Game of Thrones spoilers ahead but
no House of the Dragon spoilers.

Game of Thrones was arguably the most popular TV show of the 2010’s, and its prequel House of the Dragon debuts August 21, 2022. Let’s take a look back at why I think the show was such a hit and why I think House of the Dragon may disappoint.

What got me hooked

The first season was saturated with nudity and violence, but the show hooked me with its vast world of complex characters. The story started after Robert’s Rebellion and didn’t rely on flashbacks to fill in the details, trusting the audience to keep up, while the death of Ned Stark, and later his wife and son, made it clear that no character was safe.

What kept me around

After season 3, most shows start to wane as the initial character arcs wrap up, but this show kept me interested by acknowledging that kings don’t rule by shear might: they rule through a delicate web of alliances. CGP Grey calls it Rules for Rulers (his video). Joffrey, who ruled through fear, is tossed aside for his weaker brother Tommen, leaving his parents, his wife, and a crowd of advisors and Lords to fight for influence throughout seasons 4-6.

However, my favorite aspect of these seasons was the development of Jamie Lannister, the Hound, and Arya Stark. While Jon, Daenerys, and Tyrion always seemed like classic “good guys”, these more-minor characters had moral ambiguity, like Walter White and Omar Little from Breaking Bad and The Wire respectively. People playing the hands they were dealt the best they can. Dramas retain my interest over many years by relying on more than good versus bad, unlike the Marvel and Star Wars universes.

What went awry

In the season 6 finale, Cersei blew up all her competition, and the political intrigue evaporated with them, while the white walkers finally picked up the pace, devolving the plot into good versus bad: Daenerys versus Cersei and Jon Snow versus the Night King.

Daenerys’ turn from just-ruler to tyrant could have been interesting over multiple seasons but ultimately it was rushed and hallow while the iron throne ended up occupied by Bran, who won more-or-less by default.

What about House of Dragons?

Set two hundred years before the Game of Thrones, this prequel shouldn’t present itself as the beginning, but in a world where hundreds of years of important events preceded it, like the original did.

No doubt characters will be killed off, but with what we already know about where the time period goes and not being rooted in G.R.R.’s unflenching source material, I doubt the show will convince us that no character is safe. I’m also sure there will be lots of political maneuvering, but when one house has dragons and the others don’t, how deep can the politics really get?

Mainly I hope the show resists drawing distinct lines between good and evil and that it ultimately separates itself from the original in some unique, surprising ways. The show already made one great decision by casting Olivia Cooke. If you don't recognize her name, I’d suggest you watch her in Thoroughbreds, where she costars with Queen Gambit's Anya Taylor-Joy, as well as Me and Earl and the Dying Girl where she plays ... the dying girl.