only minor resemblance. The doppleganger-esk resemblance that they have really can't be found in the real world without finding some actual incest babies, and none of them would look like the Targaryens. They'd be more like the Hapsburgs, ugly and deformed.

**nels1031**

Reading that it had the highest premiere viewership of any show in 2022, though I give all streaming site statistics a suspicious side eye.

If its true and it keeps up the quality, this may be another cultural phenomenon.

Also :

Spoiler:

Anyone else find it weird that they leaned hard into the "prince that was promised" prophecy at the end of the episode, as well as showcase more discussion of it in the sneak peak footage? Just seemed strange that it was given a lot of attention when we know as viewers that it means nothing.

Unless that Jon Snow sequel series is legit happening and will expand on the prophecy.

"Game of Thrones" fans may not have seen the last of Jon Snow

According to the Hollywood Reporter, a sequel to HBO's hit fantasy drama is in early development, with British actor Kit Harington set to reprise his role as the world's favorite bastard from the North turned heir to the Iron Throne.
Described as a live-action spin-off series, the Jon Snow-centered show is expected to take place after the events of "Game of Thrones," which ended in 2019 after almost a decade.
'Game of Thrones' prequel official teaser is here
'Game of Thrones' prequel official teaser is here
HBO declined to comment. Representatives for Harington did not immediately respond to request for comment.

The reopening of Jon Snow's story would upend the divisive eighth-and-final season and provide a chance for viewers to learn the fate of the surviving characters in the Emmy-winning series. Jon Snow was last seen leaving traveling north beyond The Wall with the wildlings, after being exiled from Westeros.
A sequel series could also open the door for the return of other familiar faces, including Jon Snow's half-siblings Sansa and Arya Stark, played by Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams. It would also be a sign that HBO will extend George R.R. Martin's GOT universe beyond the source material. (Like CNN, HBO is a unit of Warner Bros. Discovery.)
'Game of Thrones' star Kit Harington opens up about getting sober and becoming a father
'Game of Thrones' star Kit Harington opens up about getting sober and becoming a father
News of the possible Jon Snow spin-off comes ahead of the premiere of the franchise spin-off "House Of The Dragon" on August 21 on HBO. The 10-episode series, set 200 years before "Game Of Thrones," is based on Martin's "Fire and Blood" novel and follows House Targaryen, the dragon-riding family from which Daenerys Targaryen descended.
Harington was nominated for two Emmys, for best supporting actor and best lead actor in a drama series, during his time on "Game of Thrones." He has since appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing Dane Whitman in "Eternals," appeared in an episode of Amazon's "Modern Love" and starred in the title role in Shakespeare's "Henry V" at London's National Theatre.

**H.B.M.C.**

Is it weird to say that I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed it?

Going into this I was kinda of "Meh!". Only vaguely curious. Firstly, did we need more GoT? Secondly, how much do people really care about more GoT given that never has there ever been a show that vanished so quickly from the cultural zeitgeist as GoT after S8? Thirdly, is this just HBO clawing desperately at a sullied IP in the hopes of making it relevant again? And finally, would the writers amp up what people expect with GoT and just start slaughtering main characters for the shock value?

The answer to the first question you can debate forever, but the answers to the remainder are:

2. Clearly they care a lot. The ratings speak to that.
3. No. It's HBO. The production quality is all there. This is anything but rushed, and certainly not a quick cash grab.
4. Having 'read ahead', I don't think that's what they'll do.

So yeah, I was surprised as how much I enjoyed it. I realised afterwards that I had been concentrating on it intently the entire way through, and found myself really wanting to see what's next. Unlike something like She-Hulk, this show didn't need to air 2-3 episodes to begin with to get people invested. One was enough to hook me.

Looking forward to this going forward, and certainly the craziness of who sides with who (and who marries who!) as the two girls grow older.

**Gert**

It was alright. The biggest thing for me is just that I'll never be able to get over Matt Smith as the Doctor and seeing him say some naughty words is just extra funny because of that.
The dumbest thing is that it isn't the violence or graphic scenes that made me uncomfortable, it was nail-biting and scraping from Alicent. 0/10 please don't show more of that.

**Captain Joystick**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
...never has there ever been a show that vanished so quickly from the cultural zeitgeist as GoT after S8?

Battlestar Galactica.

But yeah, I find myself agreeing on all your points - I still live by the three episode rule but I'm very much liking what I see so far.

**AduroT**

Gert wrote:
It was alright. The biggest thing for me is just that I'll never be able to get over Matt Smith as the Doctor and seeing him say some naughty words is just extra funny because of that.

I saw him and was all like I know this actor! Who is it… Oh! The Doctor! It’s David Tennant!

**Hulksmash**

My biggest issue is that none of the current crop of characters from the first episode were likable to me except McTavish. And he's not a lead. Generally I have to like someone in the lead roles for a show to take off and good leads can keep me in something I should have ditched a while ago. But I'll give it a few more episodes.

**Lance845**

Captain Joystick wrote:
H.B.M.C. wrote:
...never has there ever been a show that vanished so quickly from the cultural zeitgeist as GoT after S8?

Battlestar Galactica.

But yeah, I find myself agreeing on all your points - I still live by the three episode rule but I'm very much liking what I see so far.

BSG had 2 spin off shows that slowly let it all bleed out. GoT was a public execution via decapitation. One moment the most popular show on TV for about a decade. The next nobody wanted to talk about it or look at anything to do with it.