House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 1 Review: The Heirs of the Dragon
House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 1, “The Heirs of the Dragon,” is a glorious introduction to an already familiar feeling world.
Everything about the prequel pilot is marvelous, from the cast to the set design, to the intricate details in the wardrobes.
It’s been three years since we’ve last visited the lands of Westeros and its vast lore, and the first taste of its prequel is anything but underwhelming. The same elements that made fans fall in love with Game of Thrones are present within this introductory episode.
The dramatic elements within the Targaryen family are captivating, the recognizable gruesome violence only an added plus. While the bloody fights and overwhelming nature of violence were a staple for GoT, it isn’t the leading factor here but rather an appetizer to the main course.
Based on the Targaryen representation in GoT, it’s evident we’re bound to see some out-of-this-world, jaw-dropping violence. However, House of the Dragon doesn’t need to rely on that to keep fans returning.
Set 172 years before the Mad King’s death and the birth of Daenerys Targaryen, the story follows the life of King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine) and his family. Like the dramatic elements that drove GoT, the family dysfunction takes the story by force and sets the tone for the series.
We’re introduced to the underlying tensions at play between King Viserys and his brother, Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith), as well as he and his daughter, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Milly Alcock), and how they evolve into something more significant.
In the span of the pilot, we see the relationship between Viserys and Daemon dissipate from this unbreakable bond to nothing but shattered dreams for Daemon. He begins the episode as the rightful heir to the throne, but after a poor choice of words regarding the death of Viserys’ wife and newborn, he eradicates all chances.
Viserys commands Daemon to return to his wife in the Vale, but it’s apparent that he’s going to do anything but that. This intriguing turn of events will be thrilling to watch unfold, especially since he’ll have to overthrow his niece for the crown.
The same can be said for Rhaenyra and Viserys’ relationship. Rhaenyra doesn’t get along with her father because all he’s ever wanted was a son he could crown as the rightful heir. Rather than looking at her as a suitable fit, he’s spent her whole life overlooking her, creating a solid tension.
That lingering animosity between the two grows even more prevalent after Queen Aemma’s (Sian Brooke) death. In his quest for a proper heir, Viserys makes the wrong decision to end Aemma’s life in the hope that his newborn son will live.
His reckless actions and complete disregard for Aemma’s life forever cement a form of hatred Rhaenyra will never forget. Even with his miraculous change of heart at the end of the episode, Rhaenyra’s not ignorant or unintelligent. She can see when there’s manipulation afoot.
She may portray happiness in his decision to name her as heir officially, but her guard remains at full force, as it should.
The entire cast put their all into these characters, giving engaging performances that make us yearn for the next episodes. Matt Smith and Milly Alcock, specifically, have such mesmerizing chemistry. But it does prove to be a bit unsettling in some scenes.
Nothing explicit in nature has happened yet, but there are definite incest vibes in a few instances. I can only hope that House of the Dragon doesn’t follow GoT’s strategy plan and force the two to interact in that manner.
Rhaenyra doesn’t seem to be the type to allow that type of interaction to take place, and I hope she proves my gut instincts correct.
House of the Dragon‘s premiere is solid and certainly has me hooked, for now.
Stray Thoughts:
- Alicent and Rhaenyra’s friendship feels like a breath of fresh air, and I can’t wait to explore it. There are certainly hints at there possibly being more than a friendship, but for now, I want to gather more backstory on the two.
- Queen Aemma’s death scene sends shivers up my spine. Overzealous amounts of gore and violence are not something I usually shy from, but this scene forced me to look away.
- The dragons are a much-added bonus to the series, but I’m waiting for them to be better utilized before I can be completely blown away.
- Alicent Hightower’s father attempting to pimp her out to Viserys after Aemma’s death is vile.
- One feature that stood out to me is how the building structures feel more illustrious and grander than what we saw within the castles of King’s Landing in Game of Thrones.
What did you think of this episode of House of the Dragon? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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House of the Dragon airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO Max.
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Cade Taylor
Cade Taylor is a television and film critic living in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV. His love for television developed at a young age, with a concentration on queer stories, sitcoms, teen dramas, and science fiction thrillers. In addition, he works full-time as a news producer, telling the stories of Missourians and helming "Produced in the Bi-State," a segment spotlighting actors, musicians, and entertainers from the St. Louis area. He can be reached by email at cade@telltaletv.com.