One of the world’s biggest TV shows labelled a Shrek ‘rip-off’

Warning: spoilers ahead for House of the Dragon season 2 episode 7.

House of the Dragon fans are utterly convinced that the TV series has become a parody of Shrek… and the parallels truly are uncanny.

In the latest episode of the HBO series, Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) sets out on a perilous mission to enlist new dragonriders to fight with her in the imminent battle against her nemeses, the Greens.

With the help of her new confidante Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno), the Blacks manage to bring distant and illegitimate Targaryen descendants to Dragonstone, in the hope that two of them will bond with the rider-less dragons Vermithor and Silverwing and join her forces.

Before Rhaenyra enters the dragonpit with all of the prospective candidates, she says to them: ‘Each of you has left behind a life to answer this call, a life to which you might never return. If you survive, you will be transformed. No man or woman can face a dragon and be otherwise.’

Rhaenyra’s speech – and the subsequent bloodshed that ensues when Vermithor burns many of the Targaryen relatives alive in the dragonpit – ended up drawing inevitable parallels to the conniving Lord Farquaad from Shrek, when he says to the knights vying to rescue Princess Fiona from the dragon: ‘Some of you may die, but it’s a sacrifice I am willing to make.’

‘I’m not fully convinced they were mocking him with her outfit,’ Willie wrote on X, pointing out the fact that Rhaenyra was wearing a red outfit, just like Lord Farquaad.

‘And she was even wearing red, it’s a parody atp [at this point],’ Hed chimed in.

‘This show will never live down the Shrek comparisons! ????,’ Ruthie remarked, while @ArieThePhoenix quipped: ‘This here has me wheezing!!! Cuz it’s basically what she said.’

Andrea admitted that the amount of Shrek references in House of the Dragon is ‘insane’, considering comparisons have been drawn before.

‘Add another “Coincidental” Shrek Moment to House of the Dragon,’ @JuiceKUrameshi also wrote.

The moment where Rhaenyra gives a speech to the potential dragonriders about their possible deaths wasn’t even the only Shrek parallel in episode seven.

When Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) goes off on a side quest into the forest for a camping trip and a swim in the lake with Ser Rickard Thorne (Vincent Regan), this reminded some viewers of Princess Fiona and Shrek having dinner by the campfire before she meets Farquaad.

What’s more in the previous episode, when the dragon Seasmoke chases down Addam (Clinton Liberty) to claim him as his rider, the scene was undeniably reminiscent of the Dragon in Shrek cornering Donkey.

The Shrek comparisons have been prevalent ever since House of the Dragon launched – and long may they continue.

House of the Dragon is available to watch on Sky Atlantic and NOW, with new episodes released on Mondays.

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