House of the Dragon’s episode 7 was nostalgic for many Game of ThronesMany fans were very furious that they couldn’t see the details clearly on the dark screen. The sequel has received similar criticism for its final season’s low-lit episode,The Long Night. Both episodes were directed by Emmy winner Miguel Sapochnik.
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Seeing this backlash from fans on Twitter, HBO’s social media account took it upon themselves to defend the episode by deeming it as “an intentional creative decision,” Gamesradar reported.
These are unedit screenshots that I took on my computer for transparency. On my OLED, it was *marginally* better. Although I could see, it was distracting enough to make it difficult to focus on anything else. Terrible. pic.twitter.com/3aotGk4cWp
— Brendan Hodges (@metaplexmovies) October 3, 2022
“We appreciate you reaching out about a night scene in ‘House of the Dragon’ Episode 7 appearing dark on your screen,” the HBO Max Help account replied to one fan who wrote the network needs “to issue a written apology for literally a whole episode of black screen. The dimmed lighting of this scene was an intentional creative decision,” the HBO account said. According to HBO, less than 1 percent of all the episodes 7 posts were about lighting problems.
Hi Stephen! Thank you for reaching us regarding the House of the Dragon episode 7 darkened scene. This scene had dimmed lighting. This was an intentional creative decision. Thanks! ^LL
— HBOMaxHelp (@HBOMaxHelp) October 3, 2022
Fans expressed how the episode was “unwatchable” as the screen was way too dark. Joanna Robinson, a ringer writer and podcaster, had even tried to warn fans to brighten their screens, adding, “Watch it with all the drapes closed,” before the episode was aired.
I liked this week’s episode of #HouseOfTheDragonBut you can still see it with the drapes down. And maybe consider The Neil Settings. Though I hear they aren’t optimal for EVERY set? https://t.co/rtu4y1HwOc
— J🎃anna R🎃bins🎃n (@jowrotethis) October 2, 2022
The House of the Dragon was so dark that scenes in the house were lit only by Targaryen’s wigs.
— John Levenstein (@johnlevenstein) October 3, 2022
So far, I really like it @HBO House of The Dragon…but damn can we please fix the lighting! So many scenes are way to dark and this isn’t a new problem. We complained about this as y’all murdered #GOT
— Matt Pair (@AlGrillbilly) October 3, 2022
this episode of house of the dragon is so fucking dark i cannot see anything and i’m sitting in complete darkness
— ky (@TENSLlGHT) October 3, 2022
House of the Dragon is difficult to see (this screen capture is from the most recent episode). https://t.co/4cpkxebELr pic.twitter.com/t2R4mo4nXl
— Mike Elgan (@MikeElgan) October 3, 2022
Sapochnik also experienced backlash in the previous, so he spoke to IndieWire back then to defend his choice, stating that darkly-lit cinematography was what the show’s atmosphere needed.
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“It made sense that this was the last hope humanity has, the last beacon of light, and from the perspective of where we needed the story to go — which was to reach a surreal, chaotic climax — we needed an environment that was friendly to that,” Sapochnik said. “So all the reasons for doing it were there, and nobody sat there and wondered if it was gonna be too dark.”
Each week I find myself having to squint in order to see the dragon’s house. Why is it so dark?😭 pic.twitter.com/LtBnaoey49
— christine thee 👽 💫abolitionist (@itsschriss_) October 3, 2022
If you thought the Game of Thrones winterfell Battle episode was too dark, then I present to your HOUSE OF DRAGON ON a BEACH🌚 pic.twitter.com/PG3NcgFkrm
— Leo Chang (@theleochang) October 4, 2022
This episode of House of the Dragon is so dark it’s unwatchable. It’s best to just close my eyes and listen at this point.
— cabral (@comradeaux) October 3, 2022
