How are Dragons Depicted in House of the Dragon?
Dragons are the core elements of House of the Dragon and its overarching narrative that has captivated HBO audiences who eagerly watch each season to experience these grand Dragon scenes. These dragons, each unique and representing various powerful lineages from the Targaryen House - who once ruled from Valyria - continue to offer Fire as they wage war in the world of Westeros.
One particular scene that captured attention comes from House of the Dragon Season 2 which highlighted the fire coming from Vermithor, a particularly iconic dragon, as it was brought into battle - making a devastating appearance. Those who were eager to watch House of the Dragon got a chance to see some compelling action during its Dragon scene and while many found the visual effects compelling - a VFX artist critique by Corridor Crew underscored that the fire was inaccurate - making the scene appear unbelievable. It led many VFX artists to express concern about Fire effects criticism - especially when those are core elements to how the Targaryen family has operated through history. In the show's efforts to produce one of the best fantasy and historical drama series, those House of the Dragon visual effects were scrutinized - which has led to new discussions and insight into what VFX artists will produce moving forward.
What Are Some of the Common Criticisms About House of the Dragon?
The latest season of House of the Dragon is already generating some House of the Dragon criticism for various reasons - one, for instance, stems from a particular Dragon scene featuring Vermithor and the Dragon fire VFX depiction that Corridor Crew had an issue with, finding that it was "unrealistic." Another common concern, comes from House of the Dragon's writing that may have failed to connect in the way it should, which ultimately impacts House of the Dragon characters.
In many of the online reviews and those discussions by VFX artists, viewers found the most jarring to be the dark-fire produced from dragons. Many expressed their concerns with how it was produced and a lack of attention paid to realism, particularly when it comes to a powerful Dragon - that is an essential component of House of the Dragon . Other House of the Dragon criticism focuses on those "predictable" storylines - making it a bit difficult for viewers to watch - especially when compared to Game of Thrones, which helped set the standard for a more diverse array of complex and dramatic storylines. It appears, based on many House of the Dragon discussions and criticism, that a combination of story elements - and a poorly-written storyline have also led to some serious questions surrounding how much HBO might prioritize visual effects (that appear compelling but lack the right depth in terms of accuracy), as well as how much focus the series is placing on story, given how those storylines can create a compelling experience that allows a show to make an indelible mark across television and entertainment.
What are The Best Parts About House of the Dragon?
There’s a lot of potential for this franchise to continue and gain more notoriety as HBO is producing additional Game of Thrones spinoffs. Fans of Game of Thrones - often known to make an online presence on numerous social media channels - were also eager to get back into the world of Westeros and to experience a series that was created for this "alternate" timeline, with House of the Dragon setting an engaging story. The show featured an abundance of compelling, dynamic storylines - each driven by those central House of the Dragon characters such as Rhaenyra Targaryen - who is played by two different actors as the timeline jumps across ages (with Milly Alcock and Emma D'Arcy taking on the roles). There is also a focus on the relationship that was featured between Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower (played by Emily Carey and Olivia Cooke) as they went through their rise into the world's hierarchy.
Even with this production having a considerable House of the Dragon budget - House of the Dragon had its challenges - namely that its first two seasons have seen two episodes cut from production due to budget limitations. House of the Dragon season 3 was still given the green light - so fans will get another opportunity to experience more of this world.
Does House of the Dragon Spoil The Story Of Game of Thrones?
Fans should recognize how House of the Dragon is a prequel, meaning it tells the stories of Game of Thrones that have happened before those central moments for fans who watched Game of Thrones (its release occurred back in 2011). Although the stories overlap in terms of lineage and how characters are influenced - this production for HBO is intended to give an expanded version of Targaryen family history and those individuals who played an important role within the world of Westeros, particularly as they built an empire and dynasty from the events that unfolded in Valyria, after the catastrophic event, the Doom of Valyria.
One of the major events that was featured in House of the Dragon , also served as a precursor to those that were seen in Game of Thrones. It provided more detail into the historical, fictional moments - with one of the most well-known being "The Red Sowing". House of the Dragon season 2, Episode 7 ( also referred to as "The Red Sowing") provides the viewers a chance to see those events take shape in House of the Dragon - with Game of Thrones being heavily influenced - those characters who appear, their actions and lineages - have played a role in setting a course. The events in Game of Thrones would take place centuries after House of the Dragon, so those stories in this show are more about history as those characters and dynasties were established.
Why are people upset with the dragon fire VFX in House of the Dragon?
Fans of House of the Dragon, those who loved Game of Thrones, and even those in the VFX and animation world expressed their dismay with the use of dragon fire, with an analysis by Corridor Crew, specifically with Niko Pueringer (a pyrotechnics expert). He gave insight into a series of flaws. One that many mentioned - was the lack of realism, particularly in its depiction - it appeared as being a dark, solid source of fire that is often associated with a Dragon Fire VFX. These details brought a sharp criticism and sparked debates surrounding how to capture these visual effects in a more accurate manner. It appears the visual effects are less of a problem, particularly given how powerful the series is overall.
Fans have come to understand that those stories, and even some House of the Dragon characters, might be more appealing if there was greater emphasis on story and detail as well as those more authentic and less “manufactured” effects to the Fire, an iconic feature throughout this show that's supposed to bring an intensity of scale and power.
Does the Show's VFX have anything to do with the events of Game of Thrones?
As the prequel series to Game of Thrones, there's always a desire to see if those visual effects from the parent show continue to be used in House of the Dragon, particularly as it also has a substantial House of the Dragon budget. One could easily see some inspiration and, frankly, several techniques adopted as those elements were seen in Game of Thrones Season 8. However, the creators have acknowledged that there has been an increased effort to expand upon the original designs to create unique approaches. These approaches often included visual aesthetics and, more specifically, those that showcase Dragons - one of the show's most celebrated visual elements. It has led to questions about what makes the show visually unique in comparison to its parent show.
This may also be part of the challenges that have been recognized within those discussions with Corridor Crew House of the Dragon . Those discussions centered on the Fire, an important element - making it one of the most recognizable, iconic features for a series that has captured the imagination of viewers.
What are the stories behind the events of the House of the Dragon’s prequels?
Many House of the Dragon fans will recognize George R.R. Martin as the author and creator who brought the story of Game of Thrones into the public consciousness - giving it life. As we discover more about the series, and as we discover that its storylines can be expanded to feature more intricate stories (with those that took place long before Game of Thrones). These stories involve The Doom of Valyria (one of the major events to occur in Westeros' history). It is recognized as a pivotal moment in this universe's past - specifically because it established a time of unrest, mayhem and upheaval.
The storyline of the prequel - the production by HBO (House of the Dragon) - gives those viewers a look into a historical period long before the events that would shape those conflicts, events and trials seen in Game of Thrones (whose final season, Game of Thrones Season 8, was heavily criticized).
Is House of the Dragon Worth Watching?
If you enjoyed Game of Thrones, you should definitely make the transition over to House of the Dragon - especially if you are looking to enjoy a production that delivers compelling drama and those intricate stories, such as those surrounding the Targaryen family, their complex dynamics with one another, and, especially, the historical conflicts and those events that shaped a nation.
House of the Dragon shows the beginning of an empire. Those who love those moments from history are apt to love what is in the production, as the show takes a deep dive into those characters - their lineage - and those events, as it centers on a particular dynasty, and it makes for compelling and even entertaining content.
