Game of Thrones has no shortage of players. The HBO Max hit fantasy-adventure series, which was one of the most beloved in the entertainment landscape between the years 2011 and 2019, has a list of characters almost as massive as the armies that battle it out in the fields of Westeros or the gargantuan dragons that rain fire on its cities. The original Game of Thrones has been over for several years. However, the first episode of House of the Dragon, a spinoff series that focuses on an era almost 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, introduced millions of fans to even more classic characters.
The primary focal point of House of the Dragon is House Targaryen, who fans of the franchise might recognize as the disgraced former leaders of Westeros and as the ancestors of Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys Targaryen. However, the series has also shown many of the other families that make up the royal clans of Westeros. In all likelihood, future episodes will continue to give glimpses of the powerful folks who will eventually succeed the Targaryen on the Iron Throne. Each family desires ultimate power, but ultimately, only one can reign at any given time.
Which Game of Thrones houses have we already seen in House of the Dragon?
The Central House of the Dragon, House Targaryen
HBO
Dragons are arguably the most powerful mythical beast in the Game of Thrones universe. As such, it stands to reason that whoever controls these fire-breathing reptilian monsters also controls Westeros. Unfortunately for many of the nation’s inhabitants, the only clan with the capability of controlling dragons is House Targaryen. At the time period explored in House of the Dragon, they have over a dozen fully-grown fire lizards.
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Only a handful of Targaryen descendants remain in the original series, so it has been fascinating to see the family at the height of their power. However, as evidenced by the events of the original Game of Thrones series, the family has a deep-seated propensity for madness, and the decline of their rule will undoubtedly mean a lot of pain and suffering for the people of Westeros. Audiences will finally get to see the sequence of events that ultimately resulted in Daenerys Targaryen and her brother being exiled across the Narrow Sea.
House Baratheon, Ancestors of Game of Thrones’ First King
The ruler of Westeros during the first season of Game of Thrones is Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy). Obviously, given his surname, King Robert is a member of House Baratheon, a powerful bunch of black-haired, blue-eyed warriors who have a stag on their sigil.
In the first episode of House of the Dragon, “The Heirs of the Dragon,” King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine) holds a jousting tournament to celebrate the impending birth of his child, who he believes will be his first male heir. At the tournament, one of the jousters competing is named Boremund Baratheon. Before competing in the tournament, Boremund asks for the favor of Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, calling her the “Queen That Never Was,” a moniker given to the princess after she was overlooked as the successor to the Iron Throne in favor of her brother Viserys.
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This insult to the King, however slight, seemed to indicate that the Targaryens are losing power throughout the kingdom, and the Baratheons may very well be one of the most prominent forces in the inevitable power struggle.
Lady Alice Hightower May Be Our First Look at House Tyrell
One of the main characters in House of the Dragon is Lady Alicent Hightower, who is portrayed as a young woman in the series’ first episode by Emily Carey. Lady Alicent’s allegiance lies without House Hightower, which in turn pledges fealty to House Tyrell.
Immediately, fans noticed that the character had red hair and a slightly upturned nose, which are features also found in Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer). Given the relationship between House Hightower and House Tyrell, it’s possible that Lady Alicent will be revealed to be a distant ancestor of Margaery.
Fans have been clamoring for more Game of Thrones content for years now. Even the author of the novels that the show was based on, George R.R. Martin, has expressed his excitement at the several announced spinoff series and the countless paths that the extended universe of his beloved story can take. There are many more recognizable Houses for the House of the Dragon to showcase, and the series could very well become as complex as its predecessor.
House of the Dragon has already been renewed for season two. New episodes are released on HBO Max every Sunday at 9 pm ET / 6 pm PT.
