10 Things Only GoT Fans Will Notice In House of the Dragon
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VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
Didn't you read the books? Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're scoping out details in the “House of Dragon” series that will mean a whole lot more to you if you're familiar with either the “Game of Thrones” sister show or the “A Song of Ice and Fire” novels. If you're not though…SPOILERS AHEAD!!!! Our countdown includes familiar characters, spoiled events, easter eggs and more!
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re scoping out details in the “House of Dragon” series that will mean a whole lot more to you if you’re familiar with either the “Game of Thrones” sister show or the “A Song of Ice and Fire” novels. If you’re not though…SPOILERS AHEAD!!!! What did you notice that we missed? Share in the comments below!
The role of magic in the “Game of Thrones” world is uniquely selective. Fantastic elements often play second fiddle to realistic warfare, but when sorcery does appear, it’s usually devastating. There’s a quick mention of “bloodmages” in the early episodes of “House of the Dragon”. If you’re schooled in “Thrones” lore, you likely made a tragic connection to Daenerys’s ill-fated husband, the Dothraki Khal Drogo. After Drogo fell terminally sick, Dany turned to an eastern enchantress, known as a “bloodmage,” for a spell that might save his life. It didn’t turn out how the princess had hoped, and she ended up traumatized by the loss of her lover. We’ve yet to see much witchcraft in “House”, but this line has ominously made its presence known.
If spoiler evasion is precious to you, it’s not just George R. R. Martin’s books that you’ll need to avoid. Closely attentive “Game of Thrones” bingers will already know that some major plot points–and even deaths–have already been blatantly spelled out in dialogue. Though she’s not ornamentally detailed, Shireen Baratheon outlines the “dance of dragons” civil war, which “House of the Dragon”’s story is leading up to. And we won’t go into it here, but that rascal King Joffrey bluntly states the eventual fate of Rhaenyra Targaryen. As Season Two unfolds and we meet new characters, it may be worth revisiting “Thrones” to see what else the series has already told us.
Set two hundred years before the events of “Game of Thrones”, “House of the Dragon” has ample opportunity to show off some trinkets that we’ve previously only heard about. Take King Viserys’s mighty broadsword, Blackfyre. Used more as a cane than it’s wielded, the massive claymore is an heirloom of House Targaryen, originally owned by Aegon the Conqueror. If you’ve read your mythology, you’ll know that Blackfyre is eventually involved in some family drama that starts the First Blackfyre Rebellion, a historical Targaryen civil war. It’s unclear whether we’ll see that great conflict in the new show, but it’s not the only legendary saber that connects both series. Prince Daemon possesses Dark Sister, a famous Valyrian steel blade that Arya later references while at Harrenhal.
Though more common in the setting of “House” than “Thrones”, dragon eggs are no less valuable. A major conflict in “The Rogue Prince” episode involves Daemon’s theft of a speckled egg belonging to Dreamfyre. The treasure bears stark resemblance to the three eggs given to Daenerys Targaryen at her wedding to Khal Drogo. The book “Fire & Blood” elaborates on the origins of Dany’s “children,” suggesting that they were of Westerosi origin and looted from Dragonstone. Though the book doesn’t state outright that these came from Dreamfyre, readers speculate that the eggs from both shows are one and the same. This would make Dreamfyre the mother of Drogon, Rhaegal and Viserys, and mean that both Rhaenyra and Daenerys are cradling the same dragonspawn in their hands.
It symbolizes dominion over the Seven Kingdoms and has been sought by many. But the Iron Throne doesn’t look quite the same after its travels from “Game of Thrones” to HBO’s new prequel installment. Specifically, there are a lot more swords. Bookreaders will know that the added metal makes the chair more accurate to George R.R. Martin’s description. He envisioned an unorganized mound of “jagged and twisted blades,” rather than the polished platform that most watchers are accustomed to. “House of the Dragon” creators also wanted to meticulously communicate the differences between both time periods. Adding more weapons helps convey the grandeur of House Targaryen’s capstone era. The blueprint for the actual seat remains the same, though, effectively connecting both epochs for returning fans.
The entire “Game of Thrones” universe began with George R. R. Martin’s series of novels, collectively titled “A Song of Ice and Fire”. As hefty as that phrase looms, there’s actually very little that we know about it. The words appear in a prophecy that involves an unnamed “Prince that was promised,” but its meaning and intent are subjects of heavy interpretation. Despite theories that this refers to Daenerys or Jon Snow, neither the “prince” nor the “song” have ever been clearly defined. Since the famous sentence excitedly returns in “House of the Dragon”, die-hard readers and watchers wonder if “House” might provide answers that the previous material hasn’t. It could even mean that “House of the Dragon” won’t be our last visit to Westeros…
#10: Dragon Domestication
The appearance of dragons in the “Game of Thrones” setting was a BIG deal. They hadn’t appeared for centuries–unlike in “House of the Dragon”, where the beasts are much more commonplace. You can catch cool subtleties that showcase their domestication, like the fact that they have saddles. The design of each saddle differs based on its dragon and rider, and their existence and sophistication means that these Westerosi have experience taming the fire breathers. There are also nuances regarding their physical structure. Showrunner Miguel Sapochnik studied real animal skulls to help ensure the creatures’ snouts had different shapes. [1] Designers also gave each signature traits, like Caraxes’s identifiably long neck. If you discerned such small world-building distinctions by yourself, it means you know your dragons!#9: Familiar Lannisters
The golden-haired Lannisters of Casterly Rock have some questionable bloodlines, and the HBO casting department has taken full advantage of this. The most notorious case is Dean Charles Chapman, who played both the young Martyn Lannister and an adolescent Tommen Baratheon. In “House of the Dragon”, the recycled face belongs to Jefferson Hall, who portrays twin brothers Jason and Tyland Lannister. Appearing as identical siblings might not be a stretch, but you can also pick out Hall in “Game of Thrones” as Ser Hugh of the Vale, one of The Mountain’s unfortunate victims. If you’re able to make the connection, it means you’ve either scoured both shows’ IMDb pages or have watched them on repeat. Let’s hope that a Lannister always pays his acting agents.#8: The Valyrian Bloodmages
The role of magic in the “Game of Thrones” world is uniquely selective. Fantastic elements often play second fiddle to realistic warfare, but when sorcery does appear, it’s usually devastating. There’s a quick mention of “bloodmages” in the early episodes of “House of the Dragon”. If you’re schooled in “Thrones” lore, you likely made a tragic connection to Daenerys’s ill-fated husband, the Dothraki Khal Drogo. After Drogo fell terminally sick, Dany turned to an eastern enchantress, known as a “bloodmage,” for a spell that might save his life. It didn’t turn out how the princess had hoped, and she ended up traumatized by the loss of her lover. We’ve yet to see much witchcraft in “House”, but this line has ominously made its presence known.
#7: Rhaenyra’s Royal Jewelry
Even casual visitors to Westeros know about the prominent families, which all come with unique ancestry and specific symbols that represent their bloodlines. These “sigils” return in “House of the Dragon”, most obviously during the pilot’s tournament, where we can see flags for the Lannister lion, Baratheon stag, and of course the Targaryen dragon. But there’s another place where the mascots reappear. Near the episode’s end, Rhaenyra sports a glistening ornate necklace during her crowning ceremony. Freeze-frame the image, and you can pinpoint recognizable noble symbols that are peppered throughout the piece’s chain. You’ll spot the wolf of House Stark, the falcon of House Arryn, and the sun-and-spear of House Martell, to name a few. That’s A-list detailed costume design if we’ve ever seen it!#6: Some Major Events Have Already Been Spoiled
If spoiler evasion is precious to you, it’s not just George R. R. Martin’s books that you’ll need to avoid. Closely attentive “Game of Thrones” bingers will already know that some major plot points–and even deaths–have already been blatantly spelled out in dialogue. Though she’s not ornamentally detailed, Shireen Baratheon outlines the “dance of dragons” civil war, which “House of the Dragon”’s story is leading up to. And we won’t go into it here, but that rascal King Joffrey bluntly states the eventual fate of Rhaenyra Targaryen. As Season Two unfolds and we meet new characters, it may be worth revisiting “Thrones” to see what else the series has already told us.
#5: Blackfyre
Set two hundred years before the events of “Game of Thrones”, “House of the Dragon” has ample opportunity to show off some trinkets that we’ve previously only heard about. Take King Viserys’s mighty broadsword, Blackfyre. Used more as a cane than it’s wielded, the massive claymore is an heirloom of House Targaryen, originally owned by Aegon the Conqueror. If you’ve read your mythology, you’ll know that Blackfyre is eventually involved in some family drama that starts the First Blackfyre Rebellion, a historical Targaryen civil war. It’s unclear whether we’ll see that great conflict in the new show, but it’s not the only legendary saber that connects both series. Prince Daemon possesses Dark Sister, a famous Valyrian steel blade that Arya later references while at Harrenhal.
#4: A True Easter Egg
Though more common in the setting of “House” than “Thrones”, dragon eggs are no less valuable. A major conflict in “The Rogue Prince” episode involves Daemon’s theft of a speckled egg belonging to Dreamfyre. The treasure bears stark resemblance to the three eggs given to Daenerys Targaryen at her wedding to Khal Drogo. The book “Fire & Blood” elaborates on the origins of Dany’s “children,” suggesting that they were of Westerosi origin and looted from Dragonstone. Though the book doesn’t state outright that these came from Dreamfyre, readers speculate that the eggs from both shows are one and the same. This would make Dreamfyre the mother of Drogon, Rhaegal and Viserys, and mean that both Rhaenyra and Daenerys are cradling the same dragonspawn in their hands.
#3: The Iron Throne’s Many Swords
It symbolizes dominion over the Seven Kingdoms and has been sought by many. But the Iron Throne doesn’t look quite the same after its travels from “Game of Thrones” to HBO’s new prequel installment. Specifically, there are a lot more swords. Bookreaders will know that the added metal makes the chair more accurate to George R.R. Martin’s description. He envisioned an unorganized mound of “jagged and twisted blades,” rather than the polished platform that most watchers are accustomed to. “House of the Dragon” creators also wanted to meticulously communicate the differences between both time periods. Adding more weapons helps convey the grandeur of House Targaryen’s capstone era. The blueprint for the actual seat remains the same, though, effectively connecting both epochs for returning fans.
#2: The Catspaw Dagger
If you were caught up on your “Game of Thrones” binge, then this knife’s appearance probably made your eyes widen. Given to Rhaenyra by King Viserys, its edge comes inscribed with prophetic words by Aegon the First, and it contributes to some major “Thrones” spoilers during its lifespan. It’s informally named “catspaw dagger” for the man hired to murder Bran Stark, and it becomes a sort-of chess piece for Littlefinger’s manipulation. Most triumphantly, Arya restores the weapon’s honor by burying it into the Night King. It’s already active in “House”, becoming Alicent Hightower’s choice-tool for a passionate attempt on Rhaenyra’s life. Its inclusion was a specific choice by the showrunners to link both the series to each other, and fans didn’t miss it!#1: The Song of Ice & Fire
The entire “Game of Thrones” universe began with George R. R. Martin’s series of novels, collectively titled “A Song of Ice and Fire”. As hefty as that phrase looms, there’s actually very little that we know about it. The words appear in a prophecy that involves an unnamed “Prince that was promised,” but its meaning and intent are subjects of heavy interpretation. Despite theories that this refers to Daenerys or Jon Snow, neither the “prince” nor the “song” have ever been clearly defined. Since the famous sentence excitedly returns in “House of the Dragon”, die-hard readers and watchers wonder if “House” might provide answers that the previous material hasn’t. It could even mean that “House of the Dragon” won’t be our last visit to Westeros…
