House of the Dragon takes place around 200 years before Game of Thrones begins, but the prequel spinoff series features some surprising parallels to the future stories of George R. R. Martin's world of Westeros. Based on Martin's fictional history novel Fire & Blood, House of the Dragon follows the gruesome conflict known as the Dance of Dragons, a civil war between members of House Targaryen that ultimately led to their decline.
The primary Targaryen protagonist of Game of Thrones, Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), feels like a far cry from the House of the Dragon cast. While they were born into their power and nobility, Daenerys spent most of her young life in poverty in Essos, living with her cruel brother Viserys (Harry Lloyd), grasping at whatever straws they could find to position themselves in place to take back the Iron Throne. As such, Daenerys develops a sense of empathy that's missing from many of her ancestors. However, one plotline in season 2 of House of the Dragon paints an eerie parallel to a key Daenerys scene, suggesting there are more similarities between the different generations of Targaryens than meets the eye.
Daenerys in the House of the Undying
By the time Daenerys reaches the city of Qarth, her husband, Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa), has died. Now, she travels with what remains of his Khalasar, Ser Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen), a Westerosi knight serving as her chief advisor, and, most importantly, three baby dragons hatched on Khal Drogo's funeral pyre.
However, while staying in Qarth, the city's Warlocks, led by Pyat Pree (Ian Hanmore), kidnap the hatchlings, taking them to the magical House of the Undying. Daenerys ventures into the House in order to rescue them, unaware of the magic it possesses.
While inside the House of the Undying, Daenerys sees several visions, some of which come back into play many years later in the story. She sees herself in the ash-covered Red Keep, face to face with the Iron Throne, a dark moment of foreshadowing to her fall from grace in Season 8, and sees herself coming from the Wall amidst a snowstorm, a likely reference to her role in the war against the Undead.
Finally and most notably, Daenerys sees herself with Drogo and their deceased infant son, Rhaego. In this moment, Daenerys experiences the life she could have lived if not for the dragons and the dark magic. However, Daenerys breaks through the illusion and proceeds to find and free her children. Although the reunion is short lived, and only in Dany's head, it was nice to give Drogo, a huge fan-favorite character, one final scene on the series.
Daemon in Harrenhal
House of the Dragon season 2 sees Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) take Harrenhal, staying at the infamous castle in order to secure the Riverlands' forces for his wife, Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy). However, Harrenhal's rumored curse seems to affect Daemon more than he expected, and he finds himself plagued with visions throughout the season.
Much like with Daenerys' hallucinations, Daemon's bring back several characters from the first season in his mind. He sees glimpses of a younger Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock), as well as his deceased wife, Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell). Like Daenerys and Drogo, Daemon sees his former lovers in his visions, partially as a way to bring back fan favorites, but also partially to represent what Daemon no longer has.
Daemon also sees visions of his brother, Viserys (Paddy Considine), the late king whose death sparked the series' initial squabble for succession. In one hallucination, Viserys offers Daemon the crown, what the younger brother has always wanted, although Daemon does not answer. Much like with Drogo's scene with Daenerys, this particular vision represents a life Daemon can no longer have. Though he clearly still wants the crown for himself, he knows he is pledged to Rhaenyra and will do best to support his wife's claim, rather than stake his own.
In addition to the parallels between Daemon and Daenerys, his season 2 arc also draws a connection between the two locations. Though the cause of Daemon's visions is never explicitly confirmed, and some fans suspect it represents his descent into Targaryen madness, or is the result of Harrenhal's healer, Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin), working her magic, the fact that a stay in Harrenhal results in strikingly similar visions to the House of the Undying suggests that the castle's curse is, in fact, real. Ultimately, A Song of Ice and Fire is relatively light on magic for a fantasy franchise, so in painting Harrenhal in a similar light to an explicitally magical place, House of the Dragon comes closer than ever to confirming the curse.
For more House of the Dragon, make sure to catch the season 3 premiere on HBO and HBO Max on June 21.
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