On May 19, 2019, the last episode of Game of Thrones aired, and more than 170 countries watched an epic battle between the living and the white walkers. Throughout eight seasons and more than sixty episodes, the Night King gave no respite in his attempts to extinguish the breath of humanity. Some media outlets, such as The Hollywood Reporter and Rolling Stone even ranked Game of Thrones as one of the best shows on television.
Since 2011, millions of viewers followed this medieval fantasy inspired by the novel series A Song of Ice and Fire by writer George R.R. Martin. Since that farewell, no TV show had managed to gather so much fanaticism and enthusiasm. None, until the recent premiere of House of the Dragon, a prequel show to Game of Thrones.
The first season of House of the Dragon wrapped its run on October 24 and broke major broadcast records in HBO history. Directed by Miguel Sapochnik, Clare Kilner, Geeta Vasant Patel and Greg Yaitanes, the new original series explored the controversial family tree of House Targaryen. After ten episodes, the show was able to develop the context prior to the legendary civil war between the Targaryens for the coveted Iron Throne.
This fantasy world, based in part on the book Fire and Blood by George R.R. Martin, takes us back to the continent of Westeros. The first installment focuses essentially on three noble Houses: the Targaryens, the Velaryons and the Hightowers, all of them eaten away by the lust for power and the desire to take the crown.
The whole season foreshadows what is about to happen in the tragic Dragon Dance, the intra-family war of the Targaryens that ends with the mighty empire of the dragons and their riders.
What is the plot of House of the Dragon?
House of the Dragon takes place 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen, during the reign of Viserys I, a peaceful sovereign who preserved the harmony and prosperity of the entire continent. The show is set precisely when the Targaryens and their mighty dragons governed Westeros.
King Viserys I, his daughter Rhaenyra and his brother Daemon star in all sorts of tensions about the dynasty and the Iron Throne. The story focuses essentially on the issue of monarchical succession.
The long-awaited Game of Thrones prequel follows young Princess Rhaenyra, an ambitious and stubborn teenager, who is proclaimed the rightful heir to House Targaryen. However, the problem is precipitated as the monarchy traditionally follows the male-preference primogeniture system. According to Westeros tradition, only male heirs can claim the crown and ascend to power. The decision of King Viserys I to break with this custom and legally recognize the right of his daughter Rhaenyra to inherit the Iron Throne unleashes serious conspiracies.
All is further complicated when the king’s Privy Council urges Viserys I to choose a new queen. Soon, the king is betrothed to Alicent Hightower and celebrates the unexpected birth of Aegon II. Following the news of a new heir, tensions over patriarchal tradition resurface. -The underlying issue is that certain nobles are still reluctant to accept a queen instead of a king-. The epic fantasy series delves into the theme of succession, questions of legitimacy, and female rule.
In this sense, the arrival of a male child divides House Targaryen into two irreconcilable factions. On the one hand, there are “the Blacks”, those loyal to Rhaenyra Targaryen, and on the other hand, there are “the Greens”, those loyal to Alicent Hightower and her son Aegon II. From this moment on, the reigning House of Westeros faces multiple political crises and the fractures within the family begin.
The new HBO series explores the splendor and ruin of the most powerful lineage of the Seven Kingdoms. The show reveals how King’s Landing is becoming a hostile territory, full of political machinations, palace intrigues, family conspiracies, and dangers. Once King Viserys I dies, the rivalry between half-sisters Rhaenyra and Aegon II condemns the Seven Kingdoms to a bloodshed that nearly tears Westeros apart.
George R.R. Martin has commented that the TV show does justice to the source material and treats it with respect, “is all I hoped it would be; dark, powerful, visceral, disturbing, stunning to look at, peopled with complex and very human characters brought to life by some truly amazing actors”.
Is House of the Dragon worth watching?
The Game of Thrones prequel is certainly a show worth watching. It’s a robust, bloody, fierce, political and dramatic adaptation.
House of the Dragon almost immediately pulls viewers into the familiar sights and sounds of George R.R. Martin’s universe. The prequel picks up on many elements of the original work. Honestly, it’s remarkable how the show’s creators have managed to bring back the Westeros we all missed.
One of the most appreciated winks by fans has been the reuse of the iconic Game of Thrones theme, composed by Ramin Djawadi. The powerful score is played in the opening sequence of this prequel, and reaffirms the DNA of this medieval fantasy universe.
Visually, the HBO series gives continuity to the aesthetic traits of its predecessor. Here and there, there is spectacularity and blood. Martin, Sapochnik and Condal do their best to make the show look imposing. Although Game of Thornes is much more ambitious in scale, House of the Dragon has a remarkable and striking production design. This story reflects a rich, sophisticated era when dragons and their riders crossed the skies of Westeros on a regular basis.
The series has a distinctly medieval air and is full of stunning imagery. Most of the drama takes place inside castles and fortresses. There, the sets are sumptuous and symbolic. Special attention to detail and verisimilitude stand out.
As for the script, the Game of Thrones prequel has summarized a complicated family saga in a single season. It should be noted that the structure of the show has been quite risky. Throughout the first installment, there have been multiple jumps in time to show three Targaryen generations. In fact, this tale has covered more time in three episodes than its predecessor did in three seasons.
It is no secret that the writers took great risks to compress the story into a few episodes; While it is true that, by breaking the chronological time, the program goes straight to the critical and indispensable points, it is also true that the screenwriters omitted scenes that could have enriched the plot. The sense of urgency and immediacy makes it difficult to become more deeply familiar with everything that happens.
Overall, the plot of House of the Dragon touches on complex and sensitive issues. The HBO series has enough tension, enough nuances, and enough thrills for a great feast. Despite the time jumps, the program manages to hook viewers and keep them on edge at all times.
The Targaryens are beautifully complicated, dimensional, and explosive.
The construction of characters is one of the most outstanding successes of the show. The protagonists are not mere archetypes of heroes and villains. The Targaryens are beautifully complicated, dimensional, and explosive. At times, they have moments of nobility and compassion. At other times, they are driven by pride, ambition, and malice. Their decisions, their failures, and their lies make them more hardened and more real.
The first season of HBO’s House of the Dragon came to an end with a heartbreaking tenth episode. The tragic death of the young prince Lucerys Velaryon marked the official start of the Dance of the Dragons. The blood spilled inspires a visceral desire for vengeance in Rhaenyra and her followers. Apparently, no one is safe in Westeros.
It’s good to know that George R.R. Martin’s world is returning to our screens with full confidence and verve. While most of the first season of House of the Dragon revolved around the events leading up to the civil war, the second season will show the conflict in full swing.
House of the Dragon’s future
HBO didn’t wait long to confirm the return of this epic fantasy series. House of the Dragon was officially renewed for a second season shortly after the premiere of the first episode.
The company stated that the Game of Thrones prequel broke the broadcast record and became the most-watched original series in the network’s history. In its first week, it reached more than 25 million viewers, and the audience remained stable until the end of the season.
The cast has not yet been confirmed, but Olivia Cooke (Alicent Hightower), Emma D’Arcy (Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen) and Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) are expected to reprise their roles, as are Fabien Frankel (Criston Cole) and Eve Best (Rhaenys Targaryen).
Filming is scheduled to begin in 2023, so we may not see the second season until 2024.