House of the Dragon: What I think.

Photo credit: rottentomatoes.com

You may do yourself good by visiting or revisiting the first post on this blog- 'The Pilot'. Everything on this platform belongs to Achomis, except where stated otherwise, and in such cases credits are given properly. Plagiarism is an actionable offence. And, I won't hesitate. Saw the need to do this, because it's been a while I posted here.

Now, let's begin-

What would have been a short comment on the post of a champ who shared a similar view with me on this, has become- still short, but no longer a comment on a comment. And then here it is, sitting comfortably in my own space. Let's go-

I am very careful with 'dishing' out criticisms, especially ones targeted at creative works [because e no easy. If you think say e easy, do am]. But, this has to be said-

*****

'House of the Dragon' should never have happened. Oops. Too fast. Okay. Rewind. Correction. House of the Dragon Season 1 absolutely had no business being the way it was- not after the hype and the association with the very dear 'Game of Thrones'.

'Why?' 

Really, why? You're really asking that? Okay, that's what we're here for, right?-

I'll rate it with Season 1, because that's all I've got for now. Fingers crossed, they turn a new leaf if they decide to go on with the show, against all odds. 

Now, from where do I start? Hard picking just a few out of the legion of sins ['sins', for lack of words, LOL!], but summarily, here we go with the 7 sins+ 1-

1. Why aren't/weren't the characters given the time to grow into themselves and develop properly? Where exactly are/were they rushing to? If there's any advantage series has, especially over the other type [the short movies], it is- ample time. So, again, why the rush?

2. Unless it had to do with real life decisions from the actors, I see no reason why Rhaenyra, her 'frenemy' Alicent Hightower, and many more characters were changed. It'd have been better if the show carried on with them, allowing them to grow before our eyes. 'Game of Thrones' was good at this. I am sorry, I just had to, as this cannot be dissociated from Game of Thrones, after all, the not-so-gentle dude was on his own when these people decided to ostentatiously drag him by his hair into all these. Why?

3. Also, I know  people age differently and movies should mirror real life, but c'mon, Daemon, Otto Hightower, Rhaenys, Corlys, and that guard, Criston Cole,  did not age physically even by a day, and then there's Aemond,  who was made to age faster than a riped banana. Was this absent-mindedness or just sheer lack of consideration for what the audience would think? Mind you, I had to go search these names out, because I wasn't intrigued enough [or intrigued at all] to know their names. 

Viserys' was understandable because man was sick right from time, but the one-eyed fucker? C'mon now.

4. The intriguing dialogues which characterised, and were what made the people with good heads on their shoulders, enjoy the Game of Thrones, were conspicuously absent from the table where House of the Dragon was meant to serve the people and quell their appetites with standard meals, at least. Instead, it left the people hungry, not for more, but from extending their hands and taking even, from what Game of Thrones served. I didn't leave with a single quote, because there was none worth leaving with, after a whole season. Oh, there was one, but I'd have to go back and watch, to recall it exactly. Just imagine! And, no thank you, I refuse to go back. Mind you, this is not a problem of memory, but of disappointment. Game of Thrones had the people of the earth replaying scenes for their ingeniousity. 'Ingeniousity' because the standards set are proving difficult for the others to meet up to.

5. The audacity in the turn of events Game of Thrones was known for was lacking as well. Call it what you like- audacity, temerity, guts. Dude dared, double dared, and outdid itself everysingletime. Even when the people braced up and gave up predicting, they were still swept off their feet. And, they were almost, always, butts-on-the-floor, from being constantly swept off their feet. Game of Thrones started and carried on like this till the very end. You don't think so? Really? Remember, Ned fucking Stark lost his head and forever couldn't find it, in the very first season. It was his children who went on to make up for it, by eventually finding a makeshift head. This they did, by bringing what was left of their house together, and making people pay for wrongs done. Woh, that was crazy. Can they beat that? No, they *couldn't. They tried, but.

6. Also, I want to ask why virtually all the women there were busy giving birth, with some dying in the process. Season 1 was a maternity show in all ramifications, but one. And that 'one', does not matter.

7. 'But it's only Season 1' 

Excuse you? Don't even get me started. Reiterating- perhaps you have to go back to Season 1 of Game of Thrones. Remember, that was shot and aired over 10 years ago, but I bet you'll still find it interesting. Show simply transcends time. Show is ageless. Say what you may, but House of the Dragon is simply not worthy to even lace Game of Thrones' shoes, not to talk of putting both at par. It even feels like a sin, mentioning both in the same sentence. If you really have to go back, when you're done rewatching the Season 1 of Game of Thrones, come back and compare it to this. This. Can't do, won't do. Alright, alright, you're forgiven. Go and sin no more.

*****

Now, let's cook-

Perhaps this inability to meet up, is just a pointer to why movie adaptations of books are almost, always, classics. The writers have something to lean on, and even when they decide to go against the 'original' plot/tide from time to time, their being able to have that choice to follow or not to follow, would most likely make them even more creative.

Finally, the makers of 'House of the Dragon' owe the entire cast and crew of 'Game of Thrones' an apology, after which they'll improve drastically or cease further production. That hype that appears to be drowning the sense, doesn't change the fact. Done with cooking.

*****

I commend them anyway, because e no easy, but it really shouldn't have to go on that way. 

-I like the way Rhaenys made the entrance at the coronation, disrupting the loud, yet solemn jamboree.

-Also, although Viserys was being an arse, or simply being deluded and overcome by the finality of his last breath and the confusion I'd like to think such comes with sometimes, [don't ask me how] making him change his mind with only Alicent in the room with him, that turn afforded House of the Dragon the opportunity to key into a major plot twist and rever in it, but guess what, it was over even before it started- they still flopped it. I am sorry, I just wanted to commend them, but the coin flipped so fast on its own, turning this good into something else.

-Let's see, uhmm, what else? Yes! I liked when Daemon gave Vaemond a clean cut, that'd leave dude's mouth much more open than ajar even in his afterworld, if he still goes on to have one, after all. That suprised me, because going by the precedents, it was very unlike House of the Dragon to twist, turn, and shock. That scene, though not so shocking, was satisfying to watch.

-----

I wasn't expecting to cook twice. Well, stove on once more-

Whether you watched the episodes one after the other, or waited for at least 9 episodes to come out, like I did, the effect ought to be similar, and you must have noticed these things [that is, if you have a good head on your shoulders]. 

The more deafening the noise that is the hype, the farther the voyage to kiss the floor, and squash those lips. Assuming the show was presented the regular way- lone, unattached to any classic, I wouldn't even bother. Just a regular show. Expectations really breed disappointment.

Even when my mind told me, 'you know there'd be no Tyrion or Cersei or Varys or Daenerys or even the demon monkey, Little finger', I kept at it, and then it went further to remind me that 'sequels to series or movies have become habitually disappointing, and even sometimes, go as far as tainting the good images of the initial shows, which in their own rights, were usually masterpieces', I still didn't listen.  

Well, there's that mist that sits balmy on the chest, and it comes from not knowing. Now I have watched it, it has settled and disappeared, now the legitimacy of those doubts have been reconfirmed. It is good, now I know.

I will say this- 'Rotten Tomatoes' really lives up to its name coz what's that rating on their site? 84% for House of the Dragon. For what exactly? Who rates these things? Well this is me, using the opportunity to properly give photo credit to rottentomatoes.com for the one picture I used here. LOL!

On my way out, I'll say- less unpardonable than a mistake, 'House of the Dragon' [Season 1] is an aberration.

Stove off.