Anyone enjoying the spectacle of the Tory leadership race should definitely tune in to Sky Atlantic or NOW on Monday.
There’s an even more ruthless and spiteful battle for succession taking place in George RR Martin’s fantasy land of ice and fire, where the rich elite is deciding who should take over from the failing white-haired fella clinging on to power.
There are two candidates: a sneaky, side-eyeing blonde lady and a boring but well turned out man.
I won’t say who wins, but, knowing the way things usually turn out in Westeros, you can guarantee they won’t be in charge for very long.
Sure enough, when the action skips forward a few years another bloody struggle for power is brewing. I’m sure things will be a lot smoother for Sunak or Truss though, right?
I never thought I’d be jealous of people who have never watched an episode of Game of Thrones.
Yet next Monday I’ll be greener than Cersei Lannister’s infamous wildfire.
Because when the prequel, House of the Dragon, arrives on UK screens those those lucky newbies will experience stepping into this magical world for the very first time.
To be fair, it feels pretty special stepping into it the second time too. If you want a spoiler-free review, I can tell you House of the Dragon is exactly like GOT – only with different actors and characters and set a couple of years earlier.
Based on the opening episode, it definitely gets a five-star rating from me.
Whereas the “It’s grim up North” first series of Game of Thrones took a while to get into its stride, the King’s Landing-set House of the Dragon sizzles from the moment we get our first sight of a dragon, around three minutes in.
And from then on it’s an orgy of intrigue, treachery, murders, backstabbing, blood and gore, romantic desire and, well, orgies.
It looks amazing on screen, which probably shouldn’t come as a surprise given that the guy in charge had a huge hand in two of Game of Thrones’ most-feted episodes, Battle of the Bastards and The Long Night.
The best thing about it though is the cast, especially Matt Smith, who plays a bloodthirsty power-hungry prince who looks like Erling Haaland crossed with Harry Windsor and has his eye on the infamous Iron Throne.
As for the big question: Can you watch it if you haven’t seen Game of Thrones? The answer is a resounding yes.
And if you have watched GOT, my advice would be don’t waste your time trying to work out who everyone is and whose ancestors they are. Just pretend you know nothing, Jon Snow.
House of the Dragon is on Sky Atlantic and NOW on Monday 22 August at 2am and 9pm.
