Throughout Game of Thrones, viewers frequently complained that the show was too dark, preventing them from understanding what was happening. (This was especially true in the third episode of the eighth and final season where fans couldn’t follow what was happening during a critical battle.)
And this past Sunday, House of the Dragon joined its predecessor in angering fans over several poorly lit scenes.
Fans took to Twitter to express their frustration over hard-to-see scenes, with some calling the scenes “unwatchable” because of how dimly lit they were.
One of HBO’s social media accounts, @HBOMaxHelp, responded to irate complaints, telling fans it was an “intentional creative decision.” (So, yes, your TV was working the way it should.)
“Hi there, we appreciate you reaching out about a night scene in #HouseoftheDragon: Episode 7 appearing dark on your screen. The dimmed lighting of this scene was an intentional creative decision. If you have any other questions, please feel free to shoot us a DM,” the account repeatedly wrote.
But even though it was an intentional choice, “the most recent episode of House of the Dragon … was a major step down in quality when it came to visibility,” writes Collider’s Chase Hutchinson, arguing that the episode did a disservice to the acting.