Here's an CRITICAL and HONEST review.

First of all, it's lame to review 1 episode and judge the whole season.

Let's start with the GOOD !

Game of Thrones license ! It will feel somewhat familiar... but that's it. No Winterfell, no North.

Obviously and naturally the production is of high quality. The same visual quality as the last seasons of GoT. The music has even improved !

It does make me curious to see more, and i NEVER watch series and am just very picky and critical in films as well.

Yes it did have a good shock moment that i enjoyed..

But that's it...

1 thing GoT had that we will NOT see in HotD.... HUMOR. Do not expect a dynamic show where the chemistry feels so REAL like GoT.

The fun with Tyrion... Tormund, The Hound.... The sneaky Little finger and Varys... The mad Joffrey and Ramsey..... The honorable men like Ned star, Rob... etc etc..

Do you like such dynamics and GREAT chemistry ? It's Devoid in HotD as you could have seen even in the trailer.

Guys lets be a little realistic here too... the first seasons of GoT just set the bar TOO high, we might never see such a great combination together. We were lucky to have so many great actors and dynamics then.

Allot of times i told myself, if it's just about great production, GoT license, shock moment etc, then Rings of Power will probably beat this show easily.

But i was pleasantly surprised nonetheless, the opening felt good... i liked the new "Daenarys" more then i thought i would since I somehow can't stand both.

And all this criticism in the reviews about Woke'ism.... Like.... If you pay attention to such stuff then you will find what you're looking for.

Don't be a fool, look at it objectively first.

There is a black guy here... altough he hasn't said much, he fits his role perfect and i enjoy seeing him... so what ?

I gave the show maybe a slightly higher rating then i describe it, but it's just 1 episode, it will be unfair to judge a book by it's cover !

I have more hope for the show then i did before the release after seeing the trailer, i thought it would be high production licensed garbage like Star Wars.... But it's CERTAINLY not a dumpsterfire like Season 8 !