Content Warning! This list contains spoilers for the series premiere of House of the Dragon and its source material, Fire & Blood!
The next great saga in the Game of Thrones world has commenced, and House of the Dragon is already expanding on some pivotal moments from the pages of George R. R. Martin’s seminal work. The prequel series is different from its predecessor in that it adapts Fire & Bloods, which is not as narratively structured as A Song of Ice and Fire. Instead, it details the vast history of House Targaryen, coalescing perspectives of varied credibility to showcase how it’s been interpreted uniquely by different people.
Nevertheless, those familiar will see the sturdy blueprints of Fire & Blood and the supplementary anthologies written by Martin in House of the Dragon. In this first episode, there are several moments that readers will recognize as incredibly consequential and clarifying to the Game of Thrones lore.
Great Council of 101 AC
The episode began with a narrated opening sequence, showcasing the Great Council of 101 AC. Honestly, this is one of the most important moments in the Targaryens’ history in Westeros and establishes who their real enemies are – themselves. In the books’ lore, this Great Council was held to determine who would succeed King Jaehaerys I after his last son died. It was determined that the succession would only ever pass through male lines, no matter how complicated it might be.
In the books, the argument is largely between Viserys, his first male grandson, and Leanor Velaryon, his great-grandson – son of Jaehaerys’ oldest grandchild, Princess Rhaenys. However, in House of the Dragon, the characters' ages were slightly altered, so it was between Viserys and Rhaenys, which helps thematically to enhance Rhaenyra’s story.
Stepstones
During the first small council meeting, Corlys Velaryon tried to persuade King Viserys into sending an army to handle the troubles in the Stepstones – the collection of islands between Dorne and Essos. He was pushed back by Otto Hightower, Hand of the King, claiming that the Triarchy and Craghas Drahar the Crabfeeder aren’t worth worrying about.
Otto will naturally be proven wrong based on what was shown in the show's trailer. This moment is important, as it will be Daemon who leads the charge with Corlys to defeat the invading army. After he declares himself King of the Stepstones and the Narrow Sea, further severing his strained relationship with his brother.
Gold Cloaks
Daemon’s always been a bit of a problem child for his brother. He’s ambitious, harsh, and doesn’t make any attempt at hiding it, yet Viserys is still loyal to him and appointed him to a seat on the small council. Unfortunately, he was a failure in multiple roles, not being able to control himself or his greed. Eventually, he was given control of the City Watch, revolutionizing them to become his own militia, brandished with their gold cloaks.
He chose to act in the King’s stead as judge, jury, and literally, executioner when he set his packs of Gold Cloaks on the poor citizens of King’s Landing. In line with Game of Thrones, this sequence was horrific, gruesome, and garnered some adverse reactions on Reddit. This is important because it is what established the City Watch as the cruel organization it would become by the time of Game of Thrones.
It's All In The Family
To Game of Thrones fans, House Targaryen is known for two things: dragons and incest. They come from Valyria and believed in keeping their bloodlines pure of only those worthy of controlling dragons. In House of the Dragon, King Viserys’ wife Aemma is actually his cousin, and importantly, Princess Rhaenyra goes on to marry her uncle, Prince Daemon – after they are both wed to cousins, Laenor and Laena Velaryon, respectively.
There were some subtle sparks for Rhaenyra and Daemon’s relationship already in the first episode, particularly their scene together in the throne room. There's an undertone readers would notice, like in how they look at and comfort each other. She is eager to watch him in the joust, and he brought her back a special gift of Valyrian steel. They’ve begun to lay the foundation for their relationship with Rhaenyra as an adult.
The King and The Hand's Daughter
One thing House of the Dragon changed was creating a deep friendship between Princess Rhaenyra and Alicent Hightower, the Hand of the King's daughter. This is intended to showcase how far they’ve fallen when they begin to wage war against each other. That all stems from the fact that Alicent will become queen and threaten Rhaenyra’s right as an heir with children. Again, the first episode set those wheels in motion when Alicent was sent by her father to visit the mourning king.
She had actually served a similar purpose in the books, reading to King Jaehaerys on his deathbed. Viserys is a kind ruler, so he welcomed her, and they discussed his interest in Valyrian history. This scene also demonstrated Alicent’s own acumen. She was not a foolish child and understood why her father was sending her to the king. Interestingly, in Fire & Blood, it is implied that this was happening before Queen Aemma’s death.
Sending Daemon Away
King Viserys had to make several consequential decisions in this episode, between the choice of whom to save, his wife or his unborn son, who to name as heir, and what to do about his inconsiderate brother. However, when word reached him that Daemon had called his dead nephew, Baelon, the “Heir For A Day,” Viserys acted quickly and banished his brother.
This is quite important since Daemon is arguably the most well-known person in the realm besides Viserys, and these Targaryens are far more powerful. He does leave, but not empty-handed. He brings along his new lover, Mysaria, and as the trailer suggests, a dragon egg. Daemon’s words and Viserys’ actions are what fully severed any devoted relationship between the brothers.
A Storms Brewing
Something subtle that a casual viewer wouldn’t latch onto is House Baratheon's presence in this first episode. Of course, they are one of the leading houses of Westeros, living in Storm’s End, but they will be important figures in the event, Dance of the Dragons. First, it was during the jousting tournament when Borros Baratheon cheekily insulted Princess Rhaenys, calling her the Queen Who Never Was.
Next, it was during the Rhaenyra's coronation as heir when Lord Boremund Baratheon hesitated ever-so-slightly when pledging his fealty. As viewers will learn, the Baratheons, like many other noble houses, do not support a woman ruling on the Iron Throne. As such, they will be pledging their loyalty to the greens and opposing Rhaenyra during the Dance of the Dragons.
The Long Night
The first episode was full of some thrilling and shocking moments, but for book readers, nothing was quite as illuminating and astounding as when King Viserys’ spoke of Aegon the Conqueror’s dreams. Aegon was not solely motivated by ambition in conquering Westeros. In fact, he foresaw the Long Night returning and with the cold forces of darkness from the distant North. Aegon determined that it was the Targaryens’ responsibility as the last dragonriders to prepare the realm for this fight.
This was a secret passed on from one king to the next, and it adds an entirely unexpected element to the lore of Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice and Fire. This revelation was something that many fans had theorized, and now that it’s confirmed, it can drastically affect how audiences understand the Targaryens and their motivations.
Naming Rhaenyra As Heir
While the episode didn’t have the same alarming punch that Game of Thrones packed when Jaime pushed Bran out of the tower window, this first episode still ended with quite a bang. Princess Rhaenyra became the first female to be named the official heir to the Iron Throne. The only other person to ever get close to understanding this was Rhaenys, but she wasn’t so lucky.
Obviously, this moment is incredibly important and consequential. It officially starts the unrest in the Targaryen family and other noble houses that will eventually become a full-on revolution – all because some men don’t want to see a woman in charge. This is the action that broke the realm, and there’s no going back.