HBO held the world premiere for its Game of Thrones prequel series, House of the Dragon, last night in LA, and the first reactions to the pilot episode have been shared online.
For the most part, the first chapter has received a very positive reception, and although it's obviously very early days, the show is being hailed as a worthy successor to the juggernaut that was Game of Thrones. From what we can gather, House of the Dragon will not simply be more of the same, and is said to be more "serious" and "grounded" than its predecessor.
One thing both shows do appear to have in common, however, is some extreme violence!
Only a few reactions have been shared, but we'll be sure to update as more critics weigh in.
"The prequel series finds the Targaryen dynasty at the absolute apex of its power, with more than 15 dragons under their yoke. Most empires—real and imagined—crumble from such heights. In the case of the Targaryens, their slow fall begins almost 193 years before the events of Game of Thrones, when King Viserys Targaryen breaks with a century of tradition by naming his daughter Rhaenyra heir to the Iron Throne. But when Viserys later fathers a son, the court is shocked when Rhaenyra retains her status as his heir, and seeds of division sow friction across the realm."
House of the Dragon stars Paddy Considine (Peaky Blinders) as King Viserys Targaryen, Olivia Cooke (Ready Player One) as Alicent Hightower, Emma D’Arcy (Wanderlust) as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Matt Smith (Doctor Who) as Prince Daemon Targaryen.