It feels quite different to GOT imo. The general budget increase compare to GOT (especially the earlier days) makes it feel much more serious (compare the throne room and the jousting tournaments from HOTD to GOT and you can just see it). It's much more focused on one family than GOT, and is mostly well written - but S02 basically ended suddenly due to them trimming the episodes from 10 to 8 - which was very disappointing.
this post was submitted on 31 Jul 2025
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Season 1 was absolutely fantastic. The show is much more tightly focused on the Targaryen family and takes place over a longer period of time. Season 1 even has a time jump mid season. Similar to Game of Thrones the ending of the first season sets up the overall conflict.
Season 2 has a lot of strong episodes and we do start to really get into the conflict, but it hedges at the end. The show was cut to 8 episodes down from 10 and as the writers strikes were ongoing the storyline wasn't adjusted. As a result episode 8 sets up an episode 9 that doesn't happen (yet).
I expect once season 3 airs season 2 won't feel so bad. I think if someone were interested in watching I'd say to wait until season 3 begins.
The nice thing about House of the Dragon, compared to Game of Thrones, is that the whole story has already been written. The show has made some changes from the book so it may not come together the exact same way, but the story is also shorter so things can't go completely wildly out of the way.
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The first season was definitely better than the second, but overall I think it's very good. One of House of the Dragon's particular strengths compared to Game of Thrones is that it is focused predominately on two families and a small number of key people within those families. Game of Thrones derailed over time as it added more and more characters and had less and less time available to resolve its many overarching storylines. I think it's much more likely that House of the Dragon will have a satisfying conclusion (not least because it is an adaptation of an already completed story). If I were to make one criticism, the big plot twists are much easier to spot in advance and that can sometimes make them feel a little forced. I know that this is a show set in the universe of Game of Thrones and I know that it will be trying to deliver the same big moments a) because the original author is the same but also b) because the producers are trying to recreate a success of that scale. Knowing how insane Game of Thrones got, I just feel super alert to all the tricks and foreshadowing and can feel stuff winding up in House of the Dragon way earlier than I could in its predecessor. Still a great show though, one of the very best currently airing.
Thanks!
Seconded
Bad wigs but a great fantasy show
I simply went to HBO and searched for it.
Huehuehuehue
I'd say it's quite good overall. I don't want to spoil it too much but I've mostly enjoyed it. It's very heavy on fantasy politics and drama, so if you don't enjoy that, this one won't be for you, but if you love that stuff like me it's quite a treat.
When Miley Adcock is on screen it was great. She played a character that started as a little kid played by one actress, Adcock player the character as a late teen and was later replaced by another actress.
Outside of her time the show is boring as shit and just spins its wheels.
The production values are spectacular, half the characters have all the personality and uniqueness of a cardboard cut out.
The first season was uneven as can be.
The second season had one good episode and the rest was a waste of time.
I have pulled the plug on the show.
Fully agree with all of this. I really struggled to get through the first season, but when they unceremoniously replaced the actors I had just started getting used to—with actors that barely look any older—I threw up my hands and gave up. For some reason I took it personally, since I felt like the two actors they aged up and replaced were the only interesting people in the show. I have absolutely no interest in the story.
the two actors they aged up and replaced were the only interesting people in the show. I have absolutely no interest in the story
Absolutely!
I watched the first episode and it was just completely full of misery. And just noped out. I know GoT has a lot of dark moments but at least the characters are fun.
I really like it! It's gorgeous to watch and there's lots of dragons which can only be good. There's a simpler plot and fewer characters which means it's easier to follow. S2 is definitely weaker but still a good show, I'm confident they'll be better in 3.
Thank you!