4K Blu-Ray Review: House of the Dragon- Season 1

Synopsis: ​The reign of House Targaryen begins: House of the Dragon, the prequel to Game of Thrones, is here. Based on George R.R. Martin's "Fire & Blood," the series, which is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, tells the story of House Targarye.

Main Features: I was a fan of Game of Thrones. I was invested. Even when I saw the quality of the show's reign start to flounder, I didn't stab it in the back and run. I may have wanted to do the latter, but about two-thirds the way through the series, when I was ready to jump ship, I found the show reinvigorated and decided to stick around. However, come the final season and ultimately the finale, I was left with a sense of, "Huh. Well, I guess that is an ending of sorts." If "House of the Dragon" had started almost right after the flagship show ended, then my interest for it would've been high enough. Perhaps because my interest had waned (maybe it was the ho-hum average finale, too) but I found the prequel series to not be engaging enough. I do admit the first episode swept me in to give it a full chance, but in the end, "House of the Dragon" is a series too little too late. I feel to be in the minority, judging by the popularity this show generated. But am I alone thinking it's less intense as it's predecessor? On the good side, I do have a soft spot for anything I see Paddy Considine in, and the visual artistry remains top notch. I will continue to give it a chance, but the fire is already small and may burn out.

Bonus Features: Extras are basic, no-frills ones covering the making-of, the noble houses, history of Westeros, etc. Nothing exceptional to write home about.

Final Call: Hanging on by a dragonclaw, the debut season of "House of the Dragon" needs to truly ignite to for me to soar with it in the long run.

Grade: C+