The hit HBO series Game of Thrones ended in May 2019 on a rather sour note for a majority of fans. A significant number of viewers were unhappy with the concluding chapter of the series, which drove their demands for a return to the Game of Thrones storyline. Fans finally got their wish when a prequel to Game of Thrones, titled House of the Dragon, was announced in October 2019. The wait has been long, but the series has been scheduled to premiere on HBO on August 21, 2022.

House of the Dragon is based on the novel Fire and Blood by George R. R. Martin. The upcoming fantasy drama series is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones and revolves around the Targaryen family. If the series closely follows its source text, we can expect the narrative to begin with Aegon’s conquest, which marked the beginning of a new world order and led to the establishment of King’s Landing.

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Given the mixed reactions to the conclusion of Game of Thrones and the untimely deaths of many of the Targaryen family in the series, fans have a lot that they want to see in the new House of the Dragon prequel.

Plenty of Dragons

     HBO

Given the Targaryen family’s intrinsic link to their dragons, dragons will undoubtedly occupy a prominent space in House of the Dragon. However, fans have been speculating on which dragons might appear in the series and the space that will be afforded to them. PopSugar, compiling a list of dragons that may appear in House of the Dragon based on the source text, has named Meleys, Seasmoke, Vermax, Vhagar, Caraxes, Syrax, and Sunfyre as dragons that we might see.

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Fans are also holding onto hope of seeing Balerion the Black Dread. However, given that the timeline of House of the Dragon covers the civil war era, Balerion should have already died of old age. Balerion, having lived a long life and being ridden by many Targaryens throughout the years, dies before the civil war, during the reign of Jaehaerys I. This has not stopped fans from hoping for at least a flashback or glimpse of the mighty dragon. In answering a tweet regarding which dragon fans are most excited to see, user @MaxwellDozie wrote:

Reddit user @TheTargaryen28, talking of Balerion, said:

“Definitely vhagar since he’s the biggest. But I hope we get a glimpse of balerion. I also would like to see sunfire”

Targaryen Madness

Madness has been closely associated with the Targaryen family, with Aerys II, the last Targaryen king to sit on the Iron Throne in Game of Thrones, referred to as the “Mad King.” Fans hope that House of the Dragon may be able to clarify why madness is associated with the Targaryens and what drove its inception.

“…If I don’t get a peak at that massive beast at some point in a flashback of some kind, I’ll be bothered. But damn, just finished a rewatch of the GoT and can’t wait for this show.”

Reddit users have argued that the Targaryens cannot be labeled mad merely due to their incestual behavior or cruelty and ruthlessness. Reddit user @GoldenCOmpany wrote:

A Bit of Humor

Fans have also expressed their hopes to see humor intertwined in the narrative of House of the Dragon. Many have admitted that the period covered in the prequel is a dark time but have also posited that humor is needed to alleviate the heaviness of the show. However, fans have also been selective of the type of humor they feel should be included in the show. Reddit user @DarthCG said:

“…If being ruthless or violent is the measuring stick for madness then I guess all of Westeros was mad. A place where people don’t bat an eye at baking people into pies, feeding them to dogs, crushing their heads in until their eyes bulge out, or shoving kids from windows.”

Fans have also said that humor is a vital aspect of the series, with many claiming that it is a part of the “DNA” of the show. Reddit user @mamula1, replying to a thread regarding the need for humor in House of the Dragon, said:

“As long as the humor is dry and conversational and witty. We don’t need goofs and gags and quips in the middle of fight sequences. Also, not every character should be humorous. I’m not worried with HBO, though.”

A Better Story

Given that the source material for House of the Dragon is complete, fans have high hopes for a better narrative than what was offered to them in Game of Thrones. The Game of Thrones series, albeit having a few instances of success, encountered a notable number of hardships after it ran out of source material to base its adaptation on. However, the latest prequel is expected to have a smooth run as George R. R. Martin has already completed his novel Fire and Blood. This means that fans’ wishes for a better story will most likely come true in House of the Dragon.

“I hope so. There are a lot of funny moments in ASOIAF and GOT.

It’s part of the DNA of the story”

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Fans are also hoping that the narrative of House of the Dragon allows them the chance to “forget” certain instances of Game of Thrones. Twitter user @ycomat1 wrote:

Expressing similar sentiments for a better narrative than the ending of Game of Thrones, @Minh39153883 said:

“Hopefully with House of the Dragon, we can forget seasons 6, 7 and 8 of GOT ever happened (we only need to keep the Battle of the Bastards)”

Fan expectations for House of the Dragon are quite high, with numerous opinions on what the series should explore being put forth. However, regardless of what fans hope to see, the final calls lie with the directors and producers of the show. August 21, 2022, will allow fans to determine if the rights calls have been made in House of the Dragon or not.

“Let’s hope they won’t ruin everything like with last season of GOT”