It has been approximately 36 months since the divisive final episode of Game of Thrones (GoT) aired, so I guess I would be lying if I said I haven’t spent the last three years waiting for the next chapter in the live-action adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s series of ‘A song of Ice and Fire’ books.
A part of me did wonder if something would happen to the GoT prequel ‘House of the Dragon’ during pre-production, especially since another spin-off series based on the original show, ‘The Long Night’, was surprisingly canceled at HBO, with the pay television network deciding not to even order the pilot to series.
Thankfully, ‘House of the Dragon’ is finally here and I must say it has a lot of potential.
I will try as much as possible not to spoil anything for you but writing a review without giving some details of the plot is next to impossible, but I promise to keep it to a minimum.
Now that you have read my not so subtle disclaimer, let’s begin.
The cold opening introduces us to King Jaehaerys Targaryen who has been ruling the Kingdom of Westeros for the better part of six decades.
As the first century of the Targaryen dynasty comes to an end, the health of the Old King starts failing and this prompts him to identify a potential successor.
Tragedy had claimed both his sons leaving the fate of his succession in limbo, so in the year 101, Jaehaerys called his Great Council to choose a heir.
Fourteen succession claims were heard but only two were truly considered; Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, the King’s eldest female descendant, and Prince Viserys Targaryen, the King’s eldest male descendant.
Rhaenys, a woman, does not inherit the Iron Throne.
The sequence then cuts to Viserys’ ninth year as King of Westeros, 172 years before the death of the mad King Aerys and the birth of his daughter Princess Daenerys Targaryen, the Mother of Dragons.
Viserys is in the same conundrum as his predecessor in that he doesn’t have any male heirs to succeed him.
His wife, though expectant at the start of the show, has had a number of miscarriages and the only successful delivery she has made so far is that of her daughter Rhaenyra.
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