House of the Dragon - Série 1

Good job. I didn't mind in the least that there was no hurry – quite the opposite. We get under the skin of the characters and this is clearly a long-term commission, so the built-up atmosphere and internal tension that was palpable permanently in the last few episodes will surely pay off handsomely. The only thing that really bothers me is that when the creators did swing for more action, it usually resulted in something unfinished and rushed (Daemon vs Crab Man) or just a silly twist (the dragon in the penultimate episode). There are plenty of bastards, though, and even though I'm not enjoying any of them as much as Littlefinger so far (Game of Thrones was different overall in terms of characters), I'm looking forward to the clash in season two. And all this is crowned by a commendable feminist tone that gives it a previously unexplored scope and even some historical value. 80 % (24.10.2022)

I could say I felt disappointed after the first season, but it wouldn't be true because I didn't expect anything great after GoT. Game of Thrones started losing its breath from the fifth season on. Since I am a realist, I didn't have high expectations. And the creators didn't prove me wrong. There were enough characters, but most of them were unremarkable, the actors and actresses were not pleasing to the eye or excelled in terms of acting (with honorable exceptions), the screenplay was often dull, and even though I know it's not true, I can't help feeling that there was more dying during childbirth than from a sharp or blunt blow. The first season left an unpleasant aftertaste (for me). / Lesson learned: Succession is a delicate matter, you're at risk of being stabbed in the kidney. (16.06.2023)

House of the Dragon is too drawn out for my taste, and insufficiently skilful in dealing with the intrigue, power struggles and psychological warfare of the main characters. It often goes to such an extreme that it basically "takes away" even one whole episode. And watching hours of brooding gazes in darkened (albeit fantastically arranged) sets is not why we love the world of Game of Thrones so much. There is a lack of balance, there are no strong characters to carry the story and when there is one, or one is finally formed, it is raped by the replacement of the main protagonist – another big problem that was not handled well at all. But the truth remains that HoD solidly replicates the trademarks that worked well from the beginning. It can create a gripping atmosphere in places, the character of Daemon is great and when the dragons kick it up a notch it's worth it too. Considering how the first season ends, the second one could finally be the real deal with about three times the budget of its older sibling. Overall, the first season is surprisingly rather intimate and lacks any spectacular battle. (21.03.2023)