Here Be Dragons
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■ House of the DragonIn many ways, House of the Dragon made me love George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones again. The last two seasons of the original television show was so awful, it really made people embarrassed for recommending the show to friends. With HotD, it resets the board. We’re introduced to brand new characters, taking place 150 years before the first season of Game of Thrones. All of these characters in HotD are new to us, and the first season of House of the Dragon, sets up a great story.
House of the Dragon (Season 3)
It’s been two years since House of the Dragon: Season 2, I’ve long forgotten what happened. Seriously, HBO should not take so long between seasons, especially because I feel like they are losing viewers. Variety blames low viewership due to the FIFA World Cup, but I don’t really buy it. I just think fans have just lost interest/forgotten/didn’t know that House of the Dragon is back with Season 3.
I mentioned in Feb 2024 that “HotD” was the reason why I’ve come back to the Game of Thrones universe, considering that Season 7 and 8 were some of the worst writings I’ve ever seen (they ran out of material because George R. R. Martin refused to finish the books). He has some bullet points and an idea of the ending and gave the Double D (David Benioff and D. B. Weiss) notes, but they really fail the execution.
That was then, and this is now. So far, I’m loving House of the Dragon, and, most recently, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. It is because the stories are based on completed books. We have the setup, we have the story, and we have a proper ending from the books… so as long as the writers just follow what George RR laid out, it should be good.
With HotD, it’s based on a fictional historical book … so the showrunners have a lot of creative leeway to tell their story. For example, the book might say, there was a dragon-on-dragon battle and a one sentence description. The show may actually take a whole episode to film the fight and the tricks and tactics of the battle. Of course, the show can also take shortcuts, for example with the beginning of Season 3, where we saw an aftermath of a grand battle. Obviously, they didn’t have the budget to film that battle.
In the Season 3 premiere, most of the action is on the narrow sea… where Lohar is pursuing Velaryon and his bastard son. I really love when they have to navigate their ships through the narrow sea/island. One wrong turn of the wheel can crash the book to the reefs… it was gripping.
I haven’t read the books, but I thought I read that the Lohar was originally written as a man. However, the show cast Abigail Thorn, a trans woman. I don’t think it really matters, because she was actually really good in the role. She was determined and relentless, and, as far as I’m concern, if she can act, I’m all for it.
It’s really too bad that the first two episodes of Season 3 should have been included as the finale of Season 2.
While HotD continues the war of the dragons… I still don’t think it’s as good as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, because A Knight of the Seven Kingdom is more relatable and grounded in reality.
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■ Castle RatCastle Rat is a Brooklyn-based medieval fantasy doom metal band formed in October 2019, known for their theatrical live shows, high-fantasy personas (including “The Rat Queen”), and DIY aesthetic. Led by vocalist/guitarist Riley Pinkerton, the band released their debut album Into the Realm in 2024, followed by The Bestiary in 2025
Wraith Knight
Washington’s enigmatic synth “dragonlord” Wraith Knight has announced the latest album Of Arcane Magic & Forbidden Knowledge: The Necromantical Passage.
In addition, Wraith Knight will be heading out on tour as support for Castle Rat, a band that we are very fond of.
Tour Dates:
Sep 23 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
Sep 25 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre
Sep 26 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
Sep 28 – Dallas, TX – The Studio at The Bomb Factory
Sep 30 – Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater
Oct 1 – Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco
Oct 3 – Berkeley, CA – The UC Theatre
Oct 6 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
Oct 7 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox Market
Oct 9 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory
Oct 10 – Boise, ID – Shrine Social Club
Oct 11 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Grand
Oct 12 – Denver, CO – The Ogden Theatre
Oct 14 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
Oct 15 – Chicago, IL – Concord Music Hall
Oct 16 – Detroit, MI – The Majestic Theatre
Oct 17 – Toronto, ON – The Opera House
Oct 19 – Montreal, QC – Théâtre Beanfield
Oct 20 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium
Oct 21 – New York, NY – Webster Hall
Sep 25 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre
Sep 26 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
Sep 28 – Dallas, TX – The Studio at The Bomb Factory
Sep 30 – Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater
Oct 1 – Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco
Oct 3 – Berkeley, CA – The UC Theatre
Oct 6 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
Oct 7 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox Market
Oct 9 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory
Oct 10 – Boise, ID – Shrine Social Club
Oct 11 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Grand
Oct 12 – Denver, CO – The Ogden Theatre
Oct 14 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
Oct 15 – Chicago, IL – Concord Music Hall
Oct 16 – Detroit, MI – The Majestic Theatre
Oct 17 – Toronto, ON – The Opera House
Oct 19 – Montreal, QC – Théâtre Beanfield
Oct 20 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium
Oct 21 – New York, NY – Webster Hall
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