House of the Dragon has opened its Red Keep doors to show the internal struggles of House Targaryen who rule with their dragons! The series was created by Ryan Condal, he co-created the sci fi show, Colony, and George R.R. Martin. The other showrunner is Miguel Sapochnik directed this pilot, and also directed episodes and was the executive producer for the earlier Game of Thrones series.
I have to think the three showrunners are like the three dragons in the crest of the Targaryens! This is the prequel to GoT that was wildly popular for HBO. It debuted on 2011 and run until 2019. Showrunners, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss adapted Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire that started with the novel, A Game of Thrones (1996). For the most part, the series is based on Martin’s history of the Targaryens in Fire & Blood (2018).
It begins with narration by an older Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) speaking about the weakened King Jaehaerys Targaryen (Michael Carter). A chest by two porters is carried through Harrenhal, a great castle in Westeros. His reign was peaceful, but his sons had died. Jaehaerys has called a Great Council to determine his successor. The Targaryens are known by controlling dragons, their white hair, and in the books, purple eyes.
We see the potential rulers, the eldest child, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best) with Corlys Valeryon (Steve Toussaint) by her side. Then, there is her cousin, Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine) with his pregnant wife, Aemma Arryn (Sian Brooke) next to him. The king takes a scroll from out of the chest and it is announced that the next king will be Viserys who is uneasy about becoming ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. The lords have rejected Rhaenys because she is woman and this is at the heart of the show.
Rhaenyra also notes that Viserys is her father. This was a decision by King Jaehaerys to prevent a war and Rhaenyra says, “the only thing that can tear down the House of the Dragon was itself.” Then, we get the epic music of Ramin Djwaldi who also was the composer for GoT, and the symbol of House Targaryen. In exposition, we are told it is the ninth year of King Viserys’ rule.
172 years before the time of Daenrys Targaryen with Game of Thrones. Next, we see cloudy skies, and I’m already thinking, dragon! Sure enough, the golden dragon, Syrax, races past. This feels like the opposite of GoT, which goes to King's Landing, here it starts at that city, for the most part, an intro would just be going around the streets, and instead of seasons to get to adult dragons, here they are! He flies down to the Red Keep, the castle of King’s Landing, then comes to a landing at the Dragonpit.
Two dragon handlers with long poles speak to Syrax in High Valyrian, the formal language spoken by Targaryens. Then, his rider, young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Milly Alcock) dismounts. She is greeted by Ser Harold Westerling (Graham McTavish), Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, if Rhaenrya would be harmed, he would be killed. At a wagon, she meets her best friend, Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey). They are taken by an iron carriage to the Red Keep.
Rhaenrya has changed from her black riding leathers to a white dress and meets with her mother, Queen Aemma, who is resting with her pregnant belly. Rhaenrya is concerned about her mother. The queen tells her daughter that the “The childbed is our battlefield.” This becomes very important later. She says to Rhaenrya that the dragonsmell is on her, I wonder what it is the smell. King Viserys is sitting with his Small Council, his royal advisors. Lord Corlys Valeryon, Master of Ships, warns the king about the Triarchy and their brutal leader, Craghas Drahas, called the Crabfeeder. Rhaenrya enters and King Viserys reminds her that she is the King’s cupbearer.
Lord Beesbury (Bill Paterson), Master of Coin, inquires about Viserys’ missing brother, Prince Daemon, who could have reported about the training of the City Watch. Corlys brings up again the Triarchy danger that could cut off shipping lanes. The conversation is shifted by the Hand of the King, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), who brings up the Heir’s Tournament.
Viserys asks Grand maester, Mellos (David Horovitch), about the birth of his son. He is certain it will be boy which Rhaenrya silently overhears. The political intrigue is what fascinates many GoT fans and will become important later. Ser Harold Westerling leads Rhaenrya to a secret meeting at the Great Hall. On the Iron Throne, is Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith), he is also the rider of the long, snake-like headed dragon, Caraxes.
The Iron Throne is made of the swords of a thousand enemies forged by Aegon the Conqueror. Daemon casually sitting on it is a violation of everything the Seven Kingdoms are built on. She sends the knight away and they have a conversation in High Valyrian. He expects to be on the Iron Throne one day and is there for the tournament. Daemon has also brought her a gift of a necklace made of Valyrian steel.
This is a rare metal that can make swords forever sharp, light, and deadly like Daemon’s own blade, Nightsister. He places it around her neck. Next, we have the autumn leaves of the weirwood tree, Alicient is questioning Rhaenrya about Princess Nymeria in Dorne. Alicient believes she is worried about the new heir. There is of course a face carved on the weirwood and the area is called the Godswood. Rhaenrya knows all of the history and tears a page of the book for her best friend.
King Viserys has a wound tended to by Grand Maester Mellos. He says it is from sitting on the Iron Throne which has jagged edges. It was meant by Aegon to have only careful rulers to sit on the Iron Throne. Mellos speaks with Otto Hightower who wants the situation kept quiet. Viserys agrees to have the wound cauterized. He goes to see his wife trying to be comfortable in a bathtub. She mentions Daemon and Viserys knows that the child will be a boy from his dream.
Aemmon states that this will be her last child since she’s had difficulty and failures with other attempts. Then, we have the Watch now wearing gold cloaks, thumping their chest armor to the arrival of Daemon Targaryen. He says the city is corrupt and has his men go through the city to viciously punish the citizens and their “crimes.” Body parts are severed, it is gruesome, but should be expected in this world. The next day, this is reported by the Hand to his king.
They place small globes into fixtures on the table to mark that they are present. Daemon is at the Small Council still with blood splatters on his face. He defends his actions as making King’s Landing safe for the nobles arriving for the tournament. Daemon is reminded of his wife, Lady Rhea, in the Vale. He provokes Lord Hightower mentioning his wife has died. Otto Hightower stands, but restrains himself. Daemon Targaryen has a way of offending everyone for his own means. Viserys says that Daemon will be held accountable for further rampages.
Then, we have Daemon with his lover, Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno). The appeal of GoT is also its adult content, violence and otherwise, so it is a very adult fantasy. She reassures him that he can’t be replaced by the king. Rhaenyra arrives as her father presides over the opening of the tournament. He also announces that the queen has started giving birth. So the violence of the tournament is contrasted with the shocking birth of the heir. A formidable knight of the tournament is Set Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel). House of the Dragon continues the familiar, yet an earlier world with Rhaenyra taking her uncertain, troubled destiny!
Five Dragon Saddles out of Five!
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