A Targaryen succession crisis sparks a century of turmoil in Westeros

Entertainment · Published 8 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Set nearly 200 years before Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon explores the fracturing of the Targaryen dynasty. When King Viserys I breaks a century-old tradition by naming his daughter Rhaenyra as heir, he ignites a political struggle that threatens to tear the Seven Kingdoms apart.

The series, based on George R. R. Martin's novel Fire & Blood, follows the rise of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. Her father, King Viserys I, breaks a long-standing inheritance principle that had only named male heirs, a decision that triggers deep divisions within the House Targaryen. This political tension is exacerbated by Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, who conspires to place his daughter, Alicent, on the throne by marrying her to the King, eventually resulting in the birth of Prince Aegon II Targaryen. This conflict arises because the monarch's choice violates established customs regarding male lineage. This scheme involves Otto Hightower attempting to usurp Rhaenyra's rightful position as ruler.

Production for the ten-episode season began in April 2021, utilizing the new virtual production stage at Warner Bros. Leavesden Studios. The series features a large ensemble cast, including Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen and Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra. While critics largely praised the character development, visual effects, and Ramin Djawadi's score, some viewers and critics found the pacing of the time jumps jarring and the dark lighting in certain scenes problematic. The production was filmed across various locations, including Spain and Portugal. Principal photography for the first season commenced in April 2021.

The series premiere was a massive success for HBO, drawing over 10 million viewers on its first day—the largest single-day audience in the network's history. Despite criticisms regarding the depiction of violence and cinematography, the show's critical reception was largely positive, holding a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Following this success, a second season was ordered in August 2022. The show's premiere achieved record-breaking viewership numbers for the streaming service. Consequently, HBO commissioned a second season in August 2022.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• The dragon queen whose claim sparked a devastating civil war
• How the Targaryen dynasty’s internal collapse became a television phenomenon
• The Dance of Dragons intensifies as the Targaryen civil war reaches a breaking point
• The Dance of the Dragons: A brutal war for the Iron Throne
• The hybrid heir who ended a cosmic war through marriage
• Where does the soul reside when the body is entirely synthetic?
• The controversial architect who revitalized Marvel and changed how comics are sold
• The superhero who is actually a dual-identity fusion of two people
• When the Justice League meets the supernatural, the rules of reality break.
• How a single criminal universe connects generations of crime through interconnected stories
• The high-end evolution of comic book collecting
• A villain defined by a revolving door of tragic origins

More in Comics & graphic novels · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics