The Verge - Everything we know about HBO’s Game of Thrones spinoff shows https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52801/VER_Logomark_32x32..png2023-04-12T14:31:32-04:00http://www.theverge.com/rss/stream/172071092023-04-12T14:31:32-04:002023-04-12T14:31:32-04:00Game of Thrones is getting another prequel, and its plot sounds very familiar
<figure>
<img alt="An image showing the Game of Thrones announcement at Warner Bros. Discovery’s presentation" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bDhf1Gnoo8Slt9TrmMi7gfhxF30=/215x0:1871x1104/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72173964/Screenshot_2023_04_12_at_2.07.22_PM.0.png" />
<figcaption>Screenshot: Jake Kastrenakes / The Verge</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="oswoBR">The <em>Game of Thrones</em> franchise is getting a new entry on Warner Bros. Discovery’s newly-announced <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/4/12/23677909/hbo-discovery-combined-max-streaming-service-price-availability">Max streaming service</a>. The new prequel, called <em>A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: the Hedge Knight</em>, has been rumored for some time, but it wasn’t clear which part of the ample <em>Game of Thrones</em> lore it would borrow from.</p>
<p id="sZ082i">At today’s HBO Max rebranding event, HBO head Casey Bloys confirmed that the new show has been ordered straight to series and would focus on Dunk and Egg. In the world of <em>Game of Thrones</em>, Dunk is a famous knight, and Egg is his squire, both of whom travel the land righting wrongs. </p>
<div id="8hySnM">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A century before <a href="https://twitter.com/GameOfThrones?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GameofThrones</a>, there was Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire, Egg.<br><br>Executive produced by George R. R. Martin, Ira Parker, Ryan...</p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p>
<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/4/12/23680681/knight-of-seven-kingdoms-game-of-thrones-prequel">Continue reading…</a>
</p>
https://www.theverge.com/2023/4/12/23680681/knight-of-seven-kingdoms-game-of-thrones-prequelAlex CranzEmma Roth2022-10-25T10:30:00-04:002022-10-25T10:30:00-04:00In its finale, House of the Dragon became a worthy Game of Thrones successor
<figure>
<img alt="A platinum blonde wearing a navy blue ceremonial cloak, a crown, and a deadened facial expression." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7LFtUOYNNJ7cjurW-VxirbefXLc=/0x0:1728x1152/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71540853/emma_d_arcy_2.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption><em>Emma D’Arcy as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen.</em> | Image: HBO</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>House of the Dragon’s season 1 finale pulled the series together by becoming what Game of Thrones was at its best</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.theverge.com/23421346/house-of-the-dragon-season-1-finale-hbo">Continue reading…</a>
</p>
https://www.theverge.com/23421346/house-of-the-dragon-season-1-finale-hboCharles Pulliam-Moore2022-10-03T18:27:04-04:002022-10-03T18:27:04-04:00Here’s why you couldn’t see anything on House of the Dragon
<figure>
<img alt="A character from the House of the Dragon sits on the Iron Throne." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9sAulVuqAaO7CIvqdCcJ3PmaPCc=/0x0:1440x960/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71449773/houseofthedragon.0.jpg" />
<figcaption><em>This still is not from last night’s episode, which is one reason you can see what is happening.</em> | Image: HBO</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="EhC53o">Things got <strong>dark</strong> on <em>House of the Dragon</em> last night as characters stole dragons and other characters made super incestuous life choices. And all of it was done under the cover of darkness, leading <a href="https://www.vulture.com/article/why-house-of-the-dragon-episode-7-driftmark-was-so-dark.html">many viewers wondering if their TVs were busted</a>. </p>
<p id="Nh7qpH">But your TV is not busted. Your TV is a victim of the episode’s director, Miguel Sapochnik. The man can presumably see in the dark because this is the second time he’s directed an episode in the <em>Game of Thrones</em> franchise cast in such darkness people questioned their own eyes.</p>
<p id="pa3MR0">Back in 2019, Sapochnik directed “The Long Night,” a harrowing hour of TV where the many characters of <em>Game of Thrones</em> gathered to finally end the Night King’s invasion of Westeros. Zombies were decapitated. Beloved...</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/3/23386058/house-of-the-dragon-episode-7-too-dark-compression-my-eyes">Continue reading…</a>
</p>
https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/3/23386058/house-of-the-dragon-episode-7-too-dark-compression-my-eyesAlex Cranz2022-08-26T11:30:17-04:002022-08-26T11:30:17-04:00House of the Dragon season 2 is a go for HBO
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_n-Bh5FkBvKjSYzoh9GEfWho3jY=/0x0:1815x1210/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71288154/paddy_considine_milly_alcock.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption><em>Paddy Considine as Viserys I Targaryen and Milly Alcock as Rhaenyra Targaryen.</em> | Image: HBO</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="ge0DmW">Though <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/19/23311658/house-of-the-dragon-game-of-thrones-review"><em>House of the Dragon</em></a>’s only just premiered, HBO’s already making it quite clear that the <em>Game of Thrones </em>prequel is here to stay, at least for a while.</p>
<p id="f7853y">Today, HBO announced that Ryan Condal and George R.R. Martin’s <a href="http://voxmediapartner.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=2&aff_id=1&source=Verge&aff_sub=HouseOfTheDragon2022&aff_unique1=https://www.hbomax.com/series/urn:hbo:series:GYsYeoAxKH8LCwgEAAAOR" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em>House of the Dragon</em></a><em> </em>has been renewed for a second season of stories all about Westeros’ infamous family of inbred dragon riders. In <a href="https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/us/media-release/hbo-0/hbo-renews-house-dragon-second-season">a statement about the renewal</a>, HBO executive vice president of programming Francesca Orsi sang <em>House of the Dragon</em>’s praises and expressed confidence in the ability of the creative team behind the show to tell compelling stories.</p>
<p id="emU4aB">“Our phenomenal cast and crew undertook a massive challenge and exceeded all expectations, delivering a show that has already established itself as must-see-TV,”...</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/26/23323281/house-of-the-dragon-season-two-renewal-hbo">Continue reading…</a>
</p>
https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/26/23323281/house-of-the-dragon-season-two-renewal-hboCharles Pulliam-Moore2022-08-22T19:02:55-04:002022-08-22T19:02:55-04:00HBO calls House of the Dragon its biggest premiere ever, with nearly 10 million US viewers
<figure>
<img alt="House of the Dragon" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vh6vK66ESINLa--hWJGFoILP-YU=/0x0:1200x800/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71272605/unnamed__9_.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>House of the Dragon | Image: HBO</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="YbGQ6h">Despite <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/21/23315873/hbo-max-down-fire-stick-house-of-the-dragon">glitches for some people trying to watch via Fire TV Sticks</a>, HBO <a href="https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/us/media-release/hbo-max/house-dragon-marks-largest-series-premiere-hbo-history-10-million-viewers">announced</a> that the first episode of its <em>Game of Thrones</em> spinoff <a href="http://voxmediapartner.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=2&aff_id=1&source=Verge&aff_sub=HouseOfTheDragon2022&aff_unique1=https://www.hbomax.com/series/urn:hbo:series:GYsYeoAxKH8LCwgEAAAOR" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em>House of the Dragon</em></a><em> </em>recorded the network’s biggest premiere of all time, recording 9.986 million viewers across linear and HBO Max streaming on Sunday night in the US alone. </p>
<p id="BHcsMX">The original <em>Game of Thrones</em> series <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/20/18633136/game-of-thrones-got-season-8-finale-hbo-most-watched-show-all-time-viewership-numbers-live">closed out its run with 13.7 million live viewers on linear channels</a> for the finale in 2019, clocking over 19 million views with the addition of streaming and video-on-demand numbers. According to HBO, ahead of the <em>Dragon </em>premiere, interest in the original series — with the entire series <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/23/23275429/game-of-thrones-4k-hbo-max-august">now available for streaming in 4K on HBO Max</a> — spiked, drawing a weekly average in streaming for August that...</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.theverge.com/hbo/2022/8/22/23317333/hbo-max-house-of-the-dragon-game-of-thrones-biggest-premiere-ever">Continue reading…</a>
</p>
https://www.theverge.com/hbo/2022/8/22/23317333/hbo-max-house-of-the-dragon-game-of-thrones-biggest-premiere-everRichard Lawler2022-08-21T22:00:26-04:002022-08-21T22:00:26-04:00House of the Dragon premiere crashes HBO Max streaming, mostly on Fire Sticks
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/a9OCIVmqGrVsySkHblQIHVub8vs=/117x0:1383x844/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71268844/full_dmx_family_gradient_HOTD_FINAL_1__1_.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p id="eL3dMU">Besides <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/2/23288198/batgirl-warner-bros-release-canceled-streaming-theatrical">unreleased</a> and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/19/23313356/hbo-max-sesame-street-removed-infinity-train-summer-camp-island">disappearing</a> content, there have been plenty of complaints about the HBO Max streaming apps since they launched. Still, they’ve generally held up well under the stress of premieres for content like <em>Tenet, Wonder Woman, The Matrix</em>, or <em>Westworld</em>, but for HBO there may not be anything like a <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2015/4/12/8396301/hbo-now-game-of-thrones-season-5-premiere"><em>Game of Thrones</em></a> premiere. </p>
<p id="34z1si">Tonight’s debut of the show’s spinoff, <em>House of the Dragon</em>, is the first taste of a new GOT experience inside HBO Max, and while many people trying to stream the premiere episode are watching without a problem, others said the app crashed on them, or froze up once it got past the pre-show teaser trailer.</p>
<p id="NaCpqU">Based on reports seen on Twitter, <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/HBOMAX/comments/wuftn7/house_of_the_dragon_streamk_g_issues/">Reddit</a>, and elsewhere, it appears that most of the people having...</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/21/23315873/hbo-max-down-fire-stick-house-of-the-dragon">Continue reading…</a>
</p>
https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/21/23315873/hbo-max-down-fire-stick-house-of-the-dragonRichard Lawler2022-08-19T07:00:00-04:002022-08-19T07:00:00-04:00House of the Dragon is a grim remix of an already gruesome song you’ve heard before
<figure>
<img alt="Milly Alcock as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, Paddy Considine as King Viserys I Targaryen" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7zvmhaDrIjfzGMKb07gSVCMvSno=/14x0:1597x1055/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71260488/milly_alcock_paddy_considine.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption><em>Milly Alcock as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, Paddy Considine as King Viserys I Targaryen.</em> | Image: HBO Max</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>HBO’s new Game of Thrones prequel is a history lesson hellbent on recapturing lightning in a bottle</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/19/23311658/house-of-the-dragon-game-of-thrones-review">Continue reading…</a>
</p>
https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/19/23311658/house-of-the-dragon-game-of-thrones-reviewCharles Pulliam-Moore2022-07-20T14:29:41-04:002022-07-20T14:29:41-04:00The new trailer for HBO’s House of the Dragon has the blonds out in force
<figure>
<img alt="Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon embraces Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen. They both have very blond hair." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/L8CRQkXOZfq9gPtkvFTJBqJoHK0=/0x0:1584x1056/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71156112/steve_toussaint_as_lord_corlys_velaryon_eve_best_as_princess_rhaenys_targaryen.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>HBO Max</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="Pw3OPY">HBO finally dropped <a href="https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/us/media-release/hbo-releases-official-trailer-house-dragon">a newer and longer trailer</a> for its <em>Game of Throne</em>s prequel, <em>House of the Dragon,</em> and you will not be shocked to learn the trailer is full of dragons and also plenty of Targaryens with their tell-tale white blond tresses.</p>
<aside id="2xMAPy"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"House of the Dragon’s latest trailer brings Westeros’ most powerful houses together","url":"https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/5/23058513/house-of-the-dragon-rhaenyra-targaryen-trailer-hbo-max"}]}'></div></aside><p id="qYFLnd">The new show premieres on August 21st on HBO (streaming on HBO Max) and is a prequel set immediately before a civil war spun out of competing heirs in House Targaryen. In the <em>A Song of Ice and Fire</em> novels (and HBO’s Game of Thrones), this civil war spells the end of House Targaryen, which is weakened by the infighting and eventually nearly snuffed out just before <em>Game of Thrones</em>. The series is based on <em>The Dying of the Dragons,</em> a novella found in George R.R. Martin’s 2018 novel, <em>Fire & Blood</em>. </p>
<p id="9jE7jg">It...</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/20/23271675/house-of-the-dragon-trailer-hbo-max-matt-smith">Continue reading…</a>
</p>
https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/20/23271675/house-of-the-dragon-trailer-hbo-max-matt-smithAlex Cranz