Photo credit: HBO
Everyone and their dog watched the premiere of House of the Dragon, HBO’s prequel to Game of Thrones. But did you (or your dog!) catch the not-so-subtle references to the original series?
House of the Dragon focuses on the “Age of Dragons,” a time in Westeros when the Targaryen family ruled, and is set approximately 200 years before the start of Game of Thrones. The series notes the chronology in the opening, stating that our story begins “before the death of Mad King Aerys and the birth of his daughter, Princess Daenerys Targaryen.” However, some fans believe the nod was not meant to tie the new series to Game of Thrones, but to George RR Martin’s original novels, A Song of Ice and Fire.
At the end of the premiere episode, King Viserys Targaryen has a conversation with his daughter, Princess Rhaenyra. Viserys informs her that he intends to make her heir apparent and shares an apocalyptic prophecy passed down through five generations of Targaryen rulers. According to Viserys, the legendary Aegon “the Conqueror” Targaryen had a vision that foretold a terrible winter and an enemy that could only be defeated if a Targaryen united the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. Aegon reportedly titled the prophetic dream “A Song of Ice and Fire.”
That reference – possibly just a way to tie House of the Dragon even further to the events of Thrones – has only raised more questions. Viewers may recall that at the end of Thrones, Samwell Tarly tied the series together in a nice little loop, naming his written account of the events A Song of Ice and Fire. Tarly later states that he came up with the name himself. However, Game of Thrones never mentions Aegon’s prophecy, and neither did Daenerys appear to be aware of it on the show. Is this believed inconsistency just a way for fans to re-imagine the final two seasons of Game of Thrones, or is this also the honest truth of the House of the Dragon team?
The theory can have legs on which to stand. In an interview with Vanity Fair, showrunner Ryan Condal confirmed that the idea for Aegon’s Prophecy came from the author himself. In the novels, Daenerys has a vision in the House of the Immortals that mentions Aegon’s dream. Though not depicted in Game of Thrones, she hears a voice from her late brother Rhaegar saying, “Aegon. What better name for a king… He is the prince who was promised, and he owns the song of ice and fire.”
The story goes on
In hindsight, the statement almost points to Jon Snow. He has yet to be resurrected in the books (an insane cliffhanger for Martin for failing us for so many years!), but Thrones eventually reveals that Jon is actually Rhaegar Targaryen’s son, Aegon. Martin also claimed that he intends to include the prophecy in The Winds of Winter – should he ever finish writing it! — which will also have a “very different” ending.” Is this his way of adding new ideas to a series that has taken decades of work, or is the prophecy’s title a way of separating his work from Thrones’ disappointing conclusion ?
“What we’re doing at this point in the story of A Song of Ice and Fire… we have two guns,” said author George RR Martin explained in a live streaming video. “The canon of the series (Game of Thrones) and the canon of the book (A Song of Ice and Fire).” A welcome change for fans of the series. While it’s almost impossible to see the new prequel series as anything other than a sequel to HBO’s Thrones, the theory allows audiences to technically see House of the Dragon as a prequel to the beloved novels instead. works for me Whatever it takes to erase the ending of Game of Thrones from our minds!
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