House of the Dragon spoilers follow.
House of the Dragon has had a bit of an unfair, uphill battle thus far. The prequel, tasked with righting the wrongs of its predecessor, fell under heavy scrutiny right off the back thanks to Game of Thrones season eight flop-fest.
Thankfully, like Balerion the Black Dead rising from the ashes of the doomed Valeria, House of the Dragon has shaken itself free from the backlash of Game of Thrones' lacklustre ending.
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Are we passionate? Yes. It's pretty top-tier television but that does not mean it's without flaws. While the show echoes everything good that fans loved about Game of Thrones during its heyday, there are some niggling issues surrounding diversity that still haven't been addressed adequately.
It's no secret that Game of Thrones was lacking when it came to creating a world that was racially diverse. From The North to Kings Landing and all that fell in between, Westeros was severely wanting for people of colour.
In many respects House of the Dragon's inclusivity is much improved. Most notably, the significant characterisation of House Velaryon, largely represented through Lord Corlys (Steve Toussaint).
On page, the character of the Sea Snake is depicted as being white, however the choice to cast Toussaint is important two-fold. It shows racially diverse members holding high positions within House of the Dragon's world, while simultaneously having a Black actor in a prominent recurring role.
We're not saying Game of Thrones didn't. Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson) the Unsullied was a fantastic recurring character. Indira Varma was also memorable in her portrayal of Ellaria and Xaro Xhoan Daxos role as a powerful merchant is not to be forgotten.
However, the Velaryons' established position in the realm and in the show feels poignant.
Though significant, the Velaryons do very little to paper over the diversity issues the franchise still has – and episode three's battle at the Stepstones exposes this fact.
During Daemon's quest to weed out the Crabfeeder once and for all, the Velaryon army come out in full force proving themselves to be mighty. However this impressive battalion is not as representative as it initially appears.
A more scrupulous look reveals Corlys and his kin have become ethnic minorities among their own army with only a handful of Black actors, expertly placed, making up the fold and only one Asian man.
The show is purposeful about placing the Black characters in positions of power, leading conversations and the fight. While it's greatly important to see Black characters in authoritative roles in this case, it distracts from the fact that the wider Velaryon army (and cast by extension) is once again predominantly caucasian.
This realisation probes one to look further into the show's representation which disappointingly reveals that, once again, there is a proportionate imbalance when it comes to the ethnic races being reasonably included.
Ethnic yes, because diverse representation is about more than just the Black community.
A few cleverly placed key characters are little compensation for the fact people of colour are at large excluded from the tapestry of the fictional population.
In a world where dragons exist, it is not too implausible to expect to see more of a thriving multicultural community. However, one would more likely expect Vhagar to appear during the women's tea and cake gathering at Aegon's second name day celebrations, than a person of colour joining the throng of conversation.
This high-end aristocratic circle is not the only place where diverse representation is lacking. The same problem has arisen in earlier episodes.
During Daemon's episode one exploits at the whorehouse – a place which boast countless sexed-up people – the racial diversity is woefully lacking. The same can be said for the ceremony at which Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) is sworn in as heir.
From hunting parties to celebrations, people of colour are accessories at best despite there being plenty of opportunity to be a part of the fabric of the world.
Toussaint's characterisation of Corlys is great and to see a person of colour in a top position is encouraging, but he and his family feel almost tokenistic. They carry on their backs the ethnic groups' struggles and desires to be seen and included.
House of the Dragon has gone a step further than Game of Thrones – but not quite far enough.
Game of Thrones seasons 1-8 are available on DVD and Blu-ray. House of the Dragon will be airing season one weekly in the US on Sundays on HBO, and on Mondays in the UK on Sky Atlantic and NOW.
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HBO/Warner Home Video Game of Thrones Seasons 1-8 - The Complete Series [DVD] [2019]
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Columbia For The Throne (Music Inspired by the HBO Series Game of Thrones) [Explicit]
Michael Joseph Game of Thrones: A Guide to Westeros and Beyond: The Complete Series
Penguin Random House George RR Martin's A Game of Thrones Leather-Cloth Boxed Set
TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
