From its opening moments, something is different about this episode of “House of the Dragon.” The composer Ramin Djawadi adds several extra measures of nothing but pounding drums to the start of his main title theme. When the story opens and the score kicks in, the dominant sound is not stirring strings but a recurring, sinister synth hook, so low in the bass register that it’s practically chthonic. The sonic symbolism is not subtle. This is the sound of all-out war.
I reviewed last night’s premiere of House of the Dragon for the New York Times. (Gift link!)
Tags: fantasy, George R.R. Martin, house of the dragon, new york times, TV, TV reviews