Ok so it's only one episode, so people should be cautious with the overly negative and the overly positive reviews. However, it's hard to look past the following when giving this show a rating

Firstly, the first episode of House of the dragon is not a patch on the first episode of Game of Thrones, anyone who says it's as good as or better is talking utter rubbish and that isn't an opinion it's a fact

Secondly, what is it with the CGI in films and tv shows these days. Nothing looks real, the stone of the walls and Castles, looks exactly what it is, a computer rendered graphic, same with the crowd scenes, so, so poor bit I expect nothing else these days.

Thirdly, there isn't a single character from the opening episode who interested me whatsoever. In comparison to a game of Theones were there where multiple characters that piqued ones interest, right from the offset

Fourthly, Sex and violence........ the sex, try as they may, it was just boring. If they are not going to do it properly and convincingly, then why bother having it at all. The violence, about the only thing in this episode that they got right. It was graphic and bloody, just as this type of drama should be, so thumbs up for that.

I'll hold off on any proper judgement until at least three episodes have aired but I will be shocked if it gets much better but hey, I've been wrong in the past.