The long-awaited Game of Thrones prequel - House of the Dragon - is set to premiere in the coming days. The first episode will be available to watch in the UK in the early hours of Monday morning (22 August).
House of the Dragon is based on George RR Martin's 2018 novel Fire & Blood - specifically the final third of the book. It will chronicle the Targaryen civil war, known as the Dance of the Dragons, which took place around 200 years before the action of Game of Thrones.
Game of Thrones, which was based on Martin's series of epic novels A Song of Ice and Fire and ended in 2019 after eight seasons, won millions of fans around the world with its bloody twists and turns and beloved characters. The imminent release of the prequel has many fans wondering whether any familiar names will turn up in House of the Dragon.
Will we see the Mad King in House of the Dragon?
One character viewers hear much about in Game of Thrones is the ‘Mad King’. This is the nickname given to King Aerys II Targaryen, who was the last member of House Targaryen to rule from the Iron Throne.
Fans will know that Aerys II is Daenerys Targaryen’s father. In the original Game of Thrones series, he is played by David Rintoul in a flashback scene.
In the books, it is told that Aerys II showed great promise at the start of his reign, bringing peace and prosperity to the Seven Kingdoms. Later, however, he descended into insanity and his reign became increasingly erratic and murderous.
He was eventually deposed by Lord Robert Baratheon in a civil war - during which he was killed by a member of his own Kingsguard, Jaime Lannister, who becomes known as the Kingslayer.
King Aerys II ruled on the Iron Throne from 262 AC to 283 AC. As the action in House of the Dragon takes place around 130 AC - some 150 years before his reign - the Mad King does not feature in it.
Which Targaryens feature in House of the Dragon?
One of the main characters of House of the Dragon will be Daemon Targaryen, played by The Crown star Matt Smith. Daemon Targaryen is the younger brother of King Viserys I Targaryen, who is played in the series by respected British actor Paddy Considine.
Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen is also a key character in the show. Played by Emma D’Arcy, she is the king’s first-born child, a dragonrider of pure Valyrian blood, who was named heir to the throne at just eight years old.
The series also features Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, played by Eve Best. She is known as “The Queen Who Never Was” because she was passed over as heir to the throne because the realm favoured her cousin, Viserys, simply for being male.
How can I watch House of the Dragon in the UK?
Viewers in the UK can watch the series on Sky Atlantic - the same channel that aired Game of Thrones - when it is released on Monday, 22 August at 2am BST. It will also be available on the streaming service Now.
In the US, it is set to premiere on Sunday, 21 August on HBO and HBO Max.
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