House of the Dragon S2 Viewership Dropped by 50%, but You Shouldn't Worry
It’s not a number to fear.
To say that the debut of House of the Dragon was a success would be an understatement. There was a lot of pressure on the production team as the entire world, regardless of their opinions on the Game of Thrones finale, gathered around their screens to judge the story of House Targaryen.
Fortunately, the show did not disappoint in the slightest. In fact, all reactions to the pilot were so overwhelmingly positive that HBO renewed the show the day after its premiere. However, it seems that the premiere of the second season didn't quite live up to expectations. Or did it?
House of the Dragon Season 2 Premiere Ratings
Knowing the excellence of House of the Dragon, some hardcore fans of the show expected the second season to repeat that success. But when the difference in ratings between the first and second season premieres made headlines, they began to worry about the show's future.
According to Samba TV, 1.3 million households tuned into HBO or Max to watch the season 2 premiere on the day of its release. Compared to the 2.3 million households that tuned in for the season one pilot, the nearly 50% difference may seem daunting, but in reality, it's not a number to fear.
The two-year gap between seasons, extended until the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023, did not do the show justice. Many viewers who were interested in season 2 forgot to look up the premiere date for Season 2 and unintentionally missed it. The other group needed more time to catch up on season 1 to refresh their memories.
With the growing popularity of streaming services that allow people to tune in at their convenience, many more fans will be streaming the show throughout the week, adding to this number. Of course, a group of viewers frustrated by the long wait may have lost interest in the show, but the situation isn't nearly as critical as it may seem.
If you enjoyed the premiere and are interested in seeing what the future holds for both Team Black and Team Green, be sure to catch the upcoming episodes every Sunday on HBO or Max.