House of the Dragon (Season 1) Creator: Ryan Condal and George R. R. Martin Rating: 8/10

House of Dragon is a prequel to the beloved Game of Thrones franchise after the disappointing last two seasons of the series. With House of Dragons, we were being reintroduced to the dynasty of the Targaryen and their fight to keep the throne.

The whole series started out slow and the constant time jumps were jarring. However, the show was able to capture the interests of the audience through characterization. The performances were great, with Matt Smith delivering a captivating and subtle performance standout and playing into the impulsive eruptions of violence that the Game of Thrones franchise is known for. But, it was Paddy Considine's performance that catapulted throughout the season. He gave out a rare and beautifully rendered portrayal of a wise and stoic King Viserys, and it was in episode 8 that he delivered a most devastating swan-song performance.

House of Dragon may not be as great as its predecessor, however, the constant narrative pacing and characterization allowed the show to succeed on its own distinctions. The characters are well-established and well-written and we get to discover the characters we love and the characters we love to hate. High production values are reflected in the series, and the cinematography and atmospheric soundtrack are fetched together masterfully.

House of Dragon does not contain much violence and cruelty like the GoT has but incest. However, the goal of the series was to build anticipation and it was strongly achieved. It is a very promising series and a lot to look forward to in the next season. Another concern is that we have to wait for 2 years for the next season, I am not sure if some of us are still alive by then.

Nevertheless, as a fan of the franchise, House of Dragon has established its story satisfactorily and it is starting to construct the suspense of greater things to happen.