Game of Thrones prequel, the House of the Dragon (HoTD) has already premiered on 21 August. Set 200 years before the sequel, the stories of both shows are vastly different. However, the fantasy drama has many similar threads running through.
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Based on Fire and Ice by George R R Martin, the show will delve into the Targaryen dynasty and their fight for the iron throne. Along with Miguel Sapochnik and Ryan Condal Martin, too, will be serving as a co-creator and executive producer of this series.
We have collated a list of the things you should know before you watch the show.
House Targaryen are Daenerys’ Ancestors
The series is about Daenerys’ and Viserys’ ancestors who ruled the Seven Kingdoms with their dragons. However, Viserys was killed after he insulted his pregnant younger sister and her husband, Khal Drogo in season 1.
While in GoT, we see how Daenerys finds the dragon eggs, and eventually, learns and yields the creature's powers. Similarly, in HOTD, the family are dragon riders and they control the bests. We already know that many family members, including Prince Daemon and Princess Rhaenyra also own these fire-breathing pets.
In GoT, the tale of Mad King, Aerys II, is quite famous. It stated that he suffered from mental illness, and eventually turned violent and brutal. One of his acts was to put wildlife underneath King’s Landing, led Jamie Lannister to kill him. Targaryens are known to have similar DNA, a result of marrying within the family. Aerys was married to his sister, so even HOTD, their behaviour is unpredictable.
House Hightower and
The Hightowers have been prominent characters in the series, including Otto Hightower, Hand of the King (Rhys Ifans), and Alicent (Emily Carey and Olivia Cooke), his daughter.
However, according to the show, they are the predecessors of GoT’s Alerie Tyrell. Born as a Hightower, Alerie Mace Tyrell, and birthed Margaery Tyrell and Loras Tyrell, the Knight of the Flowers, Loras Tyrell. Unfortunately, she wasn’t a part of the Thrones universe.
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House Lannister
In GoT, the Lannisters were at the top of their power. The family included twins Cersei, Jaime, and Tyrion, the younger sibling. There was also Tywin, their father. Their House motto is “a Lannister always pays his debts,” and they are incredibly wealthy.
But in HoTD, we presume they will play a role too. But they haven’t been introduced yet.
House Baratheon
The Baratheons are a part of the HOTD universe. A noble family, they are strong fighters and they took the Throne during Robert Baratheon’s Rebellion in GoT with Ned Stark to overthrow the Targaryens and their allies. GoT begins when Robert was the King and was married to Cersei Lannister. He had two brothers, Renly (Gethin Anthony) and Stannis (Stephen Dillane).
House Stark
Although there are no confirmations of the Starks in the show, it seems like they may play a role as they are the ancient Houses from the North. The most prominent Starks in “Thrones,” of course, are Ned and Catelyn, and the children Robb, Jon (Ned’s “bastard” who turned out to be the legitimate son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Ned’s sister Lyanna Stark, and therefore the true heir to the Iron Throne), Sansa, Arya, Bran and Rickon.
Maesters
They are the professors or rather scientists of the kingdoms, and they have all the research and knowledge provided to them at The Citadel. That’s also where they train new maesters. In GoT, Samwell Tarly was a maester before he was sent to the Night’s Watch.
Kingsguard
They are a group of soldiers given the task to protect the King and the significant members of the royal family. They are a part of the Got and HoTD universe.
Gold Cloaks/The City Watch
Part of both universes, The City Watch is the police force in King’s Landing that takes care of the city security and enforces peace and punishment.
The Red Keep
In King’s Landing, where the King and the royal family reside, that place is called The Red Keep. The throne room is a part of this palace.
The Iron Throne
In both series, the throne plays a significant role in its power. However, in the House of the Dragon, the throne is surrounded by several melted swords.
Valyrian steel dagger
In GoT, the Valyrian steel dagger was used to kill the Night King by Arya Stark. However, the blade is seen on King Viserys at all times. Its intricate metalwork and dragon glass hilt show that the dagger has been a part of the Targaryen family.
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