House of the Dragon... The power of a good build up.

That's right, I started "House Of The Dragon" season 2. Let's talk about it, like hard, real hard because it does a whole lot right, especially in todays world where screenwriters and showrunners have completely forgotten how to write a good story and then translate it to the screen. Most modern renditions of my favorite childhood stories are so bad that when I watch them I can smell the sour grape and watermelon vape fumes of the douche-people who wrote them. Because that's the kind of image modern literature and film puts in my head. A douchey one with a whole lot of vape-fumes. What an image, it I could describe it, it would look like this:

It's this image of an androgynes guy sitting outside the Star-bucks. He's got whispers of chin hair on his prepubescent jawline, and poorly applied black nail polish on his hands. There's an uncentered man-bun on his head, a snake of ratty coils, unwashed hair that smells of pot smoke. Leaning on his tiny little round table is a cane. He doesn't need it, but is really proud of it just the same. He's casually slouched in one of those indoor-outdoor chairs with the green fabric and next to him is his usual; a triple-shot-macchiato-frappa-slappachino with almond milk at exactly 150 degrees. "Spinser" is scribbled on the side of it and slicked across the oily top of the almond milk is a dollop of whipped cream. In that cream he's drawn a frowny face- he's exceedingly proud of that too. His pants are so trendy, tight rolled skinny jeans which pinch his little plum-sack, they give him so much joy. 

His long spidery fingers are on the keys of his Mac-book pro, but they aren't moving, they are hanging limp waiting for the literary lightning to strike. His eyes are preparing them to seize the biggest vape pen he could buy, then put on some rose colored sunglasses so he can puff his way to stardom, and find that best seller in the cloud of douche-fog that spills from his mouth. He's a contemporary writer damnit, and his screenplay is going to change Hollywood! "His script is going to be lit, it'll be fire, so bussin- it'll hit different..."

But he doesn't write that screen play, instead he helps to write "The Rings of Power" and everyone hates him for it. His feelings are hurt.

As opposed to that, "House of the Dragon" was written by some fairly competent writers who know how to draw a person in and keep them intrigued. Most likely that guy, or gal who wears an old loved sweater-vest and hangs out at no-name bars where the whiskey is watered down. They teach at the community college as an adjunct to make ends meet. They only go to bars to write because that's where stories happen. More than that, the jukebox is why they came, it's an old one that uses records, and they'll take vinyl over Mp3s any day. They don't complain about much, and find that most of the good experiences happen in places that normal people don't go. 

They are a middle aged gen-xer and that story they need to write requires experience, inspiration, and a good hook. So they nudge those glasses up their nose a little further and they listen, soaking in all the atmosphere around them. They raise the crappy beer, most likely bud-light to their lips and revel in the taste of piss water. They sigh, take out a worn down number two, and a notebook, then they start writing knowing that only a few lines are going to be usable. Inevitably, there are only a few diamonds in that shit. But that's why they play the game, for the gems in the crap. It's a hard game to play, but they don't know any other way. They hope to god their script will be even moderately usable, they don't brag about the stories they write because they know that their stories are a direct reflection of the tangled mess that is them, besides, their ego has been beaten out of them and only paper and prayer remains. 

They take those scribblings and compile them into something okay, something that will work. Something the rest of the world actually likes- "House of the Dragon" is that script. Their feelings aren't hurt when people complain, they lost feelings along time ago. But there is a small amount of joy knowing that their best was enough.

This might be a reoccurring thing, "House of the Dragon" commentary, so lets get caught up on what I thought of the first season, then move on to season two.

The important thing about shows like this is they don't shoot the entire wad on right away. Some of todays modern shows haven't learned this lesson. They go for bigger and better right away and then can't outdo themselves in the following seasons. I like a show with a slow and strong build up, good development, lots of appropriate action, and a fantastic climax (insert "that's what she said" joke here). 

The O.G. "Game Of Thrones" was this kind of show. It didn't go for the throat every episodes and some of the build ups took seasons to get there- Just think back to poor and unfortunate Hodor- 6 seasons was it? Then, there was the episode that revealed who and what he was. The episode was "The Door" for you philistines who haven't watched. This was the kind of show that I was hoping House of the Dragon would be. And so far, it's got some teeth and some flame behind it- not sure if it's going to get there, but I am in it for the long haul. 

If you haven't watched it, watch season one, be patient, it's trying not to be Rings of Power. 

The first season of House of the Dragon was a slow burn, and not much happened, but it was written so well most of us didn't care. It had some intense moments at the beginning, sure, but the episodes were designed to take time. The writers gave us some Dragon action right away, nothing big, but also nothing small. It was suitable to keep us invested, hoping to see more of that "dragon-magic" we came to watch the show for. Like smack, the first one was free, we had to pay with our attention for the rest. Some people wanted the payoff right away, they didn't really like this as much as they liked "Game of Thrones", although, that one started off slow too, there was just a whole lot of steamy sex, murder and incest in season one to keep the audience coming back. 

House of the Dragon didn't have as much steamy sex, although it was weird watching Matt Smith, who plays Daemon Targaryen go at it with a bunch of brothel babes. I just kept thinking, "So this is what it would look like if Doctor Who got his swerve on". What House of the Dragon does have is a well thought out set up. They're really working hard to set up the future of the franchise, to build the characters we are going to root for, and the ones we want to die. Think Joffrey Baratheon from GOT. We all wanted him to die, horribly, and when it finally happened it was vindicating. The show runners made us wait a long time for that one too, and it was a brutal trip. It was no secret, we all wanted him to die, and if one of our friends didn't share the same feelings we got really suspicious of them. This is what good writing should do- make us think, make us feel, make us hope against our better nature and sometimes, wish some dictators would pass in horrible ways.

House of the Dragon is still in it's infancy with it's viewers. We don't know what to think at this point, but so far I am liking what I am seeing. Season one was good, it was not great, but that's kind of the point, season one isn't supposed to be. There were some moments that were EXCEPTIONAL, especially when King Visery's has his death- wow, what an episode! Not exciting, not action packed, and not all that well paced, but holy crap, there's some good dialogue in there. Then there was the typical well thought out scheming and plotting against each other. You really have to pay attention to it in some places, because like GOT, everything is going to be important, especially if you never read some of the books.

Season two is off to the same kind of slow roll, with wasabi and soy sauce! A low grade burn with that tang in the back of the throat to help you with the fact that you just ate raw fish that swims in the bay with all the sewer junk. And there is a lot of junk out there on the streaming services. We are going to sit down and watch this play out. I might start reviewing them, but in the mean time, this is my salute to one of the only shows that has lived up to my expectations of it!

Cheers to you House of the Dragon!

Cheers!