The long-awaited prequel to Game of Thrones has finally been released, and it was a huge success as its viewing figures brought in over 10 million people across all of its platforms on Sunday 21 August 2022 alone.
House of the Dragon is the story 172 years before the one we saw in Game of Thrones. This first episode, released on HBO and Sky TV, really did not disappointed its fans!
There was gore, death and, of course, dragons. The storyline was extremely well set out, with even some reference to the cold winter, where Game of Thrones starts off in their very first episode ‘Winter is Coming’.
The knife that eventually caused the demise of the ice walkers in the finale of Game of Thrones was also touched upon briefly in this series. These little teasers and hints made this watch all the more exciting.
What is the Central Theme for this Series?
It is most evident that one of the central themes of the series will be succession, as you see the king trying to decide his successor and choose someone who he knows his people will follow.
Succession has historically proved a very difficult and challenging issue, that can cause many enemies if done incorrectly.
This is why this theme will be perfect throughout the show, as much drama will no doubt follow.
The Cast
Matt Smith plays Daemon Targaryen, who is the younger brother to the King, Viserys I, played by Paddy Considine.
Both actors truly encompass all that their characters are, as they demonstrate the power struggles and extreme choices that they will make to protect the security of the realm.
Milly Alcock plays Rhaenrya Targaryen, and her character felt like she will most definitely be a force of nature. She seems strong and very dedicated to proving herself to be just as strong as her male role models.
What’s Next?
It will be extremely exciting to see the storyline that unfolds in House of the Dragon, but we can definitely expect some gruesome deaths and amazing battle scenes. This is due to the production of the first episode managing to encompass the exact same excitement that made Game of Thrones so successful.