Spoiler-Free Review Of HBO's 'House of The Dragon' Episode 4
Image Source: IMDb
Lies, sex, blood, and dragons.
Welcome back to our House of the Dragon weekly review! This review will have no spoilers from Episode 4 but may contain spoilers from the first three episodes.
Like the previous three episodes, Episode 4 made it clear that House of the Dragon is here to stay. As we get further into the season, House of the Dragon continues to bring in elements that were so popular with fans of its predecessor. The show is even proving to be popular among new fans that are only now discovering Westeros.
So far, fans have gotten the hook, an introduction to the politics and players of House Targaryen, and a quick but glorious beach battle sequence. Each new episode of House of the Dragon has brought something new to the table and left me wondering what the remainder of the season and upcoming Season 2 will look like since, so far, each episode has been drastically different.
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Episode 3 introduced fans to what war looks like in the House of the Dragon world, and it certainly did not disappoint. We saw Daemon do the impossible and lead a winning battle against the Crab Feeder and his mercenaries. Episode 4 brought in the sex that Game of Thrones fans were accustomed to seeing in practically every episode but had been mostly absent so far in House of the Dragon.
It has become common for there to be small time jumps between each episode, and tonight’s episode was no different. Jumping one year after the events of Episode 3, fans are treated to Daemon’s return to King’s Landing and his reunion with his brother and niece. Daemon is sporting a drastically different hairstyle and a surprisingly cordial attitude. However, we soon learn what he had really planned with his return. Not one to stay out of trouble for long, Daemon opts for pulling his niece into his antics for once and giving her a glimpse into what life outside of the castle looks like. Unfortunately, the night does not go as smoothly as originally expected.
Image Source: IMDb
Princess Rhaenyra is as headstrong as ever as she quickly learns the dangers of trusting those around her. Episode 4 sees the Rhaenyra on a tour to find a suitor which she is less than happy to be on. In Episode 2, Rhaenyera got her first taste of betrayal with the announcement that King Viserys would wed her best friend and confidant Lady Alicent Hightower. While the girls do their best to be cordial in tonight’s episode, it seems as though their relationship may be doomed. I am curious to see how this develops over time, especially after the larger time jump that showrunners have been hinting at since the first-look images were released. Tonight’s episode not only continued to strain her relationship with her father but also gave her an even more crippling betrayal.
House of the Dragon saw record-breaking viewership numbers for Episodes 1 and 2 but did its first drop in views from cable viewers with Episode 3. With a disappointing 28.6% in viewership, it will be interesting to see if the numbers will go back up with tonight’s episode, especially if HBO begins releasing the number of streaming views like they had been with the first two episodes.
Overall, I enjoyed this episode just as much as I have enjoyed the others. Episode 3 is still my favorite in the Game of Thrones world, but I am excited to see what is coming next!
All-new episodes of House of the Dragon air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and is available for streaming the same day on HBO Max.
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Source(s): Collider