Colin Day

HBO’s prequel to the wildly popular Game of Thrones is once again captivating millions. Having also been written by George R. Martin, House of Dragons reflects its predecessor with its loving and hating characters, unpredictable plot, and the lore of a fantasy world beautifully portrayed by director Miguel Sapochnik.

Set 200 years before the events of its predecessor, House of the Dragons follows the Targaryen family who rule all of the seven kingdoms. It is currently on its 8th episode of 10 planned for the season. Over the course of the first 9 episodes we’ve witnessed the Targaryen family struggle to maintain their position on the throne and defy the attempts of their adversaries to overthrow them. Witnessing the characters grow and change over the years makes us more attached and obsessed with the characters than ever. Like Game of Thrones, it keeps us hooked every week with its sudden plot twists and shocking moments that will change the entire course of the series in a single episode.

Whether it be the dragons and epic battles or for the romance and drama, House of Dragons provides something exciting and engaging for all viewers. According to Nielsen, “House of Dragons has averaged 29 million viewers across all platforms.” Game of Thrones only began to see similar numbers in their final two seasons. Additionally, critics reviews of the show so far have been pleasing, giving it an 8.6/10 on IMDb.

House of Dragons has also been novelized in Fire & Blood, which starts 100 years before the events of House of Dragon, but eventually catches up and follows along with the show. For fans of the show, the book is a perfect read as it provides even more character development and lore. Understanding the backstory and where the story is going makes the show all that much better, but you don’t have to watch Game of Thrones or read the books to enjoy House of Dragons. Though I can’t promise you won’t want to when your finished.

House of Dragons airs every Sunday at 9pm EST on HBO max; the season only has one more episode before it’s finished but production of the second has already begun. I recommend watching the show live because talking with friends about the previous episode and what’s to come is half the fun. Furthermore, the anticipation and excitement that builds up within you all week makes the show that much more enjoyable, and it never disappoints.