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All the nerdy things you need to know about ‘House of the Dragon’
As it’s with any good excessive fantasy story, your “Home of the Dragon” expertise will probably profit from a bit nerd homework. Right here is the whole lot it’s essential to know earlier than you watch so you’ll be able to keep away from frequent confusions like “Why are all of those blonde folks so unhappy?” or “Wait, they’re associated?!”
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“Home of the Dragon” is a prequel sequence that focuses on the Targaryen dynasty; they of delusion, insanity, incest and purple shampoo. Within the authentic “Sport of Thrones” present and within the “Music of Ice And Fireplace” e-book sequence, the highly effective Home Targaryen has all however died off because of regicide and what appears to be a familial lack of impulse management from generations of inbreeding. Daenerys Targaryen is without doubt one of the few that stay in GoT-times, and even she will get prematurely despatched off to the Shadow Lands by her nephew-lover, Jon Snow. (The Targaryen household tree may be very slender, but difficult. The Targaryen Household Shillelagh, if you’ll.)
Anyway, HoD takes place 200 years earlier than the occasions of “Sport of Thrones,” when the Targaryens are in full energy and about to enter a really nasty, fiery battle of succession referred to as the “Dance of Dragons.”
Understand that, through the peak of their energy, the Targaryens have been a dragon-riding terror, therefore their home motto: “Fireplace and Blood.” Their scaled steeds introduced the household from their authentic residence of Valyria and helped them conquer all of Westeros. Within the authentic GoT sequence, all of these dragons have been useless for some time. In HoD, they’re (presumably) alive and properly.
It is a Full Home (Targaryen)
Since that is proper earlier than the eventual downfall of Home Targaryen, there are numerous Targs at play. Too many Targs, one may argue. Some identify tags could be good.
- King Viserys I is the present king of Westeros. He is really a reasonably cool man. To present an concept of the time-frame right here, Viserys I is Daenerys’ great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather. His youngsters and family members are those combating to inherit energy for when he finally kicks it.
- Princess Rhaenyra is Viserys’ daughter by his first spouse. Her father favors her as his successor, however there are a number of different contenders at play. It seems a lot of the motion will middle on her. Consider her as this sequence’ Daenerys. She desires to rule, she has the {qualifications}, however a bunch of dudes preserve getting in her means. Her dragon’s identify is Syrax.
- Prince Aegon II is Viserys’ first-born son and half-brother to Rhaenyra. He’s one other doable successor and a really huge a part of the battle to return.
- Prince Daemon is Viserys’ brother and Rhaenyra’s uncle. He is your typical Hamlet-y “at all times a prince, by no means a king” sort of determine. He’s a little bit of a rake and there is numerous sexual rigidity between him and Rhaenyra which is, once more, par for the course in the case of this fam.
- Alicent Hightower is Viserys’ second spouse and stepmother to Rhaenyra. She is Aegon II’s mom and has designs to be Westeros’ first queen regnant, so she does not get alongside together with her stepdaughter. An evil stepmother? Groundbreaking. At this level, simply assume everyone seems to be corrupt and power-hungry. (Very huge Margaery Tyrell vibes from her as properly. RIP, queen.)
There are various extra Targaryens and Targaryen-adjacent folks to maintain observe of, however let’s tempo ourselves.
One other good factor to recollect is that many individuals in Westeros imagine the Targaryens have a genetic tendency in direction of madness. (Ser Barristan Selmy put it greatest: “Each time a brand new Targaryen is born, the gods toss a coin within the air and the world holds its breath.) So even the nice ones are, theoretically, one minor inconvenience away from mass homicide.
Plenty of Westeros will look acquainted to you
The Iron Throne is unquestionably round, having been constructed by the primary Targaryen king, Aegon. You will recall many GoT characters spoke wonderingly about Aegon and his two sister-wives, Rhaenys and Visenya, who have been the primary era of Targaryens to return to Westeros to (actually) set issues off. They turned the primary ruling home of the Seven Kingdoms in Westeros. So at this level within the recreation, when HoD takes place, the present political system has solely seen Targaryen rulers.
The Purple Preserve was additionally Aegon’s doing, so it is there too, as is the encompassing city of King’s Touchdown.
You will acknowledge just a few homes! The Hightowers have illustration, after all. There are just a few Baratheons scattered about. The Lannisters at this level in Westeros historical past are simply minor, if very wealthy, gamers. We’ll study extra about Home Velaryon, one other home of Valyrian descent that was often talked about in “Sport of Thrones.” Nevertheless, do not anticipate to see any acquainted faces from the unique “Sport of Thrones” sequence.
And lastly, you’ll spend half of your time maintaining everybody’s names straight
Are your wheels utterly greased for a brand new period of “Sport of Thrones?” Are you completely certain? Nice! This is a sampling of precise Targaryen names from the “Sport of Thrones” universe.
- Aegon
- Aegor
- Aemon
- Aemond
- Aenys
- Rhaenys
- Rhaena
- Rhaella
- Rhaegar
- Rhaegel
- Rhaelle
- Jaehaera
- Jaehaerys
- Viserys
- Daemon
- Daeron
- Baela
- Baelor
- Maelor
No marvel all of them went mad. Fortunately, solely a small portion of those names will seem in “Home of the Dragon,” nevertheless it does make one lengthy for the nice previous GoT days when the primary character simply glided by “Jon.”