The Dragons are coming back, and this time it’s going to be epic. Finally, after a 3-year hiatus, the fans will once again see the dragons soar and rule the sky, in House of the Dragon on HBO Max.
Reminiscent of one of the best series that ever aired in the history of television, Game of Thrones.
House of the Dragon is a ten-episode spin-off series of the renowned Game of Thrones that will premiere on Sunday, August 21, 2022.
It is based on George R.R. Martin’s 2018 novel Fire and Blood, a history of the Targaryen dynasty. The prequel was announced back in 2019 after the Game of Thrones ended, awfully if you ask us.
The poorly received end of Game of Thrones and the leaked spoilers lead plenty of people to believe that this new series won’t be any different.
But this is where they might be wrong, as the news so far about the series has been nothing but exceptional. Here’s everything we know about the House of the Dragon, a Game of Thrones prequel so far.
The Game of Thrones left plenty of loose ends untied, which makes sense now since we have a prequel to look forward to.
With that said, we have high hopes that the House of the Dragon might help regain people’s trust within the GOT franchise because this isn’t where it ends. *Happy Squeals*
Who’s in Westeros: Introduction To The Cast
- Paddy Considine as King Viserys I, the head of the Targaryen family. The Targaryen dynasty peaks under his rule, but it also marks the start of the downfall of the dynasty.
- Emma D’Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. Firstborn of King Viserys I and the apparent heir to the throne. She is a dragon rider.
- Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen. The younger brother of King Viserys I. A great warrior and also a dragon rider and a contender for the throne after King Viserys I.
- Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower. He is the Hand of the King.
- Olivia Cooke as Lady Alicent Hightower. Daughter of Ser Otto Hightower and friend of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. She becomes the queen when she marries King Viserys I.
- Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon. Head of House Velaryon, known as “Sea Snake” because of his reputation as the most famous seafarer in Westeros.
- Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Velaryon. Wife of Lord Corlys Velaryon.
- Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole. A skilled Dornish swordsman.
- Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria. A dancer who is Prince Daemon Targaryen’s most trusted ally.
This isn’t the end, the latest cast announcement also includes Outlander’s Graham McTavish will Kingsguard member Ser Harrold Westerling, and, a rather surprising addition as well… a Lannister, played by Jefferson Hall as Lord Jason Lannister.
Beginning Of The End: The Plot
The series is set 2 centuries before the events that took place in the Game of Thrones. This is the time when House Targaryen is at its peak, but the rivalry for the Iron Throne starts the decline of the dynasty.
King Viserys I is asked to name an heir to the throne. Contenders on the throne are the King’s firstborn child, his daughter, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen.
But as no Queen has ever taken the lead on the Iron Throne and ruled Westeros; the King’s younger brother Prince Daemon Targaryen also becomes a natural contender for the throne.
The grab for the throne eventually leads to the Targaryen family’s civil war, known as the “Dance of Dragons”, resulting in dragons going extinct.
What Do We Know Until Now: The Structure
With countless storylines to be covered in only ten episodes, it is deduced that there will be several jumps in the timeline spanning over multiple years.
According to Miguel Sapochnik, who won an Emmy for directing “Battle of Bastards” for the Game of Thrones and is the co-showrunner of House of the Dragon, the series will focus more on characters. Namely, “There’s the King, his brother, the King’s daughter, and her best friend.”
The Author’s Reaction
George R.R. Martin is one of the handfuls of people in the world that have seen the House of the Dragon. And unlike the ending of the Game of Thrones, he feels content with the series.
Stating that the backbone of the series will be its characters, their complexities, and conflict, and their love, hate, and drama, rather than just the action and adventure.
What Does The Future Hold?
Will the spin-off series be a mini-series? Will it strictly follow the novel? How many more seasons can we expect?
Miguel Sapochnik has hinted in the series lending itself into an anthology format, just like Star Wars: Episode IV.
With the possibility of going backward or forwards. He also stated that they wanted to make a show that stood out as an entity and was recognized for showing a different side than its predecessor.
Where Can You Watch House Of the Dragon?
House of the Dragons will be available on both HBO and HBO Max. The first episode of the ten-episode series will be airing on Sunday, August 21st, 2022.
If you start now, there is plenty of time to binge the original Game of Thrones and catch up on all the character development and the ever-evolving storyline. You can watch Game of Thrones on HBO Max in Canada as the OTT has all the seasons on their platform.
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