The Game of Thrones spinoff series House of the Dragon, set to release in 2022, will document House Targaryen's rule centuries before the events of the series that ended in 2019. With a focus on the Targaryens, the series is likely to explore many of the themes and lore depicted in the original show.
For the majority of the series, the only main character within the Targaryen bloodline is Daenerys Targaryen, a young woman whose goal is to liberate the slaves of the world and ultimately sit on the Iron Throne to rule Westeros. As a result, the Game of Thrones episodes most essential to watch prior to House of the Dragon are the ones that document key moments in Daenerys' rise and fall.
"Cripples, Bastards, And Broken Things" (Season 1, Episode 4)
The story of Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones begins with her being timid and submissive to her brother, Viserys. Upon their meeting with Khal Drogo, Viserys starts to lose control over his sister despite his best efforts, until Daenerys ultimately stands up for herself during an altercation.
This scene acts as a reminder of just how dominating those within the Targaryen bloodline can be. Daenerys' actions are in true Targaryen fashion, as she beats Viserys and threatens him with bodily harm if he were to cross her again. It is a moment that showcases Daenerys' typical Targaryen qualities.
"Fire And Blood" (Season 1, Episode 10)
In the first season finale, after Khal Drogo's death at the hands of Mirri Maz Duur, Daenerys sentences Duur to die at the funeral pyre, with her gifted dragon eggs in the flames. As she burns, Daenerys, in one of her most genius moments in Game of Thrones, walks into the flames, and as the fire subsides, she emerges unburnt with three hatched dragons by her side.
This major plot twist is one of the most important moments in the entire show. Not only does it see the birth of the first dragons in the world in over 200 years, but it also acts as a turning point in Daenerys' quest to rule the Seven Kingdoms. The existence of dragons gives Daenerys an upper hand in battle and negotiations of power. This episode is crucial to watch before House of the Dragon as it shows how dragons are born and how monumental their existence is.
"Valar Morghulis" (Season 2, Episode 10)
Following a season of mostly losses for one of the last known Targaryens in the world, Daenerys' luck begins to change as she finally retrieves her dragons after they were stolen from her. When she faces Pyat Pree, who had her dragons captive in chains, she calmly says the phrase, "dracarys," and after several attempts, her three dragons burn Pyat Pree to death.
This scene definitively proves how dangerous dragons can be. Despite their miniature size, Daenerys' children are capable of murdering her enemies if she wishes. Ultimately, this development, one of the best dragon moments in Game of Thrones, is important in the lore of the series because it showcases how the dragons can be controlled to do their mother's bidding.
"And Now His Watch Is Ended" (Season 3, Episode 4)
In the third season of Game of Thrones, Daenerys makes a power play that puts her in good stead for claiming the Iron Throne of Westeros. She pretends to sell Drogon to the Masters of Astapor, but she double-crosses them, gaining control of their Unsullied army and burning the slave owners to death.
This scene occurs nearly halfway through Daenerys' journey. It is the first display of how much power she already has and just how much power she intends to gain. This move is potentially reminiscent of the might of the previous Targaryen rule, one that will likely be explored in the spinoff series, House of the Dragon.
"Mhysa" (Season 3, Episode 10)
The finale of season 3 sees Daenerys continuing her attempts to liberate cities that are plagued by slavery. Daenerys' primary goal is to rid the world of slave owners. As she and her army reach Yunkai, the city falls. Its inhabitants, specifically the freed slaves, declare Daenerys their "mhysa", or "mother".
This scene is arguably one of the highs of Daenerys' reign in Game of Thrones, as it is a prime example of who Daenerys aspires to be as a leader. The majority of the series portrays Daenerys as a liberator and, while obviously flawed, she is evidently fit to lead, given how the public sees her. It could be argued that this acts as a contrast between Daenerys and previous Targaryen leaders, as she is yet to succumb to the "Targaryen madness."
"The Dance Of Dragons" (Season 5, Episode 9)
In the fifth season of Game of Thrones, following a period of time in which Daenerys' dragons become violent and attack the innocent, Daenerys chains Rhaegal and Viserion in the catacombs after losing Drogon. As the season draws to a close and Daenerys finds herself in a life-threatening situation with the Sons of the Harpy, Drogon returns.
Drogon fights off Daenerys' enemies, protecting her and her people while withstanding a barrage of attacks. Daenerys climbs atop Drogon and flies away, marking her the first dragon rider in centuries. Dragon-riding is a significant aspect of the Targaryen family's history in Westeros, which will no doubt be a part of House of the Dragon. Furthermore, this scene proves the bond between Daenerys and her dragons, as it indicates just how loyal her children are to her.
"Book Of The Stranger" (Season 6, Episode 4)
Game of Thrones season 6 further explored the conflict between Daenerys and the Khals of the Dothraki. The Khals do not allow Daenerys to return to Meereen after capturing her, which prompts Daenerys to hatch a plan to take their power. She accuses them of not being fit to lead the Dothraki and burns them all to death.
In one of the most important milestones in Daenerys' journey, the Khaleesi surfaces from the flames unscathed and unites the Dothraki under her rule by proving herself a worthy leader. It is a moment that is essential to Daenerys' quest for possession of the Iron Throne, as it sees her acquiring a second army. Along with her three dragons, Daenerys becomes an unstoppable force against her enemies.
"The Spoils Of War" (Season 7, Episode 4)
The seventh season of Game of Thrones sees Daenerys acquiring new allies as she grows closer and closer to achieving the throne of Westeros. As her enemies, the Lannisters, destroy her allies, the Tyrells, Daenerys unleashes upon the Lannister forces 100,000 Dothraki along with a full-grown and fearsome Drogon.
The immeasurable casualties that this ambush causes strongly indicate that Daenerys is the most powerful person in Westeros, at least when it comes to battle. It is the first major suggestion of the unstoppable nature of Daenerys' forces, and it sends a strong message to her enemies that a new Targaryen reign is inevitable.
"Beyond The Wall" (Season 7, Episode 6)
A major aspect of season 7 is the impending threat of the Night King, Game of Thrones' big bad, and his army of White Walkers and wights, as well as several characters' attempts to prove their existence to non-believers. Jon Snow leads a group beyond the Wall to retrieve a wight, which leaves them trapped with no way out.
Daenerys flies beyond the Wall riding Drogon, with Rhaegal and Viserion by their side, and manages to rescue the group. But in the process, the Night King throws a spear at Viserion, killing him. This episode is essential to watch as it showcases a weakness of the dragons and demonstrates that they are not as unstoppable as first thought.
"The Bells" (Season 8, Episode 5)
In the much-maligned eighth season of Game of Thrones, Daenerys reaches the end of her journey to the Iron Throne. In the show's penultimate episode, Daenerys destroys King's Landing and murders the very people she swore to rule and protect, after experiencing constant tragedy and loss.
It is a decision that, while not deeply foreshadowed, makes some sense in the context of the Targaryen bloodline's well-documented turn to insanity. In the spinoff series, House of the Dragon, it is possible that the Targaryen's trait of succumbing to madness will be explored, which makes this episode one of the most essential episodes to watch as it documents the downfall of a potentially great Targaryen ruler.