House of the Dragon, the prequel to the blockbuster TV series Game of Thrones, officially hit our screens in 2022 and had us hooked from the get-go.
The show takes place 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, and tells the story of House Targaryen, airing on both Binge and Foxtel.
The original series, which first aired in 2011, followed in part the growing power of Daenerys Targaryen, played by Emilia Clarke, but began by showing her exile alongside older brother Viserys.
This series explains the events that occurred in Game of Thrones, and why the Targaryens were treated with such suspicion.
Who is cast in House of the Dragon?
A star-studded ensemble cast is involved in the series, with Paddy Considine starring as King Viserys Targaryen.
Matt Smith, who is best known for his role as The Doctor in Doctor Who and Prince Philip in The Crown, stars as Daemon Targaryen, the younger brother to Viserys.
Described as a peerless warrior and a dragon rider, Daemon possesses the true blood of the dragon, just as Daenerys and Jon Snow did.
The lead actors are joined by Olivia Cooke, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, and Rhys Ifans (of Notting Hill fame!).
Australian actor Ryan Corr, best known for his work in Bloom, Packed to the Rafters, and Blue Water High, also made a brief, yet memorable, appearance in the role of Ser Harwin Strong.
Another Australian, Milly Alcock, also starred as a young Rhaenyra Targaryen in the first half of the first season.
What is House of the Dragon about?
While Game of Thrones captivated audiences across its eight seasons, it left a bad taste in the mouths of many fans when the finale didn’t quite live up to expectations.
The new series, however, is every bit as captivating as the early seasons of the last, with author of the source material, George R. R. Martin (you can check out the books here!) having joined the project as an executive producer.
Focusing on House Targaryen, the show takes place 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, when the notorious dragon-riding family were still the rulers of Westeros.
King Viserys has been tasked with naming a successor to his throne. And while he has a daughter, Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), a woman has never sat upon the throne. This means his likely successor will be his brother, Daemon Targaryen, but nothing in the land of Westeros is ever simple.
So, when Viserys names Rhaenyra as his successor, it splits the country into a civil war, bringing all the thrills and violence we saw in Game of Thrones. You can read more in our House of the Dragon ‘cheat sheet’ here.
Where can we watch House of the Dragon in Australia?
House of the Dragon premiered with its first season in August 2022 and is available to stream now on both Binge and Foxtel.
Season two is also available on the streaming service, with the final episode out on August 5.
You can also catch up on the original Game of Thrones series on Binge.
Start streaming now, live and on demand with a 7-day free trial. Start your free trial here.
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