House of the Dragon
A prequel series about the Targaryen civil war.
House of the Dragon is an American fantasy drama television series created for HBO by George R. R. Martin and Ryan Condal. It serves as a prequel to *Game of Thrones* (2011–2019) and is the second show in the *Game of Thrones* franchise. The series draws on parts of Martin’s 2018 book *Fire & Blood*, beginning roughly a century after the Targaryen conquest unified the Seven Kingdoms. This places the story nearly two centuries before the events of *Game of Thrones* and 172 years before Daenerys Targaryen’s birth. With an ensemble cast, the show follows the decline of House Targaryen and a brutal succession war called the “Dance of the Dragons.”
The series received a straight-to-series order in October 2019, with Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik as showrunners. Its first season, ten episodes long, premiered on August 21, 2022. Five days later, HBO renewed it for a second season. Sapochnik left after the first season, leaving Condal as the sole showrunner for season two, which premiered on June 16, 2024, with eight episodes. A third season, also eight episodes, premiered on June 21, 2026, after a renewal in June 2024. A fourth and final season is in development, expected in 2028.
The premiere drew over 10 million viewers across linear channels and HBO Max on its first day, the largest debut in HBO’s history. The series has received positive reviews, winning a Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Drama. Emma D’Arcy earned two nominations for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama. It received nine Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, and won three British Academy Television Craft Awards.
**Cast and characters**
Paddy Considine plays Viserys I Targaryen (season 1; uncredited in season 2), the fifth king of the Seven Kingdoms. Described as “warm, kind, and decent,” he was chosen by a council of lords to succeed his grandfather, Jaehaerys I. Viserys is the firstborn son of Jaehaerys’s second son Baelon and his sister-wife Alyssa. A former dragonrider, he was bonded to the dragon Balerion, the “Black Dread,” and was its last rider before its death.
Matt Smith portrays Daemon Targaryen, Viserys’s younger brother and Rhaenyra’s uncle and second husband. Known as the “Rogue Prince” for his unpredictable nature, Daemon is a fierce warrior wielding the Valyrian steel sword Dark Sister.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Action / Adventure / Fantasy / Serial drama
- Creator
- Ryan Condal / George R. R. Martin
- Based On
- Fire & Blood · George R. R. Martin
- Showrunner
- Ryan Condal / Miguel Sapochnik
- Theme Music Composer
- Ramin Djawadi
- Open Theme
- "Game of Thrones Theme"
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Num Seasons
- 3
- Num Episodes
- 26
- Executive Producer
- Miguel Sapochnik / Ryan Condal / George R. R. Martin / Ron Schmidt / Jocelyn Diaz / Sara Hess / Vince Gerardis / Alan Taylor
- Producer
- Karen Wacker / Angus More Gordon / Alexis Raben / Gabe Fonseca / Kevin Lau
Facts from the source article.
背景与渊源
House of the Dragon received a straight-to-series order in October 2019, with Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik serving as showrunners. The first season premiered on August 21, 2022, consisting of ten episodes. The series was renewed for a second season five days after its premiere. Sapochnik departed as showrunner after the first season, leaving Condal as the sole showrunner for the second season, which premiered on June 16, 2024, with eight episodes. A third season premiered on June 21, 2026, also with eight episodes, and a fourth and final season is in development, expected in 2028.
The series features an ensemble cast including Paddy Considine as Viserys I Targaryen, Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen, Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen, and Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower. The story follows the Targaryen dynasty's internal conflict, with Rhaenyra named heir by her father Viserys, but her half-brother Aegon II crowned after Viserys's death, leading to war between the 'Blacks' (Rhaenyra's supporters) and the 'Greens' (Aegon's supporters). Key characters include dragonriders bonded to dragons such as Caraxes, Syrax, Vhagar, and Meleys.
阅读指南
House of the Dragon is significant as the first major television expansion of the Game of Thrones franchise, directly adapting Martin's historical fiction Fire & Blood. Its premiere was watched by over 10 million viewers on the first day, the biggest in HBO's history, demonstrating sustained audience interest in the fantasy world. The series has received positive reviews and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama, with Emma D'Arcy earning two nominations for Best Actress. It earned nine Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, and won three British Academy Television Craft Awards.
The show's legacy lies in its detailed portrayal of Targaryen history, focusing on the 'Dance of the Dragons' civil war that decimated the dragon-riding dynasty. By exploring themes of succession, gender, and power, it expands the lore of Westeros while standing as its own narrative. The series' production history—with showrunner changes and a planned four-season arc—reflects HBO's commitment to the franchise. Its critical and commercial success has cemented it as a key entry in modern fantasy television.
你知道吗？
- The series is based on parts of George R. R. Martin's 2018 book Fire & Blood.
- The fourth and final season is in development and expected to be released in 2028.