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House of the Dragon: King of the Narrow Sea (2022)
Almost the Best Episode of the Season!
Compared to other episodes, this one may seem a bit quiet. It focuses essentially on the relationship between Princess Rhaenyra and her uncle Daemon, and that's precisely the main reason why I like it so much. After three very conflict-ridden first episodes and a great battle scene in the Stepstones, this one has the merit of telling several stories through the talent of its actors, which confirms Ryan Condal's as a great scriptwriter, who knows how to create rich scenes where we understand the stakes and consequences despite a minimum of dialogue. Even if this is the most erotic episode of the season, director Clare Kilner presents each scene of nudity in a very sensual way, paying particular attention to the psychology of the characters and the reasoning behind their actions. It's played with care and complexity, and once again, Ramin's haunting music perfectly conveys the emotions.
The Last Kingdom (2015)
A Childish Version of Vikings
The Last Kingdom (TLK) is set in the Wessex of King Alfred and his war against the Danish invaders. Compared to Vikings, it is more historically accurate, but in terms of quality, it is in no way on the level of that series or others of the genre like Game of Thrones, Rome, Spartacus, or Black Sails. The characters are one-dimensional, stereotyped, and dumb. The script and dialogues are simplistic and lacking depth. The action sequences use The Bourne Identity technique of rapid-fire editing and shacky cam to give the illusion that there's a lot going on when, in reality, it serves to hide all the bad choreography. But the biggest problem for me is Uthred, the hero of the series. Of all his counterparts from GOT, Vikings, etc., he's got to be the weakest and least realistic character and would be more fitting in a Marvel movie.
Yet, I did like the part devoted to his childhood in the first episode. After his Saxon father dies on the battlefield, he is dispossessed of his lands by his uncle. He is taken in by a Danish family, only to see them slaughtered by a traitor when he is just a young adult. From then on, he vows to avenge their deaths and reclaim his lands, although these are two separate events. It is more or less the same story as The Northman, but unlike Amleth, who was willing to go through hell to get his vengeance, you don't feel that Uthred is that driven, as if what we saw in the first episode is not that important. Despite those tragic events, he seems happy and enjoys the good things in life. It's hard to care for a hero who doesn't struggle to achieve something and has no depth.
It doesn't help either that Alexander Dreymon is not a good actor and that his sword looks more like a toy than a fierce weapon! But it's the way that Uthred is written that just doesn't work for me. He is disrespectful, acts like a child, believes that everything is due to him, and refuses to compromise even when necessary. Maybe the showrunners see those traits as someone with strong convictions, as they clearly take for granted that we would love that guy right from the start, but personally, I don't get why he is the hero and why I should cheer for him. It might have worked if he had an attitude problem at the beginning but learned manners over the course of the episodes. In GOT, Jon Snow is a frustrated young man when he realizes that the Night's Watch is not what he had imagined. But through conversations with his uncle Benjen, Maester Aemon, Lord Commander Mormont, and Samuel, he grows as a character and learns to accept his role and his fate. It's called Character Development. But in TLK, there is none!
Yet there are many ways to introduce your hero. In Vikings, Ragnar Lothbrok starts at the bottom. He claims he can sail west and bring treasure and prestige back to Kattegat. He proves this in the very first episodes, earning not only the fear but also the respect of Earl Haraldson, who then sees Ragnar as a threat. Ragnar also respects him and speaks to him according to the protocol required by his status... until confrontation is inevitable... That tells us that Ragnar is willing to take chances, but he's also smart and patient. He is determined to do what it takes to achieve his goal, but he's also a family man who is respectful of the traditions. In the case of Uthred, he walks around like a boss, interrupts the king when he is praying in church, cuts him off when he is speaking, and even brandishes his sword in front of him, which, according to the other characters, is punishable by death! That tells me that Uthred is an arrogant and selfish person, but the script proves him right because, for whatever reason, King Alfred spares him every time. The fact that he grew up in a Danish family and knows their customs is a reason that is way too simple and insufficient to make him this indispensable.
''Way too easy'' could be Uthred's motto, as watching him get out of every situation without breaking a sweat becomes annoying pretty quickly. Not once do you fear for his life. Not once do you say, ''Now he's in trouble." Who needs a strategy or a master plan when small talk, a smile, and your lucky star are all it takes to get you out of any bad situations!
Speaking of a master plan, is it the reason why King Alfred keeps him in his entourage? Does he see Uthred as a great military strategist with a superior IQ? The showrunners surely want you to believe that, but the first time Uthred needs a way to get to his ennemy, it's his girlfriend who comes up with a plan.... while they're making love! It's made to be funny, except that it does nothing to establish Uhtred as a smart character. He's neither rich nor the general of a great army that you better have on your side either. So why is he the hero then? Is it because he's a badass warrior? The first time they meet, King Alfred tells Uthred, ''I hear word you are a considerable warrior'', but what we have seen at that point shows the contrary.
Just prior to that astonishing statement from Alfred, we see Uthred fighting a bunch of nobodies in a village. The thing is, he tries to flee the battle for the entire scene! He ends up killing only those who block his way out. How does running away from a fight make you ''a considerable warrior''?!!! It can work if you are Jack Sparrow, but not for the hero of what is presented as a historical drama. As a first impression, we saw better. Think of The Witcher and the famous Blaviken Market Fight Scene in the very first episode of season one, where Geralt of Rivia butchers Renfri's gang. Think of Titus Pullo in Rome. Or think of The Hound in GOT.... In fact, compare Clegane vs. Brienne to the fight of Uhtred vs. Ubba. See the differences?....
The ''Way too easy'' also applies to his relationships. Girls fall in love with him while men want to be his friend and follow him as a leader for no clear reason. For example, in a scene, Uthred shows the King's Guard how to use a shield like a Danish. From that point on, Leofric become his best friend. Just like that! Again, it shows the lack of character development in TLK. Think about Jon Snow and Samuel and the reasons why they become friends. Or Tyrion and Bronn. Think about how long it takes for Spartacus, Crixus, and Gannicus to trust each other. Now think back to Uhtred and Leofric...
Anyway, I almost stopped watching the series after episode 3 but I finally got to the end of season 1. Now it's enough for me and I can watch something else! So Game of Thrones, Vikings, Rome, Spartacus and Black Sails fans, hope that you don't get influenced by the massive fandom of this series! :D.
House of the Dragon: The Lord of the Tides (2022)
Who would have thought...
Oberyn versus the Mountain. Tyrion looking his father straight in the eye and saying: "I demand a trial by combat". Daenerys taking control of the Unsullied. These classic scenes are what made GOT so amazing! And now we can add Viscerys' march to the HOF! Who would have thought that watching an old man walk slowly down an aisle to his throne could arouse so many emotions! Kudos to Paddy Considine, to Ramin Djawadi for the beautiful score, to the direction, to Matt Smith, to the makeup artists and to all involve in making this scene a powerful masterpiece! That's quite a feat for a series in which one high-quality episode follows another!
Paddy Considine delivers a masterful performance that fills every Viscerys presence on screen with dense emotion. This in no way detracts from the work of the other actors, all of whom are solid and convincing, whether Emma D'Arcy, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Wil Johnson, Rhys Ifans or Ewan Mitchell as Aemond, now a young adult since this episode, the last to jump in time, takes place six years later than the previous one. The staging offers us several moments of anthology. After his dramatic entrance to the Red Keep, Viscerys hypnotizes us once again with his cry from the heart at what will be his last family supper. And what can we say about his last breath? Added to this are several good scenes, such as the brief but intense face-to-face between Daemon and Aemond, which make this episode the best of the season.
House of the Dragon: The Black Queen (2022)
Can't Wait for Next Season!
The finale lives up to its excellent season with a perfect blend of drama, action, special effects worthy of the best movies, superb images, in short, it's well written, very well acted and all set to a memorable soundtrack. Many scenes deserve to be highlighted, so many in fact, that we could elaborate on each sequence that makes up the sixty-minute episode! I'm thinking of that emotional moment when Rhaenyra is presented with the crown her father wore. Or the striking image of Vhagar revealing himself to be as gigantic as Godzilla! The ''cool!'' you feel when you first see the blue spahir eye that Aemond defiantly shows Lucerys. Even that famous world map table around which we've seen Stannis and Daenerys take places so often is presented in its best light, with a candlelit backlighting that makes it look absolutely beautiful! The whole episode is high art!
There's also a scene that echoes episode two with a confrontation on Dragonstone bridge, except this time the pawns are placed differently on the chessboard.
The aim of a good season finale is to prepare for the next one and make sure that people want to watch it. To that end, we get a glimpse of the great Vermithor, just enough to make us want to see more of him, who will undoubtedly play a big role in the future. It's also a great idea to send Jacaerys to the Stark house; who isn't excited to see Winterfell and the Wall again! Finally, the tragedy of the last scene leaves no doubt about what's to come. War is inevitable, the Dance of the Dragons has already begun!
Everything is set, now I can't wait for season 2!
House of the Dragon: The Heirs of the Dragon (2022)
I was worried, but now I'm reassured!
The pilot did an excellent job of setting the tone for season one. But by far its greatest achievement was to give George RR Martin's fans hope that the series could be a success after the disastrous Game of Thrones finale. From the very first images (the opening credits don't appear until the second episode), it's a relief to see that the craftsmen's talent and attention to detail are there for all to see. Along with Ramin Djawadi's music, this is a quality that has never wavered over the eight seasons of GOT.
All the typical characteristics of the classic series are present, but nothing seems forced because it's so well written. There's gore at the knights' tournament, torture in the streets of King's Landing, political intrigue in the small council, sex in a brothel, dragons, shenanigans with obscure objectives, as well as a scene that made people gossip and gnash their teeth, namely Queen Aemma's terrible delivery. So many elements condensed into an hour will be one of the season's hallmarks, though nudity, torture and gore will be used sparingly in subsequent episodes.
Remembering the disappointment of GOT, we watch these scenes from a distance, anticipating the moment that will spoil the experience, but it doesn't happen! On the contrary, all the actors are solid, and we arrive at the scene where King Viscerys vilifies his brother Daemon, and then we can only be reassured for what's to come when we see the great talent of Paddy Considine and Matt Smith. In short, the episode is excellent, even if it can't compete with the GOT pilot which, to date, remains indisputable!
House of the Dragon: Driftmark (2022)
Business is about to pick up!
After the chaotic episode 6, this one is a succession of striking scenes and great cinematography.
A funeral is the pretext for reuniting the two rival families in Driftmark. We have seen this trope being overused in the Succession series, where a wedding, an anniversary, an election night or even, a funeral, is the occasion for several characters to interact and develop conflicts between them to advance the plot. Of course, GOT did the same thing with Tyrion and Joffrey's weddings. This episode does it well. The tension is palpable. Through these cold, accusing glances, we find poor Viscerys, trying as best he can to rebuild bridges, like the good king he is.
As is often the case in similar situations, one might think that the children are the first victims of these family rivalries, but on the contrary, in this case, they are the ones who trigger the turning point of the series. The scene in which Aemond claims the immense Vhagar is nothing short of epic! The consequences of his action, including the loss of his eye, and the confrontation between Alicent and Rhaenyra are plot highlights. From here on in, you know that it can only intensify and escalate over time.
But this episode does something even more special. Through all these conflicts, the writers have found a way to include a scene that evokes totally different emotions. The wedding between Daemon and Rhaenyra is superbly filmed; Ramin Djawadi's music is nothing short of sublime, reminiscent of the most beautiful moments between Jon Snow and Ygritte (''if we die, we die, but first we'll live'') Truly one of the most beautiful scenes in the series!
House of the Dragon: Second of His Name (2022)
Second of His Name
Unlike previous episodes, this one focus essentially on two events. While King Viscerys organizes a hunting party for his son Aegon's second birthday, Daemon and Corlys battle the Triarchy in the Stepstones.
Of course, several things are happening in parallel, and we can see that Viscerys is taking advantage of the presence of numerous lords at the festivities to press his daughter to find a husband, while Otto is looking for a way to make Aegon heir to the throne. Among the potential husbands, we meet a Lannister, played by Jefferson Hall, who portrayed Torstein in Vikings.
While the political intrigues unfold in the surrounding forest of King's Landing, the action takes place at the Stepstones, where Daemon, learning of the imminent arrival of reinforcements, embarks on a suicide mission to claim the glory of victory over the rebels led by the Crabfeeder.
It's a good episode where politics and action are very well balanced. It's also becoming increasingly clear that Paddy Considine and Matt Smith stand out for their performance in their role as Viscerys and Daemon.
House of the Dragon: The Rogue Prince (2022)
The Rogue Prince
The second episode of the season offers less action but more intrigue around the small council. The highlight takes place on Dragonstone Bridge, where Otto confronts Daemon for stealing the dragon egg belonging to Viscerys' stillborn son. An unexpected arrival, however, defuses tensions...
The differences between HOTD and GOT become more apparent, starting with the dragons, who here have character traits and looks unique to each. And there's no need to look for villains comparable to Ramsay or Euron Greyjoy. Here, the Crabfeeder will only be passing through, as the plot's interest lies elsewhere.
House of the Dragon: We Light the Way (2022)
Bow before the Artisans of the Series
The episode takes us to Drifmark, the Velaryon castle, where Viscerys offers Corlys to marry Rhaenyra to his son Laenor. Meanwhile, Otto continues to play in his daughter Alicent's head before leaving King's Landing. Thereafter, the episode is essentially a huge ceremony organized by the king to celebrate the betrothal of Rhaenyra and Laenor. But of course, no wedding in Westeros goes according to plan...
The production value is a huge 10/10. Set design, costumes, accessories are very impressive, even for items that appear on screen for only a fraction of a second. You can feel the passion of every artisan working on the set and I strongly recommend that you watch the making-of.
Nonetheless, I only give it a 7/10, mainly because of that moment where Criston Cole kills Laenor's boyfriend and leaves the scene as if nothing had happened. It just felt stange and out of place. But still a good episode!
House of the Dragon: The Princess and the Queen (2022)
Like a Second Beginning 6.5/10
This episode is like the start of a second part, with new actors to underline a decade-long leap in time. Alicent and Viscerys' children are now teenagers, while Rhaenyra gives birth to her third. The episode is all about introducing new faces and rediscovering familiar ones as their circumstances change. The new actors are convincing, but the episode is too busy and events are rushed.
Lyonel Strong has been the King's Hand since Otto's dismissal. His son, Harwin Strong, is Rhaenyra's lover and the true father of her children, although the princess is married to Laenor Velaryon. Lyonel's other son, Larys, is loyal to Alicent, who is no longer the insecure teenager we once knew. Criston Cole, who beat a royal engagement party guest to death in the previous episode, is now Queen Alicent's personal guard and, it seems, unaffected by the passage of time. For his part, Daemon lives in Pentos with his wife, Laena Velaryon, Laenor's sister, from whom he has two daughters.
Added to this are a few plot points, including two childbirth scenes, so that we don't have time to understand why Daemon is in Pentos, nor to get to know the new characters, since three of them die before the end of the episode, namely Laena, Lyonel and Harwin Strong! In short, it's overload with intrigue, and when you look at the series as a whole, it's clear that this episode is just an obligatory passage, a bit like a bridge between the young Rhaenyra and Alicent and their much more mature version at the end of the season.
House of the Dragon: The Green Council (2022)
The Green Counsil
The weakest episode of the season still deserves a rating of 6.5 out of 10. It was easy to disappoint when you come after the masterpiece that is The Lord of the Tides, nonetheless, this episode leaves an impression of emptiness and for good reason, Viscerys is dead while Daemon and Rhaenyra are completely absent. The Green Council therefore focuses on showing us the events that immediately followed the death of the patriarch in King's Landing.
Even if the scenario is based on the novel, it is surprising to see Alicent allow herself to be convinced so quickly to crown her son Aegon, having seen Viscerys devote the last thirty years of his life to defending the legitimacy of Rhaenyra as heir to the throne. We are also perplexed to watch Criston Cole assassinate the grand master with a banal gesture during the famous council without anyone reacting. And there is this rather uncomfortable scene where we discover that Larys has a fetish for the queen's feet...
Despite everything, there are still some good moments, including the epic coronation scene of the new king which is part of the highlights of the season. Too bad it is tarnished by a totally unjustified twist, an addition solely for the television shock factor which does not appear in the novel.
House of the Dragon (2022)
HOTD Season One
After the disappointing last season of Game of Thrones, many predicted the worst for this other adaptation based on George RR Martin's novels, in this case, ''Fire and Blood''. However, not only is it a success, but in some ways, it is even superior to the original series. First of all, it is obvious that the creators of the series take their work seriously: the sets, the cinematography, the costumes and the special effects are all elements that elevate House of the Dragon to a high level of quality (the making-of of each episode are to be seen). Ramin Djawadi, a renowned composer of the GOT soundtrack, returns with even more beautiful, intense, emotional and epic pieces! Aside from the main theme common to the two series, we remember these GOT classics like ''The Rains of Castamere'', ''Winds of Winter'', ''The Tower of Joy'' as well as the music associated with Winterfell or Daenerys. From HOTD, we will remember the march of Viscerys on ''Protector of the Realm'', the coronation of Rhaenyra on ''The Crown of Jaeharys'', her marriage to Daemond or the sublime music which accompanies the intimate scene between her and Criston Cole.
But more than anything, it is the acting and the quality of the writing that make the series successful. Unlike GOT, which simultaneously followed dozens of characters across Westeros and beyond, HOTD takes place approximately 300 years before Daenerys and focuses on the intrigues of the Targaryen family, from its peak to its bloody downfall caused by internal wars. Some episodes feels extremely packed as lot is going on because the first season covers a period of around thirty years. As a result, characters sometimes appear and die in the same episode while Rhaenyra, Alicent and their respective children are played by different actors to emphasize the jumps in time, which constitutes one of the rare downsides of the season because some passages move too quickly and leave the impression that we are missing information. In short, we don't always have time to digest all the intrigues. We should also highlight the unusual fact that there are four childbirth scenes during the season, each equally brutal!
The strengths far outweigh the few weaknesses and make House of the Dragon the best series since... season four of Game of Thrones! I rated each episode and it gives me an overall total of 8.2/10. This is a must watch for sure!
Spartacus: Blood and Sand (2010)
Don't be Fooled...
For a 2024 ''modern audience'', this series could be best described as a bunch of bodybuilders screaming like rabid animals while jumping high in the air in slow motion. Yes, it exudes testosterone ; yes, there are A LOT of erotic scenes that make you feel like you're watching soft-porn; yes, the extreme violence and CGI blood can look cartoonish, but don't be fooled, SPARTACUS is a lot more than that... in a good way!
The first impressions I got when I started watching it was movies like 300 and Sin City. The over the top visuals, bloody gore action sequences, multiple use of effects in transitions between the scenes, but all that come as no surprise when you notice the name of Sam Raimi as a producer in the generic. The second thing you notice right from the start is the fast pace ; every episode of season one is filled with action sequences, which makes for a very enthralling watch. Even the dialogue scenes are on par with the action as characters like Batiatus, Lucretia, Crixus, Oenomaus and Ashur are all well-developed. Once you get hooked by the action of the first few episodes, you realize that the story is developing to be just as good. In that regard, episodes ''Delicate Things'' and ''Party Favors'' come to mind, as they not only present a good script, but they also help in making Andy Whitfield a strong presence and the hero he is supposed to become.
I loved season one and thought that the prequel was even better. Tragic circumstances led to a change of actor for two of the main roles. Liam McIntyre do a great job in replacement of Andy Whitfield, especially in War of the Damned, but I had a hard time getting used to the new Naevia. Overall, I found the second season rather boring. Far from the arena and the life of a gladiator, it's as if we are rediscovering the characters from another angle. Of course, we have to adapt to the new Spartacus, Liam being not very expressive compared to the excellent Andy, at least in the first episodes, but there is also the case of others, like Crixus, who is obsessed with finding his lover, or Oenomaus, who is presented as the equal of Crixus or Gannicus in terms of skills but who unfortunately plays a rather insignificant role in this season. Even the main vilain, Claudius Glaber, is weak, something his stepfather constantly reminds him of. It is a good thing that Gannicus is there to entertain us every time he appears on screen, by far my favorite character! And I also have to mention Lucretia, always pleasant to watch ;)
By this point, I was wondering why this series is so popular... then I watched War of the Damned!
Epic and legendary is what best describes the third season. This time, nothing to complain about Liam's work, his version of Spartacus is really badass! All the characters are good, including new faces like Crassus and Ceasar. The dialogues are up to par and even exceed expectations in a series at first glance focused on action scenes and visuals. I didn't expect to see so many good exchanges; I think of the one between Spartacus and Crassus, the arguments between Spartacus and Crixus as well as the speech they each made to their army. Even Gannicus, the most down to earth character, has good thoughts there. And what about the battle scenes! In short, War of the Damned is a big 10/10 for me!
On a side note, while I was wondering in which direction season 2 was heading, I took the time to read the history of Spartacus on Wikipedia to realize that the series is very faithful to the major events that marked its journey. You should know that his epic was written many years after his death. I'm not a historian, but I find that the showrunners have very well integrated known facts with pure fiction to entertain us. Julius Caesar vs Spartacus? Why not!