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It is likely to be too early to suppose forward to what HBO’s House of the Dragon may doubtlessly do past the story at hand and the occasion that it’s constructing as much as, however the wealthy historical past of House Targaryen is undoubtedly tempting numerous longtime followers of George R. R. Martin’s fantasy work to take a position in regards to the thrilling prospects forward. Some of that hypothesis is much more warranted, as co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik advised Entertainment Weekly in July that House of the Dragon may mess around throughout the timeline of Targaryen lore.

The buildup of the battle of succession the present is presently constructing to is called the Dance of the Dragons, however the sequence’ identify is definitely handy sufficient to go additional forwards or backward whereas staying underneath the identical umbrella. So, between the Targaryen histories documented and referenced in Martin’s Fire & Blood — its soon-to-be direct sequel — and past, there definitely isn’t an absence of supply materials to make House of the Dragon a novel long-running anthology sequence.

The Conquest

Rhaenyra with her father Viserys standing before Balerion's skull.

It’s been referenced in each Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, as Aegon I Targaryen’s conquest of Westeros is what paved the way in which for this legacy household’s dynasty. Known because the Conqueror, Aegon I is the world of A Song of Ice and Fire‘s mythical god-like figure to indirectly set up much of this dark fantasy epic’s occasions, Targaryen or not.

In a shock twist, House of the Dragon added a brand new layer of intrigue that — no less than not but — hasn’t been made clear within the supply materials. Episode 1 sees King Viserys inform his daughter Rhaenyra that the glory of conquest wasn’t the only motivator behind Aegon’s Conquest, however a Dragon Dream — visions that sure Targaryens can have — of the Long Night that will ultimately threaten the world in Game of Thrones. This secret, generally known as Aegon’s Song of Ice and Fire, would solely be handed down from monarch to monarch.

For such a storied and essential determine in Martin’s supply materials when it got here to world-building, it will be exhausting to not be excited on the prospect of seeing House of the Dragon adapt his story ought to or not it’s became an anthology sequence. It arguably might need been higher if the present was deliberate as an anthology from the beginning and had Aegon I function the focus of the primary season.

Keeping the character of Aegon’s Dragon Dream secret till Viserys tells his daughter would’ve made an ideal season 2 revelation. Nonetheless, since a whole lot of probably the most fantastical parts of Targaryen lore are up to now, it will arguably nonetheless make for nice tv in a future season.

Beyond Aegon himself, although, is much more potential to transition into the lives of him, Visenya, and Rhaenys I’s youngsters. Maegor the Cruel — as referenced in House of the Dragon — would make for one more compelling villain.

Certainly, on the fantasy entrance, this might even be a wonderful method to give glimpses of Old Valyria’s splendor and provides excuses to see extra of the dragons that make the Targaryens so particular within the first place. Specifically, it will be fairly the sight to lastly get to see a CG-animated Balerion the Black Dread on display after each Thrones reveals teased the magical beast’s imposing cranium within the Red Keep.

The solely potential detriment to this, although, would arguably be revealing an excessive amount of of Aegon and spoiling among the inherent mysticism round his character by being proven off an excessive amount of. But, like with most issues, tastefulness in adapting parts of the supply materials and deft artistic arms may do his story justice.

Where all of it started — the rise and fall of Old Valyria

King Viserys and Alicent sitting next to his model of the Valyrian Freehold.

Another choice could be to go additional again nonetheless, even earlier than the times of Aegon the Conqueror. Like with so many attractive items of Game of Thrones lore, the times of royal decadence in Old Valyria have additionally been teased however have by no means been realized on display.

And as King Viserys himself mentioned in House of the Dragon, the times of Valyria when it was at its peak won’t ever be replicated once more. Even so, going again to it for no less than one era of House Targaryen lineage could be an exhilarating method to inject as a lot fantasy into this fantasy sequence as potential.

This age in Targaryen historical past may additionally justify multiple season in an identical vein as the present buildup to the Dance, solely on this case, it will culminate within the fated Doom of Valyria and the way Daenys Targaryen envisioned it herself. The Doom is what noticed Valyria develop into engulfed in fireplace that even dragons couldn’t survive, and Daenys’ imaginative and prescient is what saved House Targaryen from going extinct with the opposite Dragonlord homes of their homeland.

It could be much more of an “origin story” than what House of the Dragon is being offered as, as earlier than Aegon constructed a dynasty when colonizing Westeros, the Targaryens have been simply one in every of many comparable households — and never even the strongest of them.

Going ahead after the Dance additionally has greater than sufficient materials to doubtlessly pull from and adapt, from the eventual battle in opposition to Dorne, the corruptive rule of Aegon IV, and extra. Perhaps much more poetically, House of the Dragon may conclude with Robert’s Rebellion simply 17 years earlier than the occasions of Game of Thrones begins. Regardless of the place showrunner Ryan Condal chooses to take the sequence, pivoting it into an anthology sequence poses a tantalizing prospect of being extra grandiose and inventive than it’s already.

The first six episodes of HBO’s House of the Dragon can be found on each HBO and HBO Max, with new episodes premiering on Sundays.

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