How much do you know about the Game of Thrones prequel series, House of the Dragon?
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| Image Credit: HBO |
After the success of Game of Thrones, the highly anticipated prequel series, House of the Dragon, welcomed fans with a charge of drama equal, if not superior, to that of its illustrious predecessor. Family disputes, epic battles for power, and the intricate tangles of alliances and betrayals are the backdrop to this prequel series, but how much do you know about it?
1. The series was inspired by real historical events
The plot of House of the Dragon is not just a fruit of fantasy but draws deep inspiration from real historical events. George RR Martin, the author of the novels adapted by HBO to create Game of Thrones, shaped the narrative of this new series by taking inspiration from the tumultuous English Civil War of the 12th century. In this era of political intrigue and dynastic conflict, the struggle for the throne was dominated by two powerful contenders: Matilda, daughter of King Henry I, and her cousin Stephen. This intricate web of ambition, betrayal, and desire for power served as the inspiration for the complex and intriguing world of House of the Dragon.
2. House of the Dragon achieved record attendance at its premiere
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| Image Credit: HBO |
The series' debut attracted nearly 10 million viewers, setting a new record. This extraordinary number officially confirms House of the Dragon as the most-watched series premiere in HBO history.
3. The series was renewed for season two with the second episode
The series made its debut with a stunning showing, capturing the attention of nearly 10 million viewers. However, its impact was even more impressive in the days that followed. In the five days following the premiere, House of the Dragon saw an influx of over 20 million viewers, confirming its status as a top series. This overwhelming success prompted HBO to act quickly, renewing the series for a second season in record time.
4. The throne is not the same as the Iron Throne
The iconic throne was redesigned for the prequel, and if it looks different, there's a specific reason behind this change. To better fit the description of the throne in George R.R. Martin's novels, the new prop was designed to be larger and asymmetrical. This design update was designed to better capture the essence of the story and stay true to the House of the Dragon book.
5. Viserys' dagger is a reference to Game of Thrones
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| Image Credit: HBO |
In House of the Dragon, Viserys' dagger serves as a clear nod to the world of Game of Thrones. True fans of the parent series would recognize this dagger anywhere. It was previously introduced in one of the most crucial scenes of the final season. Without giving too much away, we can suggest that it involves Arya, offering a link between the two series.
6. Not all characters in the House of the Dragon series are the same age in the books
Some characters in House of the Dragon appear older than their ages in the books. An example is Milly Alcock, who was 21 years old when she played Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, a 15-year-old character in the series. However, in the books, the character was only 9 years old at the same plot point.
7. Fire is real!
Well yes: all the fire present in House of the Dragon is real, as Milly Alcock declared to The Hollywood Reporter. Since there is no electricity in this imaginary world, every scene is lit exclusively by fire. This approach creates an authentic atmosphere, but it also has its price: the set becomes extremely hot and sweaty, making it more difficult for the cast and crew to work during filming.
8. The cast had to learn a… fake language.
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| Image Credit: HBO |
In addition to stepping into another era, the cast of House of the Dragon faced the challenge of learning a fictional language. Matt Smith shared that this language is a combination of Latin and Arabic. Despite his initial concerns about the complexity of the scenes in this language, Smith found that he really enjoyed performing them, noting that the language allowed his character to show a more natural side to his personality.
9. Emmy D'Arcy and Milly Alcock were told not to speak before filming.
Before filming began, Emmy D'Arcy and Milly Alcock were advised to maintain a distance from each other. Even though they would both play Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon at different times in her life, director Miguel Sapochnik suggested they avoid communicating with each other. This advice aimed to preserve the originality of the respective interpretations and to prevent mutual influences during the preparation of the character.
10. All actors were sent signed copies of the House of the Dragon book
The cast of House of the Dragon received autographed copies of George R.R. Martin's book in preparation for filming. However, many actors, including Toussaint, chose not to read the book. Toussaint explained to Men's Health that he preferred to focus on the script, avoiding influencing his interpretation of him with the book's descriptions. According to the actor, this approach allowed him to better adapt to the creative freedoms of the series and to focus on the script's direction for his character.
11. Olivia Cooke didn't watch Game of Thrones until after her audition
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| Image Credit: HBO |
It may seem incredible but, before the audition, Olivia Cooke had never watched Game of Thrones. Even when she was in the running to play Lady Alicent Hightower, she chose not to watch the series until after the casting process. Only later did she decide to fully immerse herself, watching all eight seasons. Cooke explained to Vogue that, despite recommendations to watch it first, she prefers to do things in her free time, following her personal pace.
12 George RR Martin particularly liked Viserys' performance
Among all, George RR Martin expressed strong appreciation for Paddy Considine's performance on the show. Although some characters may deviate from Martin's books, he does not see this deviation as something negative. In a blog post, Martin highlighted how impressed he was with the version of King Viserys presented in the House of the Dragon series, played by Paddy Considine. He praised Considine for giving the character a tragic majesty that, according to Martin, King Viserys of his books had never quite achieved.
13. The showrunners already know how House of the Dragon will end
Despite only being in the second season, the showrunners are aware of the series finale. Ryan Condal told The Hollywood Reporter that crafting finales is considered the easiest job in television and added that, at least for now, that information is being kept in the strictest confidence.