Warning: This article contains spoilers for season 1 of House of the Dragon.
House of the Dragon is the new spin-off prequel series to the popular HBO show Game of Thrones. Based on George R.R. Martin’s novel Fire and Blood, House of the Dragon tells the story of the reign of the House Targaryen set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, long before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen. Following King Viserys I Targaryen and his children as they campaign for the Iron Throne, House of Dragon introduces a wide array of new characters. The first season of House of Dragon premiered in August 2022, and, per EW, was quickly thereafter renewed for a second season. The first season was subject to a great deal of praise, with some saying that it saved the Game of Thrones franchise from being totally lost (particularly after its disappointing final season).
Considering that House of the Dragon is set centuries before Game of Thrones, the story of the series is vastly different. Indeed, HBO’s newest show focuses predominantly on the Targaryan family tree, weaving stories centered around succession, family dynamics, and, eventually, war. In fact, the aim of House of the Dragon is to ultimately delineate the events that lead to (and occur during) the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, a war that broke out in Westerosi history as a result of the Targaryens’ dispute over the rightful heir to The Iron Throne. In light of season 1’s conclusion, upon which battle lines were firmly drawn, here’s a look at all the moments that lead to the Dance of the Dragons.
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7 Viserys Being Chosen Over Rhaenys
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One of the earliest moments that sparked the beginnings of the tension within House Targaryen was King Jaehaerys naming Viserys his successor over Rhaenys simply because she was a woman, even though she had a stronger claim to the throne. Though this didn’t exactly incite violence or rebellion — Viserys would be king during a time of peace — it did result in grudges being held by Rhaenys and, even more so, her husband Corlys Velaryon. As a result, when Viserys named Rhaenyra as his rightful heir, and the throne was being usurped from her, Rhaenys, knowing first-hand what that was like, chose to side with Rhaenyra.
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6 Naming Princess Rhaenyra Heir to The Iron Throne
As we see in the earlier episodes of House of the Dragon season 1, King Viserys I’s succession is a matter of great discussion. This is because Viserys and his wife Aemma have been unable to birth male heirs. Following Westerosi tradition of having only male heirs, the conversation of succession pointed towards Viserys’ younger brother Prince Daemon Targaryen being named heir, something that not everyone, especially Otto Hightower (Hand of the King), necessarily wanted because of Daemon’s disposition for violence. In the end, Viserys officially names Rhaenyra his heir, going against tradition and his own brother. Though this initially bothers Daemon, it later works out in his favor when he and Rhaenyra wed. The bigger challenge, of course, is getting the rest of Westeros onboard with a woman heir — something that gets further complicated because of the next moment on our list.
5 Viserys Marrying Alicent Instead of Laena
After the death of his Queen Aemma Arryn during childbirth, King Viserys finds companionship in Alicent Hightower, Otto’s daughter and Rhaenyra’s childhood best friend. Little does Viserys know, but Otto orchestrates their relationship, pushing Alicent to comfort Viserys in his grief. Despite their age difference, the two eventually marry some time later and, more significantly, bear several children over the years, including male offspring, Aegon and Aemond. However, Viserys holds strong with his decision in naming Princess Rhaenyra heir to The Iron Throne, which causes a rift between her and Alicent (who only wants the best for her children), and, as we learn later, results in the Small Council plotting behind Viserys’ back to install Aegon as King upon his death.
4 Division of the House
House of the Dragon season 1 presents two main Targaryan groups. One group deems themselves the Blacks, and the other refers to themselves as the Greens. The Blacks defend the interests of Princess Rhaenyra and her children, while the Greens are on the side of Queen Hightower’s children, believing them to be the rightful heirs. While the colors may initially seem random, these were chosen from the wardrobe worn at the fifth anniversary of King Viserys and Queen Alicent’s marriage as the Queen wore green while the Princess wore black. This division among House Targaryen is a huge factor that led to the Dance of the Dragons as it added to the tension building within the family throughout the years.
3 Rhaenyra’s Children are Illegitimate
The legitimacy of children is a huge factor when naming an heir, as seen when King Aegon IV legitimized his bastards, nearly ruining the Targaryen bloodline. While Rhaenyra’s children are accepted by her husband Leanor as his own, the reality is that her children were fathered by Ser Harwin Strong. While most of the court chose to turn a blind eye to the legitimacy of the Queen’s children, the Blacks only use this fact as fuel to the fire as to why Rhaenyra should not be on the Iron Throne. Without a legitimate heir, the bloodline would end with her, leaving House Targaryen in the dust. This fact may seem small, but indeed does act as a major factor that further divides the House, specifically motivating Alicent to do all that she can to make sure her children obtain what’s more rightfully theirs.
2 Alicent Misunderstanding Viserys on His Deathbed
In King Viserys’ final moments, he utters some very important words to Alicent before he allows death to take him. Viserys, somewhat delirious, mutters Aegon the Conqueror’s prophecy of The Song of Ice and Fire — essentially, the events that unfold in Game of Thrones with the White Walkers. This is a prophecy that has been passed down from Targaryen King to King, and is something that he relays to a young Rhaenyra earlier in the season. Indeed, no one else but the crowned Targaryen knows about the prophecy. Alicent, as such, only hears “Aegon” and “unite the kindgom,” and subsequently believes that Viserys, on his deathbed, is naming their son Aegon as his new heir. When Viserys dies and Alicent relays this information to her father, the Small Council sets into motion crowning King Aegon II as quickly and publicly as possible.
1 Aemond’s Dragon Vhagar Kills Lucerys
In the last moments of the season finale of House of the Dragon, Aemond follows Lucerys and berates him, talking about the debt he owes him for slashing out his eye when they were kids. As they argue on their dragons, Lucerys’ dragon, Arrax, panics and attacks the much-bigger Vhagar, who responds by disobeying Aemond and killing both Arrax and Lucerys. This is the first and biggest loss Rhaenyra as both the Greens and Blacks await for the other to make the first blow that would send them to war.
