Why HBO Cutting House Of The Dragon's Season 2 Episode Count Should Worry Fans

Yesterday, after some whispers from Varys’ little birds, word broke that HBO was reducing the episode count for House Of The Dragon Season 2. As opposed to the debut which included ten episodes, the second season will reportedly feature only eight. Reaction from the fanbase was a bit mixed, and CinemaBlend’s own Laura Hurley talked about why she thinks it’ll ultimately be good for the show’s long-term health. Maybe. But I’m really nervous, and I’d like to talk about why.

I loved almost everything about House Of The Dragon’s first season. I thought many of the characters were vibrant, really unique and of course, morally reprehensible. I thought the acting was top-notch, and most of all, I loved how it felt like it belonged in the Game Of Thrones universe but didn’t feel like it was trying to impersonate it. The only thing I didn’t enjoy was the breakneck pace. Between the time jumps and all the moments of massive change and abrupt character development, there were occasions in which it felt like I was watching a highlight video.