The Game of Thrones series ended 2019 with a highly controversial ending that disappointed fans. No wonder fans are eagerly awaiting any return to the exciting world of the A Song of Ice and Fire saga. Based on the book Fire and Blood by George RR Martin, the HBO series, which airs August 21, will showcase the heyday of House Targaryen. Daenerys’ blond ancestors rule the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros from King’s Landing of the Iron Throne. From this moment begins the story of the “House of the Dragon”.

King Viserys Targaryen, far from insane, but a fairly sane and just ruler, after a sudden stroke of fate, makes a very unpopular decision. He declares his daughter Reynira heir to the throne, despite the fact that so far no female has sat on the Iron Throne, and there are enough potential male heirs around.

The king also has a devious brother, Daemon Targaryen, who plots evil and whose character confirms the well-known Westerosi saying: “When a Targaryen is born, the gods toss a coin – be he mad or great.”

Between kin, a struggle for power is born, and under the blows of swords and in the flames of dragons, a civil war rages, which is destined to be the beginning of the end for House Targaryen. Fans of the saga know all this in advance.

Familiar places from Game of Thrones

Fans will feel right at home watching “House of the Dragon” as both the look and the style of delivery are recognizable: visuals, blood, and backstory. The Iron Throne (by the way, it will look very intimidating in the updated design) is customarily located in the Great Hall of the Red Castle in King’s Landing, and the king’s advisors sit at a mighty stone table, where the intrigues of the “Game of Thrones” ” were woven.

The Iron Throne from the House of the Dragon series

However, this time filming under the direction of “series veteran” director Miguel Sapochnik, who shot six episodes of “Game of Thrones”, took place not in Dubrovnik, Croatia, but in Cornwall, in the south of England, in Derbyshire. , not far from London, in Spanish Cáceres, in the old Portuguese castle of Monsanto and in Los Angeles.

Fantasy writer George RR Martin co-produced the series and was involved with screenwriter Ryan Condal in writing and production.

Behind the scenes of “House of the Dragon”

Many of the artists in the series are well known to the public. For example, Matt Smith, who played Prince Damon Targaryen, is best known for playing the young Duke of Edinburgh Philip in the second season of the Netflix series The Crown about the life of Queen Elizabeth II. Actress Emma D’Arcy, who played the role of Ryanira Targaryen, we know from her participation in the TV series Wanderlust and Truth Seekers.

It seems that George RR Martin is quite satisfied with the result. On his official website, he writes: “I’ve watched all ten episodes (albeit crudely), I really liked what I saw. Ryan, Miguel, the actors and crew did an excellent job. It has everything I expected to see. : darkness, power, complex and very realistic characters, who are embodied by truly amazing actors.”

There will be 17 dragons in the series

This time in the series you can see not three, but up to 17 fire-breathing dragons. Both sides of the conflict have them, and their fire is ruthlessly used against relatives and former friends. At the same time, the civil war in Westeros will go down in history under the romantic name of “Dance of Dragons”.

The duration of the first episode is only 18 minutes. During this time, we will get to know the main characters, and Damon Targaryen will even show what he is capable of.

“House of the Dragon” will begin airing August 21 on HBO and HBO-Max, and in Germany on August 22 on pay-TV channel Sky as well as video streaming service Sky wowtv.