It’s been a couple of days since the premiere of House of the Dragon on HBO Max. Now that we’ve had time to process what we’ve seen (and possibly watch it more than once), let’s unpack some feelings.
HOTD centers on the Targaryen dynasty, specifically during the peak of its reign. The seven kingdoms have been prospering for 60 years under the rule of the Old King, Jaehaerys. After losing both of his sons, he is left without an heir. He turns to the Great Council to help him choose among his remaining relatives. The rightful heir, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best), is passed over in favor of her male cousin, Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine), and is now known as the “queen who never was”.
Right away, we jump ahead to the ninth year of King Viserys’ reign as a dragon and its rider soars over King’s Landing. The rider is Princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock), the firstborn and currently the only child of the king. Because he has no sons, next in line for the throne is the king’s brother, Prince Daemon (Matt Smith). Reckless and ambitious, Daemon is not well-liked by the small council, especially the Hand of the King, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans).
But, there is hope for King Viserys as his wife is due to give birth any day and he is certain he will soon have a son. Unfortunately, that hope is short-lived as a difficult decision claims the life of the queen and their son. This keeps Daemon next in line, which worries the council. After Daemon is overheard making light of the king’s tragedy, he is commanded back to his home in the Vale, and Princess Rhaenyra is named as successor to the king.
While some of the names we hear sound familiar, these “first of their names” are not like their future descendants. King Viserys seems to be a kind man, unlike the Viserys we met in season one of Game of Thrones. His kindness, however, makes him weak in the eyes of others and susceptible to manipulation, mostly by those closest to him. His daughter, Rhaenyra, has a strength to her that we are accustomed to for a Targaryen princess. However, she has no real desire for the throne, only her father’s love, and recognition. If she had her way, she’d travel the world on the back of her dragon with her best friend, Alicent (Emily Carey), and spend her days eating only cake.
Set 172 years before the death of the Mad King Aerys and the birth of his daughter, Daenerys, House of the Dragon is off to a great start. The foundation set in episode one shows the Targaryen lineage may be strong, but not united. It’s clear to see the resentment and bitterness brewing among the dragons, which has the potential for enticing storylines with deep layers. The stage has been set for secret alliances and surprising betrayals. As the line in the prologue states, “The only thing that could tear down the House of the Dragon was itself.”
We can only hope that the show does this in a way that doesn’t upset its fan base like its predecessor. After the original series gave us such a lackluster conclusion, fans have patiently awaited an opportunity to dive back into the stories of G.R.R. Martin, but share feelings of skepticism — hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst. At this point, optimism persists as we await future episodes. While it may not have been the prequel we wanted, it might turn out that House of the Dragon is to be the one we never knew we needed.
House of the Dragon is now streaming on HBO Max with new episodes every Sunday.
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