House of the Dragon season 1

The final season of Game of Thrones came with such anticipation in 2019 but the way in which it concluded the eighth season was a crushing disappointment for many and the show largely fall out of any discussion from its once loving fans. Not good for HBO who hoped they might keep the brand alive with spin-offs and other related content. Even the stars seemed reluctant during the season final premiere to suggest this would end on a high and, not long after the show had ended, the two infamous showrunners cancelled any appearances where they might be questioned. Three years later, the idea of a prequel series called House of the Dragon seemed as if it would be dead on arrival when stacked against The Rings of Power but how wrong we were...

Set 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen, the show explores a more peaceful time in Westeros when the Targaryen's ruled with their dragons. King Viserys I Targaryen is far removed from his mad and ruthless descendants, as played sympathetically by Paddy Considine, who is mourning the loss of his wife and hopes to find a place in the world for his daughter, Rhaenyra Targaryen, who cannot ascend the throne. This isn't a world set to be plagued by mysterious forces north of The Wall but instead follows a battle for one throne and all the political backstabbing that comes with it.

Whereas The Rings of Power boasted stunning visuals with its seemingly infinite budget, some might find early episodes here to be slower and less flashy when comparing the two. However, HBO proves to be a master again of drama and characters causing this to completely eclipse Amazon's attempt at medieval fantasy. House of the Dragon is a thrilling ten episode season with engaging storylines, compelling characters and suspenseful direction, which cleanses the palette following Game of Thrones and is easily a show that will win many back to its side.

True to what you might expect from HBO, there's also a great cast including Considine, Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy and Rhys Ifans, House of the Dragon is packed with talent of all ages and same level of talent can be appreciated from those behind the camera. It doesn't have billions to play with but it is still wonderful to take in and the show never wastes a moment. If anything, I wish it were longer but there are more seasons to come and I hope it can maintain this level of quality because this is great and well worth watching.