"House of the Dragon" Season 3 Began with an Epic Battle, But Critics' Praise Is Overstated

HBO's fantasy series "House of the Dragon" kicked off its third season with an epic naval battle. Western critics are giving the season high marks, but based on the first episode alone, the series hasn't yet reached the level of "Game of Thrones."

HBO has begun the third season of the fantasy series "House of the Dragon," telling the story of the Targaryen family's civil war, set 172 years before the events of "Game of Thrones." In the first episode, the "blacks," supporters of Queen Rhaenyra, attempt to break through a naval blockade that the "greens," supporters of King Aegon, have established around the capital. The battle sees two fleets and three dragons clash, with both sides suffering heavy losses.

Critics' Praise Is Surprising

Particularly striking in this context are the enthusiastic reviews and unusually high ratings from Western critics on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes. After a weak second season and a public row between the literary source material's author George R.R. Martin and showrunner Ryan Condal, few expected much. Martin didn't like the direction Condal wanted to take the series.

Yet judging by the first episode alone, "House of the Dragon" hasn't yet reached the level of its predecessor. Director Loni Peristeri's work is stylistically accomplished from a technical standpoint, but the limitations of the material show.

Why the Battle Doesn't Work

The best battle scenes in the "Seven Kingdoms" franchise, "Blackwater" and "Battle of the Bastards," worked because viewers knew exactly what was at stake for each side, both strategically and personally. We knew everything about Tyrion Lannister over two seasons-his ambitions, fears, and weaknesses made the Blackwater battle emotionally compelling.

"House of the Dragon" has a tangible version of this problem. Sharako Lohar, the main character on the "greens" side, is merely a secondary figure whose true motives only become clear during the battle. On the "blacks" side, there is Corlys Velaryon, a legendary sailor, but over two seasons the writers have failed to properly introduce him to viewers. The younger participants in the battle, meanwhile, are characters so pallid that it's difficult to care about their fate.

The Season Has More Tricks Up Its Sleeve

That said, the series shouldn't be written off. Critics who got to watch several early episodes confirm that the Driftmark battle isn't the season's only trump card. Daniel Fienberg from The Hollywood Reporter writes that the spectacle takes a back seat in the middle of the season, with focus shifting to politics and psychology-themes that once made "Game of Thrones" a sensation. Furthermore, the literary source material promises that after the naval battle, the most interesting part begins.