House Of The Dragon Episode 3 Review - 9 Ups & 1 Down

This writer simply cannot find enough good things to say about House of the Dragon's approach to pacing. Time always felt like a very abstract concept within the confines of Game of Thrones, but the large time jumps within House of the Dragon are doing a sterling job of cementing the show's narrative and the positions of characters within said narrative early on in proceedings.

The three-year time jump was even greater than that of the previous episode; as such it felt like it gave the show leeway to dive into what felt like a thrilling, almost brand new narrative. There's just so much constantly going on within the show that there genuinely isn't a dull moment; gone are the days where the show's pacing might grind temporarily to a halt as political players verbally joust in the Red Keep halls or a minor character is introduced, only to not be seen again for several seasons.

Instead, viewers find themselves open mouthed, as over the course of one episode they see a thrilling battle complete with dragon riders, a journey of personal discovery and reflection for heir-to-be Rhaenyra and some of the most unashamedly devious political scheming that viewers have ever seen. It will be absolutely fascinating to watch this intriguing new cast as they are shaped and moulded over the years of the conflict before taking the final forms of their characters.

Let us hope the show runners heed the wave of critical acclaim for the new pacing and keep their feet firmly pressed on the accelerator.