House of the Dragon is a worthy successor to the legendary saga, but comparing it to the iconic early seasons of Game of Thrones would be unfair. The prequel series did manage to take dragons to the next level — the creatures are impressively detailed. However, in terms of character depth and complex plotting, the original series still remains an unmatched benchmark.
That said, most House of the Dragon episodes have received solid ratings. But there was one episode that stood out for all the wrong reasons.
The Lowest-Rated Episode of House of the Dragon
Viewer ratings only dipped in the show’s second season — season one didn’t feature a single episode below an 8.0. But according to fans, the follow-up season has already missed the mark. Episode 6 of season 2, titled The Smallfolk, currently holds the lowest IMDb rating of 6.3.
The episode follows several plot threads: Rhaenyra continues her search for a new dragonrider among her Targaryen kin, while discontent is brewing in King’s Landing among the starving masses. Aemond, acting as regent, begins issuing commands — including ordering Otto Hightower back to the capital and pushing for an assault on Harrenhal.
Meanwhile, Mysaria proposes a clever plan: send food ships to King’s Landing bearing Rhaenyra’s banners to spark doubt among the citizens about the legitimacy of the ruling elite. When the cargo arrives, a riot breaks out that nearly costs Alicent and Helaena their lives — they barely escape.
Elsewhere, Daemon plunges deeper into mystic visions, where he meets the spirit of his deceased brother Viserys. Instead of comfort, Daemon is met with reproach, driving him into a deep apathy.
Fan Reactions
Viewers criticised the idea of a dragon choosing its own rider — even though the sequence was visually stunning. Many also felt the Rhaenyra-Mysaria subplot was unnecessary, especially as Daemon’s character seems to be missing from the main plot, lost in his visions for several episodes now.
Even the episode’s one major moment — Alicent’s confrontation with the angry mob — left little impact.
"Daemon’s visions at Harrenhal were intriguing at first but are starting to drag," "His arc feels like it’s been stuck in the same loop forever," "Rhaenyra and Mysaria’s conversation was just weird," "Sometimes it feels like we’re watching a fanfic adaptation with glimpses of a great story," "The direction is really falling apart in season two — the scene with Alicent and the crowd was horribly shot," wrote several commentators.
