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‘Deep Cover’ Interviews: Bryce Dallas Howard and Cast
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Premiering on Prime Video beginning June 12th is the new action comedy ‘Deep Cover’, which was directed by Tom Kingsley (‘The Darkest Universe’), and stars Bryce Dallas Howard (‘Jurassic World’), Orlando Bloom (‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’) and Nick Mohammed (‘Ted Lasso’).

Related Article: Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard Talk Sequel ‘Jurassic World Dominion’

(L to R) Nick Mohammed, Bryce Dallas Howard and Orlando Bloom star in ‘Deep Cover’.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom and Nick Mohammed about their work on ‘Deep Cover’, Howard’s first reaction to the screenplay and experience working with director Tom Kingsley, Bloom’s character’s dedication to his craft and if Bloom would want to act opposite him in real life, and how improv comedy helps Mohammed’s character grow and change.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch the interviews.

Bryce Dallas Howard as Kat in ‘Deep Cover’. Credit: Peter Mountain / © 2025 Copertura Productions LTD. All Rights Reserved.

Moviefone: To begin with, Bryce, what was your first reaction to the screenplay, the situation the characters find themselves in, and did it read funny on the page?

Bryce Dallas Howard: Oh yeah. So, the script is written by two brilliant improv comedians. Some of the best, honestly. So, it was hilarious, but it was also truthful. I really related to the characters and all the characters were very different. You know, it’s fun because this is a true ensemble. So, I had heard about the movie for years from Colin (Trevorrow) because we worked together on ‘Jurassic World’. I’d heard of it as a British action comedy, and I didn’t think that there would be any room for an American but then very luckily I got invited into it.

Orlando Bloom as Marlon in Bryce Dallas Howard as Kat in ‘Deep Cover’. Credit: Peter Mountain / © 2025 Copertura Productions LTD. All Rights Reserved.

MF: Orlando, can you talk about your character’s dedication to his craft and is Marlon someone that you would want to work with on a movie set? What do you think he would be like to have as a scene partner?

Orlando Bloom: I don’t think so. He’d be somebody you’d poke fun at. I think that was the low hanging fruit, the layup for the character was that I think historically and hilariously actors can and have and maybe some do or have taken themselves too seriously. Me, I’ve never done that. As a guy who’s just desperate and thirsty for that shot at life, he sees this opportunity to sort of go deep method, if you like, instead of deep cover. He’s creating this weird world. I kind of based the character on Liam Gallagher a little bit because he was written as a Northerner and I thought, well, that’s the most swag because I grew up with the band Oasis. I saw this guy as this, and it informed the whole Roach aspect of the character even down to the costume and some of the physicality and the attitude that I think was right for the role. You know, the writing being so well done, the humor was on the page, and I just had to play the truth of all those moments. I’ve not done a lot of straight comedy as it were, but that’s what I’ve kind of realized that when there’s heart and truth in it, if the writing is good, then the humor lands.

Nick Mohammed as Hugh in ‘Deep Cover’. Credit: Lara Cornell / © 2025 Copertura Productions LTD. All Rights Reserved.

MF: Nick, why does your character join this improv group, what he is hoping to get out of it, and how does his life change as a result?

Nick Mohammed: Well, you know, he’s at crossroads in his life like all the characters really, but Hugh works in an office. He doesn’t have an acting background or an improv background or anything. He quite fortuitously just stumbles into Kat’s class, likes what he sees, feels like he might have maybe found his people or at least found a way to improve his confidence. Little does he know that very quickly things spiral out of control and obviously he ends up on these undercover missions. I mean, he is truly out of his depth, goes on a big journey, including having that fleeting relationship with Shosh. But by the end, he does have his confidence built. He’s sort of found these confidence soulmates in in Marlon and Kat. He’s just feels like a better person, more of his own person, more comfortable in his in his own skin, I guess, by the end. His journey is kind of like that.

(L to R) Orlando Bloom as Marlon, Bryce Dallas Howard as Kat, Nick Mohammed as Hugh in ‘Deep Cover’. Credit: Peter Mountain / © 2025 Copertura Productions LTD. All Rights Reserved.

MF: Finally, Bryce, can you talk about working on the set with filmmaker Tom Kingsley, and as an actress, has your approach to working with directors changed since you became a director yourself?

BDH: No, because I’m a third-generation actor. So, my dad (Ron Howard) grew up on sets, and I grew up on sets and whether that’s an inappropriate thing, we’ll leave that to other people to debate. But because of that, I’ve always viewed things more from an outside perspective. I see the process more through the director’s eyes and then acting is like something fun that I feel like I’m getting away with. Where I’m like, “Oh my God, I get to go in front of the camera. That’s crazy.” So, it’s such a joy getting to see how other directors direct, because that’s often the challenge when you’re directing full time. You’re doing your stuff, but you’re not actually getting to see how other people do it. You know, you always learn so much and, my God, Tom is such a gentle, lovely, open minded and encouraging director. He really wants us to all feel a sense of ownership over the work that we’re doing, and just no ego whatsoever. I just really loved getting to be around him and getting to work with him.
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What is the plot of ‘Deep Cover’?

Set in the London criminal underworld, three improv-actors (Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom and Nick Mohammed) are recruited by the police for sting operations, in which they must “yes, and…” their way into a criminal gang.

Who is in the cast of ‘Deep Cover’?
- Bryce Dallas Howard as Kat
- Orlando Bloom as Marlon
- Nick Mohammed as Hugh
- Ian McShane as Metcalfe
- Paddy Considine as Fly
- Sean Bean as Billings
- Sonoya Mizuno as Shosh
(L to R) Orlando Bloom as “Marlon,” Bryce Dallas-Howard as “Kat,” and Nick Mohammed as “Hugh” in the action comedy ‘Deep Cover’. Photo courtesy of Peter Mountain/ Metronome Film.

List of Bryce Dallas Howard Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘Parenthood‘ (1989)
- ‘Apollo 13‘ (1995)
- ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas‘ (2000)
- ‘A Beautiful Mind‘ (2002)
- ‘Arrested Development‘ (2003 – 2019)
- ‘The Village‘ (2004)
- ‘Lady in the Water‘ (2006)
- ‘Spider-Man 3‘ (2007)
- ‘Terminator Salvation‘ (2009)
- ‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse‘ (2010)
- ‘Hereafter‘ (2010)
- ‘The Help‘ (2011)
- ‘Black Mirror‘ (2011 – 2025)
- ‘Jurassic World‘ (2015)
- ‘Pete’s Dragon‘ (2016)
- ‘Gold‘ (2017)
- ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom‘ (2018)
- ‘Rocketman‘ (2019)
- ‘The Mandalorian‘ (2019 – 2023)
- ‘Dads‘ (2020)
- ‘The Book of Boba Fett‘ (2021 – 2022)
- ‘Jurassic World Dominion‘ (2022)
- ‘Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi‘ (2022)
- ‘Argylle‘ (2024)
- ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew‘ (2024 – 2025)
- ‘Deep Cover‘ (2025)
Buy Bryce Dallas Howard Movies on Amazon
June 11, 2025
TV Review: ‘MobLand’
(L to R) Anson Boon as Eddie Harrigan, Joanne Froggatt as Jan Da Souza, Mandeep Dhillon as Seraphina Harrigan, Lara Pulver as Bella Harrigan, Paddy Considine as Kevin Harrigan, Pierce Brosnan as Conrad Harrigan, Helen Mirren as Maeve Harrigan, Tom Hardy as Harry Da Souza, and Daniel Betts as Brendan Harrigan in ‘MobLand’.Streaming on PLaramount+ 2025. Photo: Jason Bell/PLaramount+.

‘MobLand’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.

Arriving on Paramount+ on March 30th with its first episode, ‘MobLand’ is a new limited series set within the spiky world of intergenerational gangster empires in London.

Birthed by prolific filmmaker (and no stranger to British screen criminals) Guy Ritchie alongside Ronan Bennett, the creator of Netflix hit ‘Top Boy’, it’s the latest in a long legacy of violent, talky meditations on family within the gangland dynamic, and bolstered by a starry cast.

Related Article: Pierce Brosnan Talks Director Terry Loane’s Drama ‘The Last Rifleman’

Is ‘‘MobLand’ worth visiting?

(L to R) Helen Mirren as Maeve Harrigan and Pierce Brosnan as Conrad Harrigan in ‘MobLand’. Streaming on Paramount+ 2025. Photo: Jason Bell/Paramount+.

‘MobLand’ has an odd history, since it began life as a spin-off of Showtime’s long-running family/crime drama ‘Ray Donovan’; you know, the one where Liev Schreiber played a “fixer” to celebrities and other powerful types whose one big failing was that he couldn’t mend his own dysfunctional family.

Yet somewhere along the line, for reasons that have yet to be revealed, what was going to be a look at the origins of the Donovan family focused on similar character types working in London has morphed into an original –– though that is stretching the term very broadly, as we’ll discuss –– story of conflicting crime families and the tough-nut type who sorts out issues for one of them.

Script and Direction

(L to R) Paddy Considine as Kevin Harrigan and Tom Hardy as Harry Da Souza in ‘MobLand’. Streaming on Paramount+ 2025. Photo: Luke Varley/Paramount+.

With creator/writer Ronan Bennett here working alongside Jez Butterworth (better known for the likes of ‘Ford v Ferrari,’ and ‘Edge of Tomorrow,’ but who tackled crime themes with 2015’s ‘Black Mass’), there is a lot about ‘MobLand’ that would lead to the description “Generic Gangster Drama #746”.

So much of what is on display here, the deep bones of the series, are tropes and ideas that have been explored many, many times before. You have, for example, the aging patriarch of the crime dynasty who is no longer sure who he can trust, even among his oldest friends. And his calculating wife, forever whispering in his ear about potential issues, proves to be one of the true powers in the family.

The less effective children are also used here, along with the primary focus of the show, the loyal fixer whose job it is the sort out the messes caused, mostly by those annoying younger clan members.

(L to R) Paddy Considine as Kevin Harrigan and Tom Hardy as Harry Da Souza in ‘MobLand’. Streaming on Paramount+ 2025. Photo: Luke Varley/Paramount+.

Between them, Bennett and Butterworth do manage to find some new ideas sprinkled between the established narrative, hewing away from some of the cliches (the fixer’s wife, for one, isn’t a naïve person who has no knowledge of her husband’s job) while leaning into others (the couple are still on the verge of divorce because of the pressures that come with it.)

Yet if you’ve watched particularly Bennett’s past work, it’s hard not to wonder why this is quite so generic at times.

Guy Ritchie, meanwhile, leads the directing team (which also includes Anthony Byrne –– who actually handles the lion’s share of the episodes –– Lawrence Gough and Daniel Syrkin) and tones down the visual zippiness from his other gangster TV series (Netflix’s ‘The Gentlemen’), here choosing a more somber palate and tone.

The series benefits from some impressive UK locations (especially the characters’ homes, which reinforce the idea that crime pays) and is shot well, dark and moody when needed, which is often, but rarely so murky that you can’t tell what is going on.

Cast and Performances

Tom Hardy as Harry Da Souza in ‘MobLand’. Streaming on Paramount+ 2025. Photo: Luke Varley/Paramount+.

Tom Hardy’s Harry De Souza is the focal point here –– he’s our eyes, ears and guide to this world. And the role takes full advantage of Hardy’s gruff strengths. He’s at his best when he’s using his stoic charm to threaten people –– usually more with his words than fists or weapons, but he’s not above that –– and get his way in the service of his bosses.

Harry also gives Hardy the chance to play the more subtle sides of the character, the family man who struggles to do right by his wife and daughter in anything other than providing them a great place to live and the money to do well.

As crime boss Conrad Hannigan, Pierce Brosnan sports an outrageous Irish accent (odd, since he was born in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland) and generally gives the character a vulnerability under the tough gangster side of things.

Helen Mirren, meanwhile, utilizing her own often impenetrable stab at the accent (similar to how she does in ‘Yellowstone’ prequel series ‘1923’), is the power behind the throne but, so far, at least, mostly resigned to wafting in and out of rooms and offering the occasional snide bit of advice.

(L to R) Emmett J Scanlan as Paul and Helen Mirren as Maeve Harrigan in ‘MobLand’. Streaming on Paramount+ 2025. Photo: Luke Varley/Paramount+.

‘House of the Dragon’ veteran Paddy Considine is good as Kevin Hannigan, Conrad’s son and Harry’s old friend (they met in prison, which is how the latter came to work for the family). Unlike some of his siblings, he comes across as capable, though not always comfortable with the criminal life.

Among the supporting ensemble, Joanne Froggatt shines as Harry’s increasingly frustrated wife, Jan, while Lara Pulver is good as Bella Harrigan, Kevin’s wife and a woman with whom Harry also clearly shares a history.

The likes of Jasmine Jobson and Antonio González Guerrero, both veterans of Bennett’s ‘Top Boy,’ make an impact as Zosia and Kiko, Harry’s top aides.

Final Thoughts

Tom Hardy as Harry Da Souza in ‘MobLand’. Streaming on Paramount+ 2025. Photo: Luke Varley/Paramount+.

It won’t win many points for originality, but ‘MobLand’ has enough going for it that it’s still a worthy entry to the gangster genre.

Solid work on both sides of the camera, and enough wit to stave off blandness are key to what makes it work.
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What’s the plot of ‘MobLand’?

Power is up for grabs as two warring crime families clash in a battle that threatens to topple empires. In the crossfire stands Harry Da Souza (Tom Hardy), a street-smart ‘fixer’ who knows too well where loyalties lie when opposing forces collide.

Who stars in ‘MobLand’?
- Tom Hardy as Harry Da Souza
- Pierce Brosnan as Conrad Harrigan
- Helen Mirren as Maeve Harrigan
- Paddy Considine as Kevin Harrigan
- Daniel Betts as Brendan
- Mandeep Dhillon as Seraphina
- Joanne Froggatt as Jan Da Souza
- Lara Pulver as Isabella “Bella” Harrigan
- Anson Boon as Eddie Harrigan
- Jasmine Jobson as Zosia
- Antonio González Guerrero as Kiko
Pierce Brosnan as Conrad Harrigan in ‘MobLand’. Streaming on Paramount+ 2025. Photo: Luke Varley/Paramount+.

List of Pierce Brosnan Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘Remington Steele‘ (1982 – 1987)
- ‘Taffin‘ (1988)
- ‘The Heist‘ (1989)
- ‘The Lawnmower Man‘ (1992)
- ‘Mrs. Doubtfire‘ (1993)
- ‘GoldenEye‘ (1995)
- ‘Mars Attacks!‘ (1996)
- ‘The Mirror Has Two Faces‘ (1996)
- ‘Dante’s Peak‘ (1997)
- ‘Tomorrow Never Dies‘ (1997)
- ‘Grey Owl‘ (2000)
- ‘The Thomas Crown Affair‘ (1999)
- ‘The World Is Not Enough‘ (1999)
- ‘The Tailor of Panama‘ (2001)
- ‘Die Another Day‘ (2002)
- ‘After the Sunset‘ (2004)
- ‘Laws of Attraction‘ (2004)
- ‘The Matador‘ (2005)
- ‘Mamma Mia!‘ (2008)
- ‘The Ghost Writer‘ (2010)
- ‘Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief‘ (2010)
- ‘Remember Me‘ (2010)
- ‘Bag of Bones‘ (2011)
- ‘The World’s End‘ (2013)
- ‘The November Man‘ (2014)
- ‘No Escape‘ (2015)
- ‘The Only Living Boy in New York‘ (2017)
- ‘The Foreigner‘ (2017)
- ‘The Son‘ (2017 – 2019)
- ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again‘ (2018)
- ‘Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga‘ (2020)
- ‘Cinderella‘ (2021)
- ‘Black Adam‘ (2022)
- ”The Last Rifleman‘ (2024)
- ‘Black Bag‘ (2025)
- ‘The King of Kings‘ (2025)
- ‘MobLand‘ (2025)
Buy Pierce Brosnan Movies On Amazon
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April 20, 2025
TV Review: ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2
Matt Smith in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2. Photograph by Theo Whitman/HBO.

Arriving on HBO/Max for a second season with its first episode on June 16th, ‘House of the Dragon’ brings back much that worked about the first, but also comes saddled with some of the faults, including a baked-in issue of too many characters, not all of them interesting.

Still, thanks to strong performances from Emma D’Arcy and Matt Smith in particular, the series still works and will effectively sate those after a weekly trip to Westeros and its sex/battle-happy occupants.

Related Article: War Has Come to Westeros in the Trailer for ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2

Does ‘House of the Dragon’ fly for Season 2?

‘House of the Dragon’ season 2. Photograph Courtesy of HBO.

HBO sent the first two episodes of Season 2’s 10-episode run to critics, so our assessment is based simply on those (we won’t, of course, spoil anything that happens in Episode 2). It’s entirely possible that some of our issues will be ironed out by the time the season has concluded, mostly because some of the more annoying characters might end up dragon food (or burned to a crisp or trodden on or… you get the idea).

Since it largely kicks off directly after the dramatic events of Season 1’s finale (where, don’t forget, Prince Lucerys, played by Elliot Grihault, dies at the jaws of a dragon while engaged in a midair incident that goes badly wrong). With Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) grieving, a retaliatory assassination strikes deep at the heart of Alicent Hightower’s (Olivia Cooke) family, which causes almost as much trouble for Rhaenyra as her rival, since she never ordered the killing.

Sticking to much of the same in terms of scheming, cursing and fighting, Season 2 will be a welcome return for many, even if some characters, such as Paddy Considine’s King Viserys Targaryen is as missed by the show as much as any of the characters.

‘House of the Dragon’: Script and Direction

(L to R) Olivia Cooke and Ewan Mitchell in ‘House of the Dragon’. Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.

Episode 1, “A Son for a Son”, written by showrunner Ryan J. Condal, carries a lot of weight, though doesn’t feel too burdened by exposition to catch everyone up as to where the characters stand in the wake of the big death at the end of last season. It’s a relatively easy jump back into the story, though some might still want to have a reference tab open on their phone to recall who is loyal to who, and the names of the various children that Rhaenyra and Alicent have brought into the world as part of their plan to take the throne.

Add to that a variety of aides, supports, hangers-on and side characters, and it’s a hearty stew of characters, some of whom still pop, and others feel like members of a boy band who have wandered in from some other show.

Visually, the series is still superbly shot –– it’s clear the budget has been upped very slightly, even if a lot of interactions take place in rooms of the various keeps and castles. But with the promise of plenty of carnage to come, the premiere is well directed by Alan Taylor, who knows his way around Westeros and its people.

‘House of the Dragon’: Performances

(L to R) Bethany Antonia and Phoebe Campbell in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2. Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.

With the focus very much on Alicent and Rhaenyra, it’s only natural that they would get the lion’s (or the dragon’s) share of good material. And we can still trust in Cooke and D’Arcy.

Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen

Emma D’Arcy in HBO’s ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photograph by Theo Whitman/HBO.

D’Arcy brings all their ability to bear on playing Rhaenyra as a driven, but still conflicted woman. She’s mourning, but still able to figure out when people are lying to her, and D’Arcy can wrangle the character to life with just a flicker in their eyes. Their best work so far this season happens when they are verbally sparring with Matt Smith’s Prince Daemon.

Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen

Matt Smith in HBO’s ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.

Smith’s still one of the standouts of the show, fully embracing Daemon’s own inner conflicts. Far from the confident, even cocky character of Season 1, he’s darker and more withdrawn, but still capable of making rash decisions. Smith is great whether he’s riding a dragon or stalking around a room arguing with his niece (D’Arcy).

Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower

Olivia Cooke in ‘House of the Dragon’. Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.

If Cooke hasn’t enjoyed quite the same level of writing so far this season as D’Arcy, she still does and excellent job of conveying Alicent’s heartbreak and frustration, particularly as a woman so close to the throne and yet often denied a voice in this society.

Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower

Rhys Ifans in ‘House of the Dragon’. Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.

Rhys Ifans knows both how to command a room and how to be quietly threatening, and he does both well here. He’s definitely a highlight of the show, hissably plotting in some scenes, understandably worried in others.

‘House of the Dragon’: Final Thoughts

(L to R) Olivia Cooke and Fabien Frankel in ‘House of the Dragon’. Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.

It feels churlish to boil the show down to, “it’s more of the same!” but it really is. Though not every issue has been fixed (the kids, though not a fault of the actors, are mostly annoying) and those hoping for epic battles won’t get what they’re after –– yet.

But with trailers promising big clashes ahead, this is an entertaining setup for the season to come. Does it sometimes try to cram in too much? Still yes, but the balance is becoming smoother.

‘House of the Dragon’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the story of ‘House of the Dragon’?

Continuing the story adapted from George R.R. Martin’s prequel novel, ‘Fire & Blood’, the show is set 200 years before the events of ‘Game of Thrones,’ and tells the violent story of House Targaryen.

Season 2 picks up after the fateful events of the first as Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and Alicent Hightower’s (Olivia Cooke) forces go head to head — well, dragon to dragon. But before all-out war, a tense series of tit-for-tat clashes affect both sides.

Who else is in ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2?

The rest of the returning cast includes Eve Best, Steve Toussaint, Fabien Frankel, Ewan Mitchell, Tom Glynn-Carney, Sonoya Mizuno, and Rhys Ifans. Additional returning cast includes Harry Collett, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Phia Saban, Jefferson Hall and Matthew Needham.

Fans are also excited to see some new faces, including Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull, Jamie Kenna as Ser Alfred Broome, Kieran Bew as Hugh, Tom Bennett as Ulf, Tom Taylor as Lord Cregan Stark, and Vincent Regan as Ser Rickard Thorne. Previously announced new season two cast includes Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull, Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers, Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower and Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong.

Emma D’Arcy in ‘House of the Dragon’. Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.

Other Movies and TV Shows Similar to ‘House of the Dragon’:
- ‘Dragonslayer‘ (1981)
- ‘The NeverEnding Story‘ (1984)
- ‘DragonHeart‘ (1996)
- ‘Dungeons & Dragons‘ (2000)
- ‘Reign of Fire‘ (2002)
- ‘Eragon‘ (2006)
- ‘In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale‘ (2008)
- ‘How to Train Your Dragon‘ (2010)
- ‘Game of Thrones‘ (2011 – 2019)
- ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug‘ (2013)
- ‘House of the Dragon‘ (2022 – 2024)
- ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power‘ (2022)
- ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves‘ (2023)
Buy ‘Game of Thrones’ On Amazon
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June 18, 2024
TV Review: ‘House of the Dragon’

(L to R) Emma D’Arcy as “Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen” and Matt Smith as “Prince Daemon Targaryen” in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.

‘House of the Dragon’, which just premiered on HBO and HBO Max, represents an attempt to draw back the ‘Game of Thrones’ faithful to the world of Westeros.

How you respond to that attempt, will likely be impacted by your reaction to the final couple of seasons of the original show. There are those who enjoyed ‘Game of Thrones’ for its entire run, or those who felt it began to stumble as the end drew nearer, the pace ramped up and decisions had to be made that deviated from novelist George R.R. Martin’s books – especially as the show began to outpace the source material.

And then there are those who have sworn never to return, claiming disgust at late-hour plot turns such as Daenerys Targaryen’s (Emilia Clarke)’s torching King’s Landing and various armies in her vengeful quest for power.

This new prequel has something of an uphill batter to reclaim the hearts, minds and eyes of that last group, but for those still open to another round of pass-the-throne, ‘House of the Dragon’ should offer something attractive.

Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.

Adapted from Martin’s 2018 tome ‘Fire and Blood’ ‘Dragon’s story is set 170 years before Dany and co. played their own game and kicks off with the crowning of King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine), who become the heir to the throne mostly because in this medieval-based patriarchy, it is the men who rule, while women are mostly seen as royal baby factories, serving to pump out male heirs.

Viserys’ sister, Princess Rhaenys Velaryon (Eve Best), denied her shot at the crown, choose instead to marry into influence with Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) and births her own male heir who could factor into the story down the line.

Our sovereign, meanwhile, has a daughter, Rhaenyra Targaryen (Milly Alcock), but is desperate for a son, at least until tragedy strikes and he begins to think that perhaps his headstrong, dragon-riding daughter might just be the one to rule them all.

Around this core group orbits any number of other lords, ladies and potential challengers for the king’s seat once he dies. Moving the story forward nine years from its start, we catch up with Rhaenyra and best friend Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey), who is the daughter of the King’s loyal right hand man Otto (Rhys Ifans).

(L to R) Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower in HBO Max’s ‘House of the Dragon.’

And then there’s the monarch’s troublemaking younger brother, Prince Daemon Targaryen (a strutting, scene-stealing Matt Smith), who no-one in the court can quite figure out how to handle. Given control of the city’s watch, he enacts a brutal scouring of criminals, limbs and heads hacked with wild abandon). Yet he’s also fond of the local brothels, throwing parties full of writhing naked people as his troops celebrate.

Oh, and he has a slightly creepy affection for his niece. Mostly, though, he’s lazy one moment ambitious the next, convinced that since he’s currently the main heir, that situation won’t change.

Only the first episode was provided to us, but we do know that the story takes a time jump midway through the first season, as Rhaenyra’s rise to power sees her age up to be played by Emma D’Arcy, while Alicent – moved into her own position of influence at the close of the initial outing – is later played by Olivia Cooke.

But if this episode is anything to go by, ‘Thrones’ fans needn’t worry too much. ‘House of the Dragon’ has some issues, but it also boasts the expansive world-building of its parent series, and the budget to match. While ‘Thrones’ waited a while for the scaly beasts to reach their full potential, ‘Dragon’ lives up to the name with at least two fully grown examples in the opening salvo.

Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.

The world of George R.R. Martin is a brutal one, and ‘Dragon’ is, like its predecessor, unafraid to dive headlong into quite how brutal that can be. A savage clash on the jousting field is crosscut with the bloody birth of Viserys’ latest child, and the violent procedures inflicted on his wife Aemma Arryn (Sian Brooke). Show-runners Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik (the latter a ‘Thrones’ veteran who also directs here) craft that scene with style and raw intensity.

Unlike the sprawling ‘Thrones’, which would flit between kingdoms and visit various storylines, ‘Dragon’s focus on a few allows you to get up to speed with who everyone is and what they want (spoiler alert: to rule or just survive). Other houses with names familiar to longtime viewers (Baratheon, say, or Stark) are reduced to cameos.

Yet that narrowed focus is also part of the problem with the show as not everyone is quite as compelling as perhaps they might be. It’s no dig on Considine, who ably plays Viserys as a man struggling to be as honorable as possible (one of the show’s themes is how hard that is as a choice when you’re a king in a place such as this), but the ruler does sometimes come across as a bit of a wet blanket.

(L to R) Milly Alcock as Young Rhaenyra, and Emily Carey as Young Alicent in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.

There are times you’ll cry out for a Tyrion or Jaime Lannister to give the story a little extra wit or spice. Matt Smith can only do so much, and even he is sometimes burdened with petulant sulking in place of character development. The wigs are something of an issue too – you do catch yourself wondering if they spent all the budget on dragon effects or giant sets and had to run out to the local Spirit Halloween store for some of the less-than-luscious locks.

The limited scope also doesn’t solve the fact that this initial installment has a lot of heavy lifting to do in terms of setting up the plot, which means that aside from one or two of the players here, everyone else gets a quick introduction or check in, coming across more as chess pieces than characters so far.

Still, this is a worthy start for what shows signs of maturing into a great series, once the story really kicks into gear and we learn the nuances of more than just Viserys, Otto, Alicent, Rhaenyra and Daemon.

‘House of the Dragon’ receives 3.5 out of 5 stars.
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August 22, 2022
Comic-Con 2022: ‘House Of The Dragon’ Panel

Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photograph by Gary Moyes/HBO.

‘Game of Thrones’ was aways one of the shows big enough to break through to the massive Hall H at the San Diego Comic-Con.

So it was not surprising that prequel series ‘House of the Dragon’ came roaring to the con to fill the same cavernous space.

‘House of the Dragon’, like its progenitor, is also based on George R.R. Martin’s books, this time the 2018 novel ‘Fire & Blood’, which chronicled the history of House Targaryen, the family seen via Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys Targaryen in ‘Thrones’. The series itself comes from Martin, ‘Colony’ co-creator Ryan Condal and ‘Thrones’ show veteran Miguel Sapochnik, who is an executive producer and director.

The setting here is 200 years before the events chronicled in the original series.

(L to R) Emma D’Arcy as “Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen” and Matt Smith as “Prince Daemon Targaryen” in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.

‘Dragon’s team kicked things off with some footage (it doesn’t do to show up at the Con with nothing) and then the panel got into full swing.

Present were Matt Smith, Steve Toussaint, Paddy Considine, Olivia Cooke, Eve Best, Fabien Frankel, Emma D’Arcy, Emily Carey, co-creator Ryan Condal, Mily Alcock, and Martin. Showrunner Miguel Sapochnik, sadly, was diagnosed with COVID and sent his hello to Hall H through a statement read by D’Arcy.

One of the highlights of the panel was the presence of several Brits among the cast, which meant that, like the ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ and ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ panels, there were some good jokes flying around.

Asked what he wanted as a set memento, Paddy Considine had a quick answer. “My knife. I wanted to keep it,” he told the crowd. “Trying to nick one was hard. I thought they’d give me it at the end. If anyone from HBO is listening, give me the fucking knife!”

Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.

He went on to admit he did take something, but wouldn’t specify, since no one had noticed it missing yet. If anyone sees a dragon in the vicinity of Paddy Considine’s house, please call the ASPD (the American Society for the Protection of Dragons).

Matt Smith, meanwhile, complained about his long, blond wig. “It looks great but it’s a pain in the arse to put on. It takes an hour and a half,” he said. “I’d decree they could dye their hair.”

With fan questions talking up coffee cups (following the infamous incident where one appeared on screen during ‘Thrones’ final season), Smith assured everyone that they were not banned from set.

Martin was also god value, owning up to his inspirations – “‘Game of Thrones’ was based on the War of the Roses, this is based on an earlier period called the Anarchy. I pilfer freely from history,” he quipped – while admitting that he had yet to make a cameo on the new show because he’s been a bit busy working on a certain book. “It’s a little late,” he admits of the latest ‘Thrones’ novel.

Though the new footage screened at the Con hasn’t shown up online, we don’t have too long to wait – ‘House of the Dragon’ launches on HBO on August 21st.

Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.

Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.

Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.

(L to R) Milly Alcock as Young Rhaenyra, and Emily Carey as Young Alicent in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.

July 23, 2022
New Trailer for ‘House of the Dragon’ Lands

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If you were a big fan of ‘Game of Thrones’ but spent your time watching it hoping for more dragons, ‘House of the Dragon’ is looking to fill your needs.

And, of course, it’ll also feature lots of the political infighting (and literal fighting) we’ve come to expect from ‘Thrones’ – especially since it sees a civil war kick off.

House of the Dragon’, like its progenitor, is also based on George R.R. Martin’s books, this time the 2018 novel ‘Fire & Blood’, which chronicled the history of House Targaryen, the family seen via Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys Targaryen in ‘Thrones’. The series itself comes from Martin, ‘Colony’ co-creator Ryan Condal and ‘Thrones’ show veteran Miguel Sapochnik, who is an executive producer and director.

The setting here is 200 years before the events chronicled in the original series.

Paddy Considine stars as King Viserys Targaryen, chosen by the lords of Westeros to succeed the Old King, Jaehaerys Targaryen. A warm, kind, and decent man, Viserys only wishes to carry forward his grandfather’s legacy. But good men do not necessarily make for great kings.

Matt Smith, most recently seen in ‘Morbius’, is Prince Daemon Targaryen, younger brother to King Viserys and heir to the throne. A peerless warrior and a dragonrider, Daemon possesses the true blood of the dragon.

Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen in HBO Max’s ‘House of the Dragon.’

Eve Best has the role of Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, a dragonrider and wife to Lord Corlys Velaryon, “The Queen Who Never Was” was passed over as heir to the throne at the Great Council because the realm favored her cousin, Viserys, simply for being male.

Rhys Ifans plays Otto Hightower. The Hand of the King, Ser Otto loyally and faithfully serves both his king and his realm. As the Hand sees it, the greatest threat to the realm is the king’s brother, Daemon, and his position as heir to the throne.

Olivia Cooke appears as Alicent Hightower, Otto’s daughter, and the most beautiful woman in the Seven Kingdoms. She was raised in the Red Keep, close to the king and his innermost circle; she possesses both a courtly grace… and a keen political acumen.

Emma D’Arcy’s Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the king’s first-born child, is of pure Valyrian blood, and a dragonrider. Many would say that Rhaenyra was born with everything… but she was not born a man, which is a disadvantage in the patriarchal world of ‘Thrones’ and even more so in ‘Dragon’. We’ve a feeling she’ll still be powerful, though.

Steve Toussaint’s Velaryon is “The Sea Snake.” Lord of House Velaryon, a Valyrian bloodline as old as House Targaryen. As the most famed nautical adventurer in the history of Westeros, Lord Corlys built his house into a powerful seat that is even richer than the Lannisters and that claims the largest navy in the world.

Sonoya Mizuno plays Mysaria, who came to Westeros with nothing, sold more times than she can recall. She could have wilted… but instead she rose to become the most trusted – and most unlikely – ally of Prince Daemon Targaryen, the heir to the throne.

This new trailer is full of action, throne-envy and, of course, dragons. ‘House of the Dragon’ will be on HBO from August 21st. Before that, the series will have a panel at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, so keep an eye out for our coverage.

HBO Max’s ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photograph by Courtesy of HBO.

July 20, 2022