House of the dragon. Game on! (2 Viewers)

[stbugs]

is a lot of setup when it’s terribly obvious what we’ve been building up towards.

I'm probably in the minority, but I really have no idea where this is going. Occasionally I'll hear some recognizable names from GoT, but for the most part it's a completely isolated story for me. I don't know if that makes the lack of substantial story development better or worse.

It's not a horrible show; it's just not compelling. I don't find myself rooting for or against anyone and am emotionless to anything that happens.

Where it's going is the same place GOT season 1 went once Robert Baratheon died.

I do agree that I'm having a hard time rooting for anyone. When someone dies, I don't care.

Daemon is the only one for me and just because he’s the only one on the show with any kind of charisma.

Liked his wife too but that was quick. He’s got lots of problems but I agree, he’s way more interesting than the one note folks. I can’t really think of anyone else that I like. I actually was looking forward to Criston after the tourney but damn he’s turned into an annoying person and not in a great character/but hate him Joffrey type.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

A few NRJ thought bubbles:

I figure this was the last setup episode. We had the initial set up, now the 2 time jumps and I think the rest of the story builds on the back story we have created up till now.

Hated to see Laena go as she seemed like an interesting character, but if you gotta go out, she went out like a boss. Dracaryside! I guess that sticks to GoT mantra that nobody is safe, like them or not.

A few mentioned the bug. I *think* that may be one of the sigils on the little rotating/unlocking thingies they show in the opening credits montage. Will have to rewatch for it again.

I noticed the King seemed to be missing most of his left arm. Death is nigh.

II wonder if the focus on the rats is a foreshadowing of some sort.

Obviously Rhaenyra and Daemon are both newly single, so I expect increased drama posthaste.

Technically, her husband is still alive right now.

 

[beer 30]

Saw a video last night regarding Shireen foretelling the end of this series. Google it if you're so inclined.

 

[Schmeabs]

A few NRJ thought bubbles:

I figure this was the last setup episode. We had the initial set up, now the 2 time jumps and I think the rest of the story builds on the back story we have created up till now.

Hated to see Laena go as she seemed like an interesting character, but if you gotta go out, she went out like a boss. Dracaryside! I guess that sticks to GoT mantra that nobody is safe, like them or not.

A few mentioned the bug. I *think* that may be one of the sigils on the little rotating/unlocking thingies they show in the opening credits montage. Will have to rewatch for it again.

I noticed the King seemed to be missing most of his left arm. Death is nigh.

II wonder if the focus on the rats is a foreshadowing of some sort.

Obviously Rhaenyra and Daemon are both newly single, so I expect increased drama posthaste.

Technically, her husband is still alive right now.

So you guys are implying he dies very soon?

 

[Nathan R. Jessep]

A few NRJ thought bubbles:

I figure this was the last setup episode. We had the initial set up, now the 2 time jumps and I think the rest of the story builds on the back story we have created up till now.

Hated to see Laena go as she seemed like an interesting character, but if you gotta go out, she went out like a boss. Dracaryside! I guess that sticks to GoT mantra that nobody is safe, like them or not.

A few mentioned the bug. I *think* that may be one of the sigils on the little rotating/unlocking thingies they show in the opening credits montage. Will have to rewatch for it again.

I noticed the King seemed to be missing most of his left arm. Death is nigh.

II wonder if the focus on the rats is a foreshadowing of some sort.

Obviously Rhaenyra and Daemon are both newly single, so I expect increased drama posthaste.

Technically, her husband is still alive right now.

you right, I was thinking of the baby daddy

 

[E Street Brat]

Saw a video last night regarding Shireen foretelling the end of this series. Google it if you're so inclined.

obviously full of spoilers....

 

[TLEF316]

EASILY the best episode so far, IMO

 

[foxco]

EASILY the best episode so far, IMO

Who are you rooting for? I kinda liked it but think if Putin nuked Westeros it would be no big loss. There's no one to root for at all here IMO. Still, dragons.

 

[TLEF316]

EASILY the best episode so far, IMO

Who are you rooting for? I kinda liked it but think if Putin nuked Westeros it would be no big loss. There's no one to root for at all here IMO. Still, dragons.

This is certainly my concern as well. I don't really like anyone(and as a result, im not really rooting for any of them). But at least some interesting stuff happened tonight.

 

[foxco]

EASILY the best episode so far, IMO

Who are you rooting for? I kinda liked it but think if Putin nuked Westeros it would be no big loss. There's no one to root for at all here IMO. Still, dragons.

This is certainly my concern as well. I don't really like anyone(and as a result, im not really rooting for any of them). But at least some interesting stuff happened tonight.

Definitely interesting, but I'd kill for someone to love or hate. How awesome was Tyrion? How sleazy was Littlefinger? I hate to compare but my God the characters in GOT were top notch, this is an order of magnitude lower in terms of great personalities. But, **** is about to hit the fan so I'm in.

 

[The General]

This episode was pretty great. Hopefully get more like this.

 

[fruity pebbles]

I kinda like dirty Rhaenyra

 

[BeTheMatch]

Funerals are always fun

 

[Chaz McNulty]

This episode was pretty great. Hopefully get more like this.

Agreed. Best episode by a long shot. I can see the show picking up now.

 

[Moe.]

I can’t see a damn thing

 

[skol asylum]

As others have said it's kind of hard to root for someone. After what was done at the end of this episode who I thought I was rooting for was turned a bit upside down until the final scene.

 

[skol asylum]

And yeah, great episode. Slow start but the tensions are really coming to a head.

 

[stbugs]

A lot happened so that’s good but man it’s hard to care about anyone. I almost wonder how far we’ll get in the war.

 

[E Street Brat]

Team Rhaenyra

 

[beer 30]

I can’t see a damn thing

I hate the fact so many shows these days insist on filming half the damn show at night. Terrible...anyhow.

HotD has mastered the art of:
1. showing live births
2. Throwing long, drawn out parties where nothing happens for half an episode

That said, the after show notes from the producers explained that they taped that scene early on when the actors didn't know each other very well so the uncomfortableness wasn't just all acting. Thought that was kinda cool. At the end at least it moved the story forward with a bit of action, even if it was the children who had to take charge.

Spoiler

looks like another time jump next week. At some point somebody is going to throw down, right?

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

The first half of the episode was just people standing around. Then we had an extra five minutes of disrobing again. I get the WHY with Laenor (differs from the book though and I am not sure whether it is insinuated there that it was Daemon), but to think someone would kill him in their hall and then Rhaenrya and Daemon get married basically the next day is a stretch.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Maybe there just isn't enough material to go from, but this feels again like they decided this is a 3-season show, so we just are hitting all of the waypoints, and then will have a battle or cliffhanger in every episode wants things start happening.

 

[Chaz McNulty]

The first half of the episode was just people standing around. Then we had an extra five minutes of disrobing again. I get the WHY with Laenor (differs from the book though and I am not sure whether it is insinuated there that it was Daemon), but to think someone would kill him in their hall and then Rhaenrya and Daemon get married basically the next day is a stretch.

I think there was meant to be time lapsing at the end of the episode. That's how I took it.

 

[fruity pebbles]

Daemon gonna do something one of these episodes? His part is basically brooding in the corner since about episode 3.

 

[zoobird]

Do we think that the last scene was something that Ryhaenyra and/or Daemon planned for, or was that planned out without their knowledge?

 

[fruity pebbles]

Do we think that the last scene was something that Ryhaenyra and/or Daemon planned for, or was that planned out without their knowledge?

I believe that was the plan. She didn’t want him dead. Also, Daemon murdered the guy that was going to be his replacement right before the sword fight. And told them to make sure the fight was very public.

 

[TLEF316]

Do we think that the last scene was something that Ryhaenyra and/or Daemon planned for, or was that planned out without their knowledge?

I believe that was the plan. I don’t think she wanted him dead.

100%. She wanted to be in power with Daemon but she clearly didn't want him dead. I'm also pretty sure they showed Daemon himself killing the decoy body (was that just some random guard or something? Guess so)

 

[thecatch]

I can’t see a damn thing

I hate the fact so many shows these days insist on filming half the damn show at night. Terrible...anyhow.

Sapochnik also directed that so-dark-it-was-nearly unwatchable Battle of Winterfell episode of GoT. I'm decidedly not a fan of the low-light filming.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

I can’t see a damn thing

I hate the fact so many shows these days insist on filming half the damn show at night. Terrible...anyhow.

Sapochnik also directed that so-dark-it-was-nearly unwatchable Battle of Winterfell episode of GoT. I'm decidedly not a fan of the low-light filming.

I thought it was just me. Last night was very hard to see. I also had to turn on CC to hear details of what was often being said -- especially the early part of the episode.

 

[beer 30]

I thought it was just me. Last night was very hard to see. I also had to turn on CC to hear details of what was often being said -- especially the early part of the episode.

As an old & feeble member of society now, I watch all shows with subtitles on. Just makes it easier when they do the stupid whisper **** that makes you crank the volume followed by Boston Philharmonic blasting out a battle charge so your windows rattle and your ears bleed. I watch most of these on an iPad so have to sit in the dark to actually see what's going on. This show doesn't need any help to make it less watchable.

 

[Desert_Power]

I thought it was just me. Last night was very hard to see. I also had to turn on CC to hear details of what was often being said -- especially the early part of the episode.

As an old & feeble member of society now, I watch all shows with subtitles on. Just makes it easier when they do the stupid whisper **** that makes you crank the volume followed by Boston Philharmonic blasting out a battle charge so your windows rattle and your ears bleed. I watch most of these on an iPad so have to sit in the dark to actually see what's going on. This show doesn't need any help to make it less watchable.

Unfortunately, the subtitles are bright white which made the contrast even worse.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

The first half of the episode was just people standing around. Then we had an extra five minutes of disrobing again. I get the WHY with Laenor (differs from the book though and I am not sure whether it is insinuated there that it was Daemon), but to think someone would kill him in their hall and then Rhaenrya and Daemon get married basically the next day is a stretch.

I think there was meant to be time lapsing at the end of the episode. That's how I took it.

Are references to the previews for next week considered spoilers? I guess to be safe: From the preview for next week it looks like another time jump of at least several years, just judging from what looked like a new actor playing teenager Aemon with the eye patch.

Another comment on an issue from the text: What will happen to Laenor's dragon? Since dragon power is so crucial to the upcoming battles, I wonder how that is going to work with him not actually dying and how they bring in Corlys' bastards to claim his dragon and play a pretty major role in the upcoming war. It seems like it will be hard to get to that this season.

Otherwise, loved this episode with the emergence of Aemon as a strongbad character - but agree the extremely dark production was annoying. I was switching between the football game and the show and the difference in brightness was extreme.

 

[ChicoCat]

The first half of the episode was just people standing around. Then we had an extra five minutes of disrobing again. I get the WHY with Laenor (differs from the book though and I am not sure whether it is insinuated there that it was Daemon), but to think someone would kill him in their hall and then Rhaenrya and Daemon get married basically the next day is a stretch.

I think there was meant to be time lapsing at the end of the episode. That's how I took it.

Are references to the previews for next week considered spoilers? I guess to be safe: From the preview for next week it looks like another time jump of at least several years, just judging from what looked like a new actor playing teenager Aemon with the eye patch.

Another comment on an issue from the text: What will happen to Laenor's dragon? Since dragon power is so crucial to the upcoming battles, I wonder how that is going to work with him not actually dying and how they bring in Corlys' bastards to claim his dragon and play a pretty major role in the upcoming war. It seems like it will be hard to get to that this season.

Otherwise, loved this episode with the emergence of Aemon as a strongbad character - but agree the extremely dark production was annoying. I was switching between the football game and the show and the difference in brightness was extreme.

As far as your second point..... I'd imagine that person who was mad at that person about that thing that person took will end up with that thing you're talking about.

 

[E Street Brat]

Another comment on an issue from the text: What will happen to Laenor's dragon? Since dragon power is so crucial to the upcoming battles, I wonder how that is going to work with him not actually dying and how they bring in Corlys' bastards to claim his dragon and play a pretty major role in the upcoming war. It seems like it will be hard to get to that this season.

Edit,
Never mind , I keep getting these stupid names mixed up.


After the death of his Aunt Laena, Aemond decides to claim Vhagar for his own due to the incessant mocking he receives from his Velaryon nephews and even his own father, King Viserys. When Joffrey discovers that Aemond plans to ride Vhagar, he quickly tells his older brothers and the boys engage in a bloody skirmish which results in Aemond losing his eye. This incident further fuels Aemond’s enmity against Rhaenyra and her children.

 

[Moe.]

Question about the trailers for future episodes: it seemed to hint pretty strongly that Corlys is going to die soon, which would be a huge deviation from Fire & Blood. Did anyone else notice that or am I way off?

It is kinda neat how the written history aspect of Fire and Blood allows the show much more leeway in terms of following the story. In the book it’s just reported that Qarl killed Laenor, which is what everyone would think if they plan we saw last night was executed.

 

[stbugs]

Question about the trailers for future episodes: it seemed to hint pretty strongly that Corlys is going to die soon, which would be a huge deviation from Fire & Blood. Did anyone else notice that or am I way off?

It is kinda neat how the written history aspect of Fire and Blood allows the show much more leeway in terms of following the story. In the book it’s just reported that Qarl killed Laenor, which is what everyone would think if they plan we saw last night was executed.

I’m wondering where the LOTR’s book police are in yelling about straying from the book, lol.

I thought that was pretty cool way to end it although I wonder if somehow it leaves a door open. Probably not because it would be too hard to somehow work him back in, but it was a great plan. Well of course everyone liked it except the random guy Daemon killed. I’d assume he wouldn’t have liked the plan.

Also, I saw the previews and I don’t recall thinking Corlys was going to die soon. I mean, You kind of have inklings about houses, especially ones like Corlys’ that don’t appear to exist anymore in GOT. Some of that is through marriage if they have only girls who survive the war and some is just houses likely getting wrecked.

 

[Desert_Power]

Also, I saw the previews and I don’t recall thinking Corlys was going to die soon. I mean, You kind of have inklings about houses, especially ones like Corlys’ that don’t appear to exist anymore in GOT. Some of that is through marriage if they have only girls who survive the war and some is just houses likely getting wrecked.

That house is still around in A Song of Ice and Fire, just wasn't really included in the show.

 

[Moe.]

Question about the trailers for future episodes: it seemed to hint pretty strongly that Corlys is going to die soon, which would be a huge deviation from Fire & Blood. Did anyone else notice that or am I way off?

It is kinda neat how the written history aspect of Fire and Blood allows the show much more leeway in terms of following the story. In the book it’s just reported that Qarl killed Laenor, which is what everyone would think if they plan we saw last night was executed.

I’m wondering where the LOTR’s book police are in yelling about straying from the book, lol.

I thought that was pretty cool way to end it although I wonder if somehow it leaves a door open. Probably not because it would be too hard to somehow work him back in, but it was a great plan. Well of course everyone liked it except the random guy Daemon killed. I’d assume he wouldn’t have liked the plan.

Spoiler

Also, I saw the previews and I don’t recall thinking Corlys was going to die soon. I mean, You kind of have inklings about houses, especially ones like Corlys’ that don’t appear to exist anymore in GOT. Some of that is through marriage if they have only girls who survive the war and some is just houses likely getting wrecked.

I fuzzied your reply about the trailer, I know those can be edited to be intentionally misleading and lots of people avoid them, so just to be safe. Here is an article that goes over the same stuff. I guess we will see next week.

House of the Dragon Episode 8 Preview Hints at Another Major Death

WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for House of the Dragon! Continue reading at your own risk… Sunday night’s new episode of House of the Dragon brought even more twists and turns for fans. The episode delivered fake deaths, highly anticipated marriages, and the beginnings of a...

comicbook.com

 

[ZADO]

And i thought MY family had issues

What a show

 

[The General]

Do we think that the last scene was something that Ryhaenyra and/or Daemon planned for, or was that planned out without their knowledge?

I believe that was the plan. I don’t think she wanted him dead.

100%. She wanted to be in power with Daemon but she clearly didn't want him dead. I'm also pretty sure they showed Daemon himself killing the decoy body (was that just some random guard or something? Guess so)

I I had forgotten this but that had to be the guy they put in the fireplace.

 

[ChicoCat]

Question about the trailers for future episodes: it seemed to hint pretty strongly that Corlys is going to die soon, which would be a huge deviation from Fire & Blood. Did anyone else notice that or am I way off?

It is kinda neat how the written history aspect of Fire and Blood allows the show much more leeway in terms of following the story. In the book it’s just reported that Qarl killed Laenor, which is what everyone would think if they plan we saw last night was executed.

I think that's the key difference between the book readers of the original Game of Thrones and this one. The nature by which Fire and Blood was written (unreliable narrator) enables the show to be the definitive version of the story.

 

[eoMMan]

Daemon actor Matt Smith was the villain in Morbius. Didn’t know that.

 

[fruity pebbles]

Looking forward to some good battle scenes between Daemons red dragon Caraxes and Aemonds new dragon Vhagar.

 

[Capella]

Team Rhaenyra

For sure. Alicent sucks

 

[stbugs]

Question about the trailers for future episodes: it seemed to hint pretty strongly that Corlys is going to die soon, which would be a huge deviation from Fire & Blood. Did anyone else notice that or am I way off?

It is kinda neat how the written history aspect of Fire and Blood allows the show much more leeway in terms of following the story. In the book it’s just reported that Qarl killed Laenor, which is what everyone would think if they plan we saw last night was executed.

I’m wondering where the LOTR’s book police are in yelling about straying from the book, lol.

I thought that was pretty cool way to end it although I wonder if somehow it leaves a door open. Probably not because it would be too hard to somehow work him back in, but it was a great plan. Well of course everyone liked it except the random guy Daemon killed. I’d assume he wouldn’t have liked the plan.

Spoiler

Also, I saw the previews and I don’t recall thinking Corlys was going to die soon. I mean, You kind of have inklings about houses, especially ones like Corlys’ that don’t appear to exist anymore in GOT. Some of that is through marriage if they have only girls who survive the war and some is just houses likely getting wrecked.

I fuzzied your reply about the trailer, I know those can be edited to be intentionally misleading and lots of people avoid them, so just to be safe. Here is an article that goes over the same stuff. I guess we will see next week.

House of the Dragon Episode 8 Preview Hints at Another Major Death

WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for House of the Dragon! Continue reading at your own risk… Sunday night’s new episode of House of the Dragon brought even more twists and turns for fans. The episode delivered fake deaths, highly anticipated marriages, and the beginnings of a...

comicbook.com

I must have missed that comment. It was late!

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Team Rhaenyra

For sure. Alicent sucks

The long gap didn't help Alicent's cause in the eyes of viewers. We didn't experience it due to the time jump, but she's been banging this old decrepit dude for over 10 years and kicking out babies out of a sense of duty to family and country. There's some truth to what she said to Rhaenyra about her doing whatever she wants during this time with no worries. And in the climactic scene, her husband the king takes the side of the kids who are obviously not legitimate heirs rather than his own legitimate sons and says its treason to say what everyone knows is true. She obviously overreacted, but its easy to see how pissed off she would be at that whole situation. Hopefully she's at least getting some side action from Cristan.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Team Rhaenyra

For sure. Alicent sucks

The long gap didn't help Alicent's cause in the eyes of viewers. We didn't experience it due to the time jump, but she's been banging this old decrepit dude for over 10 years and kicking out babies out of a sense of duty to family and country. There's some truth to what she said to Rhaenyra about her doing whatever she wants during this time with no worries. And in the climactic scene, her husband the king takes the side of the kids who are obviously not legitimate heirs rather than his own legitimate sons and says its treason to say what everyone knows is true. She obviously overreacted, but its easy to see how pissed off she would be at that whole situation. Hopefully she's at least getting some side action from Cristan.

It's Treason Then

 

[beer 30]

Best line of the episode for me

Spoiler

Aemond told Alicent that the means of this act justified their ends: "I may have lost an eye, but I gained a dragon."

 

[stbugs]

Team Rhaenyra

For sure. Alicent sucks

The long gap didn't help Alicent's cause in the eyes of viewers. We didn't experience it due to the time jump, but she's been banging this old decrepit dude for over 10 years and kicking out babies out of a sense of duty to family and country. There's some truth to what she said to Rhaenyra about her doing whatever she wants during this time with no worries. And in the climactic scene, her husband the king takes the side of the kids who are obviously not legitimate heirs rather than his own legitimate sons and says its treason to say what everyone knows is true. She obviously overreacted, but its easy to see how pissed off she would be at that whole situation. Hopefully she's at least getting some side action from Cristan.

Based on only what we’ve seen, she’s been behind all of the sowing of the bad seeds. All due to her father making he marry a dude falling apart so she could challenge Rhaenyra’s rule. If her dad didn’t push that, we wouldn’t have a war. Then again, there’s be no show to watch. She’s clearly going against the king and the king made his heir know well before. No sympathy for her from me since she clearly started it. We know it ends badly for all but she got it going.

 

[fruity pebbles]

Team Rhaenyra

For sure. Alicent sucks

The long gap didn't help Alicent's cause in the eyes of viewers. We didn't experience it due to the time jump, but she's been banging this old decrepit dude for over 10 years and kicking out babies out of a sense of duty to family and country. There's some truth to what she said to Rhaenyra about her doing whatever she wants during this time with no worries. And in the climactic scene, her husband the king takes the side of the kids who are obviously not legitimate heirs rather than his own legitimate sons and says its treason to say what everyone knows is true. She obviously overreacted, but its easy to see how pissed off she would be at that whole situation. Hopefully she's at least getting some side action from Cristan.

Based on only what we’ve seen, she’s been behind all of the sowing of the bad seeds. All due to her father making he marry a dude falling apart so she could challenge Rhaenyra’s rule. If her dad didn’t push that, we wouldn’t have a war. Then again, there’s be no show to watch. She’s clearly going against the king and the king made his heir know well before. No sympathy for her from me since she clearly started it. We know it ends badly for all but she got it going.

Sort of. I think more her father than her. He pushed her to become the Kings choice in marriage. Once she delivered boys, she kinda had no choice but to push their claim to the throne. Her father was right that society wouldn’t accept Rhaenyra over Aegon and that Rhaenyra would have no choice but have the boys killed. Unfortunately, that placed them at odds.