Warning: This article contains spoilers for Season 1 of House of the Dragon.
House of the Dragon is the new spin-off prequel series to the hit HBO show Game of Thrones. Based on the novel by George RR Martin Fire and Blood, House of the Dragon tells the story of the reign of House Targaryen 200 years before the events of Game of Throneslong before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen. Following King Viserys I Targaryen and his children during their campaign for the Iron Throne, House of the Dragon introduces a wide variety of new characters. The first season of House of the Dragon premiere in August 2022, and, per EW, was renewed for a second season soon after. The first season was highly acclaimed, some said it was the… Game of Thrones franchise to be completely lost (especially after his disappointing last season).
taking into account that House of the Dragon takes place centuries ago Game of Thrones, the story of the series is vastly different. Indeed, HBO’s latest show focuses primarily on the Targaryan family tree, weaving stories around succession, family dynamics and, ultimately, war. In fact, the purpose of House of the Dragon is to ultimately chart the events leading up to (and taking place during) the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, a war that erupted in Westerosi history as a result of the Targaryens’ dispute over the rightful heir from The Iron Throne. In light of Season 1’s conclusion where the battle lines were drawn firmly, here’s a look at all the moments leading up to the Dance of the Dragons.
7/7 Viserys preferred over Rhaenys
One of the first moments that sparked the beginnings of tension within House Targaryen was when King Jaehaerys named Viserys as his successor over Rhaenys simply because she was a woman, even though she had a stronger claim to the throne. While this didn’t really incite violence or rebellion – Viserys would be king in a time of peace – it did result in resentment from Rhaenys and, even more so, her husband Corlys Velaryon. As a result, when Viserys named Rhaenyra as his rightful heir and the throne was usurped from her, Rhaenys, knowing firsthand what that was like, sided with Rhaenyra.
6/7 Princess Rhaenyra Named Heir to the Iron Throne
As we see in the previous episodes of House of the Dragon Season 1, King Viserys I’s succession is a matter of great debate. This is because Viserys and his wife Aemma were unable to give birth to male heirs. Following the Westerosi tradition of having only male heirs, the talk of succession indicated that Viserys’ younger brother, Prince Daemon Targaryen, was named heir, something that not everyone, especially Otto Hightower (Hand of the King), necessarily does. wanted because of Daemon’s propensity for violence. In the end, Viserys officially names Rhaenyra as his heir, contrary to tradition, and his own brother. While this initially bothers Daemon, it later works in his favor when he and Rhaenyra get married. The bigger challenge, of course, is getting the rest of Westeros on board with a female heir—something that gets even more complicated by the next moment on our list.
5/7 Viserys marries Alicent instead of Laena
After the death of his Queen Aemma Arryn in childbirth, King Viserys finds company in Alicent Hightower, Otto’s daughter and Rhaenyra’s childhood best friend. Little does Viserys know, but Otto orchestrates their relationship and pushes Alicent to comfort Viserys in his grief. Despite their age difference, the two eventually marry some time later and, most importantly, have several children over the years, including male offspring, Aegon and Aemond. However, Viserys stands by his decision to name Princess Rhaenyra heir to The Iron Throne, which causes a rift between her and Alicent (who only wants the best for her children), and, as we learn later, results in the plotting of the Small Council. behind Viserys’ back to install Aegon as king after his death.
4/7 Division of the house
House of the Dragon season 1 presents two main Targaryan groups. One group considers themselves the blacks, and the other calls themselves the greens. The Blacks defend the interests of Princess Rhaenyra and her children, while the Greens side with Queen Hightower’s children, believing they are the rightful heirs. While the colors may seem random at first, they were chosen from the wardrobe worn on the fifth anniversary of the wedding of King Viserys and Queen Alicent, as the Queen wore green while the Princess wore black. This division among House Targaryen is a huge factor that led to the Dance of the Dragons, as it has helped build tension within the family over the years.
3/7 Rhaenyra’s children are illegitimate
The legitimacy of children is a huge factor in naming an heir, as seen when King Aegon IV legitimized his mongrels and nearly ruined the Targaryen bloodline. While Rhaenyra’s children are accepted as his own by her husband Leanor, the reality is that her children were fathered by Ser Harwin Strong. While most courts chose to turn a blind eye to the legitimacy of the Queen’s children, the blacks only use this fact as fuel for the fire of why Rhaenyra should not sit on the Iron Throne. Without a legitimate heir, the bloodline would end with her, leaving House Targaryen in the dust. This fact may seem small, but it is indeed a major factor that further divides the House and motivates Alicent to do everything she can to ensure that her children get what is more rightfully theirs.
2/7 Alicent Misunderstanding Viserys on his deathbed
In the final moments of King Viserys, he speaks some very important words to Alicent before allowing himself to be led by death. Viserys, a little frantic, mutters Aegon the Conqueror’s prophecy of The Song of Ice and Fire—essentially the events unfolding in Game of Thrones with the White Walkers. This is a prophecy passed down from Targaryen King to King, and is something he passes on to a young Rhaenyra earlier in the season. Indeed, none other than the crowned Targaryen knows of the prophecy. Alicent hears only “Aegon” and “unite the child gum”, then believes that Viserys on his deathbed names their son Aegon as his new heir. When Viserys dies and Alicent passes this information on to her father, the Little Council sets in to crown King Aegon II as quickly and publicly as possible.
1/7 Aemond’s dragon Vhagar kills Lucerys
In the final moments of the season finale of House of the DragonAemond follows Lucerys and berates him, talking about the debt he owes him for cutting his eye out when they were children. While arguing over their dragons, Lucerys’ dragon, Arrax, panics and attacks the much larger Vhagar, who responds by disobeying Aemond and killing both Arrax and Lucerys. This is Rhaenyra’s first and greatest loss, as both the Greens and Blacks wait for the other to strike the first blow that would send them to war.