The debut of House of the Dragon, HBO’s prequel to Game of Thrones, has finally arrived, and with it, the return to the Seven Kingdoms and all their intrigues that fans have been waiting for. It was clear that the streaming service was struggling to meet the demand of fans who were eager to revisit the fantasy land. HBO has published a ‘Weeks Ahead’ clip in the wake of the debut, further teasing the voracious lust for power present across Westeros and the deadly struggle that will ensue to gain control of it. Properly, the trailer opens with the roar of an adult dragon supervising a standoff. Young Princess Rhaenyra, the heir to the Iron Throne, is portrayed by Milly Alcock, who says, “From my blood, comes the prince that was prophesied, and he will be the song of ice and fire.”
King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine) faces a dilemma when he names his firstborn child, a female successor to the throne, Arya Stark. The video introduces several major figures in this struggle for power. A world where men’s whims are the norm would not tolerate a queen who has absolute power and control. The country will burn rather than have a woman run it, says Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best), cousin to the king and aunt to the prince apparent. Princess Rhaenyra, however, is unfazed by such information as she pursues her ambition to seize the most perilous and powerful throne in the Seven Kingdoms. Her claim, of course, will not be accepted without a fight.
This civil war on the horizon is unlike any we have ever seen because of the arduous decisions that must be taken in such a time and because of the fracturing impact this type of drive for ultimate control has on relationships. George R.R. Martin’s novella “Fire & Blood” served as inspiration for “House of the Dragon.” This is the final book in the bestselling A Song of Ice and Fire trilogy, which also served as the basis for the critically acclaimed HBO series Game of Thrones. The conflict in Westeros over who gets to sit on the Iron Throne is the focus of the prequel series. Starring alongside Rhys Ifans and Sonoya Mizuno are Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Steve Toussaint, Fabien Frankel, and Sonoya herself. The premiere episode of the new series is currently available on HBO Max.