House of the Dragon

This article is about the TV series. For the house in Ceuta, see House of the Dragons.

House of the Dragon
File:House of the Dragon logo.jpg
Genre	Action Adventure Fantasy Serial drama
Created by	Ryan Condal George R. R. Martin
Based on	Fire & Blood by George R. R. Martin
Starring	Paddy Considine Matt Smith Olivia Cooke Emma D'Arcy Rhys Ifans Steve Toussaint Eve Best Sonoya Mizuno Fabien Frankel Milly Alcock Emily Carey Graham McTavish Matthew Needham Jefferson Hall Harry Collett Tom Glynn-Carney Ewan Mitchell Bethany Antonia Phoebe Campbell Phia Saban
Theme music composer	Ramin Djawadi
Opening theme	"Main Title"
Composer	Ramin Djawadi
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	10
Production
Executive producers	Miguel Sapochnik Ryan Condal George R. R. Martin Ron Schmidt Jocelyn Diaz Sara Hess Vince Gerardis
Producers	Karen Wacker Angus More Gordon Alexis Raben Kevin Lau
Production locations	Portugal United Kingdom Spain United States
Cinematography	Fabian Wagner Pepe Avila del Pino Alejandro Martínez Catherine Goldschmidt
Editors	Tim Porter Selina MacArthur Crispin Green Chris Hunter
Running time	54–68 minutes
Production companies	GRRM Bastard Sword 1:26 Pictures Inc. HBO Entertainment
Original release
Network	HBO
Release	August 21, 2022 (2022-08-21) – present (present)
Related
Game of Thrones

House of the Dragon is an American fantasy drama television series. An independent prequel to Game of Thrones (2011–2019), it is the second show in the franchise, created by George R. R. Martin and Ryan Condal for HBO. Both series are based on the A Song of Ice and Fire novels by Martin. Condal and Miguel Sapochnik are the showrunners. Based on parts of the novel Fire & Blood, the series is set about 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen, descendant of the eponymous royal house, and 100 years after the Seven Kingdoms is united by the Targaryen Conquest. It portrays the beginning of the end of House Targaryen, the events leading up to and covering the Targaryen civil war of succession, known as the "Dance of the Dragons".

House of the Dragon received a straight-to-series order in October 2019, with casting beginning in July 2020 and principal photography starting in April 2021 in the United Kingdom. The series premiered on August 21, 2022, with the first season consisting of ten episodes. Five days after its premiere, the series was renewed for a second season. Sapochnik departed as showrunner after the first season, leaving Condal to serve as the sole showrunner for the second season. The first season received highly positive reviews, with praise towards its character development, writing, score, and performances (particularly Considine and Smith's). However, the pacing, specifically of the time jumps, and the lighting of some scenes were criticized. The series premiere was watched by over 10 million viewers, the biggest in HBO's history.

Cast and characters

Starring

• Paddy Considine as King Viserys I Targaryen (season 1): The fifth king of the Seven Kingdoms. Known as "a warm, kind, and decent man", Viserys was chosen by a council of lords to succeed his grandfather, King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, as king. Viserys is the firstborn son of King Jaehaerys' second son Prince Baelon Targaryen and his sister-wife Princess Alyssa Targaryen. He was previously a dragonrider who rode King Aegon the Conqueror's legendary dragon Balerion, until he died of old age.
• Matt Smith as Prince / Prince Consort Daemon Targaryen: The younger brother of King Viserys I Targaryen and the second husband of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. Known as the "Rogue Prince" for his unpredictable behavior, Daemon is also a fierce warrior and wields the Valyrian steel sword Dark Sister. He is an experienced dragonrider who rides the dragon Caraxes.
• Olivia Cooke as Queen / Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower: Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen's childhood companion and former best friend, and later the second wife and queen consort of King Viserys I Targaryen. She is raised in the Red Keep as part of the King's inner circle, and is known as the most comely woman in the Seven Kingdoms. Her supporters, the "Greens", conspire a coup after King Viserys' passing and crown her eldest son Aegon as king.
  • Emily Carey (season 1) portrays a young Lady / Queen Alicent Hightower.
• Emma D'Arcy as Princess / Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen: King Viserys I Targaryen's daughter and heir apparent, the firstborn and only surviving child of Viserys and his first wife, Queen Aemma Arryn. She was praised as the "Realm's Delight" during her youth, and is crowned queen by her supporter, the "Blacks", after her brother usurped her throne. She is a dragonrider who rides the dragon Syrax.
  • Milly Alcock (season 1) portrays a young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen.
• Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower: Queen Alicent's father and the Hand of the King to King Viserys I Targaryen's small council and continues to hold his position under King Aegon II Targaryen. He is haughty, blunt, and domineering.
• Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon: The Lord of Driftmark and head of House Velaryon, one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in the Seven Kingdoms, and a former Master of Ships to King Viserys I Targaryen. Known as the "Sea Snake", he is the most famous seafarer in Westerosi history.
• Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen: King Viserys I Targaryen's older cousin and the wife of Lord Corlys Velaryon. Rhaenys is the only child of Prince Aemon Targaryen, King Jaehaerys I Targaryen's late heir apparent and oldest son, and Jocelyn Baratheon, Jaehaerys' half-sister. Known as the "Queen Who Never Was", she was once a candidate to succeed her grandfather as ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, but was passed over in favor of her younger cousin Viserys due to her gender. She is a formidable dragonrider who rides the dragon Meleys.
• Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria: A foreign-born brothel dancer who rose to become Prince Daemon Targaryen's paramour and most trusted confidante until they eventually parted ways. She was later revealed to be the master of whispers known as the "White Worm", who leads a network of spies throughout King's Landing.
• Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole: A skilled swordsman from the Dornish Marches and the common-born son of the steward to the Lord of Blackhaven, who is hand-picked by Princess Rhaenyra to become a member of King Viserys I Targaryen's Kingsguard. He later fell out with Rhaenyra and defected to support Queen Alicent instead. Known as the "Kingmaker", he is a key Greens supporter and replaces Ser Harrold Westerling as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard following the ascension of King Aegon II Targaryen.
• Graham McTavish as Ser Harrold Westerling: A seasoned knight of the Kingsguard who has served the Crown since King Jaehaerys I Targaryen. He is tasked with watching over and protecting Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. Upon the death of Ser Ryam Redwyne, he is named the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
• Matthew Needham as Lord Larys Strong: The younger son of Lord Lyonel Strong, he is known as "Clubfoot" due to a birth abnormality that causes him to walk with a limp. He is Queen Alicent's trusted confidante and later serves as the Lord Confessor.
• Jefferson Hall as the identical twins from House Lannister:
  • Lord Jason Lannister: The Lord of Casterly Rock, head of House Lannister and Warden of the West. An arrogant hunter and warrior, he unsuccessfully vies for the hand of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen.
  • Ser Tyland Lannister: Lord Jason Lannister's younger brother and a cunning politician. He replaces Lord Corlys Velaryon as Master of Ships on King Viserys I Targaryen's small council. He later replaces Lord Lyman Beesbury as the Master of Coin following the ascension of King Aegon II Targaryen.
• Harry Collett as Prince Jacaerys "Jace" Velaryon: The firstborn son of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Ser Laenor Velaryon, and the heir to Rhaenyra's birthright. He is a dragonrider who rides the young dragon Vermax.
  • Leo Hart portrays a young Jacaerys Velaryon.
• Tom Glynn-Carney as Prince / King Aegon II Targaryen: The sixth king of the Seven Kingdoms. He is the firstborn son of King Viserys I Targaryen and Queen Alicent Hightower, half-brother to Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, husband of his sister-wife Helaena Targaryen, and father to her children. Despite the best efforts of his mother, his hedonism and depravity is legendary in King's Landing's Street of Silk. He is a dragonrider who rides the young dragon Sunfyre.
  • Ty Tennant portrays a young Prince Aegon Targaryen.
• Ewan Mitchell as Prince Aemond Targaryen: The third child and second son of King Viserys I Targaryen and Queen Alicent Hightower. He aspires to be a dragonrider and later claims and rides the legendary dragon Vhagar. He is known as "Aemond One-Eye" after losing his left eye in a brawl with his nephews, and has grown to become a fearsome and aggressive warrior.
  • Leo Ashton portrays a young Prince Aemond Targaryen.
• Bethany Antonia as Lady Baela Targaryen: The elder daughter of Prince Daemon Targaryen and Lady Laena Velaryon. She is betrothed to Prince Jacaerys, and is a dragonrider who rides the young dragon Moondancer.
  • Shani Smethurst portrays a young Baela Targaryen.
• Phoebe Campbell as Lady Rhaena Targaryen: The younger daughter of Prince Daemon Targaryen and Lady Laena Velaryon. She is betrothed to Prince Lucerys, and is in possession of a dragon egg, although it hasn't yet hatched.
  • Eva Ossei-Gerning portrays a young Rhaena Targaryen.
• Phia Saban as Princess / Queen Helaena Targaryen: The secondborn child and only daughter of King Viserys I Targaryen and Queen Alicent Hightower, sister-wife of King Aegon II Targaryen, and mother to his children Jaehaerys, Jaehaera and Maelor. She has a unique interest in bugs and often speaks in cryptic prophetic language. She is a dragonrider who rides the dragon Dreamfyre.
  • Evie Allen portrays a young Princess Helaena Targaryen.

Recurring

• Gavin Spokes as Lord Lyonel Strong (season 1): The Lord of Harrenhal and head of House Strong, and Master of Laws on King Viserys I Targaryen's small council. He later replaces Ser Otto Hightower as Hand of the King.
• David Horovitch as Grand Maester Mellos (season 1): A maester of the Citadel and Grand Maester on King Viserys I Targaryen's small council, as well as serving as his personal physician.
• Bill Paterson as Lord Lyman Beesbury (season 1): The Lord of Honeyholt and head of House Beesbury, and Master of Coin on King Viserys I Targaryen's small council.
• Steffan Rhodri as Lord Hobert Hightower: The Lord of Oldtown and head of House Hightower, and the older brother of Ser Otto Hightower.
• John Macmillan as Ser Laenor Velaryon: The son of Lord Corlys Velaryon and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, and later the first husband of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. He is a dragonrider who rides the dragon Seasmoke.
  • Theo Nate portrays a young Laenor Velaryon.
  • Matthew Carver portrays child Laenor Velaryon.
• Nanna Blondell as Lady Laena Velaryon (season 1): The daughter of Lord Corlys Velaryon and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, and later the second wife of Prince Daemon Targaryen. She is a dragonrider who rides the old, legendary dragon Vhagar.
  • Savannah Steyn portrays a young Laena Velaryon.
  • Nova Foueillis-Mosé portrays child Laena Velaryon.
• Elliott Tittensor as Ser Erryk Cargyll: The twin brother of Ser Arryk Cargyll and a member of King Viserys I Targaryen's Kingsguard and later Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen's Queensguard.
• Luke Tittensor as Ser Arryk Cargyll: The twin brother of Ser Erryk Cargyll and a member of the Kingsguard for both King Viserys I Targaryen and King Aegon II Targaryen.
• Anthony Flanagan as Ser Steffon Darklyn: A member of King Viserys I Targaryen's Kingsguard and later Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen's Queensguard.
• Max Wrottesley as Ser Lorent Marbrand: A member of King Viserys I Targaryen's Kingsguard and later Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen's Queensguard.
• Ryan Corr as Ser Harwin Strong (season 1): The eldest son of Lord Lyonel Strong and heir to Harrenhal. Known as "Breakbones", he is said to be the strongest man in the Seven Kingdoms. He was Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen's secret lover and the biological father of her first three sons.
• Wil Johnson as Ser Vaemond Velaryon (season 1): The younger brother of Lord Corlys Velaryon, and a commander in the Velaryon navy.
• Kurt Egyiawan as Grand Maester Orwyle: A maester of the Citadel who replaces Mellos as Grand Maester on King Viserys I Targaryen's small council and continues to hold his position under King Aegon II Targaryen.
• Elliot Grihault as Prince Lucerys "Luke" Velaryon (season 1): The secondborn son of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Ser Laenor Velaryon. He is a dragonrider who rides the young dragon Arrax.
  • Harvey Sadler portrays a young Lucerys Velaryon.
• Paul Kennedy as Lord Jasper Wylde: The Lord of Rain House and head of House Wylde. Known as "Ironrod", he replaces Lyonel Strong as Master of Laws on King Viserys I Targaryen's small council and continues to hold his position under King Aegon II Targaryen.
• Alexis Raben as Talya: Queen Alicent Hightower's lady-in-waiting and a spy for Mysaria.
• Paul Hickey as Lord Allun Caswell (season 1): The Lord of Bitterbridge and head of House Caswell.
• Phil Daniels as Maester Gerardys: The Maester of Dragonstone.

Guests

• Sian Brooke as Queen Aemma Arryn (season 1): The queen consort and first wife of King Viserys I Targaryen and Rhaenyra's mother. She is a granddaughter of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen through her mother, Princess Daella Targaryen, making Viserys her first cousin.
• Michael Carter as King Jaehaerys I Targaryen (season 1): The fourth king of the Seven Kingdoms. He is the grandfather of King Viserys I Targaryen, Prince Daemon Targaryen, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen and Queen Aemma Arryn. Known as the "Conciliator" or the "Old King", he ruled for over half a century and ended up outliving all his children, and eventually had to organize a great council to choose an heir from his grandchildren. He was a dragonrider and rode the dragon Vermithor.
• Garry Cooper as Ser Ryam Redwyne (season 1): The Lord Commander of King Viserys I Targaryen's Kingsguard.
• Julian Lewis Jones as Lord Boremund Baratheon (season 1): The Lord of Storm's End, head of House Baratheon and Lord Paramount of the Stormlands. He is also a cousin of Princess Rhaenys Targaryen and is the great-grandson of house-founder Orys Baratheon, the half-brother of King Aegon the Conqueror.
• Daniel Scott-Smith as Craghas Drahar (season 1): A Myrish prince-admiral who leads the Triarchy in conquering the Stepstones, plaguing the Westerosi sea trade. He is known as the "Crabfeeder" for his practice of crucifying and feeding his captured enemies to crabs.
• Solly McLeod as Ser Joffrey Lonmouth (season 1): A knight of House Lonmouth, the battle companion and lover to Ser Laenor Velaryon.
• Rachel Redford as Lady Rhea Royce (season 1): The heir to Runestone, the seat of House Royce, and Prince Daemon Targaryen's estranged first wife.
• Owen Oakeshott as Ser Gerold Royce: A cousin of Lady Rhea Royce.
• Arty Froushan as Ser Qarl Correy: A household knight and lover of Ser Laenor Velaryon.
• Dean Nolan as Prince Reggio Haratis: The ruler of the Free City of Pentos.
• Maddie Evans as Dyana: A handmaid raped by King Aegon II Targaryen.
• Roger Evans as Lord Borros Baratheon: The son of Lord Boremund Baratheon who succeeds him as Lord of Storm's End and Lord Paramount of the Stormlands.
• Nicholas Jones as Lord Bartimos Celtigar: The Lord of Claw Isle and head of House Celtigar.

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	U.S. viewers (millions)
1	"The Heirs of the Dragon"	Miguel Sapochnik	Ryan Condal	August 21, 2022 (2022-08-21)	2.17
With both sons dead, old King Jaehaerys I Targaryen convenes a Great Council to choose an heir. The Westerosi lords select Jaehaerys' eldest grandson, Prince Viserys, over his eldest grandchild, Princess Rhaenys. Nine years into his reign, King Viserys organizes a tournament to celebrate Queen Aemma Arryn's pregnancy, confident she is carrying his long-awaited male heir. The Small Council disregards Master of Ships Lord Corlys Velaryon's warning that the Triarchy, an alliance of Essos' Free Cities, threatens to cripple Westerosi shipping lanes. The Hand of the King, Ser Otto Hightower, criticizes Viserys's brother and heir, Prince Daemon, for his brutality as the City Watch commander. At the tournament, Ser Criston Cole, a common-born knight, outcompetes Daemon, while Aemma dies in childbirth. Her newborn son, Baelon, dies shortly after. Viserys refuses the council's pleas to appoint a new heir until Otto reveals that Daemon mockingly styled Baelon as, "The Heir for a Day." Outraged, Viserys banishes Daemon from King's Landing and appoints his only living child, Princess Rhaenyra, heir to the Iron Throne, revealing to her Aegon the Conqueror's dream that inspired him to unify Westeros.
2	"The Rogue Prince"	Greg Yaitanes	Ryan Condal	August 28, 2022 (2022-08-28)	2.26
Six months after Rhaenyra is named the heir, Daemon has illegally occupied Dragonstone, supported by loyal City Watch guards. When Prince-Admiral Craghas Drahar, known as the Crabfeeder, menaces the Stepstones archipelago at the Essos Triarchy's behest, Rhaenyra suggests showing force. The Small Council dismisses this and instead relegates Rhaenyra to appointing a new Kingsguard knight. Ignoring others' advice, she chooses Ser Criston, the only knight with actual battle experience. Ser Otto sends his teen-aged daughter, Lady Alicent, to privately console the grieving king; she advises that Viserys and Rhaenyra should discuss his kingly duty to remarry. Lord Corlys and his wife, Princess Rhaenys, propose that Viserys unite their Valyrian houses by marrying their twelve-year-old daughter, Laena. Meanwhile, the Small Council learns that Daemon, proclaiming himself the true heir, stole a dragon egg and intends to marry his mistress, Mysaria, as a secondary spouse. Otto and a small detachment sail to Dragonstone to retrieve the egg. Rhaenyra follows on her dragon, Syrax, and forces Daemon to renounce his false claims and give her the egg. Viserys weds Alicent, angering Corlys, who approaches Daemon to propose an alliance.
3	"Second of His Name"	Greg Yaitanes	Gabe Fonseca & Ryan Condal	September 4, 2022 (2022-09-04)	1.75
For three years, the Stepstones conflict has escalated. Lord Corlys and Prince Daemon battle Craghas Drahar and his pirates without the Iron Throne's support. Meanwhile, King Viserys plans a great hunt to celebrate his and pregnant Queen Alicent's son Aegon's second birthday. Rhaenyra resents her father's excessive attention towards her half-brother, Aegon. The ailing king insists that Rhaenyra, now seventeen, must marry to form a strong alliance and protect their lineage. Among the suitors is Lord Jason Lannister of Casterly Rock, a match Rhaenyra opposes. Even two-year-old Prince Aegon is proposed. Lord Lyonel Strong recommends Ser Laenor Velaryon, Lord Corlys' son, to mend the rift between the two houses. Overcoming his previous doubts, Viserys assures Rhaenyra she will remain his heir and can choose her consort. Meanwhile, brothers Hobert and Otto Hightower secretly scheme to make Aegon the successor, furthering their family's power and prestige. After Ser Vaemond Velaryon pleads for the king's help, Viserys agrees to send aid to the Stepstones. Seeing his brother's support as ending his chance to prove himself, Daemon acts as bait to ambush the Triarchy warriors, killing the Crabfeeder and winning the ensuing battle before the crown's forces arrive.
4	"King of the Narrow Sea"	Clare Kilner	Ira Parker	September 11, 2022 (2022-09-11)	1.81
Rhaenyra returns to King's Landing, prematurely ending an unsuccessful months-long tour to choose a consort. Daemon also returns after conquering most of the Stepstones and being named, "King of the Narrow Sea". Daemon swears allegiance to Viserys and hands over his crown. As the reunited brothers celebrate, Alicent confides her loneliness to Rhaenyra, who misses their friendship. After dark, Daemon and Rhaenyra sneak out to explore King's Landing, drinking, attending a bawdy play, and visiting a brothel. Daemon seduces a willing Rhaenyra, but unable to consummate their affair, he abandons her there. Returning to the Red Keep, Rhaenyra entices Ser Criston into having sex. Informed by the White Worm's spy, Ser Otto tells the king about Daemon and Rhaenyra's carousing. Alicent overhears them and privately questions Rhaenyra, who denies having sex with Daemon. Viserys confronts Daemon who, hungover and disheveled, seemingly confirms the accusations and proposes he wed Rhaenyra. Viserys claims Daemon only wants the crown and exiles him to the Vale. To avoid scandal and strengthen the throne, Viserys orders Rhaenyra to marry Ser Laenor Velaryon. Viserys dismisses Otto as his Hand after Rhaenyra alleges that Otto manipulates him for personal gain. Grand Maester Mellos gives Rhaenyra a precautionary abortifacient tea at Viserys' request.
5	"We Light the Way"	Clare Kilner	Charmaine DeGraté	September 18, 2022 (2022-09-18)	1.83
In the Vale, Daemon murders his wife, Lady Rhea Royce. Rhaenyra and Ser Laenor Velaryon are betrothed, mollifying Lord Corlys. Understanding Laenor's homosexuality, Rhaenyra proposes fulfilling their duty, then take lovers. Rhaenyra declines Ser Criston's proposal to elope to Essos and assume new identities. Her wish to continue their sexual liaison upsets Criston. Before departing King's Landing, Ser Otto warns Queen Alicent that Rhaenyra becoming queen makes Alicent's children a threat to the crown. Alicent questions Criston about Rhaenyra and Daemon, but misunderstanding, he confesses to being Rhaenyra's lover. During Rhaenyra and Laenor's betrothal celebration, Alicent arrives late, interrupting Viserys' speech, wearing a green gown, the signal color for House Hightower's call to arms. Daemon unexpectedly arrives. Confronted by Rhea's cousin, Daemon denies murdering her and wants to inherit her lands. Laenor's lover, Ser Joffrey Lonmouth, surmises Criston is Rhaenyra's paramour. When Criston believes Joffrey is threatening blackmail, he brutally kills him, devastating Laenor and horrifying guests. Rhaenyra and Laenor privately wed late that night. Viserys collapses after the ceremony. Meanwhile, Alicent intervenes as Criston is about to kill himself.
6	"The Princess and the Queen"	Miguel Sapochnik	Sara Hess	September 25, 2022 (2022-09-25)	1.86
Ten years later, Rhaenyra has given birth to three sons—Jacaerys, Lucerys and newborn Joffrey. All lack the Targaryen/Velaryon silver hair, but Viserys rejects Alicent's assertion that Laenor is not their father. Alicent tells Aegon he must prepare to one day fight Rhaenyra for the throne. Daemon and his wife, Laena Velaryon, visit Pentos with daughters Baela and Rhaena. The Prince offers them a lordship in exchange for an alliance against a resurgent Triarchy. Unable to give birth after an agonizing labor, Laena commands her dragon Vhagar to incinerate her. Ser Criston, now serving Alicent, goads Ser Harwin into attacking him by implying that Harwin fathered Rhaenyra's children. To ease family strife, Rhaenyra proposes Jacaerys marry Helaena, Alicent's daughter, which Alicent rejects. Viserys rejects Ser Lyonel Strong's resignation as Hand of the King. Viserys permits Lyonel to escort the disgraced Harwin to Harrenhal. Harwin bids Rhaenyra and her children an emotional farewell. Alicent confides to Larys Strong that she wishes her father, Ser Otto, was still the king's Hand. Larys then recruits three condemned criminals who then set a fire at Harrenhal, killing Lyonel and Harwin. Rhaenyra moves her household to Dragonstone, also bringing Laenor's lover, Ser Qarl Correy.
7	"Driftmark"	Miguel Sapochnik	Kevin Lau	October 2, 2022 (2022-10-02)	1.88
King Viserys and his court attend Lady Laena's funeral in Driftmark. Rhaenyra and Daemon reunite and are physically intimate. Viserys tries but fails to reconcile with Daemon. Prince Aemond claims Vhagar as his dragon, causing an altercation with his cousins and nephews in which Lucerys slashes Aemond's eye with a knife. Wanting retribution, Queen Alicent lunges at Lucerys with Viserys' Valyrian steel dagger in an attempt to gouge out his eye. Rhaenyra blocks Alicent but her arm is wounded. After claims that Rhaenyra's children are bastards, Viserys decrees anyone questioning their legitimacy will be silenced. Hand of the King, Otto Hightower later tells Alicent they will prevail, while Rhaenyra and Daemon unite against Alicent and her supporters. To continue the true Velaryon lineage, Princess Rhaenys urges that Lord Corlys pass his title through their granddaughter, Baela, claiming Laenor did not sire Rhaenyra's children. Ser Qarl appears to murder Laenor, with Rhaenys and Corlys believing a charred body is their son's. Daemon and Rhaenyra privately marry in the old Valyrian Dragonlord tradition to perpetuate the pure Targaryen bloodline. After faking his death, Laenor secretly flees Driftmark with Qarl.
8	"The Lord of the Tides"	Geeta Vasant Patel	Eileen Shim	October 9, 2022 (2022-10-09)	1.73
Six years on, Corlys Velaryon, Lord of the Driftmark, is severely wounded fighting in the Stepstones. His brother, Ser Vaemond, petitions King's Landing to name him Corlys' heir, proclaiming Rhaenyra's son, Lucerys, illegitimate. Rhaenyra and Daemon return to the capital to defend Lucerys' claim. They find King Viserys is bedridden, disfigured, and mentally muddled. Queen Alicent and King's Hand Otto Hightower oversee royal matters. Alicent covers-up Prince Aegon raping a handmaiden. Rhaenyra proposes two marriage arrangements to gain Princess Rhaenys' support. She implores Viserys to defend her succession, quoting Aegon the Conqueror's dream about the Prince That Was Promised. As Vaemond's petition is presented at court, Viserys, barely ambulatory, enters and declares Lucerys the Driftmark heir. Daemon beheads Vaemond when he denounces Rhaenyra as a whore and her children bastards. The family appears to reconcile during a feast, but after Viserys departs, Aemond incites a fight by insinuating Rhaenyra's three eldest sons are illegitimate. Meanwhile, Alicent's lady-in-waiting, Talya, regularly provides Daemon's former mistress, Mysaria, with information. Viserys, near death, mutters parts of Aegon the Conqueror's dream, which Alicent believes refers to their son, Aegon.
9	"The Green Council"	Clare Kilner	Sara Hess	October 16, 2022 (2022-10-16)	1.56
After Viserys' death, Ser Otto and the Small Council plot to crown Prince Aegon. Ser Criston kills Lord Beesbury for protesting Rhaenyra being usurped. Kingsguard Lord Commander Harrold Westerling resigns in protest. Otto keeps Viserys's death secret to fortify the council's position, then coerces the noble houses to switch their allegiance to Aegon. Those resisting are imprisoned or hanged. Otto and Alicent disagree on whether to kill or spare Rhaenerya and try to influence Aegon, who is absent and is searched for by two separate parties: Otto sends Kingsguard brothers Ser Erryk and Ser Arryk Cargyll, while Alicent sends Criston and Prince Aemond. The Cargylls find Aegon, but Criston and Aemond forcibly take him. Lord Larys tells Alicent that spies, including lady-in-waiting, Talya, are within the Red Keep. Alicent approves eliminating the head spy. Aegon resists being king, but Alicent persuades him otherwise. King's Landing citizens are herded into the Dragonpit to witness Aegon's coronation. Princess Rhaenys, refusing to support Aegon as king, is held captive but eventually freed by Erryk. She enters the Dragonpit caverns and astride her dragon Meleys breaches the grand hall, causing mayhem and casualties; she confronts the royal usurpers before leaving on dragonback.
10	"The Black Queen"	Greg Yaitanes	Ryan Condal	October 23, 2022 (2022-10-23)	1.85
On Dragonstone, Princess Rhaenys announces King Viserys's death and that Prince Aegon usurped the throne. Shocked, Rhaenyra goes into premature labour and suffers a stillbirth. Daemon, believing Viserys was murdered, urges war. Ser Erryk brings Viserys' crown and Rhaenyra is declared queen. Ser Otto presents Aegon's terms for Rhaenyra's concession; she prevents Daemon from killing Otto and delays answering. Privately, Daemon is angered that Rhaenyra may concede to unify the realm against the threat foretold by Aegon the Conqueror's dream. Rhaenys persuades Lord Corlys to pledge House Velaryon's allegiance to Rhaenyra's "Black" faction; Daemon plans to recruit more dragonriders, and awakens the large dragon Vermithor. Princes Jacaerys and Lucerys act as envoys to secure Houses Arryn, Stark, and Baratheon as allies. Lucerys meets with Lord Borros Baratheon, who refuses to support Rhaenyra, claiming she has offered nothing in return. Prince Aemond is also present. Aegon has offered an alliance by Aemond marrying Borros' daughter. Aemond demands an eye from Lucerys as retribution. Lucerys leaves on his dragon, Arrax, but Aemond pursues him on Vhagar. The fractious dragons defy their riders; Arrax burns Vhagar; Vhagar then kills Lucerys and Arrax, stunning Aemond. Daemon informs Rhaenyra of Lucerys' death.

Production

Development

Show creators and executive producers Ryan Condal (left) and George R. R. Martin

In 2015, with Game of Thrones still in production, HBO executives approached A Song of Ice and Fire writer George R. R. Martin regarding possible successors or spin-offs to the series. In November 2018, Martin stated that a "potential spin-off series would be solidly based on material in Fire & Blood." Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss stated they wanted to "move on" from the franchise and declined involvement in subsequent projects. By September 2019, a Game of Thrones prequel series from Martin and Ryan Condal that "tracks the beginning of the end for House Targaryen" was close to receiving a pilot order from HBO. The following month, House of the Dragon was given a straight-to-series order. Condal and Miguel Sapochnik, who won an Emmy Award for directing the episode "Battle of the Bastards", were selected to serve as showrunners. In 2016, Condal pitched the idea of a series based on Martin's Tales of Dunk and Egg, however HBO initially passed on it. Sapochnik was also hired to direct the series premiere as well as additional episodes. The series takes place 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones during the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen, ultimately leading to the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. The project is a reworking of the rejected spin-off concept from Game of Thrones writer Bryan Cogman, on which HBO officially passed.

Inspiration for the series came from English medieval history and The Anarchy, a war of succession between England and Normandy in the 12th century. In January 2020, Casey Bloys, HBO's President of Programming, stated that the writing process had begun. Writers for the show include Condal and Sara Hess, who previously wrote for Deadwood and Orange Is the New Black. On August 26, 2022, less than a week after its premiere, the series was renewed for a second season. On August 31, Miguel Sapochnik stepped down as director and co-showrunner for the second season, but remained an executive producer. Sapochnik stated, "It was incredibly tough to decide to move on, but I know that it is the right choice for me, personally and professionally." Alan Taylor, who directed multiple Game of Thrones episodes, will join in season two and serve as an executive producer and direct multiple episodes.

Changes from the novels

It was very important for Miguel and I to create a show that was not another bunch of white people on the screen. We wanted to find a way to put diversity in the show, but we didn't want to do it in a way that felt like it was an afterthought or, worse, tokenism.

Ryan Condal, July 2022 interview with Entertainment Weekly

In the novels, House Velaryon are generally described as having "silver-gold hair, pale skin, and violet eyes", similar to the Targaryens. However, Condal and Sapochnik wanted to include more racial diversity with its casting. Game of Thrones was criticized for lacking a diverse cast and pushing cultural stereotypes. As a result, House Velaryon in the series are portrayed as a group of wealthy black rulers with a strong navy. According to Condal, Martin, while writing the novels, considered making the Velaryons a house of Black aristocrats who traveled to Westeros.

Fire & Blood is written in the style of a history book authored by an in-universe fictional historian studying the Targaryen dynasty and various civil conflicts. The novels of A Song of Ice and Fire are however a lot more immersive, with each chapter written in a third-person limited perspective from the immediate point of view of a character. As a result, some accounts of events recorded inBlood & Fire are second-hand narrations that are potentially speculative or distorted, therefore making the narrator unreliable from the reader's perspective. In an effort to make the story more clear for viewers, the show writers decided to portray the book events in a chronological order from a third-person perspective.

Casting

Casting began in July 2020. In October 2020, Paddy Considine was cast as Viserys I Targaryen. Considine was offered a role in Game of Thrones but declined it due to the fantasy elements of the series. Condal in a 2020 interview stated that Considine was their first choice for Viserys. By December, Olivia Cooke, Matt Smith, and Emma D'Arcy were cast as Alicent Hightower, Daemon Targaryen, and Rhaenyra Targaryen, respectively. In February 2021, Rhys Ifans, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, and Sonoya Mizuno were added to the main cast. By April, Fabien Frankel joined the cast as Ser Criston Cole. In May, Graham McTavish was spotted on set in full wardrobe. In July 2021, Emily Carey and Milly Alcock were added to the cast as younger counterparts of Alicent Hightower and Rhaenyra Targaryen respectively.

Filming

Principal photography on the ten-episode first season of the series began in April 2021. The series was filmed primarily in the United Kingdom. House of the Dragon was the first production to be shot at Warner Bros. Leavesden Studios' new virtual production stage. On July 18, 2021, production paused for two days because of a COVID-19 case. The Spanish publication Hoy reported that House of the Dragon would be filmed in the Province of Cáceres in western Spain between October 11–21, 2021. The provincial capital of Cáceres along with the town of Trujillo were used in scenes for King's Landing. From October 26–31, the series was filmed in Portugal at the Castle of Monsanto.

Additional filming locations included Trujillo, Cáceres, a medieval town. Locations in Cornwall, England included St Michael's Mount, Holywell Beach and Kynance Cove. Other locations included Castleton, Derbyshire, in areas such as Cave Dale, Eldon Hill Quarry and the Market Place. Some scenes were shot in Aldershot, Hampshire. In February 2022, HBO confirmed that the first season of House of the Dragon had wrapped production.

The second season is set to begin filming in Spain in early 2023.

Music

It was announced in September 2022 that Ramin Djawadi will compose the series score. Djawadi composed the music for all eight seasons of Game of Thrones which garnered him three Grammy Awards nominations and two Emmy Awards wins. Djawadi, along with the showrunners, decided to keep the original theme song, "Game of Thrones Theme", which was first featured in the second episode of House of the Dragon. In an interview with The A.V. Club, Djawadi stated that the original theme song was used in order to "tie the shows together". For the first season, Djawadi, along with Condal and Sapochnik, watched each episode and made notes on when the music should occur and what mood the music should set. Character motifs from Game of Thrones are also featured in House of the Dragon, including the Dragon theme "Dracarys".

House of the Dragon: Season 1
Soundtrack album by Ramin Djawadi
Released	October 24, 2022 (2022-10-24)
Genre	Soundtrack
Length	123:05
Label	WaterTower Music
Producer	Ramin Djawadi
Ramin Djawadi soundtrack chronology
Westworld: Season 4 (2022) House of the Dragon: Season 1 (2022)
Singles from House of the Dragon: Season 1
"The Prince That Was Promised" Released: August 18, 2022 "Protector of the Realm" Released: October 9, 2022 "Lament" Released: October 16, 2022 "Fate of the Kingdoms" Released: October 16, 2022

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Main Title"	1:45
2.	"The Heirs of the Dragon"	2:27
3.	"Reign of the Targaryens"	1:31
4.	"Rhaenyra's Welcome"	1:39
5.	"A Pack of Hounds"	2:57
6.	"The Tournament"	1:51
7.	"An Impossible Choice"	1:34
8.	"The Rogue Prince"	1:43
9.	"The Prince That Was Promised"	4:34
10.	"Compromise and Consequences"	2:53
11.	"The Power of Prophecy"	2:36
12.	"Trouble in the Stepstones"	2:25
13.	"Surrender"	4:14
14.	"King of the Narrow Sea"	6:17
15.	"Lanterns at Nightfall"	5:00
16.	"Whatever May Come"	2:53
17.	"House Velaryon"	2:38
18.	"The Green Dress"	2:50
19.	"First Dance"	1:05
20.	"Celebration Dance"	2:14
21.	"Targaryen Dance"	1:54
22.	"We Light the Way"	2:47
23.	"Destiny"	2:56
24.	"Pass Judgement"	4:20
25.	"Funeral by the Sea"	3:00
26.	"Daemon and Rhaenyra"	2:41
27.	"Aemond Rides Vhagar"	3:10
28.	"The Hard Truth"	2:31
29.	"Sealed in Fire and Blood"	4:10
30.	"Protector of the Realm"	3:15
31.	"The Silent Sisters"	3:23
32.	"The Language of Girls"	1:42
33.	"A Warning"	2:29
34.	"Lament"	3:26
35.	"Fate of the Kingdoms"	3:25
36.	"Interests of the Realm"	3:52
37.	"Coronation"	1:14
38.	"Dragons Will Rule the Kingdom"	1:36
39.	"The Crown of Jaeharys"	3:19
40.	"Dragons Do Not Fear Blood"	1:21
41.	"Death and Rebirth"	1:36
42.	"True Meaning of Loyalty"	3:16
43.	"Bloodlines Will Burn"	4:25
44.	"The Promise"	2:11
Total length:		123:05

Language

Game of Thrones linguist David J. Peterson returned to continue his work on the constructed language High Valyrian. Emma D'Arcy reportedly enjoyed learning it, while Matt Smith initially dreaded it and found it daunting.

Budget

The overall production budget of the first season of House of the Dragon was nearly $200 million (under $20 million per episode). In comparison, its parent series Game of Thrones, cost around $100 million per season beginning with nearly $6 million per episode from seasons one to five, around $10 million for every episode in seasons six and seven, and up to $15 million each episode in its eighth and final season, earning $285 million in profits per season over its eight seasons. The marketing budget, according to Deadline Hollywood, was in excess of $100 million, comparable to the marketing budget for a tentpole theatrical film.

Release

House of the Dragon premiered on August 21, 2022. It is HBO's first new series to stream in 4K, Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos on its streaming platform HBO Max. The first episode was released for free on YouTube on September 2, 2022. The first season finale was leaked online the week before, with the full episode appearing on torrent sites. According to HBO, the leak came from an Europe, the Middle East and Africa partner and it will "aggressively" monitor for additional leaks.

International broadcast

See also: List of HBO international channels

In New Zealand, the series is distributed by Sky's SoHo TV channel and Neon streaming service. In the Philippines, SKY broadcasts the show via its main cable television services and other digital streaming platforms. In India, Disney+ Hotstar distributes the show. In the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the series airs on Sky Atlantic and its accompanying streaming service Now. In Canada, House of the Dragon is available on Bell Media's Crave streaming service and its HBO linear channel. In Australia, the series is available for streaming on Binge and Foxtel.

Home media

The first season will be released on 4K UHD Blu-ray, standard Blu-ray, and DVD on December 20, 2022, and contains over an hour of behind-the-scenes features.

Reception

Critical response

House of the Dragon: Critical reception by episode

Percentage of positive critics' reviews tracked by the website Rotten Tomatoes

On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a "Certified Fresh" approval rating of 85%, based on 844 reviews. The website's critical consensus said, "Covering an era of tenuous peace with ferocious -- albeit abbreviated -- focus, House of the Dragon is an impressive prequel that exemplifies the court intrigue that distinguished its predecessor." On Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, the series has received a score of 69 out of 100 based on 43 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Reviews for the first season were generally positive, with critics praising the writing, directing, and cast performances. Lucy Mangan of The Guardian called the show a "roaring success" with Lorraine Ali of the Los Angeles Times stating the show mirrors the acclaim of the early seasons of Game of Thrones. Reviews pointed out the reliance on Martin's novel was one of the reasons the series fared better critically than the later seasons of its predecessor, specifically the last season. The cast also received praise, with Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, and Emma D'Arcy being singled out for their performances. In an interview with GQ, Considine stated that Martin told him that "Your Viserys is better than my Viserys". The diversity of the characters was met with praise, with Jeff Yang of The New York Times stating that diversification of the cast can help the series gain a more diverse audience.

Despite the praise, the show's first season did receive criticism for the depiction of violence, pacing and cinematography. Reviewing the early episodes, Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly said the series leaned too much on grand imagery and lacked the breakout supporting characters that Game of Thrones had. The Los Angeles Times and The New York Times cited the constant actor changes as a reason for the lack of emotional attachment to characters. The graphic violence in the season premiere with a failed caesarean section was criticized for being excessive and, according to USA Today, "exploitive and in poor taste". The time jumps throughout the first season were also noted for being jarring and causing confusion, while George R. R. Martin defended them as being "handled very well". In addition, the dark cinematography in Episode 7 was a point of criticism from both critics and fans alike. HBO responded that the dimmed lighting in those scenes was an "intentional creative decision". Game of Thrones faced similar criticism regarding the lighting of scenes in Season 8, with one of the show's cinematographers stating it was a "deliberate choice".

Viewership

The day after the series premiere, HBO said the episode had been viewed by an estimated 9.99 million viewers in the U.S. on its first night of availability – including linear viewers and streams on HBO Max – which HBO said was the largest single-day viewership for a series debut in the service's history. When renewing the show for a second season four days later, the network said the episode had been watched by over 20 million linear, streaming, and on-demand viewers in the U.S. by that point. After one week of availability, the viewership rose to nearly 25 million in the U.S. across all platforms.

According to Nielsen, the episode had a viewership of 327 million minutes or an estimated 5.03 million viewers on HBO Max in the U.S. during its first day. It later estimated that the episode was watched by 10.6 million viewers on HBO Max in the first four days, with the number increasing to 14.5 million when including the viewership on the main HBO channel. Samba TV meanwhile stated that 4.8 million U.S. households streamed the episode in the first four days.

The size of the audience during the show's premiere caused HBO Max to crash for some users, particularly those using Amazon Fire TV devices. Downdetector reported 3,700 instances of the application not responding. There were also reports of widespread streaming issues on Canadian partner service Crave. Whip Media, who track viewership data for the 22 million worldwide users of their TV Time app, stated that it was the most-viewed debut for a show in the app's history based on viewership over three days following the premiere.

The second episode was watched by 10.2 million U.S. viewers on all platforms when it premiered, based on data from Nielsen and HBO. This was an increase of 2% from the first episode. According to Whip Media, it retained 74 percent of the viewers on HBO Max compared to the first episode. For the third episode, Nielsen stated that the total viewership for four airings on HBO during its premiere night was 2.5 million, a decrease of one million or 28.6 percent compared to the second. Overall it was watched by more than 16 million viewers on all platforms over the first three days.

During the week of August 22–28 the show garnered a viewership of 741 million minutes in the U.S. on HBO Max according to Nielsen, ranking fifth among all streaming titles. For the week of August 29 – September 4 it was streamed for 781 million minutes, again ranking fifth. This increased to 1.016 billion minutes for the week of September 5–11. Data by analytics company MUSO revealed that it was the most pirated TV show worldwide for the week of September 6–12, accounting for 38.1 percent of all unlicensed downloads and streaming.

For the week of September 12–18, the show was viewed for 960 million minutes and ranked third overall according to Nielsen. The viewership increased to 1.008 billion minutes for the week of September 19–25.

The finale of the first season was watched by 9.3 million viewers across all platforms during its premiere night according to HBO, which was the highest viewership for any finale of a HBO show since the series finale of Game of Thrones. The show averaged 9–9.5 million viewers for an episode on premiere night and 29 million total viewers after a week of release. Nielsen stated in mid-October that 68 percent of the viewers of the show were in the age range of 18–49.

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Nominee	Result	Ref.
2022	Golden Trailer Awards	Best Drama for a TV/Streaming Series (Trailer/Teaser/TV Spot)	House of the Dragon	Won
	People's Choice Awards	Favorite TV Show of 2022		Pending
		Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show of 2022		Pending

See also

• The novella The Princess and the Queen (2013) and its prequel The Rogue Prince (2014), both of which are authored by George R. R. Martin, later incorporated within the "Dance of the Dragons" plotline in Fire & Blood.

External links

• Official website
• House of the Dragon at IMDb 
• House of the Dragon on X