House of the Dragon
Series, 2022, The Targaryen Age, Set in 101 AC onward
House of the Dragon is #2 of 3 in release order and #1 of 3 in chronological order in the Game of Thrones.
The story
The Targaryen dynasty is at the absolute apex of its power, with more than 15 dragons under their yoke. Most empires crumble from such heights. In the case of the Targaryens, their slow fall begins when King Viserys breaks with a century of tradition by naming his daughter Rhaenyra heir to the Iron Throne. But when Viserys later fathers a son, the court is shocked when Rhaenyra retains her status as his heir, and seeds of division sow friction across the realm.
House of the Dragon recap
In season 1, King Viserys I Targaryen names his daughter Rhaenyra his heir over his reckless brother Daemon. Viserys then marries Alicent Hightower, Rhaenyra's childhood friend, who gives him sons, Aegon and Aemond, and many lords would rather see a son on the throne. The two women become rivals over the years. Rhaenyra marries Daemon after both are widowed, and her sons by her first husband are widely believed to be bastards. When Viserys dies, Alicent's father Otto crowns Aegon II in King's Landing, and Rhaenyra's son Lucerys is killed with his dragon by Aemond, starting the war. In season 2, Daemon's assassins kill Aegon's young son in revenge, Criston Cole kills Rhaenys and her dragon at Rook's Rest and Aegon is badly burned, Aemond becomes regent, and Rhaenyra recruits dragonseeds, common-born riders, to claim the riderless dragons. In season 3, Rhaenyra's son Jace dies at sea fighting the Triarchy, and Rhaenyra takes King's Landing, beheads Otto and sits the Iron Throne while Alicent is captured and Aegon slips away. Criston Cole is killed, Alicent poisons Aemond and flees, and Rhaenyra grows harder as the city turns against her.
House of the Dragon ending explained
Season 3 ends with the battle for Tumbleton: the dragonseed Ulf betrays Rhaenyra and burns the town, and Ormund Hightower and Roderick Dustin are killed. Rhaenyra learns Aegon is alive, and Helaena, Aegon's sister and wife, dies falling from a window, leaving a tapestry of Rhaenyra on the Iron Throne surrounded by fire. A fourth and final season will finish the war.
Where to watch House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon is streaming on Spectrum On Demand and HBO Max in the US. You can rent or buy it on Apple TV, Google Play, and Fandango At Home.
Ratings
IMDb 8.2/10, Rotten Tomatoes 88%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Game of Thrones, before A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
- Chronological order: first, before A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
What to watch before House of the Dragon
Game of Thrones (2011), which House of the Dragon (2022) continues. House of the Dragon itself is optional in the Game of Thrones order.
Cast
- Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen
- Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys 'The Sea Snake' Velaryon
- Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria 'The White Worm'
- Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole
- Matthew Needham as Lord Larys 'Clubfoot' Strong
- Kurt Egyiawan as Grand Maester Orwyle
- Olivia Cooke as Queen Alicent Hightower
- Emma D'Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (voice)
- Ewan Mitchell as Prince Aemond Targaryen
- Harry Collett as Prince Jacaerys 'Jace' Velaryon
- Tom Glynn-Carney as Prince Aegon Targaryen
- Bethany Antonia as Lady Baela Targaryen
Created by George R.R. Martin, Ryan J. Condal.