The Iron Throne is said to cut those it deems unworthy of ruling. Viserys getting that cut on his finger that's now rotting could be showing that the throne itself is killing him, at least symbolically. The wound on his back is probably from the same thing

Crab Feeder didn't come from nowhere. It was one of the first conversations the Small Council had at the beginning of the first episode.

The injuries the King is getting from the Iron Throne is an important plot point as the people of Westeros believe that if someone is cut by the Iron Throne, they are unfit to rule the realm. That he is continually getting injured and that they are not healing will be important (or not).

I've seen a lot of people either misinterpret or entirely miss Daemon and Viserys' relationship and Otto's motives. Daemon DOES love his family. The fact that he goes "I may speak of my brother however I like but you try it find out what happens next." show us this. The fact that he WAS CRYING at the funeral shows us this. EVEN from the beginning Otto has tried to plant a wedge between the two brothers. Seen when Otto mentioned the "Heir for a day." thing without proper context. It's a messed up thing to say, but as Daemon himself said we all mourn in our own ways. Tone of voice is VERY important in certain context. Here, Otto was only provoking Daemon to lash out. He got that when Daemon drew his sword, prompting EVERYONE to react. He only told everyone 'to sheath the fcking steel" (love that line) because he got what he wanted. Rhaenyra can see right through Otto; the look she gives him after she gets the egg shows that. The show seems to be more about subtly then in your face. And it's reminding me of early game of thrones seasons. Which is great. I also LOVE LOVE LOVE the intro being the family tree with the blood pouring out onto the city the Targaryens rule over. Nice. I just wish the sigils ignited to showcase the fire and blood motto and the fact that the dance of the dragons as the civil war is called is even right now starting to ignite.

I really liked the parallel of Visery's hand being rotten and slowly killing him just like the hand of the king that is rotten and is slowly killing him both because of the throne

The intro was showing each of the Targaryen kings and their children. It skipped King Maegor as he didn't have any children to continue the line. Each of the gears corresponded with a specific king, heir, and/or their spouse

Please nobody spoil this for Jeremy. He is just a sweet summer child who hasn't read the book and has no idea what he's in for. I love his innocence.

I loved it. You don’t need beheadings and battles every episode to have tension.

The dance of dragons plot line is gonna go on for 4 seasons so you might wanna get comfy behind that key hole. The story does expand to new locations but never to the scale of the game of thrones, it's very much the Targaryen show... hence the name house of the dragon.

I believe they said it'll take 3 or 4 seasons to tell the full story of the Dance of the Dragons and yes we will get a lot more of the other houses.

The cinematography in this episode was phenomenal, particularly in the scene where Otto confronts Daemon at Dragonstone

I prefer the keyhole approach. I really didn’t like how disparate all the plot lines got in GOT, especially if your only interested in like one of FOUR plots they had going on in each episode. Focus on the conflict between the King and Daemon - that’s perfect.

They mentioned the crab people the first episode, the valerian guy is having a problem with them and the king won't help him so it adds a little more motivation to him siding with dameon

The throne is killing Viserys, Jeremy. Each festering wound comes from when he cuts himself on the Iron Throne. The legend says that only a true king can sit on it and not be cut by the blades. Besides, they're old and rusty, you have to expect that each wound will potentially poison him with tetanus.

The show is literally called House of the Dragons, its going to be a "keyhole" approach which I love!

This story they're telling now is supposedly going to take 3 or 4 seasons. I think that's unconfirmed speculation for now but I think it makes sense. Honestly the idea that the showrunners know it's going to be just a few seasons and that's it makes me feel more confident about it turning out well. I guess they could skip to a different era after that, kind of like an anthology series, so it could make it to 8 seasons that way. But that seems kind of redundant when there are already other GoT spin-offs in the works dealing with stories in other eras.

As a book reader I can promise you that if they get the investment needed to finish the entire Dance of the Dragon storyline, you wont need to worry about the "viewing Westeros through a key hole" thing. We might not get to see the Wall and the Watch though. Its just not a show about zombies.

This show is amazing and it’s painfully clear dumb and dumber aren’t involved

I can't wait to see Daemons arc through the series. He has a pretty badass ending to the Dance of Dragons war. I hope we get to meet Nettles soon.

This show has the ability to be better then GoT, let's hope they keep on track!

Why are so many online reviewers confused with the cuts the king is getting? It's the Throne, the king said it was the throne that gave him the cut on his back and then we saw the throne cut his hand at the end of the first episode. Also there was the whole thing in the Game of Thrones where the Throne judges the one who sits on it and cuts the weak ones.

the overall story this show is derived from is almost 30 years of Targaryen history so they planned on making the entire thing 3-4 seasons

I loving the CIV references. Honestly can't wait to see what Daemon can do. Matt Smith is doing a phenomenal job and I'm so excited to see more of him on screen. Anywho, thanks for another amazing review!

*Would be cool* if someone tries to kill the Crab-Feeder but his greyscale deflects the sword or arrow

I love the intro. I'm glad they kept the theme and updated the visuals. They should keep that going for all game of thrones related series as the overall theme. They should run the other themes at the end credits. I was glad to see that. There's nothing like hearing that and looking forward to the episode. Also, idk if I'm the only one that noticed this, but in GOT whenever something crazy happened, and in the start of the next episode, the theme seemed louder, like they knew they did something crazy prior and their attitude was like 'yeah, we did that shyt'.🤣

Love your work Jeremy. Thank you for doing what you do and helping to cultivate my taste in film over the years

4:23 It's meant to be seen as the throne (power) killing him. I think they had a line somewhere (here or in GoT or the books) that says anyone not worthy of the throne are rejected by the throne. He's basically being killed by the throne for not being a good king

My guess Season one: the setup for the dance Season two: the actual dance Season three of it happens: either more of the dance or Aegon the unlucky reign to explain why there are no more dragons in the world

The Sektor and Cyrax reference was really just top notch

JJ my main man! Another quality review! I’m digging HoD, and these episodes just cannot be long enough. I like what you call the “keyhole”. It keeps the story simple, and I predict that it will gain more of a following because the plot is easier to follow than GoT, with its cast of hundreds and dozen plot lines.

Whenever I am early, I will always tell Jeremy to watch "Peacemaker". Regardless if he does it or not.

They talked about the crab feeder last episode. So I don’t feel like it “came out of nowhere”

Well, the show is called House of the Dragon so a focus on the Targaryens is more than expected. Also HBO already announced that it will get a 2nd season.

Dude, I was the same way! I thought "Is that Rhys Ifans? It cant be." Did the same thing and had to get my phone out. I love all his previous work, but he is absolutely killing it on this series. I think its mainly his accent is so different and refined in this than we normally see that threw me off.

The opening sequence with the blood shows the literal bloodlines of succession. Starting with Aegon and his sisters, splitting at every generation. Like when it splits into nine that's 9 offspring, etc. The sigils are the kings (and/or ) queens. It comes to a stop at Rhaenyra whose symbol is the medallion that Daemon gave her in ep1. A cool idea but too dark to be entirely clear. Also I think adding the names of the kings at each symbol would have helped. Even the GoT intro had the place names.

I really love how the plot is developing, so far I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how they’ve directed the show so far.

I actually really like this show so far, enough to delve a bit into the wiki and spoil the rest of the series a bit (that’s if they follow it - which I’m guessing they more or less will). Excited to see it play out

Jeremy games references will never fail to amuse me.

Stranger Things S4 review? Just rewatched your journals, love ‘em! You’re my OG KZfaq subscription. Keep it up, Jahns. 👊🏼 Just started playing Inmost on Switch. I like it so far. 😊

Phew I’m glad you uploaded more HotD vids! I love hearing you discuss this show

House of the dragon is a solid show

Condal has said in interviews they plan on going 3-4 seasons. The show isnt the entire book of Fire and Blood either. Its covering a section of it and theres still a volume 2 coming.

I was so pleasantly surprised when Jeremy said the video was brought to us by us 🥺

I see what you’re saying about the intro theme, but I don’t think it was nostalgia bait. I think there really is no other theme the show could’ve had. Its the best intro music to this world for both shows

I saw Rhys Ifans name on-screen and was like wait a second. It took me two episodes and seeing that to realize he was Otto Hightower. My mind was blown. I'm loving House of the Dragon so far. Rhaenyra showing up on Syrax was just badass. Daenerys was always one of my favourite characters (and I think if Varys and Tyrion and Jon hadn't been so wishy-washy they could have tempered her more aggressive choices, but I digress), and Rhaenyra is just as badass it seems. There's something about those Targaryen women, I guess.

Please keep doing these reviews. I am on the fence, not watching this because I already know what happens in regards to the story and because I was traumatized by the last two seasons of Game of Thrones. But, you are slowly enticing me with your words. I will be watching!

This is such a visually stunning show, absolutely love just watching many scenes

Hey man, I'm playing all of the Legacy of Kain games. Oh my God, I love the dialogue and voice work. Thanks for getting me onto this series, as well as many others. You're cool, man!

I loved when he said this video is sponsored by you I didn't expect that 😁

Crab Feeder didn't come out of nowhere. Corlys mentioned the problem in the first ep. and was insistent on them doing something about it.

Episode 1 mentioned the crabb feeder Corlys talked about it in the small council

I really appreciate your optimism for the show and how you're just enjoying it for what it is so far. Everybody else seems to be really resistant bc of GoTs season 8 and ultimately unsure of what they want. Similar to your conspiracy theory, other reviews are saying that there are too many good things. As if HBO is intentionally reeling them in just to tank the series. At the same time, theres a ton of comparison to season 8 in regard to action. As if this show's gonna have war on the same scale within the first two hours...

Thanks for the review Jeremy! Always look forward to them! Will you be doing a review of Rings of Power as well? Would love to see your thoughts on both big fantasy shows on tv this month!

The cut on the king’s back was from the throne, they said it during that scene. Then when he was talking to Deamon in the throne room, he cut his finger on the throne.

Really loving House of Dragon. So far it’s pretty great.

They mentioned about Crabfeeder in episode one. Corlys brought the issue up with the small council, so they're building upon it

Oh trust me, this is going to involve the other houses pretty soon and the battles that will happen are going to be epic. This part of the Targaryen history is based on the War of the Roses, a lot of politics, backstabbing, changing allegiances, kinslaying, and so on. It's known as Dance of the Dragons. This could span at least a few seasons and they can extend it by delving into more Targaryen history.

I absolutely love the Game of Thrones theme, so hearing it again was like seeing an old friend again. I will never complain about hearing it. I don’t care if it’s nostalgia. Honestly, I don’t care if they use it for the theme for every Game of Thrones show. I actually hope they do. Not only do I love it, but It helps keep the shows connected in that way and helps the world a feel like one lived in universe that is rich in lore. I will always just be grateful to hear that theme again. To me, the Game of Thrones intro theme is for Game of Thrones what the main title Star Wars theme is for Star Wars.

Thank You for making my days better Jeremy

Nice Sid Miers Civilization strategy callbacks Jeremy. Love the show so far I think they have timeskip because there is a lot to get to

Love to read the comments here and get more insights about the plot, details i missed, thks everyone

I’d love to see a House Stark series. Can make it about their Conquest of the North and see them fight rival Northern petty kings and the Red kings of House Bolton. Can make it a generational series like Castlevania and Jojo and a have a new Stark MC every new season.

I hate it when characters don't have simple conversations like asking his daughter what she thinks about his potential new wife.

I thought the same, that it felt small... but honestly, I don't know if they could have done it different... they have so much things to explain about the court. Once the war starts.... yeah, there's war everywhere: Riverlands, Westerlands, Reach, around King's Landing

What's killing the king seems to be early signs of Greyscale and it might be the first time westeros encounters it. It was a big storyline in the original series so it isn't a spoiler.

Did anyone else notice Otto picking at his fingers when he and Viserys were talking about Viserys remarrying? Either an intentional manipulation, or that's where Alicent got the habit from, but either way a beautiful, subtle detail.

Yea it would've been nice to have a slight variation on the intro song but it's nice hearing that iconic score again. The blood in tbe intro is representative of the Targaryen family tree, it follows the bloodline from Aegon the Conqueror & his descendents.

Take note of *Laena* *Velaryon.* She's talking about *Vhagar.* Laena will be an important ally to two of the main characters for the future wars to come. She's only 12 but she'll grow up and marry... 🤐 Three different actresses will portray her in this series. The oldest one, Nanna Blondell, appeared in Black Widow (2021). I became Team Daemon/Black the moment Matt Smith uttered the words "pack of hounds" and "squalor". But I do enjoy the sleaziness coming from Otto "Middlefinger" Hightower. I believe I'll remain on Team Rhaenyra/Daemon even after Blood and Cheese happens because I think the Hightowers screwed this all up by not honoring Viserys' will that Rhaenyra should be Queen. It doesn't make sense to be pressured to marry someone else after 6 months so the king can produce male heirs when Viserys just named Rhaenyra as his heir in Ep 1! 🤣 Hello? Then what the hell was all that talk about you messing up by always ignoring your daughter for succession? Viserys chose "friend" over family. He chose poorly. All Daemon is trying to tell Viserys is he needs protection. He needs a REAL MAN by his side. Daemon can wipe out leeches and infiltrators like the Hightowers. But Viserys is too weak to be a king. A grown-up Tommen. He's easily influenced by outside his bloodline. He didn't listen to his brother. By listening to Otto, this will be House Targaryen's downfall. Otto is a parasite. He's already entered Viserys' bloodstream by having her daughter be Viserys' next Queen. Marrying Alicent means a civil war between Targaryens. 🤦🏻‍♂️ Viserys should've chose Laena. She's a sound pick. It doesn't look right at that moment because she's just a child, but Laena will grow up to be a bad*ss character. VHAGAR, baby. VHAGAR. And Laena happens to be Viserys' favorite cousin's daughter. Or Viserys should've just listened to Daemon and let Daemon cut Otto's throat. Laena is only 12 but Daenerys was 13 in the books when she marries Khal Drogo. The writers aged her up to 17 in the show. If you close your eyes, Daemon does sound like Ramsay Bolton when he's speaking. Find a Ramsay scene on KZfaq where he's talking. They do sound alike. So Daemon is a mixture of a lot of characters: Tyrion's intelligence, wit, and whore-mongering. Jaime's nobility, brotherly love, swordmanship, and physical attractiveness. Oberyn's wild temperament. Hints of Bronn and Euron in there. And Ramsay's voice and touch of sadism. Complex indeed. It's all Viserys' fault. Or maybe Jaehaerys' for passing on Rhaenys because she wasn't born with a penis. 🤦🏻‍♂️ At least Rhaenys even as a salty, bitter old woman she's become is still a dragonrider. I'd be bitter too if my title is "The Queen Who Never Was". That sounds way more insulting than Kingslayer. Viserys lost his dragon before his ascension to the throne.

After episode 5 it will stop skipping as much. And the plot and family will split into many factions. Plus the books plot are finished so don't have to worry about a d&d situation

The intro theme is iconic and not just for GoT .. It's an anthem for GRRM world of ASoIaF. We hear it here, we hear it then, and we hope we will hear it in Jon Snow (season9?) show!

Damn now I can't unsee Matt Smith as Kefka, I'm curious who you'd cast in a Chrono Trigger show.

Jan is on vacation !! His on Green screen and he brought his jacket with him .. his here in hawaii !! Just saw him here in Honolulu yesterday 😎

that MKIII joke. I laughed way to much. Thank you

I dont know, the first season of GoT was a lot more center on Lannister x Stark dynamic, even the Baratheon were more in the background. The other house we hear about them, but they had no big role to play. It was in the later seasons they start to show.

I love how far the civ reference went.

That Kefka casting is on point!

Jeremy's really sticking with his lockdown look. It's kinda cool, he looks like a lion, or a 21st century magi, or a reformed Isis fighter😋

I think those crab people have that dragonscale illness that Jorah had from GoT

Okay, now I NEED to know all your Final Fantasy casting choices! That shit literally just made me scream!!

Corlys and Lyonel Strong are my favorite guys on the Small Council right now

While I like that game of thrones expands to soo many houses. With house of the dragon I'm glad we're taking a smaller scale approach. Less scope means more time for characters and all these characters I want to see fully developed.

"Who's killing him?" - The chair. Literally. Tetanus.

This first season will cover a period of around 20 odd years (30 odd if you include the Great Council flashback), its basically a slow build up to civil war. Many of the most important characters haven't even been born yet. However, the next few seasons (there will likely be 4, maybe 5 in total) should jointly only cover a 2 year period. The story will have a more narrow focus than GOT, however there will be other houses involved in the story beyond the Targaryns, Hightowers and Velaryons.

The opening is the Targaryen family tree. Hello Future Me did a video dissecting it. Starts with the Doom, the three rivers of blood are Aegon, Rhaenys, and Visenya, and they divert into their descendants.

Having a yellow dragon named Syrax obviously brings references to the yellow cyborg Cyrax from Mortal Kombat, and I like how Jeremy has addressed it twice now.

The Crab feeder is the guy disrupting Corlys Valyryon's trade that goes through the Stepstones (a string of islands to the south east) to certain free cities in Essos. Corlys is getting pissed at Viserys not doing squat so he teams up with Daemon. Also, given where the show is heading, there will be plenty of other houses getting involved, although I doubt it has the content to stretch more than 3, maybe 4 seasons.

Jeremy pay attention , the king is getting Injured from the throne itself, he cut on his finger and the cut on his back he even says he got it from the throne. It’s made out of swords. Love your content

If you look at pilots of new shows, "most" generally don't have an intro song/cinematic until episode two.

The plan for the show is 4 seasons and from reading the book i think that is probably just right for the story they want to tell

A lot of people don’t seem to understand the entire point of Daemon stealing the egg and occupying Dragonstone was to make the events as insulting as possible to make the King himself confront him, so Daemon can talk to him without Otto present. That’s why he doesn’t take his army to the Vale, which would be practically impossible to siege with Daemon’s dragon protecting it, instead he occupies the seat of House Targaryen, and then he not only steals a dragon egg, he takes Baelon’s egg. The whole point is to be able to talk one on one with his brother without the councilors to convince him to oppose Daemon.

Before Littlefinger, there was the middlefinger (Otto Hightower).

Sometimes I think Jeremy is not paying full attention when viewing. The throne causing cuts that fester was clearly pointed out in the 1st episode

i havent read the book or anything. I though the crab person at the end was a time jump to the far future and Daemon with greyscale? Like he got it somewhere along the way but he he is still fighting in the war?

Others have mentioned it, but the injuries are perceived by many to be indicative of whether a ruler will do well or not on the Iron Throne, almost as if the throne itself is either accepting or rejecting them. King Viserys and Aerys II (the Mad King) were both renowned for being often pricked or cut by the throne. The fact that the wounds of both rarely healed well spoke to an almost supernatural rejection of both as rulers. There are spoilers as to others who get cut by the throne, but I won't ruin the show for anyone who hasn't read the books.

So... Which house is Gandhi in regarding the Civ analogy?

I saw a video about the kings injury, the throne is cutting him up because he’s not worthy enough to rule from the throne, his posture is not ruler like.

Hopefully we see more of Westeros after the time jump. I think these early episodes are basically Prologue.

The milkshake analogy... not entirely off the mark. It's surely bait, but it's tasty bait (nom.)

Intro is the lineage of house in the stone of Valeria board

I had the exact same thought about that actor like I know him from something but he looks so different, then I was like "aww Rhys Evans" but upon looking that up, I was wrong but I was close enough.