Ever since Game of Thrones reached its lukewarm conclusion, fans of the epic fantasy saga have been doing everything they can to dig up information on one of the many spin-off series that are in development.
The first to reach screens is House of the Dragon on HBO and HBO Max. Along with the audiences that will inevitably come from Game of Thrones’ popularity, however, will of course come a new batch of viewers: those who are stepping into Westeros for the first time. But do you need to watch Game of Thrones before House of the Dragon?
Can I watch House of the Dragon without watching Game of Thrones?
In short, yes. While both of the shows take place in Westeros, House of the Dragon serves as a prequel to the events that took place across Game of Thrones’ eight seasons. Those who have watched Game of Thrones, however, will undoubtedly have a deeper understanding of the family dynamics and relationships that are to be explored in this series.
Set between 200-300 years before the events we watched in Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon delves into the history of fan-favorite family, House Targaryen. With civil war breaking out between siblings Aegon II and Rhaenyra over the Iron Throne following the death of their father Viserys I, the stakes are higher than ever for Westeros’ first family. This first season consists of 10 episodes but is expected to go for longer if a success.
The House of the Dragon cast is loaded with some of Hollywood’s finest actors, including Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Paddy Considine, Emma D’Arcy, Graham McTavish, Eve Best, Steve Toussaint, Rhys Ifans, and Bill Paterson. Ryan J. Condal serves as creator and executive producer, working alongside author George R.R. Martin to perfect the story being told, and keep it loyal to the source material on which it is based.
Is House of the Dragon based on a book?
House of the Dragon has been adapted from George R.R. Martin’s book Fire and Blood, first released in November 2018. Martin has described the novel as the first of two volumes, but there has been no news on when fans can expect the second release. The writer is instead focusing on finishing Winds of Winter, the next installment in his series A Song of Ice and Fire.
Fire and Blood is written as though it is a book within Westeros, told from the point of view of a Maester who is attempting to pin down the bloody legacy of the Targaryen family during one of the region’s most brutal time periods. With this in mind, it’s likely that the creative team behind House of the Dragon have had a lot of creative freedom to deliver a series familiar to Game of Thrones fans, but ultimately unique in its storytelling.
House of the Dragon premieres on HBO and HBO Max on August 21.
In other news, a Game of Thrones spin-off series with Kit Harington as Jon Snow is in the works, and HBO’s The Last of Us TV show has cast brother duo Henry and Sam.
