House of the Dragon
Overview
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama television series created by George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal for HBO, serving as a prequel to Game of Thrones. The series is based on Martin's 2018 book Fire & Blood and is set approximately 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, during the height of the Targaryen dynasty. The series chronicles the beginning of the end of the Targaryen reign, a brutal civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, fought between two factions of the family for control of the Iron Throne. The series begins with King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine), a kind and peaceful king who has no male heir. He names his daughter Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock as a teenager, Emma D'Arcy as an adult) as his heir, breaking centuries of tradition that favor male succession. He marries again to Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey as a teenager, Olivia Cooke as an adult), the daughter of his Hand of the King, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans). Alicent gives birth to a son, Aegon, and Otto begins plotting to put Aegon on the throne instead of Rhaenyra. The series follows the growing rift between Rhaenyra and Alicent, who were once close friends. Rhaenyra is headstrong, passionate, and politically naive. Alicent is dutiful, repressed, and increasingly bitter. Their conflict becomes a proxy war for control of the realm. The series also follows the rogue prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith), Viserys's younger brother, a brilliant warrior and ruthless killer who is both loyal to his family and dangerously ambitious. He marries Rhaenyra, and they have children. The first season ends with Viserys's death, and Alicent and Otto seizing the throne for Aegon, sparking the Dance of the Dragons. The series is known for its epic dragon sequences, its political intrigue, and its complex female characters. It has been praised for improving on Game of Thrones' problematic elements, particularly its treatment of sexual violence. House of the Dragon was a massive success for HBO, earning high ratings and critical acclaim. A second season is in production, which will depict the full-scale civil war. The series is a return to the world of Westeros, with all the political scheming, violence, and dragons that fans love.
