House Of The Dragon Episode Five Review - 8 Ups & 2 Downs
8. Up - The costumes and the sets
The backdrop of a Westerosi wedding allows the House of the Dragon costume and set department to take their levels of creativity to stratospheric levels and as usual, the end result is a visual feast.
Before viewers are even transported to King's Landing for the celebration, they get their first stunning look at High Tide, the ancestral seat of House Velaryon and the home to Corlys, Rhaenys and their children. The stunning castle features eye catching tapestries paying homage to the ancient Valyrian House's seafaring exploits and a gorgeous driftwood throne in keeping with the castle's motif.
Before too long, the action hits King's Landing and the visual delights increase ten fold. The various houses are absolutely resplendent in ornately designed robes, featuring enough gold thread to reach the moon and back, all set against a spectacular backdrop of colossal stone statues towering over the celebrations. The episode's costume related piece de resistance comes when Alicent proudly stalks into the hall, every single eye fixed on her stunning green dress - more on that later - before the wedding goers take to the dance floor.
It should come as no surprise when HBO manage to wheel out costume designs and sets even more spectacular than their previous editions, but the stunningly beautiful quality of said costumes and sets never fail to make jaws hit the floor.