House of the Dragon is set to stream on HBO Go starting August 22, and it’s an understatement to say that Game of Thrones’ faithful can’t wait to watch this spin-off series. Ever since the divisive final season of the HBO original series in 2019, the show’s creators have felt immense pressure to deliver and remind fans of how awesome the realm of GOT is.
Prepare to meet the mighty House Targaryen as HBO’s prequel to Game of Thrones drops this August 2022
Courtesy of HBO Go
Based on George RR Martin’s Fire and Blood novels, a spin-off of the Song and Ice and Fire series, House of the Dragon is set 200 years before the original series’ timeline and will follow the story of fifth-generation Targaryens in Westeros, and the fifth king of the Seven Kingdoms, Viserys I (Paddy Considine).
The main conflict will be the internal turmoil in House Targaryen, which would lead to a series of events that would bring about their downfall. House of the Dragon streams from August 22 exclusively on HBO Go.
In the meantime, let’s talk about some of the details in House of the Dragon that we’re all excited to watch!
Targaryen Magic
Acclaimed science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke once said, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” The Targaryens are foreigners in Westeros, being the only survivors of the technologically advanced empire of the Valyrian Freehold doomed by an apocalyptic volcano eruption. In House of The Dragon, we can expect to learn more about the Targaryen’s mastery of dragons—and what respectable Game of Thrones fan wouldn’t be excited about that?
Courtesy of HBO Go
Politics, Politics, Politics
Despite being famous for its sword and sorcerer trope, the Game of Thrones series was best known for its politics. Just based on the trailer, we can already tell that politics will once more play a vital role in this sequel. We know that Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) is poised to replace King Viserys on the Iron Throne, but Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) wants to make a play for herself and become the first female supreme ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. Alliances will be forged, rivalries will be established, and betrayals will be launched left and right in a never-ending quest for power.
Courtesy of HBO Go
Powerful Lords, Powerful Houses
The trailer introduces us to the names of Westeros’ lords from prominent houses, including Rickard Stark, Boremund Baratheon, and Corlys Velaryon. Considering House of the Dragon is set nine generations before the birth of Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen, the show will explore the lives of older characters who were merely mentioned in history books in the Game of Thrones timeline. This will give us a glimpse of the history of these great houses and the lesser-known details and nuances of their culture.
Courtesy of HBO Go
Balerion the Black Dread
The largest and fiercest dragon to ever grace the skies of Westeros, Balerion the Black Dread is the mount of Aegon I Targaryen or The Conqueror. Balerion is instrumental to Aegon’s conquest of Westeros, whose mere mention sent shivers down the spine of Aegon’s enemies. It was also a catalyst in the forging of the Iron Throne—the infamous seat of power forged out of the swords of Aegon’s fallen enemies with the dragon’s fiery breath. Balerion eventually became Viserys’ mount, as the latter refused to bond with other dragons.
FUN FACT: The Iron Throne was made from over a thousand melted swords. It was greatly uncomfortable and regularly cut the incumbent, which is an allegory for the drawbacks of holding on to power and its nature of causing more harm than good for anyone who gets corrupted by it.
Dragonstone
Dragonstone was the power and one-time refuge of House Targaryen before Aegon the Conqueror’s conquest of Westeros. Situated on an island just northeast of what would eventually be King’s Landing, Dragonstone was built using advanced Valerian architecture to accommodate dragons. In Game of Thrones, Dragonstone was dilapidated and ill-maintained; but House of the Dragon will give us a chance to see the majestic castle in all its glory.
Courtesy of HBO Go
The Targaryen Civil War
Also known as the Dance of the Dragons or the Dying of the Dragons, it is a great rebellion launched by Aegon II against his sister Rhaenyra over the rulership of the Seven Kingdoms. With the majority of Targaryen warriors being skilled dragon riders, the war was fought with these great flying beasts which unfortunately led to their extinction. The civil war ended with the death of both Aegon II and Rhaenyra, and Rhaenyra’s son, Aegon III, was crowned king. This battle is expected to be the series’ culmination, with lots of aerial dog fights between dragon riders.
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Banner image courtesy of HBO Go.