Premiering its first episode last Sunday, House of the Dragon has been well received by fans and critics alike, with many deeming the spin-off show to have redeemed the last season of Game of Thrones. In reaction to the reception, the studio renewed the show for season 2, four days later.
The show follows the House Targaryen, around 200 years before the story of Daenerys Targaryen. The series stars Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen and the eleventh incarnation of Doctor Who, Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen.
HBO passed up on The Walking Dead and Breaking Bad?
Despite not living the age of the Hays Code, studios are still hesitant to green light movies with visceral and gratuitous violence, Disney being the prime example. Despite championing art over money and funding interesting choices, HBO has passed up on some great productions due to excess violence.
HBO reportedly passed up on the post-apocalyptic series The Walking Dead and Breaking Bad because of violence. Both the shows were well received for their writing and acting, but also showcased a lot of violence and gore.
What about making Game of Thrones?
This revelation has confused many fans as their crown jewel Game of Thrones and now its sequel House of the Dragon also presents a lot of violence, gore, and nudity, contradicting their previous stance.
Its new show, House of the Dragon also shocked fans as it had a sequence displaying a difficult pregnancy followed up by a medieval caesarian that ends up killing the queen. The scene was also intercut with loads of violence and blood filling the screen.
Read more: House of the Dragon Theory: Otto Hightower is Working With the Maesters To Kill King Viserys
Considering the show is far less family-friendly, the decision has baffled fans. While The Walking Dead surely has its fair share of visceral violence, HBO still takes the crown with some of its critically acclaimed shows such as The Sopranos and The Wire which regularly displayed disturbing scenes of violence, blood, and gore. In case HBO had taken up both Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead, it would have solely dominated the television industry with some of the greatest shows ever made so far.
House of the Dragon is now streaming on HBO Max.
Source: Twitter
