A 'House Of The Dragon' Review

This article contains spoilers. 

EDIT 18/05/25: I reluctantly watched both seasons HOTD. Whilst I still have my issues with it, most specifically the lack of obvious lesbian romance between the two leads, most of the points made in this article are rendered obsolete because I had, infact, jumped to conclusions without seeing the whole show. I admit my mistakes. And yet I'll be keeping this post of nothing but my opinion up on the internet, because why not? 

I'm not a Game of Thrones fan. Infact, I'd argue that I'm hardly an enthused consumer. Passive is the word most suited for the way I consume GOT content. It's unavoidable, and has been since the show began. It's everywhere, and with the recent appearance of the new prequel show, it's harder than ever to escape it. I have to accept that I'm going to be force-fed GOT content for the rest of my life, so I might as well make peace with it. 

So, over covid, I watched the first four seasons. That was as much as I could handle. I didn't hate it - in-fact, the performances were all impressive and there was the odd storyline I took interest in. However, I certainly didn't enjoy it any more than I enjoy watching the news. It was fine, vaguely interesting, but overall it just left me feeling kind of sad and bored. 

I even tried reading the books - a rookie I mistake I righted only a mere three chapters in, after poor fifteen year old Daenerys had her nipple tweaked by her own brother. The same week of purchasing that book, my local Oxfam soon had a new copy of Song of Ice and Fire to sell for a fraction of the original price. 

I say all of this, because the new Game of Thrones series certainly isn't bad. I understand the weight it holds when you're a fan of the original show, and how exciting it is to have a world expanded with new stories and characters. My flatmates stick it on and I curl up in our armchair drawing whilst they watch - I keep my eye on it, make a witty comment when needed, but I certainly wouldn't choose to watch it alone. 

However, House of the Dragon succumbs to the same problems of GOT: the laws of that universe itself. 

I'm no film reviewer. I don't have extensive knowledge on film theory, or fantasy media. However, I can pick apart issues at face value when I see them. 

The whole GOT universe, and I suppose the guy that wrote the books originally, has a problem with misogyny. Misogyny and pedophilia, actually, but the pedophilia only ever impacts the young women of the show, so we'll just group it in with misogyny to keep things concise. 

Game of Thrones is set in a fictional fantastical universe inspired by medieval times - we have the classic chess board set up, although with more sides, all fighting for control of the throne. 

The key point here is that it is based upon medieval times, and the social economic structure that existed back in those days. Some highlights of those good times were child brides, deeply prevalent misogyny and lack of opportunities for women, a lot of rape, and a lot of pillaging. All in all, a bit of a rough time. 

All of this is pretty nasty, but it's essential to include aspects of real life history into fantasy so that the audience can successfully emerge themselves in a universe of which the rules are familiar. See: Lord of The Rings, which includes the dynamics of class and war within its fictional universe. 

In a world in which dragons can be used as modes of transport, in which magic and witchcraft and fantasy play such a huge part, why would you actively choose to include the parts of real history that contribute nothing but to appeal to a mans fantasy world in which women are inferior?  Game of Thrones I'll let off the hook, as I know it's a mess all over and doesn't warrant a review. However, this new series is currently airing week by week and every episode unsettles me just a little more. 

An overriding theme in the first three episodes has been the struggle and inability of women to hold power over the thrown; of course this is being set up for the eventual rise to glory the main character will most likely face, but it all seems meaningless when you know that another eventual plot point is the marriage/love affair of the main character and her uncle. 

Alongside this, her father has a wonderful side plot of finding a new wife to produce a male heir (ah, yes, the wonderful age old tale of forcing impregnation on women to produce a man, for a man. So glad I can forget about that horrible piece of history by watching it weekly in my favourite fantasy tv show!). 

His proposed wife is a twelve year old girl. Her parents encourage her to wed the king, and inform her that she wont have to bed him until she's fourteen. Thank god. An adult bedding a child when she's twelve? Disgusting. An adult bedding a child when she's fourteen? Yeah, go for it. Her parents gave you permission. 

The king is, thankfully, not keen on marrying a fourteen year old. It was a momentary relief to think he'd come to his senses - but wait! His true feelings have started to become clear; he's not interested in the twelve year old, because he's already madly in love with his daughters fifteen year old best friend. Oh, thank god. Here I was thinking he was going to marry a woman his own age, but I'm so very pleased to see he instead has settled on a slightly older child. My faith is saved. 

Why, in a fictional world in which anything is possible, should women and children still be subjected to being pawns of a story, moved around and used by men so that their own plots can advance? In a world where you have control over the social economic dynamics, why continuously choose to subject women to such a life in which nothing is possible unless it is aided by a man? This is a fantasy world; it offers an opportunity to explore fictional realities in which what wasn't possible in the world back then now can be  in an alternative telling of that time. The inclusion of these dynamics concerning women are intentional, and it's time they were revealed as such, rather than an unfortunate part of history that just had to be included in the show. I think there might be a reason why so many men love the franchise, and a little voice is telling me that it isn't the sword fighting or dragons. 

Also, why the obsession with marrying kids? I'm no psychiatrist, but perhaps George R. R. Martin needs to reflect on the reasons why he continuously writes children being sexually abused into his fiction. And, if you're a man and a die hard fan of GOT and this new series, perhaps ask yourself if the plot would truly suffer greatly without the presence of such overwhelming misogyny and paedophilic undertones, or if maybe you just enjoy it too much to want it gone. 

Just food for thought. Perhaps food for therapy.