House of the Dragon episode 1 review: Everything we could’ve wanted and more

We have the return of one of the most storied franchises in HBO history and one of the most anticipated shows of the year in House of the Dragon. Was the pilot any good? Let’s dive in.

House of the Dragon follows the story of the House Targaryen set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones. The show stars Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Milly Alcock, and Olivia Cooke.

Look…I know this is a very unpopular opinion, but I didn’t hate the last season of Game of Thrones like the masses. I did think the end of the series left much to be desired, but it didn’t suck throughout. It had highs and lows. So, diving back into this world is something I am thoroughly looking forward to.

For a pilot, you want to reel in the new and the old viewers to this new world they are building. The writers did a great job of introducing us to the new world and characters by setting us up for the future of the Targaryen family. You are quickly engulfed into this world that we fell in love with for eight seasons all over again. You feel right at home with the first episode, from the language to the dragons to the costumes.

The House of the Dragon pilot is everything we hoped for and more

Like the pilot of Game of Thrones, there was much to be unpacked for just being one episode. I loved that they gave each of these new characters moments to shine to get better acquainted with their mannerisms and what we can expect from them.

Speaking of the characters, Matt Smith fits right into the villainous role with perfection. It was pretty easy to understand early on he would be the one that we would be rooting to have his head chopped off relatively fast. Smith played Prince Daemon perfectly and I can’t wait to see more from him because it is coming. Another stand-out from the episode was Milly Alcock, our little young Princess and heir to the throne after the first episode. It was more about the facial expressions than anything that sold me on her within this character.

My favorite part of the first episode is the score! The score was breathtaking by composer Ramin Djawadi, it sets the tone and continues to carry so much of the emotional beats of the story and more. The final sequence of the show was POWERFUL and the score in the backdrop gave me chills.

Overall, the pilot was everything I could have ever wanted to be reeled back into this world. I am excited to be excited to have a series that I am looking forward to watching weekly. I highly recommend checking out the pilot.

House of the Dragon airs on HBO on Sundays.