HOUSE OF THE DRAGON

[houseofthedragon]

Extended trainer here:

I am so excited for this!!! Anyone else???!!!

HOTD will be premiering on the 21st Aug (22nd Aug for U.K.)

I appreciate the explanation but as a PP said, TV shouldn't be this difficult.

This isn't a challenging storyline where you aren't supposed know who's telling the truth like line of duty, and even if it were at least in line of duty I knew who people were.

Big dynastic historic epics make sure you know who is who. I think HOtD has dropped a ball here. They've assumed every viewer has both read the book AND is as invested as they were in GoT. I think that's an error.

It's been a while since GoT ended and the ending was not popular. This hasn't engaged me enough. I hope they can fix this if there's another series because the world itself is one I want to watch.

Thank you for this link, hadn't seen those recaps before but they do make it all clearer. I do read the wiki recap after each episode but they are really brief.

There are two called Aegon but read latetothefisting explanation as I got bits wrong.

Aegon is the eldest of Rhaenarys and Damon's younger children. So legitimate unlike Rhaenarys other 'bastard' children. Which everyone knows but the king made clear were to inherit the iron throne. Alicent and King Visrys eldest is also an Aegon. We know the mad king in GoT is an Aegon. Which one inherits the throne we don't know. That's my understanding anyway

Reading the background here I can safely say it's very weak if you've not read the books!! Lost of significant events are passing me by.

This recap/ review is quite fun:

www.npr.org/2022/10/09/1126899515/house-of-the-dragon-episode-8-a-family-dinner-becomes-a-last-supper

I enjoyed Ep 8! So tense. And the king’s effortful kingliness genuinely moving. And the children so .

The mad king in GOT is Aerys.

Here’s a map of the Targaryen family tree. Rhaenyra is several generations back before we get to the mad king. If you zoom in you can just about make it out.

Visaerys' deathbed ramblings weren't talking about either of the living Aegons.

He was talking about Aegon the Conqueror, who had the Dream about the Night's King. Aegon is such a huge figure that boys are named after him all the time, and in Visaerys' drugged mind there's still only one real Aegon. Two hundred years later the story ends with Aegon "Jon Snow" Targaryen refusing the throne.

@MondaysChild7 I'm not zooming into that as I've read there's a spoiler if you look at the family tree?

Yes don't zoom in. There aren't blatant spoilers in a "Daemon marries Rhaenyra" kind of way but it makes it pretty clear who lives long enough to have kids and who doesn't.

Oh sorry!

Thanks for the link, that's a great mix of really entertaining and well-informed. Highly recommended, and it's NPR so it's a nice clean website without egregiously annoying/dubious cookies and ads.

Thanks everyone for posting, I find I have to come in here after to see what was going on ! I agree about the ageing it’s inconsistent, Alicent is supposed to be 30 35 ? Her youngest (?) son the one with the eye patch Aemond (?) looks older than her! He’s supposed to be what 20 ? It can’t be hard to age people with make up now surely.

I read a thing on Facebook that said that the crown falling off Viserys' head wasn't scripted and was accidental but they decided to keep the cameras rolling. I thought it was a nice detail!

Is House of the Dragon based off one book or a series or books like Game of Thrones? I mean is there more material for a second series?

It’s based on the book Fire and Blood which was the history of the Targaryens, it’s a huge book so definitely more material for second series.

It's based off one book, but it's a "history" book covering decades of events so there's loads of material. Series One is covering the buildup to (spoiler alert) a war called The Dance of the Dragons , which will take at least two series to cover.

After that, if it's getting the viewers, then they could move onto some other big Targaryen stories, either before current events or after.

Thank you both!

I will have to get the book. It sounds interesting!

im still sore that he still hasn’t finished the other books but I guess he’ll be busy with the new tv shows.

I enjoyed the book but it's one for the completists: it's not a conventional novel. This is how it covers the events of last week (hope it's readable like that).

I posted this early on in the thread, but in case people missed it... this is a link to the official HBO interactive character guide and family tree, it's updated after every episode so as long as you're up to date, there will be no spoilers. It's really helpful to keep track of all the names and relationships

www.hbo.com/house-of-the-dragon/character-guide

That's really helpful. Thank you! I noticed it says that Viserys is deceased, so I guess that was him finally dying at the end of the last episode.

@WinterIsComingKnitFaster

Thanks for the book excerpt. it looks good. I like to watch the TV series first so it helps with visualising everyone.

I noticed it says that Viserys is deceased, so I guess that was him finally dying at the end of the last episode

Yes, he even had the 'death rattle' in that scene and then stopped, so I had presumed he was gone. Then doubted myself when other people said it wasn't clear! But HBO don't add anything to that page that hasn't happened so I think that confirms it

I thought he died at the end of the last 3 episodes. Then he’s back the next week. It will be interesting to see how the dynamic changes next week.

Apparently Ewan Mitchell, who plays Aemond, is only 20. He must have been around 15 when he started in The Last Kingdom.

I have been struggling with this series but thought last night's was beautiful and I am now gutted there are only 2 episodes to go!
I very much agree with @MuddlerInLaw So tense. And the king’s effortful kingliness genuinely moving. And the children so Shock.

same. Loved last nights episode. The children are growing up and are starting to get a bit of character development.
some heart felt moments.
yes will have ti rewatch

It does remind me of the first season of GOT with the set up of complex family dynamics and politics. I find the ageing up inconsistent Criston Cole and Daemon being ageless seemingly
Poor viserys he's suffered so much for so long