When does House of the Dragon take place?
By WiC Staff
House of the Dragon is HBO’s new Game of Thrones prequel series. Just how far before the original series does it take place? How much of a prequel is it?
The first season takes place in the 298 AC, almost 300 years after Aegon the Conqueror came to Westeros with his dragon and his sisters and created the Seven Kingdoms (well, six at first; Dorne joined later). Game of Thrones ended several years later in 305 AC.
House of the Dragon will cover a wider span of time. There are indications that we will see the Great Council of 101 AC, when the lords of the realm met to decide who should succeed King Jaehaerys I Targaryen on the Iron Throne. But that should be one scene at most. We’ll skip ahead some years to meet with key characters like Rhaenrya Targaryen and Alicent Hightower in their youths, before skipping ahead yet again to check in with them as adults. All told, the actual war at the center of House of the Dragon won’t start officially until 129 AC. The war would last for years before ending in 131 AC.
When is House of the Dragon set?
House of the Dragon, then, will be unique. Game of Thrones told a story that progressed in a more-or-less straightforward manner from start to finish. On the other hand, the first season of House of the Dragon will span many years; different actors will play the same characters as they age. After that, we should be with the adult cast until the end.
It sounds like a cool change of pace to me, and the only way to tell this complicated story effectively. “This is how you tell this story correctly,” showrunner Ryan Condal told The Hollywood Reporter. “We’re telling a story of a generational war. We set everything up so by the time that first sword stroke falls, you understand all the players.”
House of the Dragon premieres on HBO and HBO Max on August 21.
Next. House of the Dragon planned to run 3-4 seasons long (for now). dark
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