The world of Sport of Thrones returned to HBO in 2022 with Home of the Dragon, only a few years following the unique collection’ divisive finale. Like how loads of viewers have been fairly ruthless concerning the Thrones finale, Home of the Dragon and its forged have gotten loads of hate over two seasons up to now. Olivia Cooke, who performs Alicent Hightower within the hit drama, opened up concerning the brutal suggestions she and her costars have obtained, but in addition credited two actors from Workforce Black for a way they dealt with it.
Like Sport of Thrones earlier than it, Home of the Dragon (which can arrive sooner or later after the 2025 TV schedule) began out fairly faithfully to George R.R Martin’s supply materials however then diverged afterward in some instructions which have been controversial with readers and non-readers alike. Should you checked in on social media when the primary season and particularly the second season of HOTD had been releasing, you seemingly noticed some hateful feedback from viewers who didn’t just like the route of the collection… to place it properly.
That’s definitely to not say that every one Home of the Dragon viewers have been poisonous in direction of the folks concerned within the present, however the darkish facet of the fandom has clearly made an impression on Olivia Cooke. She instructed THR:
A few of the followers have been fucking horrible to our forged. It makes me actually offended that we’re then supposed to simply bow down and [pay] obeisance to those people who solely need to say probably the most debased, hate-filled issues. However fortunately, we’ve all skilled it in our personal manner, and we’ve bought one another, which doesn’t make it proper.
I don’t assume many TV viewers are harmless of criticizing even their favourite reveals, and George R.R Martin himself publicly aired some grievances about Season 2 earlier than deleting his feedback. That stated, there is a distinction between criticizing and concentrating on extremely harsh feedback in direction of actors who’re simply performing what’s written for them. Cooke went on to share that she’s additionally had “great” experiences, and credited a few of her costars for a way they take care of the hate:
I feel [it’s the] large feelings. There’s additionally been actually great interactions and I’m so glad that Emma [D’Arcy] will get as a lot love as they do as properly, as a result of they’re fucking unbelievable and such a ravishing, great human as properly… Matt [Smith]’s not a stranger to the fury of fandom so he takes it on the chin. He holds himself in a very beautiful manner the place he doesn’t let it keep on with him.
Emma D’Arcy took over the function of Rhaenyra Targaryen after the Season 1 time bounce, and opened up about being bored with being requested about gendered awards classes in addition to pitching a enjoyable thought for her character. D’Arcy and Cooke had been on the identical web page about how “exhausting” Season 2 was to movie, with Season 2 in the end that includes a shocking variety of scenes between Alicent and Rhaenyra regardless of being on reverse sides of the Targaryen civil conflict.
As for Matt Smith, Home of the Dragon isn’t even his first time enjoying a lead function in a fantasy collection with a really passionate fanbase. Whereas the Eleventh Physician appears to be a fan-favorite these days, I recall his Physician Who character getting a tough reception again within the day from some viewers who could not have been able to say goodbye to David Tennant because the Tenth Physician. (Smith can be heading over to Star Wars, so sturdy reactions from viewers clearly haven’t turned him off of becoming a member of large franchises.)
For now, the wait continues to be on for Season 3 of Home of the Dragon, which is anticipated to reach on HBO sooner or later in 2026. No matter occurs, hopefully the celebrities gained’t have as a lot hate to take care of shifting ahead. Within the meantime, you may all the time revisit the primary two seasons streaming with an HBO Max subscription.