Game of Thrones’ hit prequel, House of the Dragon, continues to dominate, albeit this time for controversial reasons
HBO could celebrate the success of The House of the Dragonbut all is not glory in the Targaryen universe. According to a report by TorrentFreak, the series tops the list of the most pirated series of 2024marking the second time in three years that he has occupied this dubious post. This data shows the persistent problem of piracy in the entertainment industry.
A controversial crown for the Targaryens
The House of the Dragoncreated by George R. R. Martin Yes Ryan Condal, managed to prevail in this dark rankingsurpassing other renowned productions such as The boys from Amazon Prime Video e Shogun of FX. This “result” comes later a second season that garnered mixed reviewswith a rating of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes by criticsbut a more lukewarm reception from the public with a 73%.
Despite the criticism, the plot focused on the struggle for the throne of Westeros kept viewers hooked. However, some changes compared to the book Fire and Blood they were not well received, even by Martin himself, who publicly expressed his discontent on his blog.
Why is it so pirated?
The report indicates that the ranking is based on BitTorrent download dataalthough it clarifies that these figures They represent only a fraction of the total piracy landscape. Illegal streaming and other untracked platforms They further broaden the reach of pirated content. In previous years, series like The last of us, WandaVision Yes The Mandalorian they are also at the top of this list, indicating this high-quality productions tend to be the most vulnerable.
The appeal of The House of the Dragon lies in its spectacular storytelling and in its connection to the global phenomenon that it was game of Thrones. Nostalgia and interest in learning more about House Targaryen have led many to seek alternative ways to watch the series.
George RR Martin and the controversies with the second season
The author’s discontent with some aspects of the series caused a stir. Martin criticized harshly how key events were handledlike the Blood and Cheese incident, and showed concern for budget cuts. Although HBO defended creative decisionsthese tensions reflect the challenges of adapting literary material to the screen.
“When adapting a book, you have to make difficult decisions,” an HBO representative said. However, these explanations did not subside the most purist fanswhich demanded absolute fidelity to the original text.
The future of the House of the Dragon
Despite the controversy, The series will continue with a third season which will begin filming in early 2025. It is expected that Emma D’Arcy and Matt Smith return to bring Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen back to life respectively. Furthermore, The fourth season, already confirmed, will be the last of the series.
The end of The House of the Dragon promises to be epicwith George RR Martin teasing a major turning point for the next chapter. In the meantime, fans can enjoy the first two seasons on Maxeven if the challenge of Piracy remains a thorn in HBO’s side.
A success tainted by piracy
The location of The House of the Dragon as the most pirated series of 2024 it is a reminder of the challenges facing the entertainment industry in the digital age. While The Targaryens continue to reign in the hearts of many viewersthis problematic test the need for more effective solutions to protect creative work behind these productions.