House of the Dragon vs Game of Thrones: Which had the better series premiere?
Character Introductions
Game of Thrones gets to work quickly after the opening title sequence, entering Winterfell’s courtyard and introducing members of the Stark family, most with a nod to their personalities, including Bran (youngest), Robb (arts of war), Sansa (traditional), Arya (non-traditional), Jon Snow (outsider), Ned (stern but warm), Catelyn (kind but angry with Jon) and Theon (adjunct).
Moving to King’s Landing, a mighty city in comparison to the rough-hewn Winterfell, the episode arrives at the funeral of the former Hand of the King, Jon Arryn, who lies in state. We meet the conniving Lannister twins, Cersei and Jaime. A month later, King Robert Baratheon arrives at Winterfell with his retinue, including the uptight Joffrey and the grumpy Hound.
From there, “Winter is Coming” heads to faraway Pentos to introduce the exiled Daenerys Targaryen (impervious to boiling bathwater), the deluded and plotting Viserys II Targaryen, the dishonored Jorah Mormont and the mighty barbarian Khal Drogo. Back at the king’s feast in Winterfell, Jon meets up with his beloved Uncle Benjen and the wanton but witty Tyrion. The character introductions are easy and seamless.
House of the Dragon: With Viserys I and Rhaenys introduced in the teaser, House of the Dragon moves nine years into the future, where the action-oriented Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen rides her she-dragon Syrax into the Dragonpit, where her BFF Alicent Hightower and the protective Ser Westerling await.
At the Red Keep, the close bond between Rhaenyra and Alicent is reinforced as they visit the pregnant Queen Aemma Arryn. Viserys oversees his small council, including his trusted Hand Otto Hightower, the serious Corlys Velaryon, Grand Maester Mellos, the penny-pinching Master of Coin Lord Lymon Beesbury and the Master of Laws Ser Lionel Strong.
Rhaenyra sneaks off to greet her power-hungry uncle, Daemon Targaryen, current Commander of the City Watch. The Heir’s Tournament brings in Ser Criston Cole, and eventually Daemon departs on Caraxes with his consort Myseria. Like “Winter is Coming,” “The Heirs of the Dragon” introduces its characters smoothly as the narrative unfolds.
Which episode has the best character introductions?
The way in which the audience first meets the story’s main characters is largely a result of story structure. The show creators pick and choose their situations carefully, wanting to make solid first impressions that stick.
“Winter is Coming” must deal with its major storylines and characters being separated by large geographical distances, while the major characters in “The Heirs of the Dragon” are primarily located in King’s Landing. Both episodes handle the introductions of their many players well, so this comparison is a close one.
The geography issue is the main structural factor separating the two episodes. Since the quality of the work is the same, Game of Thrones wins because it had to clear a higher hurdle. Score two points for Game of Thrones.