The final season of the multi-award-winning TV series “Game of Thrones” aired in 2019 and with its release, many of the show’s followers found the much-anticipated finale to be disappointing since it fell far short of their expectations. “The House of the Dragon” (HotD), which debuted in late August 2022, tells the story of the Targaryen dynasty, so there does appear to be some solace in sight for GOT fans.
The crux of the new series, which is still set in George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” fantasy realm, is a Targaryen civil war brought on by Viserys Targaryen’s succession plan (Paddy Considine). The law of primogeniture, which stipulates that the first male heir ascends to the throne in the fictitious universe, is ignored by the king in episode 1, “The Heirs of the Dragon,” which results in a fatal breach between two family factions.
It was the largest audience for any new original HBO series ever
House of the Dragon/ Getty Images | The hype for the ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel surpassed that of ‘Euphoria’ Season 2 and ‘Stranger Things 4’
The “Games of Thrones” prequel series “House of the Dragon” debuted in August 2022 to the largest audience for a brand-new HBO original series ever—nearly 10 million viewers. Even though the “Game of Thrones” series finale left many fans unhappy, people nevertheless flocked to social media to talk about the forthcoming season. According to a news release from HBO, “House of the Dragon” was the top trending topic on Google Trends on Sunday and trended on Twitter for 14 hours. Naturally, more viewers are expected to start watching the program on HBO Max in the coming days.
Stars walk the red carpet in London
Stars and creators of the show walked the red carpet on 15 August in Leicester Square, ahead of the show’s launch on Sky and streaming service Now from August 22. The theme of the evening was very red and very “Fire and Blood,” the book that inspired the TV show; moreover, the men stepped up their fashion game from the world premiere in Los Angeles one month prior to the London premiere.
Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic for HBO | The highly anticipated prequel series was showcased on a red carpet
The actors gave regality a punkish, New Romantics-era twist. They wore an Acne Studios ensemble with a shimmering and textured gold vest, an oversized button-down shirt, pin-straight leather slacks, and disco-ready platforms that lend a whole new meaning to the term “coat of arms.” It’s Westeros, as seen on MTV in the 1980s.
Cast and crew
Ian West/ PA Wire/ PA Images | The show reportedly cost around $20 (£16.5) million per episode for its 10-episode run
The HBO drama features a star-studded cast, including “The Crown” and “Doctor Who” actor Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen, younger brother of King Viserys and heir to the throne, while Olivia Cooke plays Alicent Hightower, the daughter of Otto Hightower, the hand of the king.
Also in the line-up is Emma D’Arcy, who plays Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the king’s first-born child, who is of pure Valyrian blood and a dragon rider. Emma is accompanied on the screen by Steve Toussaint, who plays Lord Corlys Velaryon, also known as the Sea Snake, a famed nautical adventurer who has built his house into a powerful and wealthy seat. The fantastical show also stars Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen and Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower.
