Warning: Contains major SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2’s finale.
Summary
For most of its run,House of the Dragonhas avoided too many direct connections toGame of Thrones, which is a good thing given it’s a trap many prequels can fall foul of. That there are 170 years or so between the two shows certainly makes it easier, but nonetheless, it’s largely not been too"nudge nudge, wink wink"when it comes to the franchise connections. Or rather, it hadn’t, untilHouse of the Dragonseason 2’s ending.
Although much is focused on its own story, it includes Daemon Targaryen having a vision of Daenerys Targaryen, a White Walker, and the Three-Eyed Raven, as well as other things such as Rhaenyra Targaryen on the Iron Throne. There is some logic to Daemon having the vision within the show, but unfortunately, I don’t think it’s good forGame of Thrones' ending. I’ve always defended season 8, including the series finale, but such direct links between the shows don’t benefit either one.
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House Of The Dragon Sets Up A Version Of Game Of Thrones Season 8 That Doesn’t Exist
It’s A Strange Choice Given What Happens
There are a few meanings to be gleaned from Daemon’s vision, which, in terms ofHouse of the Dragon, connects toAegon the Conqueror’s song of ice and fire prophecy, and how Rhaenyra needs to sit the Iron Throne. That’s all well and good, leading to Daemon bending the knee. It makes sense.What’s not so good, however, is that it so overtly features the White Walkers and Daenerys Targaryen, suggesting she was the key to defeating them.
It makes a direct connection between the prophecy of Aegon, driving the story of Daemon and Rhaenyra, and where it all ends up with Daenerys, meaning she needs to sit the Iron Throne and is the hero who will defeat the White Walkers.
Indeed, because it not only shows Dany, but does so following on from a White Walker, a red comet, and her dragon eggs, then what it really seems to be saying is that Daenerys isthe Prince That Was Promised(or Princess, in this case). It makes a direct connection between the prophecy of Aegon, driving the story of Daemon and Rhaenyra, and where it all ends up with Daenerys, meaning she needs to sit the Iron Throne and is the hero who will defeat the White Walkers.
The problem, of course, is thatGame of Thronesseason 8has already happened, andHouse of the Dragonis setting up a version of events that doesn’t come to pass. Sure, you can argue about how Dany was important to defeating the White Walkers: it’s true that, without her (and those who followed her), the Night King probably would’ve won. But she didn’t sit the Iron Throne when the Long Night came, andGame of Thronesdid absolutely nothing with the Prince That Was Promised prophecy, never confirming their identity.
It makes sense to use the prophecy for Rhaenyra’s story, believing the prophesied savior comes from her bloodline, but I find it really strange to so strongly suggest events to come when we already know they don’t. Evenincluding the Three-Eyed Raven is an odd choiceas, again,Game of Thronesnever really explained it.
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House Of The Dragon’s Visions Highlight Game Of Thrones Season 8’s Flaws
Game Of Thrones Could’ve Done More With Daenerys And The White Walkers
I like a lot ofGame of Thronesseason 8, love parts of it, and think Daenerys' story, on the whole, really works, even her becoming the so-called “Mad Queen” and then being killed by Jon Snow. But it did have its flaws, andHouse of the Dragonso directly connecting to it via Daemon’s visions only serves to highlight those.
The final season ofGame of Throneswas rushed, and needed a lot more time with the White Walkers as the overarching threat, and then more time with Daenerys replacing them as the villain, as it were (each could’ve been their own season, really). In particular, it always frustrated me that the show did so little with the Prince That Was Promised or Azor Ahai prophecies, and explained hardly anything about the White Walkers and the Three-Eyed Raven.
Notably, they were all very strong fantasy elements, the type of which the show often tried to downplay where it could. It loved the dragons for the spectacle, but a lot of the magic was often stripped away, and with Daemon’s visions going so hard into those very same fantasy aspects, it shows howGame of Thronescould have handled them better. If we knew who the Prince That Was Promised was, or had clearer explanations for the White Walkers, it would make a lot more sense to include them here. But we don’t, so I do think it’s a mistake.
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House Of The Dragon Connecting To Game Of Thrones So Much Benefits Neither Show
The Prequel Doesn’t Need Franchise Connections To Work
One of the pitfalls of any prequel is that they can lean way too hard into setting up their parent show, rather than focusing on their own narrative. It becomes more about name-drops, connections, and references that will turn its audience into the Leonardo DiCaprio pointing meme than it will its own story, which are things I’ve seen across multiple franchises like the MCU andStar Wars. Of course,Easter eggs can be a lot of fun, but they should be more background elements, not foundational parts of the story.
It’s slightly contradictory, perhaps, that I really like the use of Aegon’s dream for the most part, but that’s entirely because of how it affects the narrative of House of the Dragon.
It’s slightly contradictory, perhaps, thatI really like the use of Aegon’s dream for the most part, but that’s entirely because of how it affects the narrative ofHouse of the Dragon. It drives multiple character arcs, and there’s irony and tragedy in it, in a way, being the beginning of the end ofHouse Targaryen, as well as leading to destruction in Westeros, when it was supposed to unite the realm. It’s only when I think about what it means forGame of Thrones, and how quickly the White Walkers were defeated, that it doesn’t work.
House of the Dragonseason 3 has been renewed by HBO.
It’s the same deal here, but even more extreme. The moreHouse of the Dragontries to connect and set upGame of Thrones, the more it will highlight issues with the latter, and overshadow itself. The prequel has a good story and some great characters, and can neatly exist as its own thing; it doesn’t need White Walkers or Daenerys Targaryen for that and, since they just end up feeling a bit cheap, it’s better off without them.
House of the Dragon
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
Game Of Thrones
Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim.
