Iconic Game of Thrones locations we want to see in House of the Dragon
By John Fallon
Casterly Rock and Lannisport
Casterly Rock made a brief appearance in the seventh season of Game of Thrones when the Unsullied army took it for Queen Daenerys Targaryen, but considering how important the place is — it’s the home base of the Lannister family — it could stand to have more exposure. It may show up again in House of the Dragon, along with a major harbor less than a mile south, Lannisport.
Due to the port’s location along the coast of the Sunset Sea, Lannisport is often raided by the Ironborn. The Lord of the Iron Islands, Dalton Greyjoy, fought on the side of Rhaenyra Targaryen during the Dance. Known as the Red Kraken, the bloodthirsty youth was asked to attack her enemies and decided to attack the Lannister holdings in the Westerlands. Although Lady Johanna Lannister barred the gates of Casterly Rock, the Red Kraken burned the Lannister fleet and sacked Lannisport.
That provides a great opportunity for the prequel explore the Lannister seat of power more directly, but we’ll see if they take it.
Highgarden and the Reach
During the Dance of the Dragons, the Reach was divided between those who supported Rhaenyra Targaryen and and those who supported her half-brother and rival for the Iron Throne Aegon II Targaryen, son of Alicent Hightower and King Viserys I. While the Hightowers supported Aegon, other powerful houses in the Reach like the Rowans and the Tarlys fought for Rhaenyra. House Tyrell, however, declined to take any part in the war.
All the same, it might be a good idea to include the Tyrells in House of the Dragon in some way, since it would give the show a chance to bring fans back to Highgarden, which we saw only once on Game of Thrones: when Lady Olenna Tyrell died. Perhaps characters there could provide perspective on the fighting and skirmishes happening in the Reach during the civil war. Many lords of the Reach thought the Tyrells’ decision to stay out of the war made them traitors, leading to claims over Highgarden itself, so there are some interesting stories to tell.
Storm’s End
Some action took place around Storm’s End in Game of Thrones, but we never actually got to see much of the actual castle, the seat of House Baratheon and one of the strongest castles in the realm, with massive walls that loom a hundred feet in the air. That will change in House of the Dragon.
Near the beginning of the Dance of the Dragons, the Realm splits into the Greens — the followers of King Aegon II — and the Blacks, who follow Queen Rhaenyra. At Storm’s End, Prince Aemond Targaryen, an envoy of the king, and Prince Lucerys Velaryon, an envoy of the queen, exchange heated words.
As a storm rages, Lucerys mounts his dragon and leaves, while Aemond follows. Catching up to his cousin, Aemond attacks and a fight ensues between the two dragons and their riders. It’s a perfect scene for TV, and will deliver something we never saw on the original show.
Three days later, the bodies of the losing rider and dragon wash up on the shores of Storm’s End.
