Olivia Cooke Didn’t Hold Back About How ‘F—ing Horrible’ House Of The Dragon Viewers Can Be, And Explained How Well Her Co-Stars Have Handled It

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As a devoted fan, I was thrilled when Game of Thrones made its comeback on HBO in 2022 with House of the Dragon, set not long after the contentious finale of the original series. Just like many viewers have been relentless in their criticism of the Thrones ending, House of the Dragon and its cast have faced a great deal of flak over the two seasons that have aired so far. Olivia Cooke, who portrays Alicent Hightower in this gripping drama, recently shared insights about the harsh feedback she and her fellow actors have received. However, she also commended two actors from Team Black for how gracefully they navigated through it.

Similar to “Game of Thrones” before it, the upcoming series “House of the Dragon” is based on George R.R Martin’s original work but later deviates in certain aspects that have sparked debate among both readers and non-readers. During the release of the first season, particularly the second season, if you scrolled through social media, you might have encountered negative feedback from viewers displeased with the series’ narrative… to phrase it gently.

It’s important to note that not every viewer of “House of the Dragon” has behaved negatively towards those associated with the show. However, Olivia Cooke’s comments to THR suggest that the negative aspects of the fandom have left an impact on her.

Some of our followers have been abhorrently cruel towards our cast members. It’s infuriating that we are expected to show respect to these individuals who only spew the most vile, hateful words. Unfortunately, they’ve managed to cause distress, but fortunately, we can lean on each other during these tough times – even though this doesn’t make their behavior acceptable.

Many TV viewers often find themselves critical of even their preferred shows, including George R.R Martin who publicly voiced concerns about Season 2 before later deleting his comments. However, it’s important to distinguish between constructive criticism and extremely harsh remarks directed at actors who merely portray characters as scripted. Nonetheless, Cooke disclosed that she’s also had positive encounters, attributing some of her costars for their ability to handle negativity gracefully.

I believe there’s an overwhelming amount of strong feelings. Additionally, some truly heartwarming encounters have taken place. I’m delighted that Emma [D’Arcy] receives all the appreciation they do, as they are truly outstanding and a genuinely beautiful, wonderful individual. Similarly, Matt [Smith] is accustomed to the intensity of fandom and handles it gracefully. He manages to maintain himself in a very admirable manner, not letting it affect him negatively.

In simpler terms, Emma D’Arcy assumed the character of Rhaenyra Targaryen after the time leap in Season 1, and she expressed her frustration about frequently being questioned regarding gender-based awards categories. Additionally, D’Arcy and Cooke shared that filming for Season 2 was demanding, leading to a significant number of scenes between their characters Alicent and Rhaenyra – despite their opposing positions in the Targaryen civil war.

Speaking of Matt Smith, it’s worth noting that “House of the Dragon” isn’t his debut as a leading character in a popular fantasy show with an enthusiastic fanbase. In fact, while the Eleventh Doctor is adored by many now, his character in “Doctor Who” initially faced some criticism when it first aired. This was during the transition from David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor, and not everyone was immediately ready to embrace Smith’s portrayal back then. Despite these mixed reactions, Smith is still willing to join big franchises like “Star Wars,” suggesting that he isn’t deterred by viewer responses.

At this moment, we’re all anticipating Season 3 of House of the Dragon, tentatively slated for release on HBO in 2026. Fingers crossed that the cast will face less hostility in the future. In the interim, why not catch up or rewatch the first two seasons, available for streaming with an HBO Max subscription.

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2025-09-06 19:10