{"id":2569,"date":"2022-09-01T09:33:32","date_gmt":"2022-09-01T09:33:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/fall-features-the-top-films-coming-your-way-this-autumn\/"},"modified":"2022-09-01T09:33:32","modified_gmt":"2022-09-01T09:33:32","slug":"fall-features-the-top-films-coming-your-way-this-autumn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/?p=2569","title":{"rendered":"Fall features: The top films coming your way this autumn"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Why Arab fans are loving \u2018House of the Dragon,\u2019 despite \u2018horrific\u2019 \u2018Game of Thrones\u2019 finale season\u00a0<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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\nDUBAI: It is the comeback no one could have predicted. Having disappointed fans with its lackluster final season only three years ago, many were skeptical about HBO\u2019s highly publicized \u201cGame of Thrones\u201d prequel series \u201cHouse of the Dragon,\u201d streaming in the region now on OSN+.<\/p>\n
\nBut the dragons have returned and so have the fans \u2014 and with gusto.<\/p>\n\n\nMatt Smith as Daemon Targaryen in\u00a0\u2018House of the Dragon.\u2019 (Supplied)\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\nAward-winning filmmaker, movie reviewer, and head of film at the SAE Institute in Dubai, Razan Takash, aka Razz Reviews, is not surprised that fans have returned despite previous disappointment, revealing that she herself tuned in despite a fair bit of cynicism.<\/p>\n
\nShe said: \u201cI think people are coming back because the world that was established in the beginning (of \u2018Game of Thrones\u2019) was so fantastic. The horrific, horrific ending of GoT bothered a lot of people not just because it was bad. It was also because it was so bad compared to something that was so wonderful.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cTrying to remember the good times after a breakup is very tough. So (\u2018House of the Dragon\u2019) is more like, \u2018oh, this is why we were together in the first place.\u2019 And that world is just so wonderful and immersive and even cinematic. It feels like a giant movie and is very engrossing and engaging. And I think people gravitate toward that, especially if the story is told well,\u201d Takash added.<\/p>\n
\nFor some fans, the lure of discovering more back story and lore to George R.R. Martin\u2019s immersive world was too enticing to ignore.<\/p>\n
\nUAE-based comedian and social media personality, Maha Jaafar, said: \u201cI definitely loved \u2018House of the Dragon\u2019 a lot because I have always been curious about the back story of \u2018Game of Thrones\u2019 and the original story of where everything started. So, this answers a lot of questions, and it is very satisfying to a huge GoT fan.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWhat I loved is reliving the GoT feeling again and having the same feeling. The magnificent locations and scenes in the show and all the details. Also, the thrill and excitement,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
\nAshley Rite, vice president of marketing and growth at OSN+, noted the relief many fans felt when they sat down to watch the show, episode two of which aired on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cAs a \u2018Game of Thrones\u2019 fan myself, I am pleased to see the series exceed all expectations. \u2018House of the Dragon\u2019 is the fantasy series we\u2019ve all been waiting for since our last excursion into Westeros nearly three years ago.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cAlongside some of the best storytelling on screen today, the series presents a strong cast, amazing sets, and incredible cinematic visual effects, making for pure anticipated viewing each week,\u201d Rite said.<\/p>\n\n\nPaddy Considine in\u00a0\u2018House of the Dragon.\u2019 (Supplied)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\nIt is a narrative that runs through many of the fan comments online, with social media users breathing a sigh of relief that the new show was staying true to what made the initial seasons of \u201cGame of Thrones\u201d so addictive.<\/p>\n
\nIn a tweet, Saudi Arabia-based designer and series fan Mohanad, said: \u201cI feel like I\u2019m going back to the old \u2018Game of Thrones\u2019 atmosphere.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nSeries fan Saeed Arjumand told Arab News he was happy to be pulled back into the world of \u201cGame of Thrones\u201d despite the letdown that was the final season.<\/p>\n
\nThe Emirati illustrator and owner of Dubai-based comic books store Comic Stop said: \u201cOriginally, I had no hopes for the show. Most spin-offs or shows that try to follow in another\u2019s footsteps seem to fall flat or fail. I think especially with this one, the end of \u2018Game of Thrones\u2019 left a sour taste in a lot of fans\u2019 mouths. But I was happy to be proven wrong by the plot as it got me interested right away.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cSo far, Prince Daemon is my favorite character, I love a good villain and (actor) Matt Smith is great. Matt Smith doesn\u2019t take light roles and I feel lately he\u2019s been branching out more to types of characters we haven\u2019t seen him play. Everyone knows him from \u2018Doctor Who\u2019 as the good guy but it\u2019s nice to see him play the uncle who just wants the crown,\u201d Arjumand added.<\/p>\n
\nUAE-based marketing specialist Manar Al-Harthi, said the prequel show filled a void left by \u201cGame of Thrones.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWestors is filled with stories and legends yet to be told. After \u2018Game of Thrones,\u2019 I am just glad we have \u2018House of the Dragon\u2019 to fill that void. So far it did not disappoint, and I am looking forward to the seasons to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nHaving read the book \u201cHouse of the Dragon\u201d is based on, reviewer Takash said she was excited to experience a series of \u201cRed Weddings\u201d in the coming episodes, referring to one of the most brutal and shocking episodes in \u201cGame of Thrones\u201d history.<\/p>\n\n\nEpisode two of \u2018House of the Dragon\u2019\u00a0drew in 10.2 million viewers across HBO and HBO Max. (Supplied)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n\u201cIt\u2019s going to be very, very brutal, and very personal, more personal than it ever got on \u2018Game of Thrones\u2019 because it\u2019s family members that are turning against each other. And it\u2019s basically the beginning of the collapse of one of the strongest families in the mythology of \u2018Game of Thrones\u2019 and \u2018A Song of Ice and Fire.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\nEpisode two of \u201cHouse of the Dragon,\u201d drew in 10.2 million viewers across HBO and HBO Max, which is available in 61 countries, according to Warner Bros. Discovery. This marks a 2 percent increase from the premiere episode, which was viewed by nearly 10 million people on those platforms, not including viewers who watched both episodes on international platforms licensed to air the show \u2013 such as OSN+ in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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