‘There Are a lot of Them..And They’re Hungry’: House of the Dragon Showrunner Ryan J Condal Says Show Will Fulfill ‘Epic Promise’ of Long Awaited Dragon Battles

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Ryan J. Condal and George R. R. Martin have created the forthcoming HBO fantasy drama series House of the Dragon, which is based on Martin’s 2018 novel Fire & Blood. The show acts as a prequel to the much-acclaimed television series, Game of Thrones. 

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Game of Thrones prequel
The much-awaited Game of Thrones prequel

In a recent interview, writer Ryan J. Condal and director Miguel Sapochnik talked about what to expect from the prequel. According to Condal, who has promised spectacular and eagerly anticipated dragon battles, fans of the distinguished series have a reason to be excited.

Read more: ‘Wasn’t Just a Prequel for Prequel’s Sake’: House of the Dragon Showrunner Ryan J. Condal Says Game of Thrones Prequel Has ‘Reason to Tell the Story

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The Promise Of Dragons

The 10-episode long series will witness a premise from Martin’s Fire & Blood novel, which plans to delve into House Targaryen’s history and show us the event of the Dance of the Dragons. Following the passing of their father Viserys I Targaryen, siblings Aegon II and Princess Rhaenyra are set to engage in a civil war for control of the throne. The Targaryen history will be explored in the show, but what the fans are truly excited about are the much-teased dragon battles.

House of the Dragon Rhaenyra Game of Thrones
Milly Alcock as Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO’s House of the Dragon

Read also: “It’s like Succession with dragons”: House of the Dragon Explains How Prequel Series is Different From Game of Thrones, Says Succession and The Crown Were Major Influences

In a recent interview with Nerdist, Ryan J. Condal was asked about the promise of dragons, to which he replied the following: 

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“I mean… there are a lot of ’em. They’re big and numerous. And hungry. And, uh… bitey.”

However, the showrunner also explained and elaborated on the title of the series and what it truly symbolizes, well beyond the existence of physical dragons.

“It [the title] is not talking of physical scaled beasts. It is really talking about the dragon being the Targaryen — the dynasty that once held absolute power over Westeros and due to its own internal failings, uh, you know, lost the power of the dragons, and then, lost the dynasty, as a result.”

King Viserys House of the Dragon
King Viserys

Read also: House Of The Dragon Showrunner Compares The Show’s Dragons To Gods

The series will show the Targaryens at the “height of their power,” and delve deeper into their Golden Age and how the fall from that great stature truly began. The show will work towards depicting the beginning of the end for the noble family. 

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House Of The Dragon Will Dive Deep Into Targaryen Lore

Sapochnik Condal 2 House of the Dragon
Showrunners Miguel Sapochnik and Ryan Condal

Read more: ‘HBO Max About To Dracarys Netflix and Disney+’: Game of Thrones Fans Bow Down to Brilliant House of the Dragon Trailer, Say Matt Smith is the ‘Perfect Targaryen’

When Ryan J. Condal was asked about what kind of storytelling can the fans look forward to in House of the Dragon, the following is what the showrunner had to say:

“As the Pilot suggests, I think we are going to learn a lot more about Aegon the Conqueror, even though he is not a character in the show, certainly, cause he’s long dead. I think you will learn much more about the Targaryen point of view… of their prototype, their archetype, basically.” 

According to him, the series will focus on House Targaryen and their connection to Aegon, what they “think of him” — which might not be as much as what the fans think the Targaryens may know. “They don’t know as much as you might think,” is what Condal had to say concerning the lore. Many characters may be seen trying to learn more about their history to counter the enemies and competitors within their own house.

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Fans have a lot to expect from the series, it seems. House of the Dragon will release on HBO Max on August 21, 2022.

Source: YouTube

Read more: House Of The Dragon: 5 Things GOT Fans Want To See In The Series

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Written by Debdipta Bhattacharya

Articles Published: 659

Debdipta Bhattacharya is a content writer at FandomWire, where she has written more than 500 articles on various topics of interest. She possesses a sincere passion for popular culture, anime, film production, and the evolving world of YouTube and streaming culture which has allowed her to be a devoted and well-informed writer. Debdipta holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communication. She has honed her skills and expertise in content writing with over two years of experience and strives to learn and grow daily.