“House of the Dragon” Episode 1 Review: A Powerful Beginning to HBO’s Epic Prequel
Season one, episode one of HBO’s “House of the Dragon” is titled “Heirs to the Dragon.” The series faced heavy pressure to follow the Game of Thrones juggernaut. Total Apex will review each episode of these shows, 23 in all, from a retrospective vantage.
Season One, Episode One of “House of the Dragon” is consumed by King Viserys and his quest for a male heir to solidify his line. In fact, his inability to produce a clear male heir casts a long shadow, as long after he is gone, a war is fought over succession. All the while, Dragons, are key to the story. Do you believe there are Dragons?
Season One, Episode One Plot
In the first season and first episode of the HBO show “House of the Dragon,” we see a fairly youthful King Viserys, who sits on the Iron Throne in the Red Keep. He has fathered five daughters, and his wife is pregnant. He hopes for a boy. In the meantime, we are socialized to life in the Red Keep. There is considerable intrigue in the palace.
The House is at the height of its power and has ten dragons. The year is 101 AC. King Jaehaerys called a great council to choose an heir. Over 1,000 lords make the journey, with 14 different succession claims heard. But only 2 are truly considered. Prince Viserys Targaryen is given the throne, as there is no way a woman will inherit the throne, for now. He was chosen over Princess Rhaenys.
Moving Forward in the “House of the Dragon” Story
We move forward in the story about a decade, but stay in this House. Viserys’s wife is pregnant, and she promises him a male heir. They have had five babies die previously. The child is a boy, but he and the mother die in a gory episode of childbirth. Around the same time, the King is under great stress, and his health, foreshadowing his death at the end of the first season, is taking a turn for the worse.
We see The Grand Maester checking out a wound on his back, concluding the wound needs to be cauterized. The royalty gathers for the funeral of the queen and baby. They watch as the bodies are burned with dragon flames. Otto Hightower, the Hand, brings up Viserys’ heir and decides the succession should be sorted right now. There is a problem with no male heir.
Some favor the King’s younger brother Daemon. Others, citing a recent murdering rampage, think him unstable and thus not suitable for the Iron Throne. There is a great deal of back-and-forth, and more murdering by Daemon. Viserys picks Princess Rhaenyra and counsels her on the dragons and their history. He also alludes to the White Walkers and winter. Viserys decides Daemon is not meant to hold the throne because of his transgressions; Rhaenyra is.
Jousting: Popular Then, Obsolete Now
One of the sports that plays heavily in “House of the Dragon” season one, episode one is jousting. We see it in gory detail. The King and Queen sit in a royal box, watching the action. Most of the jousts are between knights. The winner asks for the Queen’s or Princess’s favor. This is pretty interesting. Of course, jousting has become obsolete, probably because of its brutality. One thinks, as they watch this, that they are looking back in time.
A Final Opinion On the First Episode
Season one, episode one of the HBO show “House of the Dragon” does not disappoint. There was a considerable amount of pressure to live up to the Game of Thrones franchise. Fortunately for the new show, the palace intrigue and dragons sell themselves and make for riveting viewing. We are fascinated by the King’s obsession with his line of succession, which is the focus of this episode.
You can watch this and more episodes of “House of the Dragon”, on HBO Max
