Game of Thrones was undoubtedly one of the best series in recent times. Although the ending was somewhat disappointing for most of us, the series, for a while, was nothing short of a magical journey. There was politics, drama, action, and, let’s not forget, Dragons. But if your itch for this mystical drama is not quite fulfilled yet, worry not, for we have The House of Dragons. This prequel set 200 years before the events of “Game of Thrones’ is sure to fulfill your itch of the same political schemes, drama, and dragons. This epic series promises to chronicle the captivating story of the legendary Targaryen dynasty during the height of their formidable power as dragonlords.
From what we have seen so far, House of Dragons is sure to meet our expectations on the complex characters, intricate plots, grand battles, and awe-inspiring dragons that made Game of Thrones so amazing. But what do we know about this amazing series? Let’s dive deep into everything we know about House of Dragons, one of the most anticipated shows.
The Story and Setting
Source: Backstage.com
The House of Dragon draws inspiration from George R.R Martin’s 2018 book Fire & Blood. This book details the long and turbulent history of the House Targaryen. The show will focus on one of the most impactful periods from the book, the Targaryen Civil War, also known as the Dance of Dragons.
As with all the civil wars in the past and present, the period of this era is bound to be filled with bloodshed and betrayals. The war erupts between two branches of House Targaryen who clash over who will inherit the Iron throne after King Viserys I Targaryen. On one side of the war, we have Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the firstborn child of Viserys. On the other hand, we have Prince Aegon II Targaryen, the younger son of Viserys.
The fallout from the war threatens to destroy the Targaryen dynasty and the powerful dragons that conquered Westeros.
The series is set two centuries before the events of Game of Thrones during a period when Targaryen rule was at its zenith. With their awe-inspiring dragons and ancestry of dragonlords from Old Valyria, House Targaryen commands supreme power throughout Westeros.
Key Characters
Source: variety.com
House of the Dragon boasts a sprawling ensemble cast of ambitious and complex characters vying for influence in the kingdom.
One of the key characters that is bound to influence the entire series is Paddy Considine, the ruler of King Viserys I Targaryen. He is described as a warm, kind, and decent king who honors his grandfather Jaehaerys I’s legacy.
Matt Smith plays the younger brother of the king as Daemon Targaryen. As heir presumptive to the throne, Daemon owns the typical Targaryen traits of arrogance, volatility, and ambition. There is likely to be considerable friction and drama between the very different brothers.
Emma D’Arcy Portraits the Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. She’s a strong-willed and determined youngest child who is also a gifted dragon rider. As the story arc progresses, she must overcome her opposition to become the queen.
Olivia Cooke plays the cunning Alicent Hightower, Rhaenyra’s friend, who later marries Viserys and becomes her bitter rival. Rhys Ifans portrays Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, who skillfully schemes to install his daughter Alicent on the throne.
There are several other key characters, such as Corlys Velaryon, aka the Sea Snake (Steve Toussaint), Daemon’s lover Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno), and Rhaenyra’s husband Laenor Velaryon (John Macmillan).
Let There Be Dragons!
As the name states, the House of Dragons is bound to have iconic dragons. This includes the likes of Caraxes, Syrax, and Meles.
Caraxes is the notorious Blood Wyrm who inflicts bloodshed on the battlefield. He is bonded to Daemon Targaryen. Syrax is a dragon associated with Rhaenyra, and Meles is the Red queen claimed by Rhaenyra’s mother, Alicent Hightower.
In the upcoming seasons, we can expect to see area battles involving these very dragons.
Behind the Scenes
HBO has assembled leading creative talent both behind and in front of the camera for House of the Dragon. Co-creator George R.R. Martin is heavily involved as an executive producer. Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik will serve as co-showrunners and executive producers.
The writer’s room includes Sara Hess and Ti Mikkel, Game of Thrones alums. Ramin Djawadi, the composer behind the show’s iconic music, will also return. This pedigree of talent ensures House will stay true to the tone and scope of Thrones.
Release Date and the Future of the Franchise
The 10-episode first season began on August 21, 20,22, with the episode titled The Heirs of the Dragon. The first season of this show ended on October 23, 2022, with the episode named “The Black Queen.”
According to the rumors, the second season of The House of Dragon is to premiere in the summer of 2024. While the exact plot for the second season of this series is under wraps, the series showrunner Ryan Condal stated that many new characters are to appear on the show.
Furthermore, the second is also said to introduce us to some new winged beasts. Condal revealed at a recent event in Los Angeles that the second season is to reveal five new dragons. For all the dragon lovers out there, this is massive good news.
What Could Happen in Season Two of House of the Dragon?
Although the plot is pretty much fixed as this series is based on the finished books, the fans of the books have not been spoilers. Therefore, many serious fans are wondering what will happen in the series. Well, not to spoil all that much, but the Uncle-Niece duo will face off in the Targaryen civil war against the newly crowned Aegon II, the half-brother of Rhaenyra. Alongside Rhaenyra and Daemon, there are House Velaryon and over two dozen dragons. They are referred to as the blacks due to their house color.
On the opposing side, we have the “greens” consisting of the group at King Landing, including King Aegon II, Alicent, Otto Hightower, Ser Criston Cole, Aemond, and Vhagar. This is as much of a spoiler as we can provide for now. If you want to know more, then you can simply grab the book and get the spoiler – or wait for the series to air.
Conclusion
The upcoming Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, has big shoes to fill. However, based on all the details revealed so far, it seems the show has all the ingredients needed to deliver another captivating story from the world of Westeros.
While it remains to be seen if the House of Dragons can reach the same height of popularity as Game of Thrones, it sure does look promising with everything we have seen so far. As the multi-season saga of the House of Dragon continues, we hope to witness another series filled with the excitement we had when we first watched Game of Thrones. And this time, let’s hope the ending does not disappoint us.
We hope you found this interesting. If you want further information regarding various aspects, do check out some of our other blogs. And as always, thank you for reading till the end.
FAQ on House of Dragons
How Many Episodes Will We See in Season Two?
As far as we know, season two will only consist of eight episodes.
What dragon was Daemon singing to?
Daemon sings a song in High Valyrian in an apparent attempt to woo the dragon Vermithor, aka “The Bronze Fury.”
Does Daemon really love Rhaenyra?
While Daemon does show destructive behavior, the book does imply that Daemon genuinely loves towards Rhaenyra.