HBO’s House of the Dragon was revealed to have a big time jump for its first season. This ten-year dramatic leap is necessary for building the foundations of the prequel story, according to Ryan Condal, one of the showrunners.
The massive success of the epic fantasy show Game of Thrones brought multiple spinoff series that are currently in production. House of the Dragon will be the prequel to the original series, and it will be set 300 years before the events in Game of Thrones.
The upcoming prequel will revolve around the rise and fall of the House Targaryen, eventually leading up to the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. Based on George R.R. Martin’s novel, Fire & Blood, the clash is sparked by King Viserys I Targaryen choosing his daughter, Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne. Prince Aegon II would take offense for this, resulting in the civil war.
What Is The Time Jump For In House Of The Dragon?
In his interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Condal discussed the ten-year jump in season one.
“This is how you tell this story correctly. We’re telling a story of a generational war. We set everything up so by the time that first sword stroke falls, you understand all the players.”
The series will start with Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra and Alicent Hightower, which will be followed by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke after the time leap. To properly tell the story, the writers had to lay the foundation and how it led to the war.
Alicent’s marriage to King Viserys will ruin her friendship with Rhaenyra, her childhood best friend. The first few episodes will establish their bond before breaking them apart later on.
With a story like House of the Dragon, it is important to build a strong narrative foundation that will serve as the groundwork for the devastating events that will occur within the series. This time jump will help show the viewers the cause of so much mayhem which will eventually lead to the epic final battle.
House of the Dragon will premiere this August 21 on HBO.
