After the final episode of Game of Thrones, fans were thrilled when HBO announced they were working on a prequel called House of the Dragon. It would follow the storyline of House Targaryen, approximately 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Stormborn. After its premiere, the show has proved to be intense, fiery and will keep you on edge from the first episode to the last. If you have watched the House of Dragon, here are some facts about the show you probably missed.
1. It’s Slightly Based on a True Story
Even though the part about dragons is fictional, House of the Dragons is based on a true story. The writer of this novel, George R.R. Martin, based it on the battle of the throne that occurred between King Henry I’s daughter Matilda and her cousin Stephen during the English Civil War of the 12th Century.
2. It is HBO’s Most Watched Premiere
According to reports, 9.986 million viewers watched the first episode of House of the Dragon, making it HBO’s most-watched premiere.
3. The Iron Throne in House of the Dragon is Different
If you were keen enough while watching Game of Thrones (assuming you did), you must have noticed that the Iron Throne in House of the Dragon is bigger and has more swords. This was done so that it could be a better representation of how George R.R. Martin had described it in the novels. Also, the producers wanted to make it look more menacing.
4. Viserys Dagger Was in Game of Thrones
Viserys’s dagger has existed for centuries, according to the Game of Thrones mythology. It’s the same one Lord Peter Baelish had before handing it over to Arya Stark. The dagger is made out of Valyrian steel.
5. The Producers Had Already Envisioned Matt Smith to Play Daemon
Matt Smith plays Daemon best because the producers have already envisioned this role for him. When talking about Daemon, the writers would always refer to Matt Smith.
6. Main Actors of House of the Dragon Had to Learn a Fake Language
Rhaenyra, Daemon, and other members of House Targaryen had to learn to speak Valyrian, a fake language. Though fictional, the show is based on Greek and Latin languages. The producers ensured the language had different dialects to make it sound realistic.
7. The Two Characters Who Played Rhaenyra were Asked Not to Interact
The character Rhaenyra was played by two actors, Milly Alcock and Emmy D’Arcy. During the show’s filming, the two actors were asked not to interact with one another to avoid copying each other’s personalities.
8. House of the Dragons Will Have 17 Dragons
In Game of Thrones, there were only three dragons. On the other hand, in House of the Dragon, almost every Targaryen has their own beast. According to the book, there will be a total of 17 dragons throughout the film.
9. Olivia Cooke Watched Game of Thrones After Landing Her Role
Surprisingly, Olivia Cooke, who plays Alicent Hightower, had not watched Game of Thrones before attending House of the Dragon auditions. Only after landing the role did she take the initiative to binge-watch the entire eight seasons. Emily Carey is also another character who watched the Game of Thrones during pre-production.
10. Showrunners May Leap Back and Forth in Time
House of the Dragon is based about 172 years before the birth of the Mother of Dragons. It is alleged that showrunners can either leap forward or back in time. This means coming seasons may have all new characters and actors.
11. House of the Dragon is Not the Only Spin-off in Development
Considering how House of the Dragon has been a huge hit, people are anticipating more Game of Thrones spin-offs. For instance, HBO is working on a prequel called A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which is about a squire who rises to become a knight. Other spin-offs include Aegon’s Conquest, The Sea Snake, and Ten Thousand Ships.
12. Author George R.R. Martin is More Involved with House of the Dragon
People didn’t like how Game of Thrones ended. So, it is a sigh of relief for many that the author of the novel Fire and Blood, George R.R. Martin, is more involved in this show. This means the showrunners aren’t likely to deviate from the original script.
13. Dragons Only Eat Cooked Meat
Unlike other animals known to man that eat raw prey, dragons only eat cooked meat. Before feeding on a goat or human being, they immolate their prey, thus killing and cooking them immediately.
14. The House of the Dragon Soundtrack was Composed by Ramin Djawadi
Ramin Djawadi may sound familiar because it’s the same guy who composed the track for Game of Thrones. He won an Emmy for the GOT soundtrack.
15. House of the Dragon Focuses Mostly on the Targaryens
Even though other houses, such as the Lannisters, Starks, and Baratheons, are featured throughout the show, its primary focus is on the Targaryen family. It highlights the lives of Daenerys ancestors.
The dragons in this show as well as GoT are actually not dragons. Technically they are wyverns. According to lore, dragons have four legs while wyverns have two.