I really didn’t expect to like this show as much as I did. I’ve been hearing mixed reviews about it, but my take is very positive. 

First I should say, I’m invested in the deeply-detailed world of Westeros, but I’m not a book reader and I can’t say I care too much about the show staying true to the novel. I can't even say that I’m an expert in the canon. 

I was late to Game of Thrones. I watched my first G.O.T. episode when most of the first season had already aired live and at the time, I didn’t even know the books existed. 

Binging Versus Weekly Releases

I’m glad I did jump in late, though, because it allowed me to binge watch a good chunk of season one rather than waiting week-to-week – which was a delight. When Netflix released House of Cards in 2013, its first completed original series, it was a huge disruption to how we could watch television.

They started releasing all episodes of a single season at one time. It created a completely new binging experience, disrupting the norm. You can watch a whole season of House of Cards or Ozark in one weekend. It was kind of a drastic change for those used to the weekly release schedule that HBO has never veered away from for any of their premiere releases.

Ironically, there have been rumors that Netflix will soon get rid of the binge release schedule. But that’s been proven false, according to this. It’s November 2022 as I write this, so we’ll see if they do end up switching to a weekly release anytime soon.

*Possible House of the Dragon Spoilers below.

Iconic HBO Sunday Nights

Me? I prefer the weekly release especially during football season. Sunday has been HBOs biggest release night dating back to the days of the Sopranos and even before. They’ve still maintained the Sunday night release time for all its top tier television series’ including Succession, White Lotus, Mare of Easttown, and Euphoria, to name a few of my favorite recent shows. One new episode every Sunday night. During months like October it’s possible to have a full day of NBA regular season games, a full day of NFL games, postseason baseball games and then cap it off with whatever show HBO is airing that night. 

House of the Dragon brought back that epic Sunday-night-HBO-watching experience. 

For me there are only a few comparable shows that gave you that epic, event feeling. I remember sitting in my room in my house across the street from the Krikorian movie theater in Vista, California and having the same feeling I get from HOTD watching “Watchers on the Wall” from GOT season 4. Watching characters I cared about and understood from both the side of the Wildlings and the side of the Night’s Watch, and realizing both sides' collision course towards each other and their connection to Jon Snow. And then realizing they were all about to be fighting each other for their lives. It was as immersive as it gets.

I remember actually having big groups of friends watching new episodes of True Detective season 1 together in that same house, like we were watching the Super Bowl or something. Iconic characters like Reggie Ledoux and the Yellow King were born. And lines like “Reggie Ledoux did this?!” stuck in my mind forever. I think about those moments now, but it was so cool to be able to mull them over during the week in anticipation for the next episode to drop. 

These are the type of moments that happen on Sunday nights on HBO. House of the Dragon did not disappoint and re-energized me every week with moments like queen Alicent Hightower grabbing the knife from King Viserys and charging Princess Rhaenyra, demanding to have young Jayce’s eye removed - an eye for an eye. Leading to my favorite line of the season from Rhaenyra, “Exhausting, isn’t it? Hiding beneath the cloak of your own righteousness. But now they see you as you are.” 

The complexity and tragedy of each episode made for great conversations to mull over each week. The mid-week analyzing, and rewatching, and reviewing, and theorizing makes the show more memorable.

There are many touch-points throughout the week as we think about the things we liked and disliked about the show, which makes the show's imprint in our minds even larger. I also think it makes the show even more enriching. I welcome the weekly release and I am overjoyed at the return of the world of Westeros. Next season is expected in 2024 - I guess that gives me time to read the books!

Related Reading: The Motives of Uncle Junior and Patsy Parisi from the Sopranos