Most fans look to HBO’s “House of the Dragon” and see it for the violent fantasy epic that it is.
But it’s been so much more than that across its prior two seasons, and it continues to evolve into season three which began in rousing fashion June 21.
A prequel to the classic series “Game of Thrones,” it’s set approximately 200 years prior to those events and focuses, once again, on the familial and political battle for the Iron Throne and the title of ruler of the Seven Kingdoms.
Yet, at its heart, despite the graphic violence and overt sexual displays, the heart of the story rests with two women — former friends Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) — on opposite sides of a claim to the throne, who are both fighting against patriarchy and misogyny in a society where it’s the norm.
During the series’ first two seasons Alicent went from being Rhaenyra’s best friend to stepmother and queen consort after marrying her father (Paddy Considine). Named heir to the throne, Rhaenyra is something unheard of given her gender. She finds her claim to it questioned because after her father’s marriage to Alicent, he soon had two sons – and potentially more palatable heirs in the eyes of some in the kingdom.
Over the course of the years, Alicent’s father Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), a close adviser to the king, has manipulated her and sown doubt as to who the rightful successor to the throne should be, Rhaenyra or Alicent’s oldest son Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney). It’s a familial civil war in the Targaryen family that starts cold but simmers through the years to the point where it reaches a full-on boil by the end of the second season.
During the course of that time, while there are certainly a host of noteworthy characters including Rhaenyra’s uncle and husband Daemon (Matt Smith), Alicent and Rhaenyra are firmly centered and their characters’ respective development through the years are on full display as well as their motives, which should be evident to fans.
“Personally, I think for Alicent, she is trying to enact the bargain that she made with Rhaenyra at the end of season two,” Cooke said during a recent teleconference. “She is really diligently trying to make sure that comes to pass, but of course it’s, you know, ‘House of the Dragon.’ Nothing can run smoothly. But she’s just thinking about survival and getting herself and [her daughter-in-law] out and just running for her life, really.”
For D’Arcy it’s a case of her character growing into her perceived role of ruler.
“The delight for me is that she’s sort of finally in a position of confidence and power, both personal, political, strategic,” D’Arcy said, “and so, a character who we’ve seen in a sort of reactionary position for the majority of two seasons is finally positioned to act. And some of the sort of restraints have finally been lifted, I think.”
That leads to a natural shift in tenor, the show’s creator and writer Ryan Condal said that leads to a “darker, bleaker” tone as season three begins with a huge and significant fireworks.
“I think it’s going to put people back on their heels in a good way because it just comes out so heavy and unexpectedly. But it also sets the tone for where we’re going with the season. So, we’re not spending our entire budget on the first episode, even though it might feel that way,” he said of the premiere. “There is lots of escalation coming from here. It certainly changes the tone of the storytelling rhythm of House of the Dragon, I think, if not what you’re seeing on screen. It does change, like we are really playing for keeps now, and I don’t think anyone or anything is safe from here forward.”
That comes through in the first two episodes of season made available for review. The stakes indeed get higher, as does the intensity of the series with the performances from primary players matching that tone. Cooke and D’Arcy are outstanding in their respective parts. But no one should sleep on Smith’s turn as Daemon. He’s sinister, yet still complex.
It’s crystal clear that Condal and his creative staff is taking the cast further into their journey and evolving each in a meaningful manner all while upping the ante on the familial and political intrigue.
Season three kicks off splendidly.
Streaming: HBO and HBO Max
Grade: B+
Most unique private detective show ‘Sugar’ returns to Apple TV
Irish actor Colin Farell’s “Sugar” held more than a few surprises in its first season – the obvious one being that the titular character was actually from another planet, which made it pretty cool.
Beyond that, the series possessed an old school vibe as John Sugar was a Hollywood private dick with a serious obsession with black-and-white films. It possesses serious nuance and it returned for season two June 19. Check it out.
Netflix audiences ignore Kevin Hart controversy
“The Roast of Kevin Hart” stirred serious controversy in the entertainment world with the show and its takes from assorted comedic associates of popular comedian Kevin Hart being branded misogynistic and racist. That doesn’t seem to have matter to Netflix’s audience as the special tops the streaming charts for the week ending May 17. Here are the top five shows overall, in originals and film:
Overall
Original
Movies
George M. Thomas covers a myriad of things including sports and pop culture, but mostly sports, he thinks, for the Beacon Journal
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Fiery ‘House of the Dragon’ kicks off 3rd season on HBO. What to stream this week
Reporting by George M. Thomas, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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By George M. Thomas, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
