Game Of Thrones was undoubtedly one of the biggest television shows of all time. The story was unlike any seen on television before, and it dominated the small screen for almost a decade. It was possibly the closest that a television production had ever come to bringing a large-scale cinematic experience to the small screen just with sheer cinematic prestige alone. Often imitated and never duplicated, no one can ever match the grandeur of George R.R. Martin's epic saga. With that said, fans are getting ready to return to Westeros for an all-new story.
House Of The Dragon will be a new series centering on the Targaryen Dynasty during a pivotal point in Westeros' history. Many fans may still have a sour taste in their mouths from the controversial series finale of its predecessor, but there are many reasons to be excited about this outing. The history and lore are so massive and all-encompassing that there was no way Game Of Thrones could ever have shown it all. Soon, fans will have a chance to experience a part of the universe that the series only scratched the surface of. Here are five reasons to be excited about House of the Dragon.
5 House of the Dragon Will Focus On The Targaryen Family
House of the Dragon will follow the events depicted in George RR. Martin's spinoff novel, Fire and Blood, set 200 years before the fall of the throne. The series may not lead directly into Game of Thrones, but it will lead to the start of the Targaryens' decline. Like its predecessor, House of the Dragon will be about the throne and conflicts after the death of the current king, Viserys I. His oldest son, Prince Daemon, is his heir. Daemon is a proven warrior and dragon rider, but has a roguish personality that does him no favors. Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen was Viserys' first child, born with everything she could need to be a ruler except being born a man. Their family's tradition of marrying brother to sister to keep the bloodline 'pure' led to a history of insanity that infected the mind of King Aery's II, otherwise known as the Mad King. As part of the extended lore of this universe, there may be a chance that this hereditary dysfunction could affect the white-haired characters.
Other notable characters influential in the series are Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, who fears for the Realm's safety as Prince Daemon prepares to ascend to the throne. Otto's daughter Alicent grew up in the Red Keep close to Westeros royalty and power. She possesses a courtly grace and a keen political understanding that could make her formidable in the show's political side. Finally, Lord Corlys Velaryon, a world-famous voyager who controls the world's largest navy, could be pivotal in the war to come as brother and sister vie for his loyalty.
4 The Epic Civil War: "Dance Of The Dragons"
The Dance of Dragons is the great civil war between Rhaenyra and Aegon II after King Viserys death. The war pitted the entire kingdom against itself as notable families from across the realm, Starks and Lannisters included, were forced to pick sides for the next ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. Unfortunately, most of the dragons died in the war, significantly reducing the power and prestige of the Targaryens. Keep in mind: it was the dragons that took the Seven Kingdoms. The Targaryens were only as formidable as the kingdoms that they commanded allowed them to be without their dragons.
Viserys first son Daemon is set to be next in line with Rhaenyra as his queen, as is custom, but if the war is between the sister and Aegon, could that mean that Daemon may not live to see the war? No one has been confirmed to play Rhaenyra's half-brother, but that does not mean he won't be in the first season. Game of Thrones saw the cast grow up on screen for a decade. It could be that Aegon has been cast but as a child. It may be some time before the war starts. Until then, the show may cover the rising tension and animosity stemming from Rhaenyra's desire for the thrown and Alicent's desire to have Aegon take the seat instead. According to the lore, Alicent is the mother of Aegon, and with her political prowess, a rival to Rhaenyra.
As for the war itself, the family's dragons will play a huge role. Already, there are 17 confirmed dragons in the series, one of which will be the legendary Balerion the Black Dread, which Viserys rode. Fire and Blood described war battles as insane, with massive armies, ingenious strategies, and horrific destruction. If you thought the Battle of the Goldroad between Jamie Lannister and Daenerys was big, wait until there's a fight where both sides have dragons.
3 The Showrunners Have Already Proven Themselves Capable
Miguel Sapochinik and Ryan J. Condal will head the series. Fans may already know of Sapochnick's work as he was the mastermind behind some of Game of Thrones's most ambitious episodes. There is no better man to devise the beautifully horrifying battles that the Dance of Dragons promises. Condal, on the other hand, may not be as well known to Game of Thrones fans, but he has produced and written for epic films and TV shows like Colony and Dwayne Johnson's Hercules. As for how different House of the Dragon will be from Game of Thrones, Sapochnick told the Hollywood Reporter:
"We were very respectful of the original show. If it's not broken, don't fix it. House of the Dragon will have its own tone that will evolve and emerge throughout the show, but it's essential to pay homage to the original series. We're hopeful it will be seen as something else, but it will have to earn that."
2 George R.R. Martin is an Executive Producer
One thing Condol does bring to the table is a good relationship with George R.R. Martin. David Benioff and D.B. Weiss started diverging away from the author's source material after season 4, contributing to Game of Thrones's final two seasons being polarizing. Martin having a good relationship with the series showrunners may keep the series following his written lore and keep Condal and Sapochnick from making the same mistakes as their predecessors. It's a task made more manageable now that Martin will be co-producing the series. He had previously tried to plead with HBO to keep Game of Thrones going until season 10 in order to fully flesh out the story that was being attempted. His involvement with a similar series based on a single book of his may be easier for him to ensure that his entire creative vision is done justice.
1 House of the Dragon Will Certainly Expand The Universe
Similarly to the Star Wars universe, the world of Westeros is incredibly vast and full of potential. The Targaryens connection to dragons and their ability to withstand flames was never fully explored. Now we can dive deeper into that lineage and the influence of dragons in the Seven Kingdoms. There are also other notable families besides the ones that command the Seven Kingdoms, and House of the Dragon will also touch on their influence. We could also get more insight into the various religions. The idea of "the old gods and the new" was never dived into too deeply, and we know there are other credible faiths as well. HBO has likely seen how much they can draw from this universe, which is why they planned so many spin-offs. However, there is no word yet on what else in the Game of Thrones universe may be on its way. Until then, we'll see what else we can learn when House of the dragon airs sometime in the second half of 2022.