House of the Dragon has everything Game of Thrones has to offer. But two crucial things are missing

In such a short time already the next series review? I don’t intend for that to degenerate, but it’s not my fault that two new, big fantasy series are launched in quick succession. Regardless of what you heard.

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So there it is, after The Rings of Power – you may have heard of it – the next instance of “could have been worse”! In fact, the somewhat lower-level fantasy of the Game of Thrones prequel is currently getting me a good deal better than the beguilingly pretty, but also somewhat erratic and pompous Lord of the Rings offshoot. Mind you, this is more a statement about my personal viewing habits than necessarily about the quality of what’s on offer.

Nevertheless, I have to say: I didn’t manage to get back to Westeros all by myself. It starts off with the fact that unlike the original Game of Thrones, I know a surprising number of the actors here quite well. I always enjoy watching Paddy Considine (King Viserys), Matt Smith was a good Doctor Who and Rhys Ifans is something of a British cinema icon by now. I understand why these people were cast, they are great actors. But in ensemble films, especially those set in a fantasy setting, I’ve always preferred to see lesser-known actors. Then I don’t really notice the wigs, of which there are quite a few in House of the Dragon. I had a similar problem with Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie’s casting in Eternals. They just stood out there. I knew Sean Bean in Game of Thrones – and I was already familiar with him in the fantasy context. I have no idea, tell me if I’m crazy.

That being said, it must be said that this competently and studiously ticks off many of the boxes that need to be ticked if you want to do a Game of Thrones show. Women as a resource, lots of equitable nudity and random cruelty are good reminders of how worthless human life used to be. And thats just the beginning. It is once again the dirtiest medieval fantasy in a world that seems to be little more than a powder keg. Even in the most distinguished circles, Westeros drops all polite fuss at the slightest provocation and shows its nature – and that of its inhabitants – from the uglier two unattractive sides.

The fact that this idea of ​​a merciless fantasy realm is still intact in this first offshoot is also shown by the characters, who don’t quite cover the range as in the old series, but who mostly plague exciting and understandable conflicts of interest. I like Viserys as a well-meaning but actually reluctant and ailing king who is grossly disgusted with the intrigues of court and beyond, and who actually lacks the wisdom for the post. Considine plays him masterfully, balancing his weakness and dutifulness beautifully. His relationship with his daughter Rhaenyra is particularly well written and staged, because you can feel his conflict about his controversial succession decision, but also trust him to do the right thing.

And so it actually goes on in turn, at least when it comes to the first set of characters. Rhaenyra is basically our Arya equivalent, except that actress Milly Alcock seems like she’s also got the skills to rule. Matt Smith’s daemon Targaryen is also gladly torn between lust for power, cruelty and a spark of residual respectability and affection for his family, while Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower gives a hand of the king, which the proximity to power tempts more than once, the Status of his own family still to be consolidated. I don’t think that was mentioned particularly high up in the job posting.

Be that as it may, House of the Dragon will again have to listen to the fact that it often comes across as unnecessarily cruel and bold. I have to honestly admit that I would have preferred not to have been there when a terrified heavily pregnant woman was sentenced to death by caesarean section. That really ruined my day a bit. And the renewed ubiquitous objectification of women by men can be seen critically (although the series doesn’t advocate it, of course). And that brings us to the first real problem of this series after three episodes: it lacks any form of lightness that would occasionally break up the often bitter and inhuman game of power.

With a few exceptions, mostly in the form of flippant counterattacks, nobody in House of the Dragon has a discernible sense of humor. Game of Thrones wasn’t a sitcom either, and given the seriousness of the subject, opportunities for bright moments are few and far between. But you had to chuckle at the Hound’s gruff nihilism more times than you should have, grin at Tyrion’s pun, or force yourself not to grin at Jaime’s mustache-twirling malice and early-season hubris. GoT knew that washing down the bitter with something sweet helped. Here, on the other hand – 172 years before Daenarys was born – you probably go to the latrine to laugh. Those first three episodes were a rather bleak affair and I consider it a serious problem that I don’t know if that can change in this character constellation.

Still, it’s hard to complain that House of the Dragon brings with it all the political drama, intrigue, and gore that made the HBO predecessor series a mega-hit. But it lacks the great mystery with which the source material rolled around the corner right from the first scene of its pilot episode and which made the threat on the horizon clear from the start. I still miss a ticking time bomb of this kind in the new Game of Thrones series. And not too tight. The characters will have to lug and pull all the harder if they want to engage viewers like those preparing for an imminent zombie apocalypse in the first GRR Martin series.

Anyway, so far this is – with the exception of a not entirely believable fight scene at the end of episode three – a well-made dark fantasy that makes you dizzy about which character will get hit next. I still haven’t gotten over the last season and a half of the original and I have a faint hope that this show would have a chance to make amends with that world. I’m excited to see what’s next in the quest for (obviously literally) “the most dangerous chair in the kingdom”.