The Biggest Disappointment of House of the Dragon Just reminded everyone on the true quality of the Red Wedding.
A poor episode in House Of The Dragon season 2 serves as a reminder of how amazing Game Of Thrones' Red Wedding was. House of the Dragon is inherently being compared to the first show as a prelude to Game of Thrones. Not only do the tales modified from George R. R. Martin's original A Song of Ice and Fire book series have in common, but both shows include locales, names, weaponry, and thematic components that make them sister series'.
More so than in the previous season, these similarities were clear by the conclusion of House Of The Dragon season 2 episode 1. House of the Dragon carries on the heritage of its predecessor in the best possible manner from the return to Winterfell, the Wall, and the Starks to the graphic, horrific shock value sequences. But a moment from House of the Dragon that claimed to be the equivalent of Game Of Thrones' Red Wedding merely confirmed that the latter will be nearly difficult to copy without disappointment.
Blood & Cheese Had Been Promoted As Red Wedding Moment House of the Dragons Red Wedding Moment
The moment under question is the Blood and Cheese sequence from House of the Dragon season 2. Following orders to assassinate Aemond Targaryen in punishment for his murder, albeit accidental, of Lucerys Velaryon, this sequence of events concluded the debut of House of the Dragon season 2 and saw two assassins - identified only as Blood and Cheese sneak into the Red Keep. Instead of locating the one-eyed prince, the two kidnapped Queen Helaena Targaryen, had her identify which of her twin infants was male, and removed the head of the child.
This scene and all it entails can be naturally categorized as dark, startling, graphic, and challenging to view. This was the case for the scenario as it was written in Martin's Fire and Blood stood out as maybe the most startling scene in the novel. Many who knew the source material were therefore excitedly expecting - or more suitably dreading - House of the Dragon's portrayal of the time. With Fire and Blood's shock value, Blood and Cheese started to be positioned as House of the Dragon's Red Wedding moment very fast. Thanks to the startling nature of the action from Game of Thrones season 3, episode 9, "The Rains of Castamere," the Red Wedding is today iconic in popular culture. Edmure Tully's marriage to Roslin Frey took a sinister turn when the scorned Lord Walder Frey joined with the Lannisters, slaughtered the Northman army, and killed Game of Thrones' primary characters, Robb Stark and his mother Catelyn. The episode is among the most well-known in TV history mostly because of its horrific, startling climax in which prominent characters are cruelly slaughtered in a graphic manner.
Why was Blood & Cheese unsatisfactory?
Though Blood and Cheese and the Red Wedding in Martin's books have certain parallels, the former could not be able to either top or even equal the latter in House of the Dragon. From the frightening, foreboding images of Blood and Cheese skulking throughout the Red Keep to the terrible scenario in which Helaena watches her son be slain, the scene was definitely well-crafted. The general agreement, though, is that Blood and Cheese was just unsatisfactory in House of the Dragon for a number of factors.
Blood and Cheese's effect may have been hampered by fan expectations of another Red Wedding, but the moment has a few natural flaws that saw it fall short of Game of Thrones' most powerful sequence. First of all, the terrible character of the scene was subdued. Obviously, this is not to argue House of the Dragon should have shown on-screen full-fledged child murder. Having said that, the manner it was shown could have been more like the more violent scenes from the HBO series, notably those from the Red Wedding, therefore eliminating the emotional distance Blood and Cheese communicated. Apart from the emotional separation resulting from the toned-down scenario from Fire and Blood, the lack of connection to the concerned characters also contributed to this emotional distance. Little is known of Helaena or her two children, and House of the Dragon has not created their narratives such that viewers would find the Starks dear in the same manner. Blood and Cheese's deeds, no matter how horrible, fall somewhat flat and leave the situation seeming emotionally cold, without the devastating, tragic, and truly traumatizing evocation of the Red Wedding due to this lack of investment.
Why Still the Greatest Moment of Game of Thrones Remains The Red Wedding
Blood and Cheese failed to surpass Game of Thrones' best moment in the Red Wedding, not that it was a bad scene. Though multiple factors make this true, it is odd to consider that a moment in which so many heroes perished at the hands of scorned villains is Game of Thrones' best one. Ironically, the Red Wedding works so effectively in great part because of the killing of these heroes and the pure horror of them being killed without grace. Plot twists are loved by audiences; the Red Wedding presented one after another.
Moreover, the Red Wedding scene is flawlessly created from a cinematic standpoint. Though somehow not the main lesson of the sequence, the choice of images, the actors' performances, and the music all create a sense of foreboding. The steady build-up of suspense and drama is so subtle and nuanced that the dread it generates is almost subliminal, latching viewers into believing everything will go down without a hitch and Robb Stark will march south with an even stronger army. Game of Thrones delivers what it does well and the actual shock value shows when the titular Rains of Castamere starts playing. Given that Robb Stark's suffering is one many cared about, the emotional reaction is unlike anything else in the show. Ned Stark's death was a travesty; Robb's journey from a young wolf to the King in the North set on justice in an unfair world was quite easy to invest in. Right until he sits on the Iron Throne and unites the kingdom, Robb was the hero that viewers would follow. Clearly not...
House of the Dragon: An Exquisitely Comparative Analysis of Two Shock Events
The events of the Red Wedding in Game of Thrones marked a turning point in the narrative, a startling disclosure that destroyed the key characters' idea of safety and irreversibly changed the direction of the plot. The emotional commitment viewers paid to the characters engaged enhanced the influence of the scene. Though graphic, House of the Dragon's Blood and Cheese scenario lacks the emotional force of the Red Wedding. This is most certainly the result of the victims—especially Helaena and her son—not developing personally. The Red Wedding stays more powerful because of its deft execution, emotional relevance, and central part in the story, even if both sequences remind us that even apparently safe people might experience abrupt and brutal death.
The Red Wedding and Blood and Cheese contrast emphasizes the need of emotional narrative and character investment. Although both sequences are startling, the Red Wedding's long-lasting influence stems from its capacity to emotionally connect with viewers, therefore producing a residual effect that last long after the show has finished.
Blood and Cheese from House of the Dragon: Book Notes and Audience Response
From Helaena's decision between her children and the general behavior of the two assassins, House of the Dragon's Blood and Cheese book modifications also eliminated some of the most gruesome aspects of the work. As to eliminate the sense of emotional detachment Blood and Cheese imparted, the way it was shown may have been more like the more gruesome events in the HBO series, especially those featured in the Red Wedding.
Although George R. R. Martin's works have been richly world-building, visually spectacular scenery, and immersive storytelling acclaimed in the House of the Dragon series, viewers have responded differently to the Blood and Cheese scenario. While some found the scene to be a fittingly dark and shocking moment, others felt that it lacked the emotional depth and impact of the Red Wedding. This disparity in reception emphasizes the difficulty in recreating the success of an event as legendary and powerful as the Red Wedding, which has grown to be the pillar of Game of Thrones legacy.
House of the Dragon: Legacy of Game of Thrones
About 172 years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon chronicles the ascent of the Targaryens, the only family of dragonlords to withstand the Doom of Valyria. The popular HBO spinoff show first starred Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before they were replaced by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke, who play the older versions of the characters. Along with King Viserys Targaryen, Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) and Paddy Considine star Rhaenyra's father.
House of the Dragon has been successful in honoring the tradition of Game of Thrones while developing its own unique personality. The show has struggled, meantime, in faithfully recreating the emotional impact and shock value of its predecessor. While the Red Wedding remains a defining moment in Game of Thrones history, House of the Dragon continues to explore the themes of power, betrayal, and family that made its predecessor so compelling, offering fans a fresh perspective on the complex and intriguing world of Westeros.
