Your thoughts on the first episode of HOTD?
I really enjoyed it. As a GOT fan, I really had cut ties with anything related to GOT but then I heard House Targaryen and I was intrigued and then I realized that D&D would not be welcomed back … I was like, oh? Then the trailers came out and I said, SAY LESS.
House Targaryen is and will always be superior. Seeing their banners all over King’s Landing, the dragon pit, the statues, and the altar for Balerion did make me a bit sad. Made me think this is what we could have had if GOTS8 went into a different direction. Daenerys and Jon ruling the Seven Kingdoms and restoring House Targaryen … *que adele* we could have had it all.
For people who don’t watch or read George’s interviews … they should. I’m obsessed with watching reaction videos and I’ve watched like a million already for this first episode and one of the things that I’ve noticed almost everyone is that, they have this mindset of who is the hero and who is the bad guy.
These characters are complex. You’re either going to love them, like them, or fucking hate them.
Some could argue that some characters are good and they might be in certain definitions but they all have a goal – the Iron Throne and already in the first episode; it’s picked up that. I think a lot of fans are still in the mindset of the GOT show. It’s like, no. You have to remove yourself from that because you might be team blacks vs. greens but you’re going to find fault in every character bc they all do SHITTY and TERRIBLE things.
Also, Daemon’s dragon helmet. Ugh. IN LOVE.
Despite that, it was sooooooo cool to see dragons again. Seeing fan arts for years and then finally seeing them on screen … no better feeling. I’m looking forward to seeing more dragons, especially one of my favorites, Vhagar bc she IS the Queen Dragon.
As much as the show-writers have said that this is different from the show GOT it still has its similarities and it reminds you with its graphic violence and nudity. Aemma’s birthing scene was horrible and horrific but I do like how they tied it with the tourney. “The birthing bed is our battlefield” and it’s true. But two graphic scenes of just violence makes you feel like you’re watching the old GOT, plus, the nudity.
I’m glad that they brought back Ramin Djawadi to do the score. The fact that he uses Daenerys’s theme but changes it a bit still gives me goosebumps.
I also like the jabs the show made towards D&D and how wrong they got things or the direction they took GOT. This show, even though it’s been one episode, feels like what GOT should feel. The vibe/theme George had written. I feel like HOTD is his show. Though, I’m sure he’s still disappointed that the throne doesn’t look exactly how he wrote it – it looks so much cooler. The fact that we’re seeing it injure King Viserys, showing him an unworthy ruler; before Robert welding it down to make it easier to sit on; another unworthy gesture.
I enjoyed the episode a lot and I am looking forward to the rest of the season, especially Emma’s portrayal as adult Rhaenyra!
*if you want me to talk about the characters -- which ones I like and don't already, let me know!*