House Of The Dragon was premiered Sunday by HBO. The series’ prequel fantasy series attracted strong social media reactions.
After the episode’s premiere, titled “The Heirs of the Dragon”, Twitter exploded after it introduced the main characters and setting of the series set 200 years prior to the events of Game Of Thrones.
The premiere episode set up a succession drama as King Viserys I Targaryen named his eldest daughter Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen as heir to the Iron Throne over his troublesome brother Prince Daemon Targaryen.
Series premiere: House Of The Dragon premiered on Sunday on HBO and the prequel fantasy series drew a strong reaction on social media
King Viserys expelled Daemon from his home after he discovered that his younger brother had mocked Baelon’s death. Queen Aemma also lost her son shortly after his birth.
King Viserys was outraged to learn that Daemon, during his celebratory speech as the heir apparent, referred specifically to Baelon’s title of ‘The Heir For a Day’
Popular Twitter meme featuring a young lady in a crop top and her arm around a man while she tells him something. It was captioned using ‘The Heir for A Day’ as well as a hashtag to House Of The Dragon.
Others were glad to see the prequel finally air after Game Of Thrones concluded in May 2019 after eight seasons on HBO.
Twitter meme: A popular Twitter meme showing a young woman in a crop top with her arm around a man as she earnestly tells him something was captioned with ‘The Heir For A Day’ along with a hashtag for House Of The Dragon and an Iron Throne emoji.
One user on Twitter noted that House Of The Dragon’s first 25 minutes featured a “crazy power hungry relative”, a death and a “wagon of organs cut off” scene.
Tweet added: “I don’t want to claim #GOT is all that back ….but @GameOfThrones it is all of the way back,”
Hot topics in social media were Queen Aemma, her rough pregnancies and death while giving birth to her sons.
It’s back: One Twitter user noted that within the first 25 minutes of House Of The Dragon that viewers saw a ‘crazy power hungry relative’, a death, a ‘wagon of body parts cut off’ and a sex scene
A Twitter user noticed that Aemma was pregnant five times in two years, while trying to give an heir for King with an “Oh Lordt” comment.
Aemma’s brutal scenes of being openly cut against her will was another shocking scene that was shared by another user on social media.
‘Omg. The scene with Aemma was so horrifying, it’s almost deafening. The tweet stated, “I’m literally sick to my stomach right this moment.”
Rough pregnancies: A Twitter user took note that Aemma had five pregnancies in two years while trying to provide an heir for the king with an ‘Oh Lordt’ remark.
Hard scene: Another social media user found the graphic scenes showing Aemma being cut open against her will to bring out the baby hard to watch
The show’s premiere received mostly rave reviews online, with one user tweeting that they liked a character on The Wire.
The tweet showed a headline reading ‘After watching an excellent first episode of #hotd’ with an image of English actor Idris Elba, 49, as Stringer Bell saying, ‘I want you to put the word out that we’re back up’.
Another meme depicted Steve Carell, 60 years old, of The Office with a heading reading ‘House of the Dragon beautiful’.
HBO show: To voice his approval, a Twitter user used The Wire character to express their support
Two panels showed Steve, Dunder Mffin Regional Manager Michael Scott. I will get injured again.
On Sunday night, Twitter users were also treated with some animation. Any tweets that contained the hashtags #HouseOfTheDragonHBO and #HOTD received a heart icon that transformed into the logo of the show.
House of the Dragon will be back on HBO next Sunday.
Regional manager: Another meme showed Steve Carell, 60, from The Office under a heading that read ‘House of the Dragon was beautiful’
Fiery logo: Twitter users on Sunday night also were treated to some fun animation as any tweet that was liked that included the hashtags #HouseOfTheDragonHBO or #HOTD saw the heart icon turn into the show’s logo with a burst of flame
Get to know the Hightowers and Targaryens and the Velaryons. This guide will show you how the characters from the prequel Game of Thrones series House of the Dragon relate to the original.
Game of Thrones fanatics are eagerly awaiting the premiere of The House of Dragon prequel; however, they will not have to wait much longer because it will finally air on HBO starting Sunday, Aug 21.
It will debut its 10th episode in this week’s weekend.
Created by Martin and Ryan Condal, the story is based off of a portion of George R. R. Martin’s 2018 novel Fire & Blood, and it will showcase the history of the iconic Targaryen House – the former rulers of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.
As fans of the beloved series know, the Targaryen House played a major role in the original story, as its descendants included Queen Daenerys Targaryen (played by Emilia Clarke), and Aegon Targaryen AKA Jon Snow (played by Kit Harrington).
Game of Thrones fans have been waiting eagerly for The House of Dragon, the prequel series to Game of Thrones. But they don’t need to wait any longer as the show will finally premiere on HBO next Sunday, August 21st.
Paddy Considine and Emma D’Arcy star in the show. Olivia Cooke, Rhys Ifans Steve Toussaint Steve Toussaint Eve Best Sonoya Mitsuno, Eve Best and Fabien Friedel will also be featured on the show. At the premiere, you can see all of the cast.
It will debut its 10th episode in this week’s weekend.
Who are you likely to see and what is their relationship to the characters from the original series? FEMAIL offers you an overview of all of the characters in The House of Dragon to help prepare for its premiere.
Viewers of the OG show got to watch the dynasty fall, after Robert Baratheon killed Daenerys’ brother Rhaegar Targaryen, and Jaime Lannister put his sword through her dad, Aerys II Targaryen, or better known as The Mad King’s back.
This new series will explore the dark past of Targaryens. It will show the conflict for who the throne will go to as the Targaryen king plans to retire.
It’s set to star Paddy Considine, Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Rhys Ifans, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Sonoya Mizuno, and Fabien Frankel.
What characters will you see on the new series? And how does it relate to those from the original TV show? FEMAIL offers you an overview of all The House of Dragon characters, as a preparation for this weekend’s show premiere.
Paddy Considine plays Viserys I Targaryen
Viserys I Targaryen was the grandchild of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen. He is also the Iron Throne’s current ruler. He is now getting older and it is time to fight for the title of next ruler.
AVClub.com described Paddy Considine’s character as being ‘pretty decent’, with a gentle disposition, and an aversion for war and conflict.
EmpireOnline.com added that ‘he only wants to preserve the peace that his grandfather ruled over for 50 years,’ while Vulture also wrote that he’s a ‘friendly people pleaser’ who ‘has a hard time keeping his fractious advisers and associates in line’
Viserys I Targaryen is the grandson of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and the current ruler of the Iron Throne. But he’s getting old and his death is near, so the struggle for who will become the next Iron Throne ruler is on.
While Viserys has named his teenage daughter, Rhaenyra, as his heir, his brother, Daemon, is determined to become king.
AVClub.com described the character, played by Considine, as a ‘pretty good guy, with a gentle disposition and an aversion to war and conflict,’ while EmpireOnline.com added that ‘he only wants to preserve the peace that his grandfather ruled over for 50 years.’
Vulture also wrote that he’s a ‘friendly people pleaser’ who ‘has a hard time keeping his fractious advisers and associates in line.’
Rhaenyra Tarra Targaryen played by Emma D’Arcy (as an adult) and Milly Acock (as a kid).
Rhaenyra, played by Emma D’Arcy in her adult years, and Milly alcock as a child when she’s young, is Viserys’s daughter and chosen heir of the throne.
Viserys’ decision to make his daughter the next leader was certainly controversial. Women were prohibited from ruling during those times. AVClub.com reports that Viserys’ decision to make his daughter the next leader is controversial. This led to him putting ‘a big chip on her shoulder.
EmpireOnline.com stated that she doesn’t like Daemon and is fighting for her throne. However, she ‘genuinely adores’ him. Warning viewers, their relationship could ‘get strange’
Rhaenyra Targaryen is Viserys’ daughter. She’s played by D’Arcy in her adult years, and Milly Alcock as a child.
Viserys made his daughter the next leader, which is quite controversial considering that women did not rule at that time.
AVClub.com said, “Rhaenyra, being a woman trying to prove her worth in man’s eyes, has quite the chip on her shoulder.”
EmpireOnline.com added that while she is feuding with Daemon for the throne, she ‘genuinely adores him,’ warning viewers that their relationship will ‘get weird.’
Daemon Targaryen, played by Matt Smith
Daemon Targaryen has a different personality than his peaceful older brother. AVClub.com described him as an ‘innocuous, calculating dude and a hothead’
Vulture said that although they are “close”, the two could not be more different. Vulture wrote, “Daemon” is a violent, womanizing, and nefarious rogue, who unlike Viserys doesn’t really care what others think of him.”
He also said that he is willing to ‘upend centuries’ of patriarchal tradition to get what he wants.
Matt Smith plays Daemon. He carries a huge steel sword and rides on an enormous red dragon.
Daemon Targaryen is the opposite of his peace-wielding older brother, with AVClub.com describing him as a ‘vicious, calculating dude’ and a ‘hothead.’
Vulture stated that the two were ‘close’ but they couldn’t be more different. He wrote, “Daemon, like Viserys is a violent and womanizing rogue, who doesn’t care much what anybody thinks about him.”
The statement also indicated that he was willing to alter centuries of patriarchal practice to make sure he has what he needs.
‘He has established himself as the greatest warrior of his generation,’ the outlet explained. He believes he is more entitled to the Iron Throne. This sets him up for a brutal reckoning with Rhaenyra, his niece.
Smith portrays Daemon who rides on a giant steel sword and rides on a large red dragon.
Alicent Hightower is played by Olivia Cooke as an adult, and Emily Carey as a child.
Viserys’ first wife, Aemma Arryn, passed away years before the show begins, and he is now remarried to a woman named Alicent Hightower, who is played by Olivia Cooke when she’s an adult and Emily Carey when she’s a child
At 18 she married Viserys. Rumours have also circulated that Viserys once had an affair, possibly with Daemon.
Viserys and she have had many sons together so it is not surprising that Rhaenyra has been chosen by her husband to be the heir.
EmpireOnline.com claims that Rhaenyra has a close relationship with her. EmpireOnline.com explained, “Though the two often differ in their approach regarding matters regarding the Thrones, they are still very close.”
Viserys’ first wife, Aemma Arryn, passed away years before the show begins, and he is now remarried to a woman named Alicent Hightower, who is played by Cooke when she’s an adult and Emily Carey when she’s a child.
AVClub.com said that although he felt a strong connection with Aemma and shared a love for her, the same cannot be said about his second marriage.
Her father, Otto Hightower, is the Hand of the King; she married Viserys when she was just 18 years old, and there’s rumors that she once had an affair with his brother, Daemon.
She and Viserys have welcomed numerous sons together, so she is reportedly not too pleased that her husband has chosen Rhaenyra as the heir.
However, EmpireOnline.com claimed that she is close with Rhaenyra, explaining, ‘Though the pair often differ in their approach to matters regarding the Throne.’
Otto Hightower, played by Rhys Ifans
According to AVClub.com, Otto Hightower is Alicent’s father, and adviser to King.
According to the outlet, “Otto has serious power.” He views him as ‘a dangerous loose cannon’ and is a fierce opponent to Daemon’s reign, the outlet added.
Vulture described Ifans’ character as a ‘ambitious’, while EmpireOnline.com stated, We’re confident he’s going to be a great joy in season one.
According to AVClub.com, Otto Hightower is Alicent’s father, and adviser to the King.
The outlet stated that Otto wields significant power. He’s the Littlefinger, supporting any successor that will make him the most comfortable in court.
The statement added that he is a ‘fierce opponent’ to Daemon’s rise to power, because he regards him as ‘a dangerous loose gunner.
Vulture also called the character, played by Ifans as “ambitious”, while EmpireOnline.com stated, “We’re confident he” will be one the greatest joys of Season One.”
Lord Corlys Velaryon, played by Steve Toussaint
Lord Corlys Velaryon leads the House Velayron. He is an ally to House Targaryen, and the wealthiest house in Westeros. King Viserys also has a close friend.
Vulture calls him the Captain of a Ship and he is also known for his famous voyages to distant countries, the Nine Voyages.
The character, who is played by Steve Toussaint, has now been dubbed ‘The Sea Snake’ because of his past adventures; he is married to one of Viserys’ cousins, named Rhaenys
Lord Corlys Velaryon is the leader of the House Velayron – one of the closest allies to House Targaryen and the richest house in Westeros – and a good friend to King Viserys.
He is the captain of a ship and is described by Vulture as ‘the most skilled seafarer in the history of the Seven Kingdoms, having embarked on a series of famous journeys to distant lands dubbed the Nine Voyages.’
The role of the Sea Snake, played by Toussaint is due to his past adventures. He is currently married to Rhaenys Velaryon, one of Viserys cousins.
Rhaenys Velaryon, played by Eve Best
Rhaenys is his wife. She has a complex past. She was one of 14 who tried to take the throne from King Jaehaerys’ grandfather before Viserys became the king.
Vulture said that Vulture is an ‘astute political observer’ and she’s ‘loyal her legendary husband’, with whom she has two children – Laena (a girl) and Laenor (a boy).
Eve Best portrays Rhaenys. Rhaenys married Corlys in 16 years.
His wife, Rhaenys Velaryon, has a complicated past. Before Viserys became king, she was one of the 14 people who attempted to gain the throne after their grandfather, King Jaehaerys, passed away.
AVClub.com reports that she eventually lost her younger cousin due to ‘her gender’. This earned her the nickname The Queen Who Never Was’.
Vulture stated that Vulture was a’strategist’ who is loyal to her legendary husband. She has two children, a Laena-named daughter and Laenor.
Rhaenys is played by Best. She married Corlys at 16 and rode a dragon into her wedding.
Mysaria, played by Sonoya Mizuno
Mizuno portrays Mysaria as one of few characters not originating from Westeros. Instead she moved to the Seven Kingdoms, from which she was previously a slave, and she is now a citizen of the Seven Kingdoms.
As a sex worker she is introduced to Daemon. The two fall in love and become close friends. Vulture describes her as “arguably” his most trusted advisers and “quickly (and secretively). She rises through the ranks.”
Mizuno portrays Mysaria as one of few characters who are not Westerian. Instead she moved to the Seven Kingdoms of the Free Cities from where she was previously a slave.
AVClub.com said that her strength came from her intelligence and connections.
As a sex worker she is introduced to Daemon. The two fall in love and become close friends. Vulture describes her as “becoming perhaps his most trusted advisers” and “quickly and secretively rising the ranks.”
Ser Criston Cole, played by Fabien Frankel
As the Head of the Kingsguard Ser Criston Col serves, this is the exact position that Jaime Lannister takes over in Game of Thrones.
AVClubc.com reported that the “dashing knight” is unable to decide which horse to ride as Westeros’ next ruler. The website also stated that the knight once confessed his love for Princess Rhaenyra. This might complicate things.
Vulture explained to Frankel that Criston is “one of the most powerful young knights within the Seven Kingdoms,” but he has little power beyond his fast-rising reputation as a swordsman.
As the Head of the Kingsguard Ser Criston Col serves, this is the exact same role that Jaime Lannister takes over in Game of Thrones.
AVClubc.com stated that the dashing knight is torn over “which horse should he back as Westeros’s next ruler.”
It added that he once ‘professed his love to Princess Rhaenyra,’ which might make things a little complicated.
Vulture explained also that Criston is “one of the most formidable young knights within the Seven Kingdoms,” but he has little power beyond his fast-rising reputation as a swordsman.