Set those DVRs folks, it’s time for another HBO free preview week. You can get all the great content on HBO and Cinemax from channels 501-523. This time around you can see the see House of the Dragon, the sequel series to Game of Thrones. I really tend not to mention these free DIRECTV previews very often, but considering that Dragon actually does manage to deliver high-quality entertainment (unlike the last season of Thrones) it’s worth a mention
Watching House of the Dragon on DIRECTV is actually kinda better
For whatever reason, DIRECTV and HBO haven’t gotten together on a 4K version of the service for satellite. That means if you want to watch House of the Dragon in 4K, HDR, and Dolby Vision, you’ll still need to pony up for a month of HBO Max. The streaming version is not available to those who are just getting the free preview.
But, before you do, consider whether or not the experience is worth it. I will say that HBO Max’s 4K presentation is very nice. The difference between that and the HD version is very obvious even on a 55″ screen. However, I’ve grown tired of Dolby Vision and HDR, at least in my home viewing environment.
The creators of House of the Dragon have taken advantage of the number of 4K and HDR TVs out there. They’ve set more scenes inside at night, and even have a lot of stuff that’s outside with light behind the characters. This is a conscious choice to deliver the tone they’re looking for. But, I find it annoying. You just can’t see the characters’ faces very well in an HDR presentation. Yes, it looks more realistic. But how realistic do you want a show about dragons to be?
The real difference is clear on HBO’s satellite presentation
HBO seems to have learned its lesson since the critically-panned “dark” episode of Game of Thrones. The show is rendered completely differently for HD-only TVs. It’s considerably lighter throughout, and you can actually see the expressions on people’s faces. This definitely goes against the intention of the filmmakers, but I have to say I don’t care. How connected can you be to a performance you can’t see?
You can get this same effect by turning off HDR if you’re streaming on HBO Max, but this is just easier. I agree that the HBO version seems a little too optimistic and some of the CGI still looks a little horsey, but at least you can see what’s going on.
The long term solution is for filmmakers to really hone their craft when it comes to using HDR. But that’s not going to help House of the Dragon at this point. Maybe there will be a remastered version in the future.
There’s a lot more on HBO
While you’re waiting for more dragons and more court intrigue check out the other great movies and shows! With this free preview, you’ll get the entire HBO and Cinemax package, and in the next 72 or so hours that means about 1,000 hours of content for you to choose from. That’s pretty much the same as Disney+ has in its entire catalog and it’s all yours, all for free, all this weekend.
If you like what you see, you can subscribe to HBO and Cinemax by calling us at 888-233-7563 or visiting DIRECTV.com or ATT.com and logging in. It’s very easy to get started.
As an added bonus, it looks like everyone who subscribes to HBO on DIRECTV will get a free subscription to HBO Max. This means for one price you will get not only 22 channels of live entertainment but you can enjoy HBO Max now while everyone is talking about it.
So, call us at 888-233-7563. If it’s after hours, fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you, usually within one business day.
