Comparing House of the Dragon to Game of Thrones three episodes in

They’re the biggest shows of the year - so how does House of the Dragon stack up to Game of Thrones? Now that’s a battle worth watching, writes Duncan Lay

House Of The Dragon has already broken viewing records across the world – and we are just two episodes in, with the third out tomorrow.

The premiere picked up 10 million viewers in the US, while 1.235 million watched it in Australia, with numbers up slightly for episode two.

By contrast, Game Of Thrones launched to 4.2 million in the US back in 2011.

Of course viewing habits have changed and HBO announced that people were still streaming the premiere of HOTD and that had taken its viewing numbers closer to an astonishing 25 million.

To compare that to GoT’s final season, that launched with almost 18 million viewers.

A scene from episode three of Foxtel's House of the Dragon. Pictur: HBO

So on viewer numbers alone, HOTD is already way ahead. But how do the two shows compare in terms of what they are delivering.

Having watched a review copy of episode three of HOTD, let’s have a spoiler-free look at what the first three have offered.

The infamous Red Wedding scene from the original Game of Thrones. Picture: HBO

SHOCK VALUE

Well, it’s pretty hard to top Brandon Stark being pushed out of a turret window after discovering Jaime and Cersei Lannister indulging in some vigorous twincest.

HOTD did try. We had a rapist having his nuts cut off and slapped down on a table. Then there was King Viserys holding his wife’s hand as she was cut open and a royal son pulled out of her womb. If it follows the book, the real shocks come later on.

Verdict: GoT

Which series comes out on top in delivering shock value? Picture: Supplied

BLOOD AND GUTS

Funnily enough, GoT started fairly gently on this score. Sure, Ned Stark cut off the head of a ranger and Nymeria gave Joffrey’s arm a light chomping but the real bloodletting came later.

HOTD has been letting the fake blood flow, even during the opening credits. It’s featured arms and heads being lopped off by Daemon’s Gold Cloaks, sailors being nailed to stakes so the crabs can eat them while they’re still alive and a tournament where a variety of knights were chopped up like chickens.

Verdict HOTD

SEX AND NUDITY

Both shows were – dare we say it – a little premature before – dare we say it – softening. GoT got into it quickly. Daenerys got naked in the bath and then had some horseplay with Khal Drogo. Apart from the twincest, Tyrion Lannister got into the whores early on, although things quietened down until later in the series when Littlefinger’s brothel got cracking.

HOTD let Matt Smith rip in the first episode, with some rather sad shagging as the Dragon Lord seemed to be having some bedroom issues. Still, he did treat his Gold Cloaks to a raunchy night in a brothel. Since then, the bonking has been mainly off screen.

Verdict: GoT comes first

A scene from the first episode of House Of The Dragon. Picture: HBO

POLITICKING

Both shows have bags of it. GoT had Ned Stark dragged into the intrigues of court by his old mate King Robert although it’s not until episode three in King’s Landing that we really see what a nest of snakes he has landed into.

HOTD has King’s Hand Otto Hightower pulling strings like a demented puppeteer while the other members of the Small Council also manoeuvre carefully. Or, in Daemon’s case, hit things a lot. Everyone wants something and nobody truly knows who’s on your side.

Verdict: HOTD

HEROES

GoT was all about the Starks. Well, the ones that were left after a few seasons, anyway. Unless you were a Tyrion fan, of course. Then there was Jon Snow, who was actually kind of a Targaryen. And Daenerys Targaryen … until the last few episodes.

Anyway, the point is there were plenty to choose from. Which was lucky, given how many of them died.

HOTD doesn’t really have heroes. It has protagonists. Rhaenyra is the closest thing to a hero but it’s not as simple as that. Unless the show intends to step away from the book’s storyline and make her the hero …

Verdict: GoT

House of the Dragon is lacking in heroes compared to the original series. Picture: Supplied

VILLAINS

Well, the White Walkers were obviously nasty but we only saw them for about two minutes in the first episode. And we did hate Jaime for throwing Bran out of the tower … although later he was to become one of the real heroes of the tale. But the real villains were yet to be unmasked, with Littlefinger only popping into the third episode. Cersei is also being nasty but she’s more spiteful than evil just yet.

HOTD, however, doesn’t have the out and out villains, just as it doesn’t have obvious heroes. Otto Hightower is almost the classic dodgy adviser, basically whoring his teenage daughter off to the king and fixing things so his family rises. Daemon Targaryen likes killing people and is also drooling over his teenage niece Rhaenyra in the manner of a very dodgy uncle. Yet neither is doing anything ridiculously evil.

Verdict: Got, by the point of a dagger

DRAGONS

It’s just no contest. Daenerys doesn’t even hatch her eggs until the end of season one while HOTD has the giant angry lizards soaring through the skies at every opportunity. We’ve had flying dragons, walking dragons, dragons frying people alive … they’re not “dragon” it out! (Sorry, I’ll banish myself to The Wall for that one).

Verdict: HOTD soars away with it

A battle scene from House Of The Dragon. Picture: Supplied.

BATTLES

Again, no contest. GoT had a little bit of swordplay but probably the longest sequence was Jon Snow taking on some hapless recruits and Arya learning to fight with Syrio Forel.

HOTD has had a no-holds barred tournament while episode three features a dragon-load of action. Without giving it away, it’s up there with the best fights from the latter series of GoT.

Verdict: HOTD slaughters it.

FINAL VERDICT

So, what have we learned?

By episode three in GoT, we didn’t truly know what the stakes were. It all seemed to be a little bit predictable and leading up to Ned Stark stepping in to save the day when King Robert carked it.

Oh, what fools we were!

In HOTD, by the end of episode three, we can see where things are going and this time we can be reasonably sure (mainly because I have read Fire And Blood by George RR Martin) what will happen. When King Viserys dies, it’s on for young and old.

Ultimately, watch them both.

Stream Game of Thrones on Foxtel or Binge

House Of The Dreagon episode three is released tomorrow.

Originally published as Comparing House of the Dragon to Game of Thrones three episodes in