Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon Episode 1 'The Heirs of the Dragon' REACTION!!

[@NikkiStevenReact]

Game of Thrones is BACK!!! For those who are new, we always jam important stuff into these pinned comments, so please give them a read 😊 House of the Dragon 1x1 full watch-a-long REACTION: bit.ly/3Tb2jjt We stream LIVE on KZbin - LIVE movie reactions and the return of the Stikker Podcast with GoT reviews... give it a sub: kzbin.info If you want to keep up with us, the community and everything we have going on, join the Stikker Fam discord. It's fun and free: discord.com/invite/stikkerfam If you made it to the end of this comment, we appreciate you. Leave a 🐉below!!

[@timucinfiliz3338]

She hulk 😢

[@braw3534]

If anyone read the book ' Fire & Blood ' we know this show gonna be maybe more insane then the original Game Of Thrones if it's done right 💯 great 1st episode

[@ChefNourhan]

You must checkout the latest Adams family Netflix series based and named after "Wednesday" .

[@dumpsterdawg]

🐉

[@Gfilam]

I get Jaimie vibes for Daemon in that he is introduced as a one note villain but later on we will be shown his “light” side. GOT is great at creating shades of gray

[@JynxedKoma]

Daemon: "Now, you and I both own a small piece of our *incestry."* Rhaenyra: "Ancestry." Daemon: "Yes, that's what I said."

[@maximiniminimaxi7453]

bahahahaha so accurate

[@CapSuperM]

Lol

[@clayongunzelle9555]

🤣🤣🤣💀💀💀

[@clayongunzelle9555]

And people in universe wonder why some of em are crazy

[@pdoll96]

@@clayongunzelle9555 they understand perfectly that’s why everyone in the realm knows the saying “every time a Targaryen is born the gods flip a coin”

[@EN-Fitz]

Daemon's behavior during the funeral is a great character moment. You can tell thanks to the actor that he's actually saddened by what's happened to his brother and niece, which tells you he does genuinely loves his family.

[@prettynerd4779]

Even in the books, he loves his family and his house... more than anything.. although he can be divisive.. some say he is very similar to Tyrion in mind and Jamie in skill

[@matheuskeunecke1335]

He is the most GRRM character in the show. Neither all good or all bad.

[@greywater3186]

Matt Smith. Get ready to be blown away by his acting. Then get ready to see him nominated for an EMMY

[@Ashley_e]

Otto sucks!! Lied to Viserys like Daemon was celebrating and whoring. The man is so emotionally wrecked he can’t even have sex.

[@HK-gm8pe]

he does definetly love Rhaenyra and Viserys , I can already see that he is going to be very grey character

[@lotusinn3]

Yeah, this version of the Iron Throne is definitely more accurate to the descriptions than the depiction we got in GOT. Sick!

[@NikkiStevenReact]

Looked pretty freaky but awesome

[@lotusinn3]

@@NikkiStevenReact 100%!

[@ChefNourhan]

Yes completely agree

[@0786RICARDO]

The first was made by a wiseguy, nothing wrong with that

[@chaost4544]

The fact it hurts the person who sits on it was a detail that was sorely lacking from the original series. I'm glad it was a prominent thing in the pilot.

[@agentsculder2451]

Fun fact: King Viserys was the last person to ride Balerion, who was Aegon the Conquerors dragon. When Balerion died, instead of claiming another dragon, he stopped dragon riding.

[@shihoblade]

Wait he was always Balerion's rider? Even before he named king by Jaeharys?

[@Funnyj33ns]

@@shihoblade I believe it is mentioned that he rode him when he was a teenager before he was named next in line. In the books he was 26 yrs old when named heir and Balerion died in 94 AC when Viserys was 19. So he got to ride him for maybe 3 or 4 years

[@CoRLex-jh5vx]

@@Funnyj33ns yea, if he'd had Balerion during the Great Council, it wouldn't have even been a question who got the throne

[@MCL003]

The reason Daemon (the kings brother) calls his wife the bronze bitch is due to her family being known for having a famous suit of armour made of bronze and they hated each other hence the name

[@bearrowe7902]

The Bronze knights of house Royce 💪 like Bronze Yon Royce years later

[@MCL003]

@Serbon Resurrected ahhh my bad

[@Spliffcraniums]

The Queens C section had to be one of the most hard to watch scenes in the series I seen so far. The realization and fear she showed was so powerful and to imagine that kind of brutal violation and invasion of one’s body till death is a traumatic thought.

[@HK-gm8pe]

it was soo upsetting to see that nobody asked Aemma if she is okay with this....hey just killed her in this bruital way while she was screaming, but thats how it was in medieval times and I actually like that they didnt sugarcoat it , they really show how brutal that kind of system is for women

[@desertrose0027]

@@aussiefarmer4955 It should be her choice, though. Instead they cut into her, without anesthesia and likely killing her, to maybe save her child. None of this is explained to her beforehand, they just hold her down and do it without giving her any choice or explanation as to what is happening. That's why it's so awful.

[@desertrose0027]

@@aussiefarmer4955 or, you know, maybe just explain the situation to her and ask what she wants to do? Seems reasonable, but what do I know?

[@desertrose0027]

@@aussiefarmer4955 Clearly you watched a different show than I did.

[@d3l3tes00n]

That's a very odd way of looking at it. I'd prefer to be saved. I wouldn't want to leave my partner to care for a baby all alone.

[@CatotheE]

17:04 The Hightowers were a powerful family, but they were much more neutral in Game of Thrones. Jorah's wife was a Hightower. The mother of Margaery and Loras was also a Hightower.

[@beerlootsma7036]

Also the lord commander of the kingsguard for the mad king was Gerold Hightower, but he is only in one scene in GOT.

[@jcompton8507]

You don't think in the books we're going to find out that they were part of the conspiracy to end the Targaryen Dynasty? I've always suspected they're involved in...whatever the Citadel is up to... ...including causing the Targ queens to have so many miscarriages...

[@eurongreyjoy1008]

@@beerlootsma7036 nah that random dude was not the white bull

[@helifanodobezanozi7689]

@@eurongreyjoy1008 The dual wielding guy Ned fought in the flashback was a Hightower. He was both Jamie Lanister's mentor and predecessor as the head of the Kings Guard.

[@beerlootsma7036]

@@eurongreyjoy1008 just google it m8

[@Saphthings]

I read on how Milly Alcock who got the part to play this new princess/queen is a struggling actor living in her moms attic, and how she was in such disbelief that she was picked. She said she was waiting every day for them to change their mind and until she was there and filming she thought she'd be fired. Made me root for her a lot, and I think it plays well with her part as Rhaenyra is also having to undertake this big thing she wasn't ready for.

[@theAverageJoe25]

No kidding hope she does many more big projects in the future

[@samyaaalc]

Prince Daemon is actually George R R Martins favourite Targaryen. He is said to be made of equal parts light&darkness, to some the greatest hero, to others the worst of villains. A true, grey character To be sure, one of the most charizmatic characters created in this universum And some lore knowledge: Dark Sister is one on the two Targaryen family swords, it was firstly owned by Visenya Targaryen, Aegon the Conqueror sister-wife; King Viserys sword is named Blackfyre, and it belonged to the Conqueror himself Also, Syrax is Rhaenyra's dragon, Daemon's dragon is named Caraxes, and she LOVES burning things

[@scientia.veritas]

Caraxes is the fiercest dragon in the history of Weateros. Much of the reason why she was able to go toe-to-toe against Vhagar, the largest living dragon.

[@Michael-jw6et]

Prince Daemon, in the way he looked at times and his mannerisms reminded me of Ramsay Bolton.

[@samyaaalc]

@@scientia.veritas no need to spoil them anything 😅

[@airwaters]

Caraxes is a male dragon btw hahaha, just sharing cuz Syrax is a girl and they're THE OTP 😂

[@suddenimpulse030]

@@scientia.veritas I feel Balerion the black dread likely continues to hold that title. Caraxes is dwarfed by that dragon.

[@stormborned]

Did you notice that when Viserys told Aegon's dream about the end of the world to Rhaenyra, Dany's theme "Breaker of Chains" was playing 🥺💖

[@MindOfJigsaw1]

The dagger used to kill the Night King is also on his belt. I love these easter eggs.

[@IrrelephantRamblings]

If you know anything about this story. You know Rhaenyra is nothing like Dany.

[@LISSoundtrack]

@@IrrelephantRamblings Nobody said she was... but I guess you just really wanted people to know that you know about this story.

[@madelinegarber7860]

Omg I didn’t notice that! I need to rewatch that scene.

[@BamBam-3886]

Just spitting fire to how GOT ended

[@deborah7502]

me clicking this: oh nikki the birth scene, nikki the birth scene, nikki the horse doesn't die BUT THE BIRTH SCENE

[@babyshan211]

Lol, we know our Nikki well😊

[@Heather61776]

OMG same!!!!

[@jakebradford4272]

I like Nikki crying

[@stephaniegutierrez2547]

Nikki telling Steven you save the baby! you save the baby with no hesitation made me cry 😭 Nikki is an angel in disguise👼🏼

[@theonlyonewithgum1452]

She's amazing. Love both of them

[@bduggins2483]

Game of Thrones: "Lol we have a beheading, incest, and throwing a child out a window in our premiere, nothing will top that" House of the Dragon: "LMAO we'll raise you castration, a horrible childbirth, and a dead newborn in our premiere"

[@TheLibrarianOG1]

I still believe Game of Thrones premiere was better, plus the other thing I loved about Game of Thrones more than this, was the fact that we were focusing on multiple stories/houses, than just the one and I always love a story that can handle multiple plots like that

[@mdnblues]

You forgot Otto pimping his very young daughter for the much older King. I mean, we've seen arranged marriages in GOT - but this one is a bit creepier and it shows that Otto is probably going to be a Littlefinger / Tywin type-character.

[@ANJIN-p4q]

@@TheLibrarianOG1 Well this focuses on one House and I feel they'll go into detail and polish up on every little thing since they don't have to worry about losing plots lines and abandoning character arcs.

[@baronnuuke7821]

I remember the first 3-4 episodes being so boring to me. Everyone around me told me the same, that they had to suffer 5 boring episodes until it becomes interesting. I don't think got was supposed to be a kind of TV show where you are supposed to be hooked immediately, unless you already read the books

[@suddenimpulse030]

@@TheLibrarianOG1 I thought the pilot for GoT was pretty boring outside of the start and the Bran bit it's mostly people in bad wigs and low quality costumes talking to each other.

[@LilybethII]

I literally had tears in my eyes when I saw that little tribute to Dany at the beginning of the episode. I'm in love with this show already.

[@ziva9266]

Gave me chills 🥹

[@MonaLisa-we4kw]

Same

[@ChefNourhan]

Having Ramin djwardi back on the team is mainly the reason why i decided to watch again. GOT owes a ton to this legend.

[@derps0n839]

Yeah he brings back the targaryen theme

[@Ryan_Archmjr242]

Meh any composer could do what he did

[@satyam2k6]

So true.

[@suddenimpulse030]

@@Ryan_Archmjr242 This is an incredibly ignorant comment lol

[@GavinFox2028]

He was also the composer for Iron Man 1 and the first composer to start off the MCU

[@givepaddytheemmy4535]

Daemons dragon is Caraxes, nicknamed “the Blood Worm”. Yes he’s huge and yes he’s insane, kinda like Daemon

[@dr.embersfield1551]

Wyrm*

[@givepaddytheemmy4535]

@@dr.embersfield1551 yeah it autocorrected but I’m too lazy to change it

[@aegonthedragon6341]

@@givepaddytheemmy4535 I command you to change it

[@thihaaung647]

What a great premiere! A lot of things happened but I didn't feel it was rushed. They built the tensions and character relationships well enough for 1st episode. Let's just say "GOT is back".

[@bernhardtsen74]

indeed its back!after the queen died, they all started to argue so they can keep their places at the council and on the kings good side!that felt like GoT for me!

[@thihaaung647]

With this political shits and family conflicts, HOTD has my full attention now. 👍

[@thihaaung647]

@Anoushka S Viserys had to make a decision. Save the baby or let both of them die. A tough choice of a husband indeed. 🥲

[@olliee2353]

@Anoushka S yes and the gore when the knights were fighting, could me off guard lol

[@ChefNourhan]

they never rush the beginning as we know by now only the ending 😅

[@Aditya-rr2hu]

Viserys bleeding constantly means he's not gonna last long. It's a bad omen for a king if he's bleeding or getting cut by the throne.

[@pdoll96]

Yes. The throne cuts an unfit ruler.

[@stephenking5852]

And the cold bath that his queen, Aemma, took foreshadowed her death. Not only that, she was an Arryn. It’s always the death of an Arryn that kick off these stories, is it?

[@prostozchoroszczy1961]

Nope he gonna merry hightower Daughter and have a son

[@stephenking5852]

@@prostozchoroszczy1961 what? 😐

[@prostozchoroszczy1961]

@@stephenking5852 deamon Rhaenyra gonna have 2 son’s and 1 Daughter two of them son’s will seat at iron thrones

[@jurassicpark1fan920]

In the books whoever gets cut by the throne is believed to be cursed. The revelation that Aegon knew about The Long Night is from George R.R. Martin himself who told the show runners. So we probably got spoiled for the future books if they come out.

[@Lord_Shal]

I wonder if there’s lead in that throne… might explain why some rulers go crazy

[@mad_u_mad3612]

@@Lord_Shal I love that and it makes perfect sense!

[@soulscyther666]

The second paragraph, it's not really that surprising, the main books are hinting that the larger picture is really about the impending war between the living and the dead, and not the petty squabbles of the realm. The series is titled A Song of "Ice and Fire" after all. The show only shifted priority about the politics being the main focus and endgame since it fits more after taking the title of the first book (A Game of Thrones). I don't mind that route tho and it was interesting take (until they fcked up the execution of it and didn't delivered well). But the books will go further on the established narrative of the Prince that was Promised, perhaps will mirror Azor Ahai (Jon) sacrificing his love Nissa Nissa (Dany) to kill the Great Other (Night King).

[@STOCKHOLM07]

Don't worry, they won't.

[@Aewon84]

@@Lord_Shal That's more likely caused by the inbreeding.

[@matth_rod]

Some details I loved in this one: - Kings Landing having no walls, like "we have dragons, shut up" - A glimpse of Harrenhall, the biggest castle of Westeros - "Promise me, promise me" - Rickard Stark 😍 - The dornish knight having balls to ask rendition from Daemon 🔥

[@UTFR58]

The hightowers are one of the oldest families in ASOIAF btw their ancestral seat is at oldtown where the citadel is and where we saw samwell travel to in GoT

[@Jon_FM]

In the more modern show we saw one of them Ser Gerold Hightower, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, was killed at the tower of Joy defending Jon Snow and his mother from the rebels.

[@thegoldencompany4191]

@@Jon_FM last of the hightowers i suppose if he didn’t already have bastards

[@UTFR58]

@@Jon_FM yep indeed legendary fighter

[@GlennShook]

@@Jon_FM wrong. Yes there was a legendary hightower kingsguard. But that was Arthur dayne the best ever that was defending the baby and neds sister.

[@sarwatarannya8786]

@@GlennShook gerold hightower was there too

[@greywater3186]

“A second son who stands to inherit nothing he does not seize.” - Second son Daemon Targaryen reflecting on another second son, Otto Hightower

[@DarkHairedOne]

While true, that they are both second sons, Daemon was set to succeed to the Iron Throne and thus had an inheritance more firmly entrenched with the death of Emma/Baelon. He didn't need to grasp for anything, unlike Otto Hightower.

[@viktorstagnetti7491]

@@DarkHairedOne Right, this dude throwing his daughter at the King mere hours after losing his wife and newborn son. He aint slick. If she gave the King a male heir, it would improve Hightower's lot dramatically. And the council called Daemon "ambitious".

[@fleisbester612]

Viserys gives the Ned Stark vibes, a good and honorable man, surrounded by traitors trying to destroy him... In this aspect his brother was right.

[@arwenlostlorn6569]

Yeah I thought the hand was gonna be a good egg but then he sent his daughter to seduce the recently widowed king and I was like wtf lol. Guess daemon was right after all...also LOVE the actor who plays Daemon.

[@jackson857]

I think in a lot of aspects Daemon is right. He's just a bit of a dick so he doesn't come off as right.

[@AL-fl4jk]

@@arwenlostlorn6569 in this world that’s just politics tho. Even Ned had agreed to marry off Sansa to Joffrey until everything happened

[@arwenlostlorn6569]

@@AL-fl4jk But they were the same age and joff wasn't married to anyone. Otto here is telling his possibly teenage daughter to go and seduce a recently widowed man more than twice her age. That is such a huge difference from what Ned was doing lol. Also the motives, Ned was just innocent and getting his daughter married off like the lord fathers of that time would. Otto is just doing this to manipulate Viserys and get into a more powerful position.

[@awesomness36]

He murdered his wife for a son… he’s not a great king

I remember GOT is what introduced me to this channel. I remember watching you guys shocked over Ned Stark's death, The Red Wedding, cheer over those "Dracarys" scenes, and so many more memories... And years later, here we are again with HOTD. It's just great!

[@Pacreincarn8ed]

Man the second Nikki started writing the babies name I was like nooooooooo!

[@laraamaro8908]

I literally said out loud, ‘ oh Nikki, you don’t need to write that down 😭’

[@soulscyther666]

The Heir For A Day ❌ The Sidenote For A Minute ✅

[@Aewon84]

That scene between Viserys and Daemon reminds me of Aenys and Maegor. The difference is that Viserys is not as weak as Aenys, and Daemon is not as cruel as Maegor.

[@Stgangle]

"Hes a Baratheon!" - hahaha Glad to be back in Westros also :D

[@NikkiStevenReact]

Couldn’t help my self 😂😂

[@garlantyrell6368]

I enjoyed your reactions very much in GOT. I can’t wait to react to HOTD with you guys. You will be great.

[@austincaucci]

Loved this episode. Daemon while being hot headed I believe truly does care for his niece and brother. Can’t wait to see what the rest of the show brings. I haven’t read the book so don’t know what to expect

[@greywater3186]

I loved the scene where he places the necklace on his niece. It would have been very easy for him to kill her, to eliminate the threat and blame another. She trusted him implicitly, yet Matt’s acting reflects that Daemon is capable of such a thing even though he clearly loves her.

[@willyrodriguez10]

He might love his niece a bit much

[@MrFredstt]

Daemon is pretty fucking cool to me. A show off, sure, but everyone has their flaws. The way he handled that rapist was sweet

[@novitabasaria7282]

@@willyrodriguez10 that is not a secret anymore, is it?

[@willyrodriguez10]

@@novitabasaria7282 I mean, not a secret if you read the books.

[@HuntinBambie07]

i first started watching your channel with the original game of thrones you guys have gave me faith in a reaction channel so happy this show brought us back together like seeing long lost friends for the first time in a while lol. happy to see you guys doing well !

[@NikkiStevenReact]

Glad to have you back!! Thank you for the comment. Feels good to be back on GoT

[@LS13.]

The parallel that the womens battlefield is on the birthing bed, while there’s fighting going on at the tourney. Love the writing already. Daemon seems caring but also has that Targaryen fire and attitude. I’m so ready. Matt is playing him great. Whats funny is the irony where a dornish man took advantage while daemon was taking his time and boasting mid fighting 💀 I don’t think daemon is a problem for trouble making, it’s more so he has a different perspective than his brother - he’s right in many cases and he really does love his brother

[@d3l3tes00n]

It is odd, though, that fantasy stuff always has to keep how women were treated (in real life history) "realistic." Why in a fake universe with fake people & magic & dragons do we still have to deal with the patriarchy bs? It's interesting.

[@LS13.]

@@d3l3tes00n that’s how people attach to shows. It’s real yet has some fantasy. GoT was based on a medieval time, with slavery still a thing, monarchy’s- a lot of real things. The human kind can’t make up a whole new world, just alter the one it has.

[@bettinanielsen6336]

The Hightowers were (and are in GOT times) one of the most powerful houses in Westeros. They are one of the oldest houses, they control Oldtown, where the Citadel is situated. The original show júst didn't mention them, thats all. But yes, they are very powerful indeed.

[@anndruh]

The scene with Aemma talking about childbirth being her battlefield, and then…. 😩

[@JrKengu]

way too disturbing of a scene for me that made me feel physically light headed as fuck for like 10 minutes straight. did not enjoy.

[@RicoSoprano_]

Feels good to be back at King’s Landing 🔥

[@NikkiStevenReact]

Yes it does

[@jackson857]

40:43 The Hightowers are actually in the A Song of Ice and Fire Books and are around during the time of Game of Thrones. Unfortunately the original show cut them though.

[@kres70]

Hightowers are ruling Oldtown (the one with the Citadel that Sam and Gilly spend some time in) in GOT timeline, they are still alive, just not really mentioned in the show. They are the 2nd biggest house in the Reach, after Tyrells.

[@thihaaung647]

Appreciate the info. Didn't know about it.

[@keynanvarnado7592]

They're arguably more powerful than the Tyrells. At least at this point given the Tyrells were only given rule of the reach after the conquest and were only stewards previously. The Hightowers have been the rulers of the biggest city in Westeros for thousands of years by comparison.

[@docsuperg3560]

Yeah the show never did them justice, they're featured quite a bit more in the books.

[@doctordice6104]

They're gone in modern day? Was Queen of thorns born a hightower and one of mad kings guard

[@keynanvarnado7592]

@@doctordice6104 They still rule Oldtown in the GoT times, the show just chose to cut their involvement (like so many other things). Ollena was a Redwyne. A medium sized noble house that rules an island called the Arbor (many characters reference wine as an "Arbor Red" meaning it comes from the Arbor and Redwyne family).

[@robertjames8220]

Couple bits of trivia: - In jousting, the term is "unhorsed". - It is absolutely dishonorable to strike at the horse. Regardless, had a rider actually turned his lance sideways to trip the opposing horse, the impact would have ripped him out of saddle. Lances are *heavy*. - The horse likely would not have gotten up, and at least one leg would have snapped. - As impressive as that bat-winged helmet is, the lack of a visor would have been a fatal flaw; a major threat to jousters was the cloud of shrapnel from splintered lances, and more than one man in history was blinded when those splinters found their way through the eyeslits. - Jousting has been called "an impact sport"... for obvious reasons!

[@SovermanandVioboy]

Interesting - what about the whole killing that happend in the middle? Was that just some knights out of controll or was it part of the tournament? Bcs from what I know, killings in tournaments were mostly accidents and u would always try to not hurt the opponent "badly".

[@rastiga9196]

@@SovermanandVioboy That is the fiction part of the story, real life jousting even back then was usually a casual affair albeit still with an element of danger.

[@greywater3186]

Cheers! The more you know

[@Sharpe1502]

I thought the same thing about Damon’s helmet. I was just like, “Damon is just asking to be blinded.”

[@jmchez]

Very good info. A couple of years ago, I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art special, temporary exhibit on Emperor Maximillian, who was an avid jouster. The armor and devices to hold the lance and protect the riders were amazing. They even had special 16th century high tech "shock absorbers" built in.

[@dumpsterdawg]

Me: "It's 2:30 in the morning..I gotta get my ass to bed" Nikki and Steven just post their reaction to House Of The Dragon Me: "Sleeps overrated" Great reaction as always

[@MariothePlumber529]

After watching the first episode, and never having read the books, Daemon seems like the typical asshole waiting to stab everyone in the back, but i was suprised a few times by his surrender at the tournement and his legitimate sadness at the funeral. I am excited to see his decisions throughout the series because he really seems like a wildcard.

[@jameswg13]

I got the book after the first episode and the book covers way more than the events of the show to an extent while also leaving lots of room for the show to fill. If they stick close to the book as they have been it will be epic. Daemon is brilliant character

[@jackgould5332]

He's my favourite character in the books his dragon caraxes is also a bad ass dragon

[@daniistormborn]

I love how they use Dany's songs in the scenes with the dragons. Really just hits you with the feels.

[@virgoqueen8950]

RAMIN'S BEST MUSIC IS ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE DRAGONS.

[@catbowserfantasytherapist3132]

Loved this first episode. And as I watching and hearing names like Dark Sister, I realized we’d heard them before. When Arya was talking to Tywin at Harrenhal…she was talking about some of these people!

[@lukereyes9263]

This premiere of House of the Dragon was SOOO GOOD!!!! The expectations were SOO HIGH and they lived up to the hype! I'm hooked/ ALL IN!!! It's a bummer that the actress playing the younger Princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) will not stay on the show, as they will fast forward and have a new actress play her :( She is stunning, captivating, and really fits the look of a Targaryen, not to mention, her acting skills are on point! Also glad to see them adding back all the grotesque and uncensored scenes! I feel they are necessary to bring those scenes to life and not hold back on how brutal those times were.

[@jpwphoenix1701]

This was such a great series premiere, especially as composer Ramin Djawadi brought back some of the familiar themes from the original series. Also, as brutal as it was, I thought it was clever what Daemon and the Gold Cloaks did during their night of "mayhem". They cut the hands off a thief, castrated a rapist, killed a murderer etc. A literal example of the "punishment fitting the crime".

[@jonotaylor8549]

Glad you guys liked the first episode , it was hard seeing many of the scenes , but i feel like it's gonna be a crazy ride for you and you'll find out the family tree as you go through the series as it's a bit of spoiler if you look it up but you'll find out who's who in relation to Daenerys as you go through the series.

[@greywater3186]

I used to do a lot of research into GOT theories between seasons (remember when people thought Varys was a 🧜‍♂️). I’ve not read the books, but wanted more info, so I ended up reading much of the character bios and histories - even of those characters who weren’t in GOT. (This was before HotD was even published.) Many of those characters are now in this show. While I don’t recall all the details, I do recall some vague aspects of a few key events. I’m looking forward looking for the clues of the events I do recall. Overall I’m really pleased to be back in Westeros

[@TheLibrarianOG1]

I am going to be rooting for Daemon, not because it's Matt Smith, but because, so far, he's actually been the only one to show who he really is and what he wants, even if he may be the obvious antagonist, I actually trust him better than everyone else

[@crystall.411]

he will become a fan favorite, you are right to root for him is all I will say for now.*(edited) sorry wrote this at 2am in the morning in between doing school work.

[@kaila288]

I can’t help but root for Daemon because he is Matt Smith, I love Doctor Who and he was so great

[@conordoeseverything]

I was so nervous for this show, but episode 1 has me fully confident the rest will be up to par!!

[@thihaaung647]

You & me both mate.

[@kevinwheesysouthward9295]

Totally agree. I was pessimistic about the chances of this show developing characters the way GOT was able to. I was pleasantly surprised

[@stormborned]

Viserys in the books referres Rhaenyra as "his life's great joy" and Rhaenyra is his named heir since she was 8.

[@CraigKostelecky]

The show's timeline is a bit different. The Great Council was still in 101 AC and Aemma is shown to be pregnant with Rhaenyra. It then said we were in the 9th year of Viserys's reign (which still likely began around 103). So we are around 112 and Rhaenyra would be 10-11 years old when she was named the heir. Edit: I made a mistake. Rhaenyra is born in 97 AC according to the books, so Aemma was pregnant with one of her other pregnancies that did not survive. So Rhaenyra would be about 15 here.

[@MetalCharlo]

@@CraigKostelecky They did the same in GoT with the kids so I'm not really worried about kid's age.

[@blastermast4545]

As hard as it was to watch, I think I’ve just forgotten how hard it was watching GoT for the first time. Real consequences and real tragedies, and knowing the show is capable of doing monstrous unknown things to people we like. I can’t wait to see more!

[@lstarsabb]

No, the premiere of GoT was not this brutal. They hype of the gore.

[@Victor-bk4cw]

Great reaction! Viserys seems like a well intentioned man but his brother Daemon, was right. He’s easily used by his council for their own ambitions. And whilst Daemon may be impulsive and reckless, he seems like he genuinely cares for and wouldn’t betray his brother.

[@Victor-bk4cw]

@@antonioscafuri756 i think daemon is a smart man and daemon can do good things. of course, probably neither to as big of an extent as jaime as tyrion but besides all his darkness i find some good in this man. doesn’t really outweigh the bad but it just makes him to me the most interesting and captivating character.

[@Victor-bk4cw]

@@antonioscafuri756 he’s also way smarter than his brother. he knows viserys is surrounded with people who’d play him behind his back with every chance they’d get. and so far he has never really spoken a lie in the first episode to me. i appreciate that this man has a character and a backbone, despite being violent and impulsive (although, technically through his actions many king’s landing innocents were saved of horrible men). daemon’s somewhat of a necessary evil to me. the actions he did were close to monstrous, but you could see a reason in almost all of them.

[@Victor-bk4cw]

@@antonioscafuri756 daemon would have absolutely murdered the high sparrow

[@weomeow26]

Syrax is technically labeled as "yellow" not gold. But don't worry you'll see a golden dragon soon enough

[@headphones8362]

Yes but I dislike the color for a reason but don’t want to spoil

[@ieradossantos]

4:56 'That golden beast'

[@weomeow26]

@@ieradossantos the wiki and the book calls it yellow soooo

[@weomeow26]

@@headphones8362 I think that was Meleys?

[@headphones8362]

@@weomeow26 I don’t really know the names well. Ik certain ones like Vhagar, cannibal, and caraxes

[@SciFiCatGuy]

"The gods have yet to make a man who lacks the patience for absolute power..." 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 While Otto Hightower is, as Prince Daemon says, "A second son who doesn't stand to inherit anything he doesn't sieze for himself." ...so is Daemon. For the record, before it starts, I declare for team Black.

[@crystall.411]

same team black is where I am at as well, after all team green struck first. Excited to see more corlys and daemon. also I cant wait for the scenes with the northerners (though those are very few)

[@adrieladson1725]

This episode was amazing ❤️ So good to be back!

[@timothypolanco8622]

Daemon Targaryen aka the Rogue Prince is my favorite Targaryen in the lore of ASOIAF and WOW !!! Matt Smith portrayal of the character is nothing less than perfection, he embodied what I imagined for this character in live action format. Even doe I might get pushed back IMO Daemon is the best/coolest Targaryen in the whole Targaryen lore, and I'm hype that the show runner's cast the perfect actor for this character.

[@davedahl4461]

The dagger Viserys Carries is the same one that Arya ended up with. The good news for this series is George actually wrote an ending to it. And so far they’ve been following Fire and Blood pretty well.

[@thihaaung647]

That's what I'm talking about. With the support of George himself and Miguel Sapochnik's directing, this series has so much potential.

[@Bitchslapper316]

@Anoushka S I mean this entire series is based on 4 short chapters of fictional history book. All the dialogue and character development is going to be original on the show. The book just has the main plots.

[@harsh_1910]

@Anoushka S you're insane if you think they'll adapt all for the dance in a few eps lol, they will end the season with the dance over storms end

[@harsh_1910]

@Anoushka S my bad there was a misunderstanding, it thought you menat that dance will be adapted very soon, but in term of how many seasons hotd will be it's most likely 4-5 seasons and 2 more if they decide to continue with the regency era

[@davedahl4461]

@Anoushka S no is the simple answer... I'm pretty certain that the show runners know the lore extremely well, and will tell the story appropriately. This story is done. They may embellish or add things, but this story is pretty well laid out. If you don't mind spoilers... Check out RAWRIST's Video on the reign of Visery's I. Also she tells the whole story on Dance of the Dragons based on the lore available. She's also flat out hilarious. There are also Game of Thrones Lore Videos (Told by the cast) that explore the Dance of the Dragons.

[@Chrysalis-uu5ec]

This was a great 1st episode and you can absolutely tell the difference between GOT 1-5/6& this & the mess of 7&8. This felt like "real" GOT. Hang in there Nikki! Having had an emergency C section (anesthesia ran out as they cut - after 21 hrs labor), I could only marvel at how lucky so many of us are that times have changed & a C section is no longer a death sentence for mom.

[@arielsteinsaltz1956]

It wasn't actually a death sentence in medieval times either they just wanted drama and gratuitous violence...

[@Chrysalis-uu5ec]

@@arielsteinsaltz1956 C-sections? Birth no, but C sections...if the blood loss didn't get you, then the infection, bowel damage/other structural damage did. Either a few hours, days, or weeks...At least earlier. Later on, of course, no it wasn't a death sentence. As GOT was allegedly a "War of the Roses" era & this is 180 yrs prior, the correlation would be the 1200s.

[@anastasiadiaz5797]

@@arielsteinsaltz1956 …. Research would be great on your part because what?!

[@arielsteinsaltz1956]

@@anastasiadiaz5797 By the late Middle Ages there were records of women surviving C-sections.

[@a.a677]

Amazing start so far, non-book readers will be in for a ride. I love how Daemon and Rhaenyra are portrayed. And yes Rhaenyra is an ancestor to Daenerys, like great great great great grandmother.

[@frankfro780]

really not that hard to pick that up.....thanks for trying to act smarter than everyone else tho............

[@BernardoPC117]

Why specify non-book readers? I was not sure about reading the book before the tv show but honestly I'm even more exited to watch it, even when I knew the queen was going to die it was still shocking to watch

[@tonismith3707]

Of course they are, and more so than usual, since most are born of INCEST!!! FFS

[@taurion87]

Welcome back to the Westeros!!! This was an awesome series premiere. That was an awesome reaction. I loved Rhaenyra, her dragon Syrax, Daemon, his dragon Caraxes, the music, & the costumes! 🤌🏾💋 Remember, don’t get attached to anyone!

[@erinf430]

Glad you guys are back with Game of Thrones content. If you werent aware, Dark Sister was Visenya's sword. She created the Kingsguard. Visenya was one of Aegon the Conqueror sister wives.

[@paulabarra5431]

Also Daemon was who reform the king’s guard we saw in game of thrones

[@bigivel]

@@paulabarra5431 You want to say, Gold Clock, not Kingsguard

[@davidwilson3568]

that camera shot from the jouster's perspective is one of the coolest shots I have ever seen. shows you how terrifying that spot is!!!

[@guilbert5815]

Been waiting for this reaction. I want to see Nikki's reaction to the Caesarian section of Queen Aemma. That was gruesome. LOL

[@BrendanBeckett]

The Hightower name does pop up once in Game of Thrones, in the flashback Bran saw, one of the Kingsguard who fought young Ned was Gerald Hightower. I think the named was mentioned a few times also as a historical reference.

[@steeverogers5274]

i think daemon targerian is going to steal the show bec. the actor who plays him is very talented

[@DianaJG8]

I am SO HAPPY to be back with you guys in a GoT/HotD show!! Fighting the tears!! ❤️

[@parsashojaei2161]

According to Martin himself, The Hightowers are the oldest house in Westeros. Their seat is in Oldtown, which was for many years the biggest city in Westeros. They actually haven't gone extinct. They are still living in the books and the show (GOT) didn't mention them because they didn't really have that much effect in that particular story. They were still powerful though. They are one of the richest houses even in the events of Game Of Thrones earning huge money by trade. In Game Of Thrones, The Hightowers are the second strongest in Reach, which the Tyrells are ruling. Margaery's mother is alive in the books, unlike the show which she doesn't exists (presumably dead) and she's a Hightower. AND in the books, Margaery is still the queen and that gives both the Tyrells and Hightowers amazing amounts of power.

[@cathakjordi]

The Starks are older than the Hightower, probably. But it's a matter of 'before conserved recorded history' sort of issue, so difficult to say. They are probably number 1 and 2 between them both for sure, though.

[@parsashojaei2161]

@@cathakjordi Great point. This has been debated for so long but I wrote this based on Martin's own comment on the Hightowers.

[@fifthofhisname]

Jorah's wife was also a hightower

[@cathakjordi]

@@parsashojaei2161 It does help that the Hightower are sitting *exactly* over the biggest and oldest and best known library of history in the continent and the Starks are in the... North. :D

[@parsashojaei2161]

@@cathakjordi Another great point that I can't argue with 😅

[@LowkeyValkyrie]

Honestly just so good to see you guys, a whole pandemic later and we are all back here again. Just thrilled to see you both thriving, looking healthy / amazing, and to see you both happy makes me so excited. Much love!! 💗💗

[@Haakonisak]

I feel like I learned to know you from your humble beginning when you were just a tiny weeny reaction channel. So proud where this road have led you two, you totally deserve it. Just love to see you back on the Westeros train., it feels like the wheel have rolled around for the first time. And as you say, GoT is back with GRRM himself pulling it back to season 3 and 4.

[@rosies14]

Great to be back with you both. I foresee alot of tears from Nikki, I dread it but cannot wait for next episode. Matt Smith, Paddy Considine, Rhys Ifans outstanding. Their confrontations, the tension, superb, quite brilliant writing . Bless you both love your reactions.....Steven "are they going to show this"? HA HA its GOT of course they are.

[@Jimmie_Rudolfsson]

I discovered your channel when you were watching season 2 of GOT. This is like coming home ❤️❤️

[@NikkiStevenReact]

Nice!!! Welcome back!!!

[@tamikobogad6306]

Now I see who Arya spoke of to Tywin when she was his cupbearer. Just like Rhaenyra, she was the Kings cupbearer. Princess Sherine and Arya both looked up to her.

[@sameerpirzada361]

After three long years GOT is finally back. The first episode was amazing and it got be hyped for the rest of the show! 😍🔥

[@garrettskinner63]

So excited for y’all’s reaction to this !! The actress who plays young Rhaenyra has such a presence on screen, I think she’s killed it so far

[@randomchikbum9169]

The dragons now have different colours, texture and Personality! So excited for this. And also, notice that the Baratheon Lord was visibly not happy seeing a woman as heir. 🐉

[@bluesclues8288]

As a movie viewers only, i love this kinda reaction where we go blind without knowing the book source material, without watching the trailer, the preview, etc. Sometimes we just need to watch a pure reaction without getting any spoilers. Hell, I don't even read the comment section.😆

[@GreatOldOne9866]

I’m fine with those rules and all, but Steven could have been less rude about it when I accidentally slipped a little during a livestream. He didn’t see the spoiler, thankfully. But the whole, “if you don’t like our rules, that’s a you problem,” was a very rude and poor way of handling it. They can’t see our faces, but we see theirs. We’re more than just words in a livestream chat, and not everyone is out to get them with spoilers. Idk I like these people, but he could have been nicer about it.

[@voltplays129]

Daemon is my second favourite character during the Dance with Rhaenys taking the first spot. And both of them have been very accurately portrayed, really looking forward to the next episode...

[@parsashojaei2161]

My favourite is Alicent and I hope the show does her justice, since the book can't obviously be trusted.

[@voltplays129]

@@parsashojaei2161 hmm, I don't really like Allicent but to each his own...

[@parsashojaei2161]

@@voltplays129 Many people don't and that's because the book isn't a novel. The story is being presented to us with clear propaganda. We aren't given details of why characters do things or how they were feeling doing those things. As Martin himself has said many times : "It's just a history book...", and that's why I'm so excited for this show; because it will clearly SHOW us different point of views and will humanise hopefully all of the great characters, like Alicent. Her determination made me like her in the book and I'm excited to see her arc in this. Rhaenyra's as well.

[@guruxara7994]

@@parsashojaei2161 I don't like her...

[@coqueslammwell6198]

Dark Sister was the Valyrian steel sword once wielded by Visenya Targaryean, the sister-wife of Aegon The Conqueror, the first Targaryean king who united the Seven Kingdoms and forged the Iron throne from the swords of his enemies.

[@Psykochic916]

Few notes, we never actually hear Daemon say "Heir for the day" and the books are good content but are told from the point of view of a maester, so there are a few things that could be misread or wrong. Lol. This is gonna be AWESOME!!!

[@alondran.3566]

The Hightowers still exist in Game of Thrones after this prequel, they’re just not major players. But Margaery Tyrell’s mother was a Hightower! They’re a Reach family which is why they have the curly brown hair and wear a lot of green usually

[@adamxxx3534]

This episode was absolutely everything, can’t wait for the rest of the series

[@BOLDcast]

So happy to see you guys and GoT back together again! I remember subscribing WAY back in the day for your GOT reactions and now we've come full circle, I'll be coming back every week!

[@jennig3862]

Oh the music and Dany's themes playing out made me misty eyed. I forgot how much I love the show and the feeling of being back in Westeros was so intense. Great start! Cannot wait to see what is gonna happen.

[@mishiara5499]

House hightower is the Lannisters of this time in terms of power. Hightower is a very old house with its hold in oldtown. With strong connections to both the Church of the seven, and the maesters that have their high power seat in the same city.

[@BamBam-3886]

Just seeing it like this, makes you understand why he became The Mad King. The Targaryens fought for power damning their own blood. Yet The Mad King knew of The Long Night, he knew that day would come and made precautions but.... then all failed

[@giovannischaeffer428]

The labor/tournement scenes being cut back and forth is a visual explanation of what queen Aemma meant when she said to Rhaenyra that the birthbed was the women's battlefield in that world

[@justineharper3346]

This episode was so good! I’m a big book nerd, and I love how much they’re sticking to it. I’m glad they decided to do the Dance of Dragons as the first spin off too.

[@silasadler3464]

U also could see the dagger who is going to kill the night king (which is introduced as littlefingers dagger, the one who is meant to kill Brandon Stark)

[@rocksjoshua]

I was expecting Matt Smith to steal the show, but imo, King Visery's (Paddy Considine) was very impressive, the different layers he showed as an actor was amazing, he is cool and calm, but also lowkey scary when he showed some fire after his wife and son died, that scene in the throne room with Daemon was chilling to me.

[@hitrapperandartistdababy]

Its really fun to hear the guessing being made as to where the story goes for regular show watchers when you know the story :D

[@manugibert7355]

That birth scene was rough. They did a clever editing with the tournament. On one hand two people wanting to take the life of each other and on the other hand someone giving life. The sound effects were great too. I really liked this first episode as an introduction to the story, the motivations and relationships between the protagonists, the power struggle to get the Iron Throne, like old school Game of Thrones. The music, the sets, the acting, everything was great.

[@Feisty123]

It makes complete sense that everything looks more grand. This is the Targaryens at the height of their power. In GoT Robert was 6 million in debt

[@vonDarkken]

The first reaction channel that pulled me into GOT and the first reaction channel I am watching this morning!! Lets have a great show!! xoxo

[@m4d2h0]

You now, I have been watching your reacts as part of bigger React compilations for YEARS!!! This is the first time your channel actually showed up in my YT feed!!

[@1siddynickhead]

You guys do the best GOT reactions! Damn it's so good to be back in this world and watch you guys react!

[@joshuasilvius7854]

A mace is a spiked ball at the end of a stick - a morning star is a spiked ball on a chain attached to a stick.

[@maxmayfield1637]

I loved this premiere episode. And the name of Daeomon's dragon is 🐲Caraxes🐲 aka "The Blood Wyrm".

[@nguyenthien7258]

Now I rewatch labor scene: whenever Deamon win/upperhand, the baby(house dragon) is getting better chance, but finally he has been defeated which means the baby and mother died. Its so good!

[@dayyyyy19]

Was waiting for your guys reaction!!! How good is it to be back to Westeros!! My game of thrones heart has been restored ❤️❤️

[@ThaCrustyOne]

SOOOOOOOOOO glad to be back in great company with the N&S react Fam…..great reaction vid guys!!! Can’t wait to experience this journey together!!! Love y’all!! ❤️❤️🔥🔥💯💯🍻🍻🇺🇸🇺🇸🐉🐉🐲🐲

[@silasadler3464]

We actually did saw a Lanister while Deamon chose his enemy u could see a Lanister lion on the back of one of the knights

[@JacksWorldYT]

The birthing scene brought me back to OG Walking dead days with Lori, Maggie & Carl in the boiler room 😭

[@ChefNourhan]

Learned my lesson legit have zero expectations just in case 😂

[@lotusinn3]

That should be the standard for everything, to be honest!

[@dimasn1748]

True! But there is source material for this one

[@bduggins2483]

That's acting like GOT didn't have 6 good seasons, with seasons 1-4 being outstanding. A lot of shows fumble the ending. But lets not act like all of GOT was bad. A majority of it is great.

[@ChefNourhan]

@@bduggins2483 never said it was bad why you twisting my words and adding to them too lmao! 🤌🏼 I'm speaking of the ending CLEARLY not the whole show. I literally moderated GOT reactions for 7 channels including this one for fun! why would anyone do this if they weren't big fans.

[@JaySewani]

@@ChefNourhan it was because books were not complete but these prequels have complete story