WARNING! Possible SPOILERS ahead for House of the Dragon season 1!House of the Dragon season 1 is already planting the seeds for its biggest impending death. The prequel series is taking a page from Game of Thrones as it quickly establishes a line of succession between the wise father and the heir, though one is meant to sit on the Iron Throne while the other would begin a kingdom of their own. Just as Ned Stark served as the lead character in Game of Thrones season 1 and shockingly died after only nine episodes, ) isn’t expected to live through House of the Dragon’s first season.

Since House of the Dragon is based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, a “fake history” book on House Targaryen’s rule in Westeros, the majority of the biggest deaths in the series are already known. While many of them won’t occur until the Targaryen civil war – known as the Dance of the Dragons – begins later in the series, House of the Dragon season 1 may have even more funerals than Game of Thrones’ first season. House of the Dragon episode 1 already saw the brutal deaths of Queen Aemma Arryn and the one-day-old Prince Baelon Targaryen, and it won’t be long before another tragic death strikes the Targaryen family.

Related: Game Of Thrones' Targaryen Family Tree Explained

While it will come as no surprise considering the series is underscored by the Targaryen family fighting among itself to be heir to the Iron Throne, King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine) is being teased to die before the end of House of the Dragon season 1. In fact, House of the Dragon’s premiere already hinted at how the king will die, as the source material indicates that he is extraordinarily weakened by infections and cuts from the Iron Throne. In House of the Dragon episode 1, Viserys is seen being treated for sores on his back, which he blames on sitting on the dangerous Iron Throne, and later he accidentally cuts his hand on the seat after reprimanding his brother Daemon Targaryen. If adapting Viserys’s downfall from the book, then following House of the Dragon's season 1 time jump, he will lose two fingers after accidentally cutting his hand to the bone on the Iron Throne, which weakens him further and marks the beginning of the end for the character. Only two years later, King Viserys dies while taking a nap, which kickstarts the catastrophic Dance of the Dragons.

Why King Viserys Needs To Die In House Of The Dragon Season 1

King Viserys standing in front of the Iron Throne while sending his brother Daemon away in House of the Dragon

Considering House of the Dragon season 1 covers a lot of ground in only 10 episodes, the show must kick off the core conflict by episode 9 – much like Game of Thrones. While House of the Dragon season 1 sets up division within House Targaryen in the past and present, there won’t be significant battles or war until the Dance of the Dragon begins. To get to this sooner, House of the Dragon season 1 needs to include the shocking events that unfold when King Viserys I Targaryen dies and the realm throws his succession plan out the window. As Rhaenys Targaryen warns Viserys's daughter Rhaenyra Targaryen, "Men would sooner put the realm to the torch than see a woman ascend the Iron Throne."

Ned Stark’s death in Game of Thrones season 1 marked the true beginning of the show, and the same will be true of Viserys’s death in House of the Dragon season 1. Most of the heavy battles aren’t apt to be depicted until season 3 at the rate House of the Dragon is progressing. Similar to how Game of Thrones season 2 was largely about strategy and forming alliances in the War of the Five Kings, House of the Dragon season 2 would up the suspense by seeing the Targaryen greens and blacks convincing different noble houses and regions to support their claims. While King Viserys Targaryen is already an incredible character with a tragic set-up like Ned Stark, the imminent devastation of his death is necessary to put the core conflict between Rhaenyra and Alicent to the test.

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New episodes of House of the Dragon release Sundays on HBO/HBO Max.