[ad_1]
SPOILER ALERT: This story comprises particulars from the premiere of HBO’s Home of the Dragon.
It’s a prequel to Sport of Thrones, however it might additionally double as a medieval spinoff of Succession.
The phrase much-anticipated is a well-worn phrase in Hollywood, however there actually isn’t another technique to describe the newest dispatch from Westeros, based mostly on George R.R. Martin’s Hearth & Blood. The 700-page saga chronicles the historical past of Home Targaryen — or because the TV sequence goes on to clarify, 172 years earlier than the demise of the Mad King and the delivery of Daenerys Targaryen (performed in GOT by Emilia Clarke). The episode begins with the query of succession, who’s most deserving of the title, and the way no girl will ever sit on the Iron Throne.
We’ll see about that!
For a second, it appeared as if we had been handled to Dany’s ghost within the premiere. After a quick historical past lesson in regards to the Home Targaryen, a diminutive blonde is seen having a pleasure trip on her dragon whereas the dispassionate residents of King’s Touchdown go about their day (it appears fire-breathing creatures are a dime a dozen in these days). When the younger girl dismounts the creature along with her again to the digicam, it seems as if the producers dropped a Dany scene from the later seasons of GOT. As an alternative, it’s Rhaenyra (a fabulous Milly Alcock), the spunky (what else?) daughter of Paddy Considine’s King Viserys. Ready for her on stable floor is Ser Harrold Westerling (Outlander‘s Graham McTavish) — who looks as if HOTD’s model of GOT’s Jorah Mormont — and the beguiling Alicent (Emily Carey), a Rhaenyra confidante who walks arm-in-arm along with her bestie whereas serving to her research historical past beneath a weirwood tree.
Viserys has loads of love for his solely daughter, however his consideration is essentially targeted on his spouse (Sian Brooke), who carries the son that he hopes will sometime inherit his title. It’s a tough being pregnant, which the queen rationalizes by saying “the discomfort is how we serve the realm.” Speak about a serious sacrifice; since her child is breech, she undergoes a primitive (and really bloody) C-section that finally takes her life. And in some form of cosmic punishment, her toddler son finally ends up dying, too. A lot for a male inheritor.
We additionally meet the opposite primary character within the saga — Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith), Viserys’ brother-cum-city watch commander who appears to take pleasure in watching his troopers castrate and behead criminals on the streets of King’s Touchdown. He’s additionally a helluva jouster, and participates in one of many extra breathtaking moments from the premiere. It’s additionally the goriest; the sight of a child vomiting after watching a jouster’s face get crushed might be probably the most relatable second of the episode.
Daemon is the plain option to succeed his brother on the throne, however he has his detractors, particularly Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), the King’s hand who has zero tolerance for Daemon’s reckless habits. He manufactures a scandal by alleging how Daemon referred to the king’s son as “inheritor for a day” in a so-called celebration at an area pleasure home. No such phrases had been spoken — a minimum of, we don’t hear them — however it’s sufficient to persuade Viserys to surrender any hope of his brother taking up the realm. He lastly anoints his worthy daughter, Rhaenyra, who accepts her destiny on the finish of the episode.
Tons extra palace intrigue is launched within the premiere, together with how Princess Rhaenys Velaryon (Eve Greatest) ought to have been thought of for the throne over her cousin Viserys, and the way Hightower sends his daughter Alicent — Rhaenyra’s pal — to consolation the grieving king whereas carrying one in every of her mother’s horny attire. Oh pricey, we’re undecided we like the place this goes.
There’s additionally tons to get sentimental over should you had been a fan of GOT, together with the return of the Iron Throne (however with many extra swords melting down the steps), together with the courtyard of the Purple Maintain (form of makes you miss Cersei, doesn’t it?) and people magnificent dragons.
What did you assume? Was Home of the Dragon well worth the wait? Did it make you miss Sport of Thrones much more?
[ad_2]
