House of the Dragon is here. The TV series is a prequel to Game of Thrones and is based on George RR Martin’s 2018 book Fire & Blood (the first of two volumes), which covers the Targaryen dynasty. After Game of Thrones (GoT) ended in 2019 to a mixed reaction from fans, House of the Dragon will be hoping to echo the earlier seasons that made the show one of the biggest cultural events of the 21st century. Here is everything you need to know about the new show.
Development
After GoT finished there were several projects in the running to carry on the story. Currently, there are four other spin-off series in the works, including one based around Jon Snow. House of the Dragon got the official approval from Martin, who handpicked showrunner Ryan Conda, alongside Miguel Sapochnik (director of several GoT episodes including the “Battle of the Bastards”) to lead the show. The show will cover a period of time up to the Targaryen civil war, known as the Dance of Dragons. While the Targaryen’s “didn’t” feature much in the original series, this series will give fans a deep dive into the most powerful family in Westeros’ history and answer questions on how this family disappeared.
Cast
Like the original series, House of the Dragon is packed full of amazing actors. Leading the show are Paddy Considine as King Viserys I Targaryen, Emma D’Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen, and Olivia Cooke as Lady Alicent Hightower. This will be the second franchise where Matt Smith plays a lead role after his turn as the Eleventh Doctor in Doctor Who. True to GoT, Smith has already questioned the number of sex scenes in the series, saying in an interview “You do find yourself asking, ‘Do we need another sex scene?”
Legacy
HBO’s Game of Thrones was a cultural behemoth that extended far beyond the screen. Fans were able to engage with the series on a multitude of levels, with the gaming industry, in particular, producing content that further expanded the series. Game of Thrones: A Telltale Game Series was made available on the PS4, PS3, Xbox One, and Xbox 360, with players able to play as characters from a new house. Actors from the series Natalie Dormer (Margaery), Peter Dinklage (Tyrion), Lena Headey (Cersei), and Iwan Rheon (Ramsay) made guest appearances. The fan demand to interact with GoT on digital media also saw the game expand to non-traditional platforms. The GoT-inspired slot games on Coral, Game of Thrones 243 ways, and Game of Thrones Power Stacks lets fans of online casual gaming further invest in the series. The question now is whether House of the Dragon will replicate that success beyond the screen. HBO has already released an AR app for the series that allows users to bring the show’s creatures into our world. It is yet to be seen if gamers will be able to visit Westeros during the time of the House of the Dragon.
Whether House of the Dragon can recapture the magic that made GoT so beloved in its earlier years is yet to be seen. From what we have seen of the series so far, we can expect the usual treachery, politics, and warfare, and that should make House of the Dragon a huge success.
