Game of Thrones’ first official spin-off House of the Dragon promises to take us deep into the history of the Targaryen dynasty.
Set centuries before the events set forth in HBO’s original high-fantasy epic and based on material written by George RR Martin in the quasi-historical tome Fire and Blood, House of the Dragon will take us back in time to meet Daenerys’ (Emilia Clarke) ancestors, who first conquered Westeros and installed the Iron Throne into the Seven Kingdoms.
Now, eagle-eyed fans (via Reddit) have discovered that Bryan Cogman, a former Thrones writer, has hinted at a pretty big plot point that may be included in the new serial.
What did Bryan Cogman reveal on Twitter?
Bryan Cogman is one of the most experienced former writers of Game of Thrones, he wrote a total of 11 episodes for the series, including fan-favourite A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, where Brienne of Tarth (Gwndolynne Chrsitie) is knighted by Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) before the Battle of Winterfell.
Cogman was also one of the creatives chosen by HBO to pitch a Thrones spin-off as the main series was nearing its conclusion, but his idea was ultimately turned down in favour of Jane Goodman’s Bloodmoon, starring Naomi Watts.
Now, of course, we know that Bloodmoon (set in the Age of Legends) shot a pilot episode, but was canned and not ordered to series. Instead, HBO and Martin are teaming up for House of the Dragon, which got a straight to series order this year.
It was heavily rumoured that Cogman’s own proposed series would explore the history of the Targaryen’s and the writer confirmed as much on Twitter, telling a fan that his own show would have adapted the Dance of Dragons featured in the books:
‘Yes, as was reported that was the storyline. HBO decided to go with Jane’s pilot and I moved on to Amazon.’
He continued: ‘But I’m thrilled they’re re-doing it now.’
What is the Dance of the Dragons?
The Dance of the Dragons was the civil war between House Targaryen that erupted after the death of King Viserys I.
Viserys was the fifth Targaryen king to sit on the throne, and his death set up his children against each other; his son, Aegon II and his daughter, Rhaenyra.
The war lasted for around three years and would result in the death of both rival claimants to the Iron Throne.
In the end, factions would be healed as Rhaenyra’s son, Aegon III married his cousin Jaehaera (remember, the Targaryens did love a bit of incest), uniting the royal house once more.
The Dance of the Dragons happens almost 200 years before the main narrative of Game of Thrones, but its fractious civil war does set the foundation for the un-happy rule of the last Targaryen king of Westeros (and Dany’s father), Aerys II, the Mad King.
So, basically, if what Cogman is saying is true, House of the Dragon will be deep-dive into Targaryen family politics that will either (we assume) kickstart its narrative or conclude its narrative with the big grand-daddy of Westerosi civil wars, which also functions as a neat tie-in to the Song of Ice and Fire we all know and love.
House of the Dragon comes to HBO at an as-yet-unconfirmed date. Game of Thrones is available to stream via NOW TV.
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