Everything You Need to Know About House of the Dragon | Official Website for the HBO Series | HBO.com (2024)

FAQs

What do I need to know before I watch House of the Dragon? ›

“House of the Dragon” follows Daenerys Targaryen's (Emilia Clarke) ancestors, roughly 200 years before the events of “Game of Thrones.” Members of the Targaryen family have silver hair, ride dragons and often engage in incest. They ruled Westeros for hundreds of years.

In the show, Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith), Rhaenyra's husband (and uncle), hired the assassins to target Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell), Viserys and Alicent's second son. Aemond was responsible for the death of Rhaenyra's second son, Lucerys (Elliot Grihault).

Rhaenyra Targaryen is Daenerys's sixth great-grandmother, with only 8 Targaryen generations between them. Daenerys and Rhaenyra share similar tragic fates as powerful queens in Westeros. Rhaenyra's brutal end being eaten by a dragon echoes similarities in fate and madness with Daenerys.

Featuring an ensemble cast, the show portrays the events leading up to the decline of House Targaryen, a devastating war of succession known as the "Dance of the Dragons."

Where does House of the Dragon fall in the Game of Thrones timeline? The House of the Dragon timeline picks up approximately 172 years prior to the birth of Daenerys Stormborn and the death of her father the Mad King, Aerys – the last Targaryen to sit on the Iron Throne before Game of Thrones begins.

The short answer is yes. House of the Dragon builds on Game of Thrones without relying on it too heavily.

Well, at the end of Episode 2 in House of the Dragon, there is the small part when she looks at her father, then at her best friend at that time, Alicent Hightower. She was betrayed by both of them.

"Rhaenyra Targaryen was murdered by her brother, or rather, his dragon," Joffrey recalls. "It ate her while her son watched. What's left of her is buried in the crypts right down there." "House of the Dragon" is the second time HBO has turned one of George R. R. Martin's fantasy novels into a TV show juggernaut.

Aegon II: Killed by a poisoned wine goblet. The person who poisoned him is unclear, but Cregan Stark, serving as Hand, had twenty-two men arrested for their involvement. Most notable were Corlys Velaryon (pardoned), Ser Gyles Belgrave of the Kingsguard (executed), and Larys “Clubfoot” Strong (executed).

Technically, Rhaenyra is Daenerys's sixth great grandmother and Jon's seventh great grandmother. That also makes Daenerys and Jon the direct descendants of Daemon, Rhaenyra's uncle/second husband.

What is Jon Snow to Daenerys Targaryen? ›

As the son of Daenerys's older brother Rhaegar, Jon Snow is also her nephew. Right now she is unaware of either Jon's or Griff's existence.

Rhaenyra & Aegon II Both Die During The Dance Of The Dragons

King Aegon II effectively wins the war when he has Rhaenyra burned and eaten by his dragon, Sunfyre, in Dragonstone. Before that, Rhaenyra did succeed at taking King's Landing and sat on the Iron Throne for six months, but her short reign was a disaster.

The show has got the speed of the disease correct. King Viserys has lived with leprosy for many decades and the disease has grown very slowly.

He challenges Aemond to a fight, one-on-one. As the two duke it out over Harrenhal, Daemon jumps from Caraxes and stabs Aemond right through his sapphire eye. Both men and their dragons fall into the sea to their deaths. Daemon's death will dramatically affect the series.

The book reveals that Otto Hightower is executed for treason by Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen when she takes King's Landing, which could potentially happen as early as House of the Dragon season 2's later episodes.

King Viserys is dead, and Aegon is king

Though everyone still hates the idea that a woman should rule the Seven Kingdoms, Alicent thinks placing Aegon in charge is an opportunity for her to operate from behind the scenes. He's still a Targaryen heir, and to her, he can rightfully usurp the throne.

Set 200 years before “Game of Thrones,” “House of the Dragon” follows the infamous Dance of the Dragons that resulted in the deaths of many of the Targaryens' dragons. It was a result of the murky line of succession after King Viserys Targaryen died and his rightful heir was heavily disputed.

Still, I'm one of those people who think you should read The Silmarillion first to maximize your enjoyment of The Lord of the Rings, as long as you don't mind the stylistic departure from a traditional work of fiction, Fire & Blood is the best place to begin your journey in Westeros—especially if you're watching House ...

Game of Thrones begins in 298 AC, a few years before Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) makes her bid to claim the Iron Throne. Therefore, Game of Thrones is set about 197 years after when House of the Dragon begins in 101 AC and 167 years after the end of the Dance of the Dragons in 131 AC.