House of the Dragon Is Making the Same Mistake as Game of Thrones

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House of the Dragon Is Making the Same Mistake as Game of Thrones

Summary

  • House of the Dragon
    ‘s Season 2 finale was disappointing. Its ending was anticlimactic, and there was no clear culminating point.
  • The show’s deliberate pacing can work to its advantage, but wheel-spinning must be avoided to maintain quality storytelling.
  • As the show progresses towards its fourth and final season, it must find the right pace between rushing and lingering to do justice to the story of House Targaryen.

As a dedicated fan who has followed the epic tale of Westeros from its inception with “Game of Thrones” and now immersed in the prequel series “House of the Dragon,” I must express my thoughts on this intriguing topic.

After such a long wait for House of the Dragon, it’s hard to believe that we’re facing another break now. To be honest, its second season had its ups and downs. On one side, the production quality was outstanding, surpassing the expectations from most premium TV shows, and the cast performed admirably, as anticipated. Some standout episodes, like “The Red Sowing” (Episode 7) and “The Red Dragon and the Gold” (the fourth episode), were particularly impressive. However, there were moments that weren’t as strong.

As a devoted fan of both “Game of Thrones” and “House of the Dragon,” I must admit that I was quite disappointed with the season finale of the latter. Coming from someone who has spent countless hours immersed in Westeros, I have grown accustomed to the thrilling climaxes and epic battles that each season of GoT delivered. So, when “House of the Dragon” failed to deliver a satisfying conclusion, it felt like a letdown. The penultimate episode had built up anticipation for a grand finale, but instead we were left with more buildup and little resolution. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the complexity and nuance that comes from character development and political intrigue, but when a season lacks a clear culminating point, it can feel unsatisfying. In my opinion, “House of the Dragon” is learning the wrong lessons from “Game of Thrones.” It should strive to maintain the balance between character development and action-packed climaxes that made its predecessor so beloved by fans.

Where Did Game of Thrones Go Wrong?

The popular series, “Game of Thrones,” was widely regarded as essential viewing throughout its eight-season run until its disappointing conclusion. The finale, in particular, was so poorly received by many that it seemed to diminish the entire show’s impact in retrospect. However, we won’t delve into extreme criticism; while the final season failed to meet expectations, much of its shortcomings can be attributed to being overly hurried (notably, the season consisted of only six episodes instead of the typical 10).

Initially, the TV series “Game of Thrones” moved at a leisurely pace, causing some viewers to criticize it as being too slow. However, this deliberate pacing was essential since the show prioritized political machinations over grand visuals. When the anticipated spectacle finally unfolded, it proved worth the wait. For instance, if Season 3 hadn’t carefully depicted Robb Stark’s struggles and alienation of his allies, the shocking Red Wedding event would not have had as significant an impact. In essence, the anticipation made the climax seem unavoidable.

However, Seasons 7 and 8 significantly sped up the narrative, arguably to the detriment of the show. Key plot developments, such as Daenerys’ transformation into a villain, seemed unexpected and insufficiently justified, leading viewers to feel that they were watching unconnected events rather than a well-constructed storyline. This is similar to how “Ozymandias,” a pivotal episode in Breaking Bad, which demonstrated irrefutably that Walter White was beyond redemption, might have felt less impactful if it had been preceded by only one season of buildup instead of an entire series.

It’s evident that the creators behind House of the Dragon understood the need for it, as the show has once again delved into the realm of gradual, power-driven plot twists. While this approach has generally been successful, parts of Season 2, particularly the finale this week, seem to indicate that they might be pushing too hard in favor of a less action-packed storyline.

House of the Dragon Is Moving Too Slowly

House of the Dragon Is Making the Same Mistake as Game of ThronesHouse of the Dragon Is Making the Same Mistake as Game of ThronesHouse of the Dragon Is Making the Same Mistake as Game of ThronesHouse of the Dragon Is Making the Same Mistake as Game of Thrones

To put it simply, the second season of House of the Dragon featured numerous captivating individual moments. As promised by the showrunners, the Dance of the Dragons escalated into an all-out war, leaving little chance for peace between the factions led by Rhaenyra and Alicent (the climactic scene between them in the finale underscored this). The key developments in the conflict, such as Queen Rhaenys’ demise and the recruitment of dragonseeds, were intriguing and exhilarating. However, towards the end, one might wonder what exactly the season was leading up to, given that the message of no-return war had already been conveyed repeatedly in the preceding weeks.

In this instance, the show has strategically slowed down its pace multiple times in the past, and following the hasty conclusion of “Game of Thrones,” this method is a refreshing change. However, it’s essential to distinguish between deliberate pacing and unnecessary prolongation; take Prince Daemon’s storyline for instance, most of which was spent at Harrenhal this season. It appears that the purpose was to humble him and underscore the significance of the war beyond his personal desires. The climax did indeed deliver on that narrative thread, making it one of the episode’s most impactful scenes. Yet, the series had already made that point evident early on, and for weeks, we didn’t receive any fresh insights into Prince Daemon’s character.

Essentially, for much of its run, it seemed like the show was simply treading water. This week, it was officially announced that House of the Dragon’s fourth season would be its finale, which is a prudent decision considering the lessons from Game of Thrones’ missteps regarding longevity. However, this news also stirs up some worries. The show has yet to reach the midpoint of the depicted war (as per Fire and Blood), and if they aim to fully explore the Dance of the Dragons, it’s challenging to envision how the remaining events won’t feel rushed. They have a considerable amount of narrative left to complete, especially with the new deadline in place, so they will need to accelerate their pace significantly.

House of the Dragon Needs to Find the Right Pace

Interestingly, just like George R.R. Martin’s novels, House of the Dragon grapples with a similar challenge. The initial three parts of A Song of Ice and Fire were outstanding, reaching their pinnacle with A Storm of Swords. However, the subsequent two books seemed to move at a snail’s pace and could have benefited from being merged, given that they unfolded simultaneously. Yet, as the finale of Game of Thrones demonstrated, rushing things excessively can also lead to problems.

It’s clear that the last two seasons of ‘House of the Dragon’ should strike a good pace, keeping viewers engaged without overlooking the essential build-up needed to create an engaging tale about the fall of House Targaryen and live up to Martin’s reputation. Currently, the first two seasons of ‘House of the Dragon’ are available on Max.

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2024-08-09 00:32