When Game of Thrones was nearing its end, one common complaint among viewers was that it was just too dark to see what was going on. That was frequently the case in battle scenes, with "The Long Night" arguably ruined by the fact that it was a near-impossible challenge to figure out what was playing out on screen.
This past Sunday's episode of House of the Dragon faced similar criticisms, perhaps no great surprise when it was also directed by "The Long Night" helmer Miguel Sapochnik!
Fans took to Twitter to share their frustrations, only to be perplexed when HBO's social media accounts defended those scenes. "We appreciate you reaching out about a night scene in ‘House of the Dragon’ Episode 7 appearing dark on your screen," the cable network responded when one viewer asked for "a written apology for literally a whole episode of black screen."
"The dimmed lighting of this scene was an intentional creative decision," it concluded, confirming that the dark scenes weren't a result of some sort of technical error.
The episode has been described as unwatchable by some, with others recommending that it's best watched in a dark room with all the drapes closed. It's a little ridiculous and somewhat baffling that HBO didn't take that Game of Thrones feedback on board; it may be the director's creative vision, but that's really not overly helpful when no one can tell what's happening.
Regardless, if you're able to dial up the brightness, it's probably a good idea. We don't anticipate HBO making any changes to the episode following this backlash, though do hope it won't continue to be an issue throughout the remainder of what has otherwise been a very good season.
House of the Dragon continues this Sunday on HBO.