# House of the Dragon (2022)

> A prequel to Game of Thrones following the Targaryen dynasty as a disputed succession splits the royal house and the realm.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/80227

## Facts

- Seasons: 3
- Episodes: 26
- Episode runtime: 62 min
- Status: Returning Series
- Genres: fantasy, drama, action, adventure
- Created by: George R.R. Martin, Ryan J. Condal
- Network: HBO
- Cast: Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, James Norton, Steve Toussaint, Fabien Frankel, Matthew Needham, Sonoya Mizuno, Ewan Mitchell
- TMDB rating: 8.2/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11198330/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: dense
- Violence: brutal
- Tone: dark, sumptuous, simmering, tense, brooding

## What critics say

Audiences broadly rate House of the Dragon as a well-made, acclaimed fantasy drama, though some viewers find it less compelling than its predecessor and feel its ratings have slipped across seasons.

## Synopsis

House of the Dragon (2022-present) is an HBO prestige fantasy drama created by George R.R. Martin and Ryan J. Condal, a prequel to Game of Thrones based on Martin's novel. Matt Smith plays the volatile Prince Daemon Targaryen, while Olivia Cooke plays Queen Alicent Hightower, and Steve Toussaint plays Lord Corlys Velaryon, the Sea Snake. Their rivalries drive the story, which begins at the height of Targaryen power with more than fifteen dragons under their control. The engine is a succession dispute: King Viserys names his daughter Rhaenyra heir to the Iron Throne, breaking a century of tradition, and the court's shock and division grow once he fathers a son. Each season moves through court maneuvering, shifting alliances, and the looming threat of dragon warfare across a realm of castles, councils, and seaside power bases. The series is serialized and told in long arcs across three seasons so far. Its tone is dark, sumptuous, and simmering with dread, with grand battle set pieces balanced against intimate scenes of family betrayal. Fans of Game of Thrones, The Crown, and Succession will find resonance in its royal intrigue and dynastic rivalries.

## Shows like House of the Dragon

- [The New Look (2024)](https://ember.film/tv/119504)
- [Andor (2022)](https://ember.film/tv/71501)
- [Succession (2018)](https://ember.film/tv/66112)
- [The Witcher: Blood Origin (2022)](https://ember.film/tv/89012)
- [The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)](https://ember.film/tv/72155)
- [The Spanish Princess (2019)](https://ember.film/tv/73417)
- [Frank Herbert's Children of Dune (2003)](https://ember.film/tv/8488)
- [Dune: Prophecy (2024)](https://ember.film/tv/76481)
- [The Wheel of Time (2021)](https://ember.film/tv/62744)
- [See (2019)](https://ember.film/tv/69202)

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