The prequel takes place some 200 years before the events of its predecessor…

The Game of Thrones spinoff series House Of The Dragon has begun earning praise among critics ahead of its official premiere. The pilot episode will officially air for general audiences on August 22, but early reviewers who have already screened theHBO Max series have largely agreed that House Of The Dragon is better than its predecessor.

The series is based on portions of the 2018 novel Fire And Blood, which was written by Game of Thrones author and screenwriter George R.R. Martin. House of The Dragon will be set some 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, and will chronicle the origins of the House Targaryen, known in the books for its three-headed dragon insignia.

Given the lackluster critical performance of Game of Thrones’ final season, which aired in 2019 and received a series-low Rotten Tomatoes score, fans were rightfully skeptical of the upcoming prequel. But audiences can rest assured that the spinoff will match its predecessor and then some, at least according to early reactions from reviewers.

I did not like the last season of #GameofThrones. At all. But I’ll admit the series premiere of #HouseOfTheDragonHBO is really well done and I’ll definitely continue watching. After the episode ended they showed an extended preview of the season and looks cool. pic.twitter.com/wzuIMkZWe0

— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) July 28, 2022

In his review, Collider’s Steven Weintraub wrote that the premiere “is really well done,” after admitting that he “did not like the last season of [Game of Thrones]. At all.” Weintraub later said that he’ll “definitely continue watching,” a sentiment shared by fellow Collider critic Christina Radish, who wrote that House of The Dragon “still feels epic in scale and scope.”

For those curious about the series, without spoilers, I can say that the thing I really dig is the fact that it still feels epic in scale and scope while telling a personal and intimate story about one family, showcasing both their love and dysfunction

— Christina Radish (@ChristinaRadish) July 28, 2022

“[It tells] a personal and intimate story about one family, showcasing both their love and dysfunction,” Radish said. Meanwhile, in their review, Indiewire dubbed the spinoff “violent” and “shocking”, and deemed it “better than Game Of Thrones and Breaking Bad.”

#HouseoftheDragon REVIEW: FIRE WILL REIGN! Wow. Violent! Shocking! EPIC. Better than GoT & Breaking Bad. HBO does it again. This isn’t just another fantasy show, it’s the BEST series ever made! Great action & music too. A fitting end setting up what’s next. #HotD #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/NfcEInpSHI

— watching as intended (@theatomchode) July 30, 2022

Elsewhere, The Wrap’s Brandon Katz wrote that House Of The Dragon is “Absolutely a worthy successor [to Game Of Thrones] so far,” and particularly commended the show’s “vibrant colours and detailed texture.” Katz wrote: “The pilot very efficiently explains its context in relation to GoT, introduces its core characters, and lays out the central conflict of the series.”