House of the Dragon

HBO Max crashed repeatedly for many viewers during the premiere of the streaming platform's highly anticipated “Game of Thrones” prequel on Sunday night, ...

The prequel, helmed by different directors than its predecessors, could provide a comeback of sorts for HBO. “House of the Dragon is being successfully viewed by millions of HBO Max subscribers this evening,” HBO said in a statement provided to multiple media outlets Sunday. The crashes introduced a technical hiccup into one of HBO’s most hotly awaited shows in years.

The Game of Thrones prequel shows patriarchy at its most dehumanizing — but in a post-Roe world, it was effective.

LOS ANGELES • THE hotly anticipated debut of the “Game of Thrones” prequel saw a vast number of users flock to HBO Max, overwhelming the service for some on ...

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Richard Lawson and Josh Wigler break down the return to Westeros, the cost of all that violence, and why it might be fair to read a little into that moment ...

[recap](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/08/house-of-the-dragon-season-1-episode-1-recap) as well as [his guide](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/08/house-of-the-dragon-characters-whos-who) to telling all those silver-haired Targaryens apart. Anthony Breznican [also caught up](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/08/house-of-the-dragon-birth-scene) with series creator Ryan Condal and book author George R.R. But, as hosts Richard Lawson and Josh Wigler discuss on this week’s Still Watching, the real world has changed a bit since Game of Thrones ended in 2019, and what viewers expect has probably changed too.

House of the Dragon introduced House Stark with Rickon Stark swearing fealty to Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. Here's what to know about Rickon Stark.

Cregan will likely become Lord of Winterfell by the time of the civil war. It’s fitting that House Stark is shown swearing fealty in this moment; House Stark and House Targaryen will eventually unite to defeat this threat, the Starks' past loyalty to the Targaryens perhaps one small signal of this future alliance.) [ 200 years before Ned Stark is named Hand of the King](https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a40896343/house-of-the-dragon-setting-time/)—the first season of Game of Thrones. We, of course, know this threat to be the White Walkers and the (One house swearing fealty before Stark: “Baratheon,” the surname of King Robert who rules the Seven Kingdoms at the start of Game of Thrones.) The name “Rickon” will also seem familiar, as this is the name of Eddard (Ned) and Catelyn Stark’s youngest child, who died at 11 during the Battle of the Bastards.

The Doom of Valyria sparked the Targaryen Conquest, changed the fate of Westeros, and led to the creation of the Iron Throne, eventually lost by Mad King ...

Viserys clearly sees the Doom of Valyria as a punishment for his ancestors trifling with the magic of dragons and stripping the volcanoes of their natural resources. Aerys was the father of Prince Rhaegar (the secret father of Jon Snow), Prince Viserys, and Princess Daenerys. That prompts her nephew/lover Jon Snow to kill her and ensure Westeros is spared the reign of another mad Targaryen. [their three dragons](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/house-of-the-dragon-introduce-17-new-dragons-game-of-thrones-world/) were one of the few Valyrian families to remain after the Doom because prior to it, their family had relocated west to Dragonstone, a volcanic island off the coast of Westeros. This ignited the spark of Robert’s Rebellion, during which Hand of the King Tywin Lannister betrayed Aerys and joined the revolt. Closer to the mythological story of [Atlantis](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/atlantis#:~:text=The%20legend%20of%20Atlantis%20is%20a%20story%20about%20a%20moral,immoral%20pursuits%2C%22%20Orser%20says.), Valyria was destroyed by a natural disaster known as ‘The Doom of Valyria’. The loss of their family’s former empire later inspired Aegon to conquer the continent of Westeros. It’s not just the language, the steel and the sigil that the Targaryens have brought to Westeros with them, but also the city of Valyria – after a fashion. [Game of Thrones](https://www.denofgeek.com/game-of-thrones/), and where Dany gets the deadly fire-breathing dragon command “Dracarys”. He loves the history of the old world. It’s the language Daenerys Targaryen speaks to the surprise of the slave masters in Viserys, Daemon, Aemma and Rhaenerys are fluent in Westeros’ Common Tongue (aka English), but slip between that and the family’s native High Valyrian (a dying-out language only used by the time of Game of Thrones in religious ceremonies, which we might equate to, say, our Latin).

Showrunner Ryan Condal shares how the new prequel TV series' surprising reveal came from George R.R. Martin himself.

And it gave us a real sense of spirituality, I think, which definitely existed in the original show, this idea that their magic was coming back into the world, the only real magic in this world is the Dragons. You don’t have any characters that survive but these ideas and these concepts of this existential threat to Westeros that we know as fans and watchers of the original show are coming. It gave a lot of it gave us a lot of interesting, dramatic stuff to play with. “So, you know, with his permission, of course, we infused that into the story because it was such a great way to create resonance with the original show. It’s nice of the author to just casually let it slip this was a legit thing that merely just existed in his head as how things went down in the Dragon House, as the Targaryen secret passed from leader to leader. With the inability of King Viserys (Paddy Considine) to produce a male heir and his refusal to let his chaotic brother Prince Daemon (Matt Smith) lay claim to the throne, he names his eldest daughter Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) as his sole heir—and tells the one secret all Targaryen rulers must know.

The Iron Throne is up for grabs. Again. Three-and-a-half years after the divisive finale of Game of Thrones, HBO takes us back to Westeros for a new battle ...

In the book, Alicent becomes King Viserys’ second wife and the mother of his son, Prince Aegon II, adding another layer of complexity to the already messy Dance of the Dragons. While Viserys is mourning his wife and son in his chambers, Otto calls upon Alicent to offer the king some comfort, preferably wearing one of her mother’s more revealing dresses. Not only is Daemon blowing steam out of his ears, Lord Hightower has his own plans to secure a male heir for the king — one with his own blood. Rhaenys’ name is brought up as a possible plaintiff should the king name his own daughter his next in line, since she is also a woman and already has a male heir, as well as many supporters. To add insult to injury, the commander of the City Watch gave the dead prince a tasteless nickname: Heir for a Day. [Sean Bean](https://collider.com/tag/sean-bean/)) was to care more about the kingdom than the king himself — and, let’s be frank, it’s not as if he doesn’t have his own agenda. Inside the Red Keep, an even bloodier battle is being fought by the queen: the royal baby is in breech, and the maesters have already done everything in their power to turn him to no avail. Though he did manage to avert a crisis for the remainder of his time on the throne, his successor would soon find himself in a very similar predicament. [Matt Smith](https://collider.com/tag/matt-smith/)) rising power as commander of the City Watch. Rhaenys' claim to the throne is weakened by the fact that no woman has ever sat on the Iron Throne, and the lords of Westeros aren't about to let her be the first. Martin prequel novel Fire & Blood, [House of the Dragon](https://collider.com/tag/house-of-the-dragon/) takes place 172 years before the rebellion that kicked off the events of [Game of Thrones](https://collider.com/tag/game-of-thrones/) and the Song of Ice and Fire book series. Three-and-a-half years after the divisive finale of Game of Thrones, HBO takes us back to Westeros for a new battle of wits, swords, and fire-breathing dragons

George RR Martin's world struts its way back on to our screens with utter confidence and brio. As captivating as it is gruesome, it's like a greatest hits ...

There is a specificity that both works in its favour and occasionally weakens its impact. There is a lot of dialogue. I’d argue that Game of Thrones thrived on the strength of its villains, far more than the virtues of its heroes, and A prequel to Game of Thrones, it begins 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen, and it chronicles the fall of the Targaryen dynasty, though after watching the first six episodes of squabbling and scheming, the real question is how it can possibly take two centuries to collapse. [House of the Dragon](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/house-of-the-dragon) (Sky Atlantic) is simply spectacular. It is a greatest hits playlist of Westeros at its meatiest.

"House of the Dragon" — the highly anticipated "Game of Thrones" prequel — brought in roughly 10 million viewers for its first episode across linear and HBO ...

More information about [cookies](/cookie) [cookies](/cookie), [revised Privacy Policy](/privacy)and [Terms of Service](/terms). [House of the Dragon](http://www.cnn.com/2022/08/22/entertainment/house-of-the-dragon-recap/index.html)" — the highly anticipated " [Game of Thrones](http://www.cnn.com/2022/08/21/entertainment/house-of-dragon-what-to-know-cec/index.html)" prequel — brought in roughly 10 million viewers for its first episode across linear and HBO Max platforms in the US on Sunday night, the network said on Monday.

We see a silver-haired woman gliding along on a dragon, introducing us to Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the daughter of King Viserys. After dismounting from her ...

"Aegon foresaw the end of the world of men. The Grand Maester says that in these circumstances, it wouldn't be improper for the king to name a heir. He gets to choose which of the knights he wants to joust with, and points to a knight from House Hightower -- a knight that's the eldest son of Hand of the King Otto Hightower. "There is a chance we can save the child," but the resulting blood loss is likely to kill the mother. "I made Daemon master of laws, but you said he was a tyrant," King Viserys barks at Hightower. "Congratulations your grace," the maester says over Viserys' shoulder as the king weeps over his dead wife's body, "you have a son." After the funeral, the king finds himself at a Small Council meeting in which Otto Hightower, the Hand, implores him to immediately name a new heir. Daemon is obviously a troublesome guy, but he descends the throne and shows his niece a necklace with a pendant made with Valyrian steel. Hightower then gets on Daemon for not attending to his wife, Lady Rhea of the Vale. "There's a boy in the queen's belly, I know it. "It is now the ninth year of King Viserys I Targaryen's Reign. Instead, they begin to focus on the Heir's Tournament, a jousting championship held on the day of Viserys' child's birth.

The network said viewership for the “Game of Thrones” spinoff was the biggest start for a series in its history.

[people associated ](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/10/arts/television/house-of-the-dragon-hbo-got.html)with the show — including the writer who created the “Thrones” universe, [George R.R. Martin ](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/21/arts/television/george-rr-martin-house-of-the-dragon.html)— were concerned that the backlash would turn off viewers from giving “House of the Dragon” a chance. That episode, which aired in December, averaged 1.7 million viewers, a record for “Succession,” the network said. “House of the Dragon,” which benefited from a lavish marketing campaign, has nine more episodes this season. A strong debut from “House of the Dragon” is a source of comfort to HBO executives, and may be evidence that viewers are craving more stories from Westeros. “Game of Thrones,” the cable network said on Monday. In early September, Amazon will premiere its own splashy fantasy series, “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.” [interview last month.](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/10/arts/television/house-of-the-dragon-hbo-got.html) “But it will have to do the work on its own to bring people in and to sustain the viewership.” Stories like this are possible because of our deep commitment to original reporting, produced by a global staff of over 1,700 journalists who have all dedicated themselves to helping you understand the world. [five other “Thrones” spinoff](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/10/arts/television/house-of-the-dragon-hbo-got.html) ideas in development. [House of the Dragon](https://www.nytimes.com/spotlight/house-of-the-dragon-hbo),” the much-anticipated “Game of Thrones” spinoff, was the most-watched episode of an HBO series since … The network said viewership for the “Game of Thrones” spinoff was the biggest start for a series in its history.

The first episode of "House of the Dragon" was seen by 9.986 million viewers across linear and HBO Max platform Sunday night, the largest audience of any ...

"House of the Dragon" tells the story of the Targaryen civil war that took place about 200 years before the events portrayed in "Game of Thrones." "House of the Dragon," only the second entrant in its Game of Thrones franchise, has a lot to prove, and to live up to. This is the largest audience of any new original series in the history of HBO, the company said. Discovery revealed that 9.986 million viewers across linear and HBO Max platforms tuned in to watch the first episode of the prequel series Sunday night. It seems, fans of the high fantasy series were at least intrigued enough to settle in to watch the first episode of the series, leading to HBO's biggest series premiere in its history. - The first episode of "House of the Dragon" was seen by 9.986 million viewers across linear and HBO Max platform on Sunday night.

Spoilers ahead. After deciding to name Princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) his heir, King Viserys (Paddy Considine) passes on to her a Targaryen family secret. " ...

And if the world of men is to survive, a Targaryen must be seated on the Iron Throne. A king or queen strong enough to unite the realm against the cold and the dark." These descendants turn out to be Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen, who defeat the White Walkers with the help of Daenerys' powerful dragons. Aegon saw absolute darkness riding on those winds and whatever dwells within will destroy the world of the living." "Aegon foresaw the end of the world of men. [House of the Dragon](/culture/entertainment/house-of-the-dragon-premiere-recap-watch-the-throne/) has kicked off on [HBO](https://www.cnet.com/news/hbo-max-a-half-off-deal-is-ending-plus-movies-shows-and-everything-else-to-know/), and it already looks to have squashed any doubts it'll be another high fantasy winner.

In his statement, Casey Bloys specifically credited Fire & Blood author/HOTD co-creator George R.R. Martin, co-creator/co-showrunner/executive producer Ryan ...

For some more viewing options now and in the coming weeks, be sure to check out our [2022 TV premiere schedule](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2022-tv-premiere-dates). In true Game of Thrones style, the premiere [had its share of blood](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/house-of-the-dragons-paddy-considine-breaks-down-the-series-premieres-bloodiest-and-brutal-scene), but set itself up as a distinct show with kinds of characters who weren’t in the mix on the original series. Chief Content Officer Casey Bloys, who previously said that [there was no ratings threshold that they were aiming for](https://www.cinemablend.com/game-of-thrones-news/will-hbos-house-of-the-dragon-be-a-huge-success-hbos-boss-explains-his-take-on-the-game-of-thrones-prequel) with the new series, had this to say about HOTD already making history: [after the Targaryen-centric spinoff was first reported](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2480187/game-of-thrones-will-probably-deliver-even-more-epic-incest-with-targaryen-spinoff). The series premiere of House of the Dragon drew 9.986 million viewers on August 21 in the United States. As the TV successor to Game of Thrones, the spinoff was sure to be a success, but there was just no saying how successful it would be [after the divisive Thrones finale](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2471995/game-of-thrones-finale-what-the-cinemablend-staff-thought-of-that-ending).

'House of the Dragon' star Steve Toussaint slammed viewers of the 'Game of Thrones' prequel series who took issue with his casting.

“The Sea Snake” on the series, slammed viewers of the “ [Game of Thrones](https://variety.com/t/game-of-thrones/)” prequel who took issue with his casting. Martin’s “Fire & Blood,” from which “House of the Dragon” is adapted, many imagined the character to be fair-skinned because his ancestors are Valyrian and his hair is described in the book as “Targaryen white-blonde.” “Even when we were doing certain scenes, there would be supporting artists who would come up and go, ‘It’s great to have this representation.'”

'House of the Dragon' star Steve Toussaint responds to fan criticism about a Black House Velaryon: 'They are happy with a dragon flying.

I just thought, 'Well, why couldn't we do a version of that now?'" And in another way, Toussaint's Lord Velaryon is a fulfillment of Martin's original vision. She added, "So this is a conversation going forward about when you're casting shows like this, that you are inclusive in your casting. It's different than 20 years ago when Peter Jackson made The Lord of the Rings. "Even when we were doing certain scenes, there would be supporting artists who would come up and go, 'It's great to have this representation.'" "They're happy with white hair and violet-colored eyes, but a rich Black guy?

"House of the Dragon" star Steve Toussaint discusses the racism he faced after being cast in the “Game of Thrones” prequel: "A rich Black guy?

Toussaint’s Lord Corlys is of Valyrian descent and — nearly two centuries before the drama in “Game of Thrones” — is the richest man in Westeros. Ambition is his driving force for most of the season,” Toussaint said. “A TV show or film, wherever it’s set, it reflects the time that it was made. When his wife was passed over for the crown, he seems to take it that much more personally than she does. That “rich Black guy” is also known as “the Sea Snake” in the sprawling series. So many people are basing their idea of the history of this country on a few films and stuff that were made in the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, which don’t bear any resemblance to the truth,” Toussaint said. [a Men’s Health interview](https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a40933597/steve-toussaint-house-of-the-dragon-interview/) published Monday, the 57-year-old Brit said he’s also been told that “it’s great to have this representation” on the show. There are street names that tell you there were people who looked like us in this country even then, but for some reason, it seems to be very hard for people to swallow.” “Secondly, if you care more about a guy’s skin color than the fact that everyone’s miraculously got gorgeous teeth, it just shows your prejudice.” “And as you said, they are happy with a dragon flying. They’re happy with white hair and violet-colored eyes, but a rich Black guy? But long before the first episode

'House of the Dragon' Star Steve Toussaint discusses his role in new Game of Thrones show, his training, and his role as Lord Corlys Velaryon.

But the job is still the job, you still have to learn the lines, you still have to try and sound convincing when you say the things and you make sure you don't bump into the furniture. She is the author of Strong Female Character, a movie-memoir-manifesto, loves Marvel, puns and when women tie their hair up in action scenes. We shot a bit in Cornwall, but most of it was at the studio. A TV show or film, wherever it's set, it reflects the time that it was made. But in terms of the amount of eyes on this, from the minute it was announced, well, no, I've never had anything like that. It wasn't until I had my first virtual meeting with the showrunners that I had any idea it was in that Game of Thrones universe. It's a stately home, where you can only access it at certain times of the day, because the tide comes in and you can't get to it. What has been wonderful is for every toxic person that has somehow found their way into my timeline, there have been so many others who have been so supportive and been like, “Oh my god, I can't wait, this is going to be great!” You and I, we had to go out and make it.” That's another bone of contention for him. Ambition is his driving force for most of the season. “He's all about legacy and about getting as close as possible to the throne,” Toussaint says. It wouldn’t be a Game of Thrones series without a bloody battle, yet even with four weeks of training under his belt, Steve Toussaint wasn’t quite ready for the sheer exertion required for the violent beach scenes in House of the Dragon.

The 'Game of Thrones' prequel drew impressive numbers for HBO, becoming the year's most-watched premiere on premium cable and streaming.

And with [HBO Max preparing to combine with Discovery+](https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisadellatto/2022/08/04/hbo-max-and-discovery-will-combine-into-one-streaming-service/), big numbers from a franchise become even more critical as HBO tries to make its value clear to its new owners at Discovery. Now I write and edit for businesses... With more and more streaming services joining the fray, the TV landscape has transformed over the past three years. All the streamers are [searching for ways to stand out](https://www.forbes.com/sites/tonifitzgerald/2022/08/12/5-lessons-from-disneys-successful-challenge-to-netflix/?sh=216bbff18abc) amid the [fight for eyeballs](https://www.forbes.com/sites/tonifitzgerald/2022/08/06/streaming-wars-latest-chapter-plays-out-on-out-of-home-ads/?sh=763e978f4260). “Just as Stranger Things’ most recent season four, volume two drop surpassed its volume one audience, HBO must look to innovative marketing that drives incremental audience growth to break through today’s saturated content marketplace.” households, according to Samba TV, a technology company that provides real-time audience analytics, including viewers who watched the show from 9 p.m.

Nearly 10 million people tuned in to the Game of Thrones spinoff House of the Dragon Sunday, making it the most watched series premiere in HBO and HBO Max ...

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A scene in the first episode of HBO's Game of Thrones prequel series has been called out as confronting and gratuitous. Warning: spoilers inside.

"There's this whole idea in Game of Thrones, or in the Middle Ages, or in historical age like this, that the men marched off to the battlefield and the women's battlefield happened in the child bed. Any slight complication, anything could lead to very tragic consequences for the child and the mother." Unlike some of the rulers we came to know in Game of Thrones, like Joffrey and Cersei, he isn't needlessly cruel. In the book on which House of the Dragon is based, 2018's Fire and Blood, Aemma dies naturally during child birth. Viserys clutches her hand and says it's time for the child to be delivered, and Aemma weakly smiles at him. Viserys was given a choice: sacrifice the mother for the baby or leave it up to the gods to decide who will live.