It's hard to believe that more than five years have passed since Game of Thrones ended, but the dragons have spread their wings and continue to soar in the prequel series House of the Dragon.
Set years before the events of its predecessor, the first season of House of the Dragon was met with high expectations due to the unprecedented success of the original series. Now, the second season has just concluded, and a third season is already confirmed.
Despite the inevitable comparisons, lead actress Olivia Cooke, who plays Queen Alicent Hightower, insists that House of the Dragon should be seen as a separate entity from Game of Thrones. In an interview with Ynet, she says, "I don't want to compare the two. I think they're both stand alone by themselves. All the good stuff that's in theirs is in ours.”
While Game of Thrones was known for its extreme scenes of sex and graphic violence, House of the Dragon focuses more on the dramatic elements of the power struggles within the royal court. Even so, it’s impossible to entirely separate the two series, as screenwriter Ryan Condal created House of the Dragon directly inspired by the groundbreaking television hit led by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.
“I would say they're sort of an extended family, like brother and sister,” says actress Phia Saban, who portrays Princess Helaena Targaryen.
British actor Matthew Needham, who plays Larys Strong, admits that while he wasn’t a huge fan of Game of Thrones, he appreciates the gritty elements it brought to television. “It’s the biggest TV show of all time, and House of the Dragon is following in its footsteps. I hope we’ll earn the same level of respect.”
As the second season unfolds, preparations for war intensify, with the “green camp” led by King Aegon II and the “black camp” by Queen Rhaenyra. Cooke explains that the character of Alicent feels responsible for the kingdom’s division and seeks to prevent an all-out war.
“It's not the typical saga, the better between good and evil, but rather about the gray zones between bad people doing good things and the opposite. It becomes tribal and then you stop seeing the point of why people are fighting because they've just picked a side and they don't know why they're fighting. It just becomes so murky.”
House of the Dragon also positions itself with a clear feminist perspective, highlighting the struggle of women in positions of power in a male-dominated society. “It seems like it's almost impossible for women to truly rule. When men put women on a pedestal, it often feels patronizing,” Cooke says.
”Like they're saying, 'We'll let them have this for now, but everything will go back to normal afterward.' I think that's how people view Rhaenyra and her claim to the throne. It's the same with Alicent when she was ruling in place of Viserys; it's like everyone sees it as temporary, just a Band-Aid solution until things return to the way they were."
Despite the show’s heavy themes and intense political intrigue, the actors acknowledge the importance of portraying their characters with depth and nuance. Needham, who plays the manipulative Larys Strong, explains, “No one is purely evil. Larys is driven by a desire to change his social environment after being mistreated because of his disability. He’s a chameleon, constantly adapting to those around him.”
As the story continues to build toward inevitable conflict, House of the Dragon explores the blurred lines between power, loyalty and morality in a way that is both captivating and thought-provoking.