House of the Dragon - Season 1
House of the Dragon | |
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Season 1 | |
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No. of episodes | 10 |
Country of origin | United States |
Network | HBO |
Release | |
Original run | August 21 – October 23, 2022[1] |
Season chronology | |
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List of episodes |
Season 1 of House of the Dragon is the first season of the series.
Contents
Plot
House of the Dragon takes place two centuries before the War of the Five Kings, focusing on the Dance of the Dragons. The show is based on George R. R. Martin's Fire & Blood, along with the novella The Princess and the Queen and the novelette The Rogue Prince.[2]
Cast
Starring
- Paddy Considine as King Viserys I Targaryen
- Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen
- Emma D'Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (episode 6, 7, 8 and 10)
- Milly Alcock as Young Rhaenyra Targaryen (episode 1-5)
- Olivia Cooke as Queen Alicent Hightower (episode 6-9)
- Emily Carey as Young Alicent Hightower (episode 1-5)
- Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower
- Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon
- Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen
- Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria
- Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole
- Graham McTavish as Ser Harrold Westerling
- Matthew Needham as Lord Larys Strong
- Jefferson Hall as Lord Jason Lannister and Ser Tyland Lannister
- Harry Collett as Prince Jacaerys Velaryon (episode 8 and 10)
- Tom Glynn-Carney as King Aegon II Targaryen (episode 8 and 9)
- Ewan Mitchell as Prince Aemond Targaryen (episode 8-10)
- Bethany Antonia as Lady Baela Targaryen (episode 8 and 10)
- Phoebe Campbell as Lady Rhaena Targaryen (episode 8 and 10)
- Phia Saban as Queen Helaena Targaryen (episode 8 and 9)
Additional cast
- Ty Tennant as Young Aegon Targaryen (episode 6 and 7)
- Evie Allen as Young Helaena Targaryen (episode 6 and 7)
- Leo Ashton as Young Aemond Targaryen (episode 6 and 7)
- Shani Smethurst as Young Baela Targaryen (episode 6 and 7)
- Eva Ossei-Gerning as Young Rhaena Targaryen (episode 6 and 7)
- Jake and Rory Heard as Prince Aegon Targaryen the Younger
- Nanna Blondell as Lady Laena Velaryon (episode 6)
- Savannah Steyn as Young Laena Velaryon (episode 5)
- Nova Foueillis-Mosé as Child Laena Velaryon (episode 1 and 2)
- John Macmillan as Ser Laenor Velaryon (episode 6 and 7)
- Theo Nate as Young Laenor Velaryon (episode 3 and 5)
- Matthew Carver as Child Laenor Velaryon (episode 1)
- Wil Johnson as Ser Vaemond Velaryon
- Leo Hart as Young Jacaerys Velaryon (episode 6 and 7)
- Elliot Grihault as Prince Lucerys Velaryon (episode 8 and 10)
- Harvey Sadler as Young Lucerys Velaryon (episode 6 and 7)
- Sian Brooke as Queen Aemma Arryn
- David Horovitch as Grand Maester Mellos
- Bill Paterson as Lord Lyman Beesbury
- Gavin Spokes as Lord Lyonel Strong
- Michael Carter as King Jaehaerys I Targaryen
- Steffan Rhodri as Lord Hobert Hightower
- Elliott Tittensor as Ser Erryk Cargyll
- Garry Cooper as Lord Commander Ryam Redwyne
- Julian Lewis Jones as Lord Boremund Baratheon
- David Hounslow as Lord Rickon Stark
- Frankie Wilson as Captain Randyll Barret
- Mikhail Sen as Maester Mickon
- Luke Tittensor as Ser Arryk Cargyll
- Gary Raymond as the High Septon
- Anthony Flanagan as Ser Steffon Darklyn
- Daniel Scott-Smith as Prince Craghas Drahar
- Ryan Corr as Ser Harwin Strong
- Solly McLeod as Ser Joffrey Lonmouth
- Jonny Weldon as Samwell
- Edward Rowe as Ser Howland Sharp
- Lucy Briers as Lady Ceira Lannister
- Joanna David as Lady Joselyn Redwyne
- Alana Ramsey as Lady Lynesse Hightower
- Thom Ashley as Brett Lannister
- Oscar Salem as Ser Addam
- Chris David Storer as Lord Humfrey Bracken
- Gabriel Scott as Jerrel Bracken
- Alfie Todd as Willem Blackwood
- Paul Leonard as Lord Beric Dondarrion
- Ben Dilloway as Ser Soren
- Kurt Egyiawan as Grand Maester Orwyle
- Owen Oakeshott as Ser Gerold Royce
- Rachel Redford as Lady Rhea Royce
- Paul Kennedy as Lord Jasper Wylde
- Alexis Raben as Talya
- Arty Froushan as Ser Qarl Correy
- Jordon Stevens as Elinda Massey
- Dean Nolan as Prince Reggio Haratis
- Paul Hickey as Lord Allun Caswell
- Phil Daniels as Maester Gerardys
- Haqi Ali as Maester Kelvyn
- Max Wrottesley as Ser Lorent Marbrand
- Maddie Evans as Dyana
- Oliver Grange as Jon
- Simon Chandler as Septon Eustace
- Nina Barker-Francis as Jayne
- Miriam Lucia as Lady Fell
- Paul Clayton as Lord Merryweather
- Roger Evans as Lord Borros Baratheon
- Nicholas Jones as Lord Bartimos Celtigar
- Michael Elwyn as Lord Simon Staunton
Dragons
The dragons have different personalities and physical appearances.[3] The following table lists the appearances (A) and mentions (M) of the dragons episode by episode throughout the first season.
- 1 Not mentioned by name but alluded to.
- 2 Appears as a skull only.
- 3 By process of elimination, the dragon that Aemond encounters in the Dragonpit is Dreamfyre, as "The Black Queen" establishes that the greens have three adult dragons out of four total. While the dragon is similar in appearance to Seasmoke who would also be in the Dragonpit at this time, its horns are different and it does not have Seasmoke's beard. There are no other adult dragons in the Dragonpit at this time.
Dragons | Riders | Ep 1 | Ep 2 | Ep 3 | Ep 4 | Ep 5 | Ep 6 | Ep 7 | Ep 8 | Ep 9 | Ep 10 |
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Arrax | Lucerys Velaryon | M1 | M1 | A† | |||||||
Balerion the Black Dread |
None; deceased2 | A† | A† | A† | A† | ||||||
The Cannibal | None | M1 | |||||||||
Caraxes the Blood Wyrm |
Daemon Targaryen | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | |||
Dreamfyre | Helaena Targaryen | M | A3 | A | M1 | ||||||
Grey Ghost | None | M1 | |||||||||
Meleys the Red Queen |
Rhaenys Targaryen | A | A | A | A | ||||||
Moondancer | Baela Targaryen | M1 | M | ||||||||
Seasmoke | Laenor Velaryon | A | A | M | |||||||
Sheepstealer | None | M1 | |||||||||
Silverwing | None | M | |||||||||
Sunfyre the Golden |
Aegon II Targaryen | M1 | A | M1 | |||||||
Syrax | Rhaenyra Targaryen | A | A | M1 | A | ||||||
Tessarion the Blue Queen |
Daeron Targaryen | M1 | |||||||||
Tyraxes | Joffrey Velaryon | M | |||||||||
Vermax | Jacaerys Velaryon | A | A | ||||||||
Vermithor the Bronze Fury |
None | A | |||||||||
Vhagar the Queen of All Dragons |
Laena Velaryon; Aemond Targaryen |
M | A | A | A |
Episodes
No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Duration | U.S. viewers (million) |
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1 | "The Heirs of the Dragon" | Miguel Sapochnik | Ryan Condal | August 21, 2022 | 66 min | 9.986[4] |
2 | "The Rogue Prince" | Greg Yaitanes | Ryan Condal | August 28, 2022 | 54 min | 10.2[5] |
3 | "Second of His Name" | Greg Yaitanes | Gabe Fonseca & Ryan Condal | September 4, 2022 | 58 min | ~9.2[N 1][6] |
4 | "King of the Narrow Sea" | Clare Kilner | Ira Parker | September 11, 2022 | 63 min | ~9.66[6] |
5 | "We Light the Way" | Claire Kilner | Charmaine DeGraté | September 18, 2022 | 60 min | ~9.95[6] |
6 | "The Princess and the Queen" | Miguel Sapochnik | Sara Hess | September 25, 2022 | 67 min | ~10.25[7] |
7 | "Driftmark" | Miguel Sapochnik | Kevin Lau | October 2, 2022 | 59 min | Unknown[N 2] |
8 | "The Lord of the Tides" | Geeta Patel | Eileen Shim | October 9, 2022 | 68 min | Unknown[N 2] |
9 | "The Green Council" | Clare Kilner | Sara Hess | October 16, 2022 | 58 min | Unknown[N 2] |
10 | "The Black Queen" | Greg Yaitanes | Ryan Condal | October 23, 2022 | 59 min | 9.3[8] |
Reception
The first season was well received with the acting, the VFX, and writting being praised. Critics and the general audience have pointed out the pacing and the different time jumps throughout the season as the most jarring aspect of the show. These sentiments were reflected somewhat by George R. R. Martin who is very happy with the final product. He singled out Paddy Considine's portrayal of King Viserys I Targaryen as a being "much more powerful and tragic and fully-fleshed than my own version in Fire & Blood". He wished this first season was 13-episode-long to slow down the narrative a bit and take more time to flesh out some of the characters. That being said, he also said that to make the story of the Dance of the Dragons justice, House of the Dragon should run for four seasons of 10 episodes each.[9]
Awards
- Golden Globe Awards:[10]
- Winner - Best Drama Series
- Nomination - Best Television Actress in a Drama Series for Emma D'Arcy (Rhaenyra Targaryen)
- Critics Choice Awards:[11]
- Nomination - Best Drama Series
- Nomination - Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen)
- Nomination - Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Milly Alcock (Young Rhaenyra Targaryen)
- TV Line:[12]
- Winner - Performer of the Week for Emma D'Arcy (Rhaenyra Targaryen)
- Golden Tomato Awards[13]
- Winner - Best TV Series
- Winner - Best New Series
- Winner - Best Sci-Fi & Fantasy Series
Notes
- ↑ The ratings of episode 3 have not been officially released. The viewership was down about 1 million for the premiere on Sunday night due in part to airing in the U.S. during Labor Day weekend. The number of people watching the episode on HBO's platforms the following days was greater than for the first two episodes, however.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Warner Bros. Discovery did not disclose the viewership numbers for these episodes.
References
- ↑ Variety (March 30, 2022): "Game of Thrones" Prequel Series "House of the Dragon" to Debut in August
- ↑ Not A Blog: "The Dragons Take Wing" (October 30, 2019)
- ↑ IGN: House of the Dragon Will Unleash 9 Dragons in Its First Season
- ↑ Deadline: House of the Dragon premiere draws nearly 10 Million viewers
- ↑ Variety: Ratings HOTD episode 2
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Variety: HOTD Ratings episode 5
- ↑ Variety: HOTD Ratings episode 6
- ↑ Variety: Biggest HBO Season Finale Since "Game of Thrones"
- ↑ Not A Blog: Random Musings
- ↑ Golden Globes 2023 Results
- ↑ Variety: Critic Choice Awards 2023 Results
- ↑ TV Line
- ↑ Golden Tomato Awards 2022
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