House of the Dragon Episode 3 Review
The first scenes with Daemon on his Dragon, were what we should have seen in the original Game of Thrones, Beautiful and awe inspiring. It looked like a Dragon and his Rider, even to the point of showing the true Bonding when Daemon was hit Caraxes felt it and reacted as well. This scene felt and looked perfect.
Next we have a Two year time jump to the Kings new son, the Party was ongoing like anyone would have for their child, and we learn the Crab Feeder has been at it 3 years now. We get the typical yada yada do nothing from the lords… Seriously 3 years now and the King does nothing, and the excuse is because Daemond acted. BORING!
Then we get Rhaenyra, sitting under the Weirwood that Sansa clearly didn’t know about in the Godswood at Kings Landing. Then right in to a bumpy carriage ride and dialog that was forgettable. Princess Rhaenyra, definitely is starting to win me over as she is becoming more like her Uncle than her Father. But had I not written this down I would have forgot the scene as it was forgettable.
On to the hunt and the feasting tint, we get more people trying to Provoke Rhaenyra, doesn’t work but she gets her shot in to which I enjoyed. When she leaves, she does meet a Lannister, Jason, who pretty much says she will be his wife. She then goes to her father and they have a nice public fight. Again boring, we have seen this is other shows.
She rides off pissed off and The King-maker, I mean Ser Criston Cole heads off to save/stop her. We have an interesting conversation and then more boring eating.
Jason Lannister goes to the king wanting the Princess hand in marriage, I do believe we can see the King more than a little annoyed by this. Especially when he brings the king naming his son his heir.
I must admit when we finally see the King actually acting like a father and getting pissed about all the politics going on about marriages, I could actually feel for him and like him. His drinking you can see that it is all taking a Toll on him, but the final advises for her to Marry “Laenor Velaryon” you can see he takes it seriously.
Next we get a nice member-berry to Robert and the Bore, make no mistake this was what it was about.
Then back the King and this time with the Queen, she is almost as insufferable as Galadriel IMO. But we get the king drunker than Cooter Brown, questioning if he was wrong to name Rhaenyra his successor. Not a bad performance.
We finally get to the Kill part of the hunt. As a Sportsman, I found this sickening and distasteful. This is personal to me as I hate High Fence Hunts and that is what this scene was only worse. Where was the sportsmanship? The respect for the game and any dignity? I would guess this was Hollywood trying to play a PETA Moment… Well done you show how little you know of Hunts of the Past or even today. No true sportsman would ever condone this or be part of it. Congrats on making me hate the showrunners even More. I am glad Miguel the Activist is leaving.
The Next scene we see Princess Rhaenyra and the Kingmaker confront the real Stag of the hunt, she lets it go. Now this reminded me of several movies. The one that stands out most is from” The Queen” specifically “The Stag Scene. “Helen Mirren, as Elizabeth II, sits on a hill at Balmoral countryside. For those who have not seen this movie its worth it for just that scene.
On to the next act, Otto and the Queen conspiring already to make the Baby the next king, yup who cannot see this coming. The king comes in and we get them talking about Rhaenyra and her marriage. The conversation is obvious and clear about helping Daemon, and the king is sending aid.
The King and the Princess, This scene was great, truly great and believable acting, as such I will not spoil it, but of all the scenes with the King so far, This made me feel like he was both King and Father.
The Letter from the King scene, to say Daemon took it well is an Understatement, he took it like a Taragryen. And then we get more proof no one in this World can shoot arrows worth a damn. And finally when a couple miracle shots find him we are suppose to be shocked that his army is all the sudden there and that Laenor Velaryon has come in on Seasmoke, which looks a lot like Caraxes in many shots. Come on they were just talking about wanting to use Daemon for bait and he obliged them on his own.
And its over. Again the best I can say is “MEH” the writing is picking up at little, but still found myself board. In fact midway through I got up to do some things around the house and cook some food. This is just not a gripping your seat show. Better than Rings of Power yes. But nothing like Seasons 1-4 of Game of thrones.
I think Hollywood has forgot how to write good stories, and if it were not for Matt and his on screen power, I would have already checked out. But as there is really nothing else on TV and no one streaming on Youtube this early in the morning, it was something to watch.
Rating it a little higher because the writing for the King has picked up and Rhaenyra as well is getting better and of course Matt I mean Daemon. This one gets a (6).
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