| House of the Dragon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | |
| Based on | Fire & Blood by George R. R. Martin |
| Showrunners |
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| Starring |
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| Theme music composer | Ramin Djawadi |
| Opening theme | "Game of Thrones Theme" |
| Composer | Ramin Djawadi |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 18 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producers |
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| Production locations | |
| Cinematography |
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| Editors |
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| Running time | 54–70 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | HBO |
| Release | August 21, 2022 (2022-08-21) – present |
| Related | |
| Game of Thrones | |
House of the Dragon is an Americanfantasydrama television series created byGeorge R. R. Martin andRyan Condal forHBO. Aprequel toGame of Thrones (2011–2019), it is the second television series in Martin'sA Song of Ice and Fire franchise. Condal andMiguel Sapochnik served as theshowrunners for the first season. Based on parts of Martin's 2018 bookFire & Blood, the series begins about 100 years after theSeven Kingdoms are united by the Targaryen conquest, nearly 200 years before the events ofGame of Thrones, and 172 years before the birth ofDaenerys Targaryen. Featuring anensemble cast, the show portrays the events leading up to the decline ofHouse Targaryen, a devastatingwar 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 andprincipal photography starting in April 2021 in the United Kingdom. The series premiered on August 21, 2022, with the first season consisting of ten episodes. The series was renewed for a second season five days after its premiere. Sapochnik departed asshowrunner after the first season, leaving Condal to serve as the sole showrunner for the second season. The second season premiered on June 16, 2024, with eight episodes. In June 2024, ahead of the second-season premiere, the series was renewed for a third season. In November 2025, ahead of the third-season premiere, the series was renewed for a fourth season, which is expected to be released in 2028.
The series received positive reviews, with praise for its character development, visual effects, writing,score byRamin Djawadi, and performances (particularly Considine, Smith, D'Arcy and Cooke). However, the pacing, specifically of the time jumps, and the dark lighting of some scenes during the first season were criticized. The series premiere was watched by over 10 million viewers across the linear channels andHBO Max on the first day, the biggest in HBO's history. For its first season,House of the Dragon won aGolden Globe Award forBest Television Series – Drama, whileEmma D'Arcy earned a nomination forBest Actress in a Television Series – Drama. It earned nineEmmy Award nominations, includingOutstanding Drama Series, and won threeBritish Academy Television Craft Awards. D'Arcy received another Golden Globe Award nomination for their performance in the second season.
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| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 10 | August 21, 2022 (2022-08-21) | October 23, 2022 (2022-10-23) | |
| 2 | 8 | June 16, 2024 (2024-06-16) | August 4, 2024 (2024-08-04) | |
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | U.S. viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "The Heirs of the Dragon" | Miguel Sapochnik | Ryan Condal | August 21, 2022 (2022-08-21) | 2.17[5] | |
With both his sons dead, old King Jaehaerys I Targaryen convenes a Great Council to choose an heir. TheWesterosi lords select Jaehaerys' eldest grandson, Prince Viserys, over Princess Rhaenys, the eldest grandchild. Nine years later, King Viserys organizes a tournament to celebrate Queen Aemma Arryn's pregnancy, confident she carries his long-awaited male heir. The Small Council disregards Master of Ships Lord Corlys Velaryon's warning that the Triarchy, an alliance of Essos's Free Cities, threatens to cripple Westerosi shipping lanes. Hand of the King, Ser Otto Hightower, criticizes Viserys' brother and heir, Prince Daemon, for his brutality as the City Watch commander, in response to Daemon and his men dismembering and/or murdering seemingly random commonfolk. At the tournament, Ser Criston Cole, a young common-born knight, outcompetes Daemon. Meanwhile, Viserys sacrifices Aemma in childbirth, authorizing aC-section. Their newborn son, Baelon, then dies. 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 theIron Throne, revealing to her Aegon the Conqueror's dream that inspired him to unify Westeros. | |||||||
| 2 | 2 | "The Rogue Prince" | Greg Yaitanes | Ryan Condal | August 28, 2022 (2022-08-28) | 2.26[6] | |
Six months later, Daemon has illegally occupied Castle Dragonstone. Prince-Admiral Craghas Drahar, known as the Crabfeeder, menaces the Stepstonesarchipelago at the Essos Triarchy's behest. The Small Council dismisses Rhaenyra's suggestion to show force and instead relegates her to appoint a new Kingsguard knight. Ignoring others' advice, she chooses Ser Criston, the only knight with actual battle experience. Ser Otto sends his teenage daughter, Lady Alicent, to console the grieving king; she advises Viserys to discuss his kingly duty to remarry with Rhaenyra. 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 return the egg. Viserys announces his intention to wed Alicent, angering Corlys, who proposes an alliance with Daemon. | |||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Second of His Name" | Greg Yaitanes | Gabe Fonseca & Ryan Condal | September 4, 2022 (2022-09-04) | 1.75[7] | |
For three years, Lord Corlys and Prince Daemon have battled the Crabfeeder and his forces in the Stepstones 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. Many suitors are considered, including two-year-old Prince Aegon. Lord Lyonel Strong recommends Ser Laenor Velaryon, Lord Corlys' son, as a potential match to mend the rift between the two houses. Overcoming previous doubts, Viserys assures Rhaenyra she remains 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 sends aid to the Stepstones. Seeing his brother's support as ending his chance to prove himself, Daemon acts as bait to ambush and kill the Crabfeeder, winning the ensuing battle before the crown's forces arrive. | |||||||
| 4 | 4 | "King of the Narrow Sea" | Clare Kilner | Ira Parker | September 11, 2022 (2022-09-11) | 1.81[8] | |
After an unsuccessful months-long tour to choose a consort, Rhaenyra returns to King's Landing. Daemon also returns after conquering most of the Stepstones. Now called "King of the Narrow Sea", Daemon swears allegiance to Viserys and hands over his crown. As the reunited brothers celebrate, Alicent and Rhaenyra reconcile. After dark, Daemon and Rhaenyra sneak out to explore King's Landing, attend a bawdy play, and visit a brothel. Daemon seduces a willing Rhaenyra, but unable to consummate their affair, he abandons her there. Returning to the Red Keep, Rhaenyra seduces Criston. Informed by the White Worm's spy, Otto informs the king about Daemon and Rhaenyra's carousing. Alicent overhears and privately questions Rhaenyra, who swears she is still a maid. Viserys confronts a hungover and disheveled Daemon who seemingly confirms the rumors 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 Laenor. Viserys dismisses Otto as his Hand after Rhaenyra accuses Otto of manipulating him for his personal gain. Grand Maester Mellos gives Rhaenyra a precautionaryabortifacient tea at Viserys' request. | |||||||
| 5 | 5 | "We Light the Way" | Clare Kilner | Charmaine DeGraté | September 18, 2022 (2022-09-18) | 1.83[9] | |
In the Vale, Daemon murders his wife, Lady Rhea Royce. Before departing King's Landing, Ser Otto warns Queen Alicent that Rhaenyra becoming queen would make Alicent's two sons a threat to the crown. Rhaenyra and Laenor are betrothed, mollifying Lord Corlys. Understanding Laenor'shomosexuality, Rhaenyra proposes fulfilling their royal duties to produce heirs, then pursue their own lovers. Criston is humiliated when Rhaenyra declines his proposal to elope to Essos and assume new identities; she prefers their current sexual liaison. Alicent questions Criston about Rhaenyra and Daemon, but after misunderstanding, he confesses to being Rhaenyra's lover. During Rhaenyra and Laenor's betrothal celebration, Alicent enters, interrupting Viserys' speech, wearing a green gown, the signal color for House Hightower's call to arms. Daemon also unexpectedly attends. Confronted by Rhea's cousin, Daemon denies murdering her and wishes to assert his claim 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 are privately wed late that night. Viserys collapses after the ceremony. Meanwhile, Alicent intervenes as a disgraced Criston is about to commit suicide. | |||||||
| 6 | 6 | "The Princess and the Queen" | Miguel Sapochnik | Sara Hess | September 25, 2022 (2022-09-25) | 1.86[10] | |
Ten years later, Rhaenyra has three sons: Jacaerys ("Jace"), Lucerys ("Luke"), and newborn Joffrey. All lack Valyrian platinum hair, but King Viserys rejects Queen Alicent's assertion that Ser Laenor is not their father. Alicent tells Aegon, that, as Viserys' first-born son, he must prepare to dispute Rhaenyra's claim to 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. Laena commands her dragon, Vhagar, to incinerate her after agonizing labor leaves her unable to give birth. Criston, now serving Alicent, goads Ser Harwin Strong into attacking him by implying Harwin fathered Rhaenyra's children. To ease family strife, Rhaenyra proposes that Jace marry Helaena, Alicent's daughter; Alicent refuses. Lord Lyonel Strong, Hand of the King, escorts his son Harwin to Harrenhal castle. It is implied that Harwin fathered Rhaenyra's sons. Alicent confides to Lyonel's younger son, Larys, that she wishes her father, Ser Otto, was still the King's Hand. Larys recruits three criminals to set a fire at Harrenhal, killing Lyonel and Harwin. Rhaenyra moves her household to Dragonstone, also bringing Laenor's lover, Ser Qarl Correy. | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Driftmark" | Miguel Sapochnik | Kevin Lau | October 2, 2022 (2022-10-02) | 1.88[11] | |
King Viserys and his court attend Lady Laena's funeral in Driftmark. Rhaenyra and Daemon reunite and are physically intimate. Meanwhile, Viserys fails to reconcile with Daemon. Prince Aemond claims Vhagar as his dragon, causing an altercation with his cousins and nephews in which Luke slashes Aemond's eye with a knife. As revenge, Queen Alicent lunges at Luke with Viserys' Valyrian steel dagger. Rhaenyra blocks Alicent but injures herself. Viserys decrees anyone claiming Rhaenyra's sons are bastards will be punished. Later, former Hand of the King, Otto Hightower, assures Alicent they will prevail, while Rhaenyra and Daemon unite against Alicent and her family. To continue the true Velaryon lineage, Princess Rhaenys suggests that Lord Corlys pass his title through his granddaughter, Baela, by marriage to Luke, as Laenor has not sired any children. Qarl appears to murder Laenor, leaving behind a charred body. Daemon and Rhaenyra privately marry in the old Valyrian Dragonlord tradition to perpetuate the Targaryen bloodline. Meanwhile, Laenor, having faked his death, escapes Driftmark with Qarl. | |||||||
| 8 | 8 | "The Lord of the Tides" | Geeta Vasant Patel | Eileen Shim | October 9, 2022 (2022-10-09) | 1.73[12] | |
Six years later, Lord Corlys Velaryon is wounded fighting in the Stepstones. His brother, Ser Vaemond, petitions King's Landing to name him Corlys' heir, asserting Rhaenyra's sons illegitimate. To defend their claim, Rhaenyra and Daemon return to the capital . King Viserys is now bedridden, disfigured, and mentally muddled. Queen Alicent and the king's Hand, Otto Hightower, oversee all royal matters. Alicent covers-up Prince Aegon's rape of a handmaiden. Rhaenyra proposes two marriage arrangements with House Velaryon to gain Princess Rhaenys' support. She implores Viserys to defend her succession, quoting Aegon the Conqueror's dream about the Prince That Was Promised. Vaemond's petition is presented at court and Viserys reaffirms Luke's position as the heir to Driftmark. Daemon beheads Vaemond when he denounces Rhaenyra and her children. The family appears to reconcile during a feast, but Aemond later incites a fight. Meanwhile, Alicent's lady-in-waiting, Talya, regularly provides Daemon's former mistress, Mysaria, with information. Viserys, near death and mistaking Alicent for Rhaenyra, mutters parts of Aegon the Conqueror's dream, which Alicent mistakenly believes refers to Prince Aegon. | |||||||
| 9 | 9 | "The Green Council" | Clare Kilner | Sara Hess | October 16, 2022 (2022-10-16) | 1.56[13] | |
After Viserys' death, Ser Otto and the Small Council plot to crown Prince Aegon. Ser Criston unintentionally kills Lord Beesbury, who opposed the scheme. Kingsguard Lord Commander Harrold Westerling resigns in protest. Otto keeps Viserys' death a 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 discuss whether to kill or exile Rhaenyra and separately rush to find and influence the missing Prince Aegon: Otto sends Kingsguard brothers Ser Erryk and Ser Arryk Cargyll, while Alicent tasks Criston and Prince Aemond. The Cargylls find Aegon first, 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. Alicent persuades a resistant Aegon to claim his birthright. King's Landing citizens are herded into the Dragonpit to witness Aegon's coronation. Princess Rhaenys, refusing to support Aegon's claim, is held captive. Erryk frees her, and she enters the Dragonpit caverns. Astride her dragon, Meleys, she violently breaches the grand hall, causing mayhem, death, and threatening the royals; Rhaenys then flees King's Landing on Meleys. | |||||||
| 10 | 10 | "The Black Queen" | Greg Yaitanes | Ryan Condal | October 23, 2022 (2022-10-23) | 1.85[14] | |
Princess Rhaenys arrives on Dragonstone to announce King Viserys' death and Prince Aegon's ascending the throne; the news shocks Rhaenyra into a premature stillbirth. Daemon pressures Rhaenyra to go to war. When Ser Erryk brings Viserys' crown, Rhaenyra is declared queen. Otto presents King Aegon II's terms for Rhaenyra's concession, including retaining her royal title and Dragonstone and her son's rights to inherit Driftmark; Daemon is angered when Rhaenyra considers conceding to unify the realm against the Northern threat foretold by Aegon the Conqueror's dream. Corlys pledges House Velaryon's allegiance to Rhaenyra's "Black" faction; Daemon plans to recruit more dragonriders and awakens a large dragon hibernating in a cave. Princes Jace and Luke are sent as envoys to secure Houses Arryn, Stark, and Baratheon as allies. Luke meets with Lord Borros Baratheon and discovers Prince Aemond is also there to secure the Baratheons as allies for Aegon II. King Aegon II offered Borros a political alliance through marriage between his daughter and Aemond, while Rhaenyra offered nothing. Luke leaves on his dragon, Arrax, but Aemond pursues him on Vhagar. The fractious dragons defy their riders; Arrax burns Vhagar; Vhagar then devours Luke and Arrax, stunning Aemond. Rhaenyra is devastated and enraged upon receiving the news. | |||||||
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | U.S. viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1 | "A Son for a Son" | Alan Taylor | Ryan Condal | June 16, 2024 (2024-06-16) | 1.32[15] | |
At the Wall, Cregan Stark promises Jace 2,000 troops for Rhaenyra's forces. Rhaenys, who secured the Velaryons' shipping blockade of the Gullet, refuses Daemon's command to jointly kill Aemond and Vhagar to avenge Luke. After confirming Luke's death, Rhaenyra demands revenge on Aemond. Aegon II strives to be a benevolent king, but Otto Hightower, his grandfather and Hand, urges restraint regarding the smallfolk to preserve scarce war resources. Aegon brings his precocious young son and heir Jaehaerys to the Small Council for training. Larys exploits Alicent's fears of betrayal. Guilt-ridden over Luke's death, Alicent asks Otto to wage war sparingly. Having survived the brothel fire, Mysaria arrives at Dragonstone and is arrested for treason. Daemon offers her freedom in exchange for help recruiting two assassins. Sneaking into King's Landing, Daemon bribes a ratcatcher called "Cheese" and a City Watch guard nicknamed "Blood" to kill Aemond. Unable to find Aemond in the Red Keep, the two enter Queen Helaena's quarters and instead murder Jaehaerys. Helaena, clutching Jaehaerys' twin sister, Jaehaera, escapes to Alicent's chambers, finding her and Criston Cole in bed together. | |||||||
| 12 | 2 | "Rhaenyra the Cruel" | Clare Kilner | Sara Hess | June 23, 2024 (2024-06-23) | 1.30[16] | |
Prince Jaehaerys' murder causes chaos; King Aegon hastily assembles his Small Council, wanting revenge on Rhaenyra. Ser Otto suggests a public funeral to tarnish Rhaenyra's image. In the procession, a herald chants, "Rhaenyra the Cruel", as people lining the street express their condolences to Alicent and Helaena. City Watch guard Blood is captured; he confesses to Lord Larys that Daemon hired him and his accomplice, an unknown-to-him ratcatcher. In Dragonstone, Rhaenyra worries her popularity will suffer. Suspecting Daemon ordered Jaehaerys' death if Aemond was absent, Rhaenyra says she no longer trusts him. Daemon then flies to Harrenhal to recruit alliances. Having escaped assassination, Aemond, remorseful over Luke's death, seeks solace at a brothel. Criston orders Arryk to kill Rhaenyra by infiltrating Dragonstone disguised as his twin, Erryk. Rhaenyra grants Mysaria freedom. While departing Dragonstone, Mysaria notices Arryk arriving and notifies a guard. When Arryk enters Rhaenyra's chambers, Erryk bursts in and a fight ensues, ending with Erryk killing his brother. Grief-stricken, Erryk takes his own life. Aegon publicly hangs all ratcatchers, including Cheese, infuriating Otto, who fears a populist revolt. Aegon dismisses Otto as Hand of the King and appoints Criston. | |||||||
| 13 | 3 | "The Burning Mill" | Geeta Vasant Patel | David Hancock | June 30, 2024 (2024-06-30) | 1.16[17] | |
In the Riverlands, the feuding Brackens and Blackwoods fight a deadly battle over a minor dispute. To avert war, Rhaenys tells Rhaenyra that Alicent may be reasoned with. Criston proposes a bold plan to conquer Harrenhal; Daemon arrives there first, whereupon Ser Simon Strong, thecastellan, pledges allegiance. That night, Daemon dreams that a young Rhaenyra is sewing Jaehaerys' severed head onto his body. Daemon awakens and a strange woman, Alys, foretells his death occurring at Harrenhal. Rhaenyra sends Rhaena, her younger children, and dragon eggs to the Arryns to protect the Targaryen line. Mysaria becomes Rhaenyra's adviser, while Aegon makes Larys his Master of Whisperers. At a brothel, a man named Ulf boasts he is Daemon and King Viserys' bastard half-brother; arriving at the brothel with his squires, Aegon encounters Aemond with madam Sylvi and cruelly mocks him. After Baela, patrolling on Moondancer, spots Criston's squad en route to Harrenhal, Rhaenyra's councilors urge war with dragons. Instead, Rhaenyra sneaks into King's Landing and secretly meets with Alicent but fails to negotiate a peaceful resolution. She realizes Alicent misunderstood King Viserys' dying words about "Aegon" as concerning Alicent's son Aegon II, not Aegon the Conqueror's dreams. | |||||||
| 14 | 4 | "The Red Dragon and the Gold" | Alan Taylor | Ryan Condal | July 7, 2024 (2024-07-07) | 1.24[18] | |
Daemon dreams that he decapitates a young Rhaenyra, who accused him of treason. Grand Maester Orwyle prepares Alicent an abortifacient tea. He professes ignorance about whom Viserys named as heir. Criston beheads Lord Gunthor Darklyn of Duskendale, who refused allegiance. Alys Rivers tells Daemon that Harrenhal is haunted. Her potion causes him to hallucinate seeing his deceased wife, Laena Velaryon. Rhaenyra returns to Dragonstone and agrees to a war using dragons. Rhaenys volunteers herself and her dragon, Meleys. Aegon complains about Aemond and Criston planning battles without him but Alicent dismisses this, says his lacking wisdom and knowledge makes him an inferior king. She advises he can best serve the realm by doing nothing and defer to his advisors. Frustrated and drunk, Aegon flies his dragon, Sunfyre, to Rook's Rest. Rhaenys on Meleys burns Criston's troops while Aemond and Vhagar wait to ambush her. When Aegon and Sunfyre approach, Aemond delays attacking. As Meleys mauls Sunfyre, Aemond flies in and commands Vhagar to burn both dragons. Sunfyre falls with Aegon. Rhaenys and Meleys attack Vhagar, who also falls. As Rhaenys circles above, Vhagar suddenly rises and fatally throttles Meleys, plunging Rhaenys to her death. Criston regains consciousness and finds Aemond, sword drawn, near Aegon, who lies motionless next to the heavily wounded Sunfyre. | |||||||
| 15 | 5 | "Regent" | Clare Kilner | Ti Mikkel | July 14, 2024 (2024-07-14) | 1.23[19] | |
Corlys, Rhaenyra and Baela mourn Rhaenys' death. Criston parades Meleys' head through King's Landing, though the near-starving smallfolk consider it a bad omen. Aegon has survived but is comatose and severely burned, while Sunfyre is near-dead; Criston withholds telling Alicent what truly happened at the battle. Daemon dreams of incest with his mother, who calls him her favorite son. The Small Council reject Alicent's bid as regent and elect Aemond, wanting a male and a dragonrider on the throne. Aemond orders the city gates shut, preventing blacksmith Hugh Hammer and his family from fleeing. Jeyne Arryn tells Rhaena she is disappointed she received two hatchlings rather than a mature dragon. At the Twins, Jace obtains the Freys' allegiance in exchange for Harrenhal. Elinda is sent to King's Landing as a spy and agitator. Daemon declares he will be king once a large army is raised; he orders the Blackwoods to ravage the Brackens and forces their fealty. Alys criticizes Daemon's ruthlessness and the riverlords denounce his atrocities. Rhaenyra laments lacking riders for Vermithor and Silverwing, the only dragons large enough to challenge Vhagar; Jace suggests searching other noble houses for Valyrian descendants. | |||||||
| 16 | 6 | "Smallfolk" | Andrij Parekh | Eileen Shim | July 21, 2024 (2024-07-21) | 1.30[20] | |
Jason Lannister leads his army to the Golden Tooth. Aemond refuses vassal Humfrey Lefford's request to fly there and provide support. Aemond wants Tyland Lannister to ally with the Triarchy to break the Velaryon blockade. Aemond orders Criston to march on Harrenhal and dismisses Alicent from the Small Council. Ser Steffon Darklyn, a distant Targaryen descendant, attempts to claim Seasmoke and is incinerated. Daemon continues having disturbing dreams and irrationally believes he is being poisoned. Aemond orders Larys to summon Otto Hightower to court. Aegon, slowly recovering, tells Aemond he remembers nothing about the battle. Gwayne Hightower assures Alicent that her youngest son, Daeron, is kind, unlike his brothers. Corlys appoints his illegitimate son, Alyn of Hull, his flagship's first mate. Meanwhile, Alyn's brother, Addam, is pursued by Seasmoke. Mysaria's spies spread rumors that the royals regularly feast while smallfolk starve. Mysaria sends food-laden Targaryen boats to King's Landing. The grateful citizens fight over limited supplies, causing a riot that Alicent and Helaena barely survive. Mysaria tells Rhaenyra that her father sexually abused her and why she is loyal. They passionately kiss. Upon hearing Seasmoke has a new rider, Rhaenyra leaves on Syrax to confront them. | |||||||
| 17 | 7 | "The Red Sowing" | Loni Peristere | David Hancock | July 28, 2024 (2024-07-28) | 1.22[21] | |
Rhaenyra confronts Addam of Hull, Seasmoke's new rider, who pledges fealty to her. Alicent retreats to the Kingswood after being dismissed from the Small Council. Larys presses Grand Maester Orwyle to accelerate Aegon's recovery. While departing the Eyrie with the young princes, Rhaena leaves to find the wild dragon. Mysaria tells Rhaenyra to search for Targaryen dragonseeds (bastards with Valyrian blood) in King's Landing as potential dragonriders. The new Lord Paramount, Oscar Tully, offers Daemon allegiance but denounces his nefarious behavior. He demands Daemon's contrition and to mete out justice for allowing war atrocities; Daemon then executes Willem Blackwood for slaughtering the Brackens. Daemon has another vision of Viserys, who asks if he truly wants the crown and its burden. Jace confronts Rhaenyra, arguing that bastard dragonriders could challenge the Targaryens' power and threaten the succession due to his own illegitimate birth. At Rhaenyra's command, Elinda and Alyn deliver the dragonseeds to Dragonstone, Hugh and Ulf among them. Vermithor kills many dragonseeds until Hugh claims him; meanwhile, Ulf claims Silverwing and flies over King's Landing. Aemond pursues him on Vhagar but nearing Dragonstone, he quickly retreats upon seeing Rhaenyra with Syrax, Vermithor, and Silverwing. | |||||||
| 18 | 8 | "The Queen Who Ever Was" | Geeta Vasant Patel | Sara Hess | August 4, 2024 (2024-08-04) | 1.47[22] | |
Tyland Lannister recruits the Triarchy as allies, but first successfully defeats Admiral Sharako Lohar in mud-wrestling. Larys proposes that he and Aegon hide in Braavos where Harrenhal's gold is stashed, then reclaim the throne following the war. After long searching, Rhaena finds the wild dragon. Gwayne confronts Criston, who regrets the war. A rage-fueled Aemond destroys Sharp Point with Vhagar. Rhaenyra, who hoped having more dragonriders would deter conflict, declares war. Ulf's boorishness angers Jace. Alyn rebuffs Corlys's reconciliation attempts. Rhaenyra and Addam fly to Harrenhal after Simon Strong sends warning that Daemon may be traitorous. Alys leads Daemon to a weirwood tree where he foresees a future including aWhite Walker andDaenerys Targaryen; seeing himself as one part in a larger story, he swears fealty to Rhaenyra. Helaena refuses Aemond's demand to fly Dreamfyre into battle and foresees him dying in the war and Aegon reclaiming the throne. Alicent secretly travels to Dragonstone, offering to surrender King's Landing to Rhaenyra in exchange for her and her family's safety; Rhaenyra insists Aegon must die to secure the throne. Otto is glimpsed as a captive in a cell. Armies in the Reach, the North, the Westerlands and the Riverlands (as well as House Velaryon's and the Triarchy's fleets) mobilize for war. | |||||||
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In 2015, withGame of Thrones still in production,HBO executives approachedA Song of Ice and Fire writerGeorge R. R. Martin regarding possible successors orspin-offs to the series.[23] In November 2018, Martin stated that a "potential spin-off series would be solidly based on material inFire & Blood."[24]Game of Thrones creatorsDavid Benioff andD. B. Weiss stated they wanted to "move on" from the franchise and declined involvement in subsequent projects.[25] By September 2019, aGame of Thrones prequel series from Martin andRyan Condal that "tracks the beginning of the end forHouse Targaryen" was close to receiving a pilot order from HBO.[26] The following month,House of the Dragon was given a straight-to-series order.[27] Condal andMiguel Sapochnik, who won anEmmy Award for directing the episode "Battle of the Bastards", were selected to serve asshowrunners.[28] In 2016, Condal pitched the idea of a series based on Martin'sTales of Dunk and Egg, however HBO initially passed on it.[29] Sapochnik was also hired to direct the series premiere as well as additional episodes.[30] The series begins 172 years before the events ofGame of Thrones during the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen, ultimately leading to the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons.[31][32] The project is a reworking of the rejected spin-off concept fromGame of Thrones writerBryan Cogman, on which HBO officially passed.[33]
Inspiration for the series came fromEnglish medieval history andthe Anarchy, awar of succession after the death ofHenry I of England between his nephewStephen of Blois and only surviving child,Empress Matilda, who had fled toNormandy in the 12th century.[34][35][36] In January 2020, Casey Bloys, HBO's president of programming, stated that writing had begun.[37] Writers for the show include Condal andSara Hess, who previously wrote forDeadwood andOrange Is the New Black.[38] Martin was also involved in the pre-production, providing input on storylines and reviewed scripts andrough cuts.[39]
On August 26, 2022, less than a week after its premiere, the series was renewed for a second season.[40] 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."[41]Alan Taylor, who directedGame of Thrones episodes, joined in season two and serves as an executive producer and director.[42] Following the second season renewal, Bloys stated that it was expected to premiere in 2024.[43] Hess toldVariety in late December 2022 that most of season 2 had been written and would include a revenge plot against Alicent following theevents of the first-season finale.[44] The second season consists of eight episodes and premiered on June 16, 2024.[45][46] On his personal blog in December 2023, Martin stated the third and fourth seasons are being written.[47] In June 2024, ahead of the second-season premiere, the series was renewed for a third season.[48] After the second season finished airing in August 2024, Condal said the series is intended to end after the fourth season.[49] In November 2025, ahead of the third-season premiere, the series was renewed for a fourth season, , which is expected to be released in 2028.[50]
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.
In the novels, members of House Velaryon are generally described as having "silver-gold hair, pale skin, and violet eyes", similar to the Targaryens.[52] However, Condal and Sapochnik wanted to introduce more racial diversity with its casting.[53]Game of Thrones was criticized for lacking a diverse cast and including culturalstereotypes.[54][55] As a result, House Velaryon are portrayed as black in the television series.[56] According to Condal, Martin, while writing the novels, considered making the Velaryons a house of blackaristocrats who traveled to Westeros from the culturally diverse area ofValyria.[56] Despite initial fan criticism of the ethnicity change,[57] publications and commentators stated it helped distinguish between the large number of characters between the two families.[58][59]
Fire & Blood is written in the style of ahistory book authored by an in-universe fictional historian studying the Targaryen dynasty and various civil conflicts.[60] The novels ofA Song of Ice and Fire, however, are more immersive, with each chapter written in athird-person limited perspective from the immediatepoint of view of a character.[61] As a result, some accounts of events recorded inFire & Blood are second-hand narrations that are potentially speculative or distorted, thereforemaking the narrator unreliable from the reader's perspective.[62] In an effort to make the story more clear for viewers, the show writers decided to portray the book events in chronological order from a third-person perspective.[63]
In 2025, showrunner Ryan Condal discussed creative tensions with author George R. R. Martin, citing disagreements over the adaptation of material from Martin'sFire & Blood. In an interview withEntertainment Weekly, Condal described their past collaboration as "mutually fruitful" but noted that differences had developed regarding the show's narrative direction.[64]
The reported friction followed a since-deleted blog post from Martin in September 2024, in which he criticized changes made by Condal andHBO to the source material. Condal stated that he became aware of the post secondhand and expressed disappointment over the situation. He defended creative choices made in the series, including the exclusion of the characterMaelor Targaryen from season 2, citing production limitations and the interpretive nature ofFire & Blood, which presents events as historical accounts rather than definitive canon.[65][64]
Condal acknowledged the difficulty of adapting a complex, expansive narrative within the constraints of television production and expressed hope for a future reconciliation with Martin.[66]
Casting for the first season began in July 2020.[67] In October 2020,Paddy Considine was cast as Viserys I Targaryen.[68] Considine was offered a role inGame of Thrones but declined due to the fantasy elements of the series.[69] Condal in a 2020 interview stated that Considine was their first choice for Viserys.[70] By December,Olivia Cooke,Matt Smith, andEmma D'Arcy were cast as Alicent Hightower, Daemon Targaryen, and Rhaenyra Targaryen, respectively.[71] In an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, Smith stated he was initially hesitant to star in aGame of Thrones prequel but accepted the role after learning of Considine's attachment to the project.[72]
In February 2021,Rhys Ifans,Steve Toussaint,Eve Best, andSonoya Mizuno were added to the main cast.[73] By April,Fabien Frankel joined the cast as Ser Criston Cole.[74] In May,Graham McTavish was spotted on set in full wardrobe.[75] In July 2021,Emily Carey andMilly Alcock were added to the cast as younger counterparts of Alicent Hightower and Rhaenyra Targaryen, respectively.[76] The time jump midway through the first season prompted the casting of multiple actors for the same role.[77]
In April 2023,Gayle Rankin,Simon Russell Beale,Freddie Fox, andAbubakar Salim were announced to have joined the cast for the second season as Alys Rivers, Ser Simon Strong, Ser Gwayne Hightower and Alyn of Hull, respectively.[78] In December 2023,Tom Taylor,Clinton Liberty,Jamie Kenna,Kieran Bew,Tom Bennett, andVincent Regan were announced to have joined the cast for the second season as Lord Cregan Stark, Addam of Hull, Ser Alfred Broome, Hugh Hammer, Ulf the White and Ser Rickard Thorne, respectively.[79]
In January 2025,James Norton was announced to have joined the cast for the third season as Lord Ormund Hightower.[80] In March 2025,Tommy Flanagan andDan Fogler were announced to have joined the cast as Lord Roderick Dustin and Ser Torrhen Manderly respectively.[81] In April 2025,Tom Cullen,Joplin Sibtain, andBarry Sloane were announced to have joined the cast as Ser Luthor Largent, Ser Jon Roxton, and Ser Adrian Redfort respectively.[82] In July, Annie Shapero was announced to have joined the cast as Alysanne Blackwood.[83]
Principal photography on the ten-episode first season of the series began in April 2021.[84] The series was filmed primarily in the United Kingdom.[85]House of the Dragon was the first production to be shot atWarner Bros. Leavesden Studios' newvirtual production stage.[86] On July 18, 2021, a positiveCOVID-19 case forced the pausing of production for two days.[87] The Spanish publicationHoy reported thatHouse of the Dragon would be filmed in theProvince of Cáceres in western Spain between October 11–21, 2021.[88] The provincial capital ofCáceres along with the medieval town ofTrujillo were used in scenes forKing's Landing.[89] From October 26–31, the series was filmed in Portugal at theCastle of Monsanto.[90] The majority of season 1 was shot usingArri Alexa cameras; specificallyAlexa 65s for the main camera and theAlexa Mini LFs as additional cameras.[91]
Locations inCornwall, England includedSt Michael's Mount,Holywell Beach andKynance Cove. Other locations includedCastleton, Derbyshire, in areas such asCave Dale,Eldon Hill Quarry and the Market Place. Some scenes were shot inAldershot, Hampshire.[92] In February 2022, HBO confirmed that the first season ofHouse of the Dragon had wrapped production.[93]Visual effects for the series were produced in part byPixomondo, who worked onGame of Thrones and received anEmmy Award forOutstanding Visual Effects.[94][95][96] In October 2022, it was reported that the OSVP stage at Leavesden Studios, used in the series, was shutting down.[97]
The second season began filming on April 11, 2023, at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden inWatford, England,[98] and moved to Cáceres, Spain on May 18, 2023.[99][100] The series continued filming throughout the2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.[101] Despite the show originating in the United States, the largely British cast works under local rules governed by the sister unionEquity.[102] Filming wrapped by September 29, 2023.[103]
Filming for the third season began on March 21, 2025, at Leavesden Studios, Watford[104] and wrapped by that October.[105]
It was announced in February 2021 thatRamin Djawadi would compose the seriesscore.[106]Djawadi composed the music for all eight seasons ofGame of Thrones, which garnered him threeGrammy Awards nominations and twoEmmy Awards wins.[107][106] Djawadi and the showrunners opted to retain the originaltheme song, "Game of Thrones Theme", forHouse of the Dragon. The song debuted in theopening credits of the second episode.[108] In an interview withThe A.V. Club, Djawadi stated that the original theme song was used to "tie the shows together".[109] 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.[110] Charactermotifs fromGame of Thrones are also featured inHouse of the Dragon, including the Dragon theme "Dracarys".[111]
Game of Thrones conlangerDavid J. Peterson returned to continue his work on theconstructed languageHigh Valyrian.[112] Peterson stated that, unlikeGame of Thrones,House of the Dragon features scene-long dialogue in High Valyrian.[113] In the series, High Valyrian is spoken by both Targaryens and Velaryons, requiring cast members to learn the language.[114] Emma D'Arcy reportedly enjoyed learning it, while Matt Smith initially dreaded it and found it daunting.[115]
The production budget of the first season ofHouse of the Dragon was nearly $200 million, which equates to an average of just below $20 million per episode.[116] 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.[117][118] According toDeadline Hollywood, the marketing budget was over $100 million, comparable to the budget for ablockbuster theatrical film.[119]
House of the Dragon premiered on August 21, 2022.[120] It is HBO's first new series to stream in4K,Dolby VisionHDR andDolby Atmos on its sister streaming platformHBO Max.[121] The first episode was released for free onYouTube on September 2, 2022.[122] The first-season finale wasleaked online the week before the actual air date, with the full episode appearing on torrent sites.[123] According to HBO, the leak came from aEurope, the Middle East and Africa partner and it will "aggressively" monitor for additional leaks.[124] The second season premiered on June 16, 2024.[46] The second-season finale was also leaked online, with HBO releasing a statement stating the leak originated from a "third-party distributor".[125]
In New Zealand, the series is distributed bySky'sSoHo TV channel andNeon streaming service.[126] In the Philippines,SKY broadcasts the show via its main cable television services and other digital streaming platforms.[127] In India,JioHotstar distributes the show.[128] In the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the series airs onSky Atlantic and its accompanying streaming serviceNow.[129] In Canada,House of the Dragon is available onBell Media'sCrave streaming service and itsHBO linear channel.[130] In Australia, the series is available for streaming onBinge andFoxtel.[131]
The first season was released on4K UHD Blu-ray (including aSteelBook special edition), standardBlu-ray, andDVD on December 20, 2022, and contains over an hour of behind-the-scenes features.[132] The second season was released on all the same physical media formats on November 19, 2024.[133]
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On the review aggregation websiteRotten Tomatoes, the first season holds an approval rating of 90%, based on 876 reviews, with an average rating of 7.85/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Covering an era of tenuous peace with ferocious – albeit abbreviated – focus,House of the Dragon is an impressive prequel that exemplifies thecourt intrigue that distinguished its predecessor."[134] OnMetacritic, which uses a weighted average, the first season received a score of 69 out of 100 based on 43 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[135]
Reviews for the first season were positive, with critics praising the writing, directing, score, and cast performances.[136]Lucy Mangan ofThe Guardian called the show a "roaring success" withLorraine Ali of theLos Angeles Times stating the show mirrors the acclaim of the early seasons ofGame of Thrones.[137][138] Reviews pointed out the reliance on Martin's work was one of the reasons the series fared better critically than the later seasons of its predecessor, specifically thelast season.[139][140] The cast also received praise, with Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy, and Olivia Cooke being singled out for their performances.[141] In an interview withGQ, Considine stated that Martin told him that "Your Viserys is better than my Viserys".[142] The diversity of the characters was mostly met with praise,[143][144][145] withJeff Yang ofThe New York Times stating that diversification of the cast can help the series gain a more diverse audience.[146] The series was included on multiple critics' top ten lists of 2022, includingChicago Tribune,San Francisco Chronicle,CNN, andPolygon.[147]
The show's first season received criticism for the depiction of violence, pacing and cinematography. Reviewing the early episodes,Rolling Stone andEntertainment Weekly said the series leaned too much on grand imagery and lacked the breakout supporting characters thatGame of Thrones had.[148][149] Before the premiere, Martin stated that the series is similar to aShakespearean tragedy with each character beingmorally grey with no "character everybody's going to love".[150]The Guardian stated the "dullness" of the characters makes the series more of aperiod drama than an action-adventure fantasy.[151] TheLos Angeles Times andThe New York Times cited the constant actor changes as a reason for the lack of emotional attachment to characters.[152][153] Thegraphic violence in the season premiere with a failedcaesarean section was criticized for being excessive, and according toUSA Today, "exploitive and in poor taste".[154][155][156] The time jumps throughout the first season were also noted for being jarring and causing confusion,[157][158] while Martin defended them as being "handled very well".[159][160] In addition, the dark cinematography in episode seven was a point of criticism from both critics and fans.[161][162] HBO responded that the dimmed lighting in those scenes was an "intentional creative decision".[163]Game of Thronesfaced similar criticism regarding the lighting of scenes in its eighth season, with one of the show's cinematographers stating it was a "deliberate choice".[164][165] In an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter before the second season premiere, Ryan Condal said that the lighting for the upcoming season would be changed after listening to the feedback from the previous season.[166]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the second season holds an approval rating of 83%, based on 272 reviews, with an average rating of 7.55/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Approaching its dynastic cataclysm with a deliberate stride rather than a charging gallop,House of the Dragon carefully sets up its emotional stakes to make the fiery spectacle all the more scorching."[167] On Metacritic, the second season received a score of 73 out of 100 based on 40 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[168]
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 it said was the largest single-day viewership for a series debut in the service's history, dethroningEuphoria.[169] After one week of availability, the viewership rose to nearly 25 million in the U.S. across all platforms.[170]Nielsen 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.[a][171]Samba TV meanwhile stated that 4.8 million U.S. households streamed the episode in the first four days.[172] The series was also popular onsocial media, with the show premiere being the number onetrending topic onTwitter andGoogle Trends.[173]
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 theseries finale ofGame 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.[174]
Nielsen stated in November 2022 that 35% of the viewers of the show were in the age range of 18–34.[175] Similar toGame of Thrones, the first season ofHouse of the Dragon was extensivelypirated.[176] According toTorrentFreak, it was the most pirated series of 2022, ahead ofThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and other series.[177]
Season 2 had a debut of 7.8 million viewers across linear and streaming on its Sunday night premiere, which was a 22% viewership decline from the previous season which had 10 million. In Latin America, viewership was up 30% from season 1.[178] According toSamba TV, viewership for its initial airing of the premiere was watched by 1.3 million U.S. households, compared to 2.6 million for season 1.[179] The series garnered its highest streaming viewership for a particular week during the week of June 17–23, 2024, according to Nielsen, garnering a viewership of 1.23 billion minutes.[180] The viewership of the season steadily increased as further episodes were released,[181] reaching a season-high of 8.9 million viewers across linear and streaming with the final episode. The finale also marked the highest streaming viewership for any episode of the show according to HBO.[182]
Critics, fans, and publications have drawn comparisons betweenHouse of the Dragon and fantasy seriesThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power onAmazon Prime Video.The Rings of Power is a prequel series set thousands of years before the events ofJ. R. R. Tolkien'sThe Hobbit andThe Lord of the Rings, whileHouse of the Dragon is a prequel series set hundreds of years beforeGame of Thrones.[183] The similar fantasy genre, close release dates, and extensivefan bases were cited in articles comparing the two series.[3][184][185] Commentators and fans alike have described these comparisons as the "biggest battle inTV history".[186][187] More negative criticism from the two fan bases also included the character diversity, with some publications describing some of the criticism asracist.[188][189][190][191] Martin stated that although he hopes both shows are successful, he wants to seeHouse of the Dragon "succeed more."[192] Lindsey Weber, an executive producer forThe Rings of Power, stated that the head-to-head conflict between the two shows are "totally manufactured by the media for headlines".[187] Show co-creatorJ. D. Payne said the only competition he sees is with "themselves"; however, he wishes well for "anyone else working on storytelling".[193]
Financially, the budget forThe Rings of Power is almost $450 million more thanHouse of the Dragon.[116] Both series fared successfully in the ratings.[194] According to Nielsen and first-party data,The Rings of Power's first two episodes had more than 1.25 billion streaming minutes after three days of availability. In comparison, a few hours after the episode two premiere ofHouse of the Dragon, the show had reached more than 1.06 billion streaming minutes.[b][171][195] Following the season finale forHouse of the Dragon, weekly streaming viewership passed 1 billion viewing minutes for the first time.[195] According to Nielsen data,The Rings of Power has a higher percentage of older viewers, with more than 70% of viewers being over the age of 35.[196] In any given week,The Rings of Power tended to have more streams thanHouse of the Dragon given that the viewership ofHouse of the Dragon was split between those watching online and those watching on HBO channel while that ofThe Rings of Power was online only. However, following both series debuts, streaming viewership forThe Rings of Power decreased over the first season, whileHouse of the Dragon viewership increased. The viewership of individual episodes ofHouse of the Dragon also tended to increase over a number of weeks after the episodes became available while that ofThe Rings of Power dropped sharply after the first two weeks.[197] Despite the age gap in viewership, commentators have stated one of the reasons both shows did well was the consistent release schedule that helped createsocial-media buzz.[198][199] Both shows have highlighted the "streaming wars" between both Amazon and HBO and the entertainment industry as a whole.[200][201][202]
House of the Dragon received ninePrimetime Emmy Awards nominations in2023, includingOutstanding Drama Series, winning one forOutstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes.[203][204] The series won theGolden Globe Award Best Television Series – Drama in2023, whileEmma D'Arcy earned twoBest Actress in a Television Series – Drama nominations in 2023 and2025.[205][206] Other nominations include threeCritics' Choice Awards,[207] and twoScreen Actors Guild Awards.[208][209]
It's common knowledge that this is a prequel. So it takes place sometime before the show but its on a medieval timeline. Not much really changed through the Middle Ages.... 200 years in our timeline is a really long time whereas 200 years in theGame of Thrones world wouldn't be that much.
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