"House of the Dragon" season 2 premiere fails to ignite the audience

June 17 marked the release of the first episode of the second season of "House of the Dragon" on the Max platform. The episode failed to impress viewers and did not evoke strong emotions. This series is unlikely to replicate the golden era of Game of Thrones, and the viewership of "House of the Dragon" still has much room for improvement.

"Game of Thrones" is one of the most significant pop culture phenomena of recent years. Therefore, it's no surprise that HBO decided to continue leveraging George R.R. Martin's works following its immense success. In 2022, audiences were introduced to the first season of "House of the Dragon," which takes place roughly 200 years before the events of "Game of Thrones." The series' plot is derived from a royal chronicle describing the history of the Targaryen family, as detailed in "Fire & Blood."

The first season was indeed a hit but did not generate the same level of online and social media buzz as "Game of Thrones." Additionally, "House of the Dragon" received mixed reviews. HBO executives attempted to appease viewers by emphasizing their commitment to prioritizing high-quality scripts. They stated that their focus is not on producing a specific number of seasons annually but on developing series that genuinely excite them through exceptional writing.

Fans had to wait two years for the second season of "House of the Dragon." HBO once again presents a dark fantasy, complete with nudity, incestuous relationships, and a hefty dose of brutal scenes. However, this time, viewers seemed less eager for the spectacle. The first episode of Season 2, titled "A Son for a Son," premiered on June 17, and the viewership numbers reflect this decline in anticipation.

In North America, 7.8 million Max platform users watched the premiere on its release day, marking a 22 percent decrease in popularity compared to the first episode of the first season. For comparison, the first season's final episode garnered 9.3 million views.

Samba TV also released viewership results based on Smart TVs in the United States, which are significantly less favorable than Warner Bros. Discovery's reports. According to Samba TV, the second season's episode attracted 50 percent fewer viewers (1.3 million households) than the first season's premiere (2.6 million households).