Learn the history leading up to House of the Dragon with George R. R. Martin!

Velaryon Fleet-min

In preparation for the upcoming House of the Dragon, HBO has just released a rather nice video in which George R. R. Martin himself, author of A Song of Ice and Fire and co-executive producer for this show, tells us all about the history of the Targaryens, Velaryons and Hightowers—everything you may need to know before embarking on this new journey set two centuries before Game of Thrones.

You can see how the seeds of war are sometimes planted in a time of peace. People die, and sons take over for fathers as lords, and they don’t necessarily think they’re bound by their fathers allegiances, or decisions, or vows. So, little by little, the seeds are spreading. — George R. R. Martin

Dragons will rule the Seven Kingdoms for the next hundred years, just as they did the last. — King Viserys I Targaryen

Alongside Martin’s wonderful history lesson, we get a few lightly-animated illustrations of King’s Landing as it grows, a weirwood on fire, Oldtown and its Hightower, the Velaryon Fleet (on Driftmark? It looks more city-like than I’d expect), and three dragons breaking a siege against a castle.

There are also a few new shots from the show, although nothing mindblowing:

King Viserys (Paddy Considine) looking ominously at flames
King Viserys (Paddy Considine) looking ominously at flames
A closer shot of the dragon approaching King's Landing
A closer shot of the dragon flying over the Red Keep
A young Aicent Hightower (Emily Corey) enters the throne room
A young Aicent Hightower (Emily Corey) enters the throne room
The Great Council of Harrenhal!
The Great Council of Harrenhal!
Old King Jaehaerys (Michael Carter) calls the Great Council to choose his successor
Old King Jaehaerys (Michael Carter) calls the Great Council to choose his successor
King Viserys (Paddy Considine) and Queen Aemma  (Sian Brooke) share a moment
King Viserys (Paddy Considine) and Queen Aemma (Sian Brooke) share a moment
Alicent's litter, guarded by a kingsguard, approaches King's Landing
Alicent’s litter, guarded by a kingsguard, enters King’s Landing
We've seen this shot before in third-party footage, but this is better quality
We’ve seen this King’s Landing shot before in third-party footage, but this is better quality

So, what do you think about this? Personally, I could hear Martin talk all day!

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8 Comments

  1. I hope the actors are not as boring as they seem. Apart from Matt Smith, they look so boring. But I know I will watch with great enthusiasm nevertheless. Not long to go.

    Oh, and… HODOR!

  2. Ulf the Wolf,

    I thought Paddy Considine was entertaining on the Comic-Con panel but maybe I’m prejudiced because he’s from Staffordshire (Burton-on-Trent) though Burton is right by the Derbyshire border.

  3. Ten Bears,

    ‘Twould have to be the cheerful half if it’s bordering Staffordshire, TB. Actually my late parents were both working in Derbyshire when they met and my Dad ‘popped the question’ in the Derby Dales. I haven’t seen that version of ‘Pride and Prejudice’. I think Keira Knightley is a decent actress but I don’t really see her as Lizzie. I watched the first series of ‘Wheel of Time’ the show (which is different in some ways to the first book – the only one I’ve read of WoT). I thought is Jane Moraine Sedai? Jane in 2005 is indeed played by Rosalind Pike – who is a natural blonde but goes wiggy for WoT the show.

  4. Dame of Mercia,

    ”I haven’t seen that version of ‘Pride and Prejudice’. I think Keira Knightley is a decent actress but I don’t really see her as Lizzie…”

    It’s worth the watch. (I really liked it.)
    Added bonus: Tamzin Merchant (Daenerys Targaryen 1.0, in the unaired GoT pilot) as Mr. Darcy’s sister Georgiana.

    Clip from “Pride & Prejudice” (2005): Elizabeth meets Georgiana (Tamzin Merchant)

    https://youtu.be/3bKXc_6CtC8

    Starting at 4:05

  5. Ten Bears,

    I never thought Tamzin Merchant was a bad actress like some of the “thank goodness we got Emilia” folk have made out (though like Emilia and never thought she was cr*ppy at acting). I haven’t watched ‘The Tudors’ series because it allegedly diverts from what really happened in history. I liked Keira Knightley in ‘Bend it Like Beckham’. I read somewhere that she (KK) accepted less acting work when she became a mum, a bit like Jennifer Ehle stepped back from accepting the part of Caitlyn in the show GoT because she was a mum.

  6. As the title of this post is about GRRM releasing a video about “the history leading up to House of the Dragon” (i.e., “the history of the Targaryens, Velaryons and Hightowers—everything you may need to know before embarking on this new journey set two centuries before Game of Thrones”), I’m kind of surprised that we have yet to see any comments grumbling about the big fella devoting his time and attention to rehashing events two hundred years in the (fictional) past, rather than completing the unfinished (fictional) present and future of ASOIAF.

    [Full disclosure: I have not read any of the books yet, so I am not whinging about his decade-long failure (or inability) to finish writing TWOW.]

    If only he had a muse who could inspire him, and re-energize his creative powers….

    – To be continued –

  7. Ten Bears,

    Even if you were a book reader, there’s nothing wrong with whinging about how long Martin is taking to write his series. It’s been eleven years since he’s written Dance. That being said, the reason I’m not doing it is Martin has already effectively ruined his series with the last two books. I doubt he’ll be able to salvage it to produce a good ending, assuming he even finishes it at all. Thankfully the show’s ending was amazing, so I was able to gain closure for this series and its characters.

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