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Summary
HBO’sGame of Thronesis the gold standard of modern-day television, with its epic storytelling involving immersive arcs of larger-than-life characters that captivated viewers for 8 seasons. It boasts camera work that pushes the boundaries of normative cinematography to heighten the drama and intensify the action.GoTalso features witty, layered, and unpredictable characters supported and defined by powerful dialogues. Jon Snow’s “My watch has ended,” Cersei Lannister’s “When you play the Game of Thrones, you win, or you die. There is no middle ground,” and Daenerys Targaryen’s “Dracarys!” have achieved cult status in the realms of popular culture.
Game of Thronescontinues to draw a new generation of fans who may or may not be familiar withGeorge R. R. Martin’sA Song of Ice and Firefantasy novels. It has also spawned a spinoff prequel series,House of the Dragon,as well as the upcomingA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,which promises to be lighter in tonality than its predecessors. As viewers around the world continue to discover the original and the prequel spinoff, there lies the question of their correct viewing order. Is there an ideal way to approach the two shows?
The Timelines ofHouse of the DragonAndGame of Thrones
How IsHouse of the DragonConnected ToGame of Thrones?
Game of Thronesarrived almost a decade beforeHouse of the Dragon, on July 18, 2025, and it concluded its run on June 04, 2025. The show entered the zeitgeist, prompting the network to recognize its massive franchise potential. HBO opened the doors to creators and storytellers, allowing them to explore more stories and push the timeline of Martin’s fantasy world. Despite an anticlimactic season 8, new spinoffs were discussed at HBO. The network pulled the plug on theNaomi Watts-ledBloodmoonpilot,but gave a straight-to-series order toHouse of the Dragon.
House of the Dragonpromised to focus on the Targaryen civil war that led to the ruling House’s near-collapse and the demise of many dragons. It was greenlit on June 07, 2025, and it premiered on July 09, 2025. Season 2 arrived on Jul 20, 2025. Viewers of the originalGame of Thrones,and even those remotely aware of the Targaryens, will find thatHouse of the Dragon(inspired bythe in-universe text,Fire & Blood)is a deep dive into the chronicles of this premier House. The title card ofHouse of the Dragoncontextualizes the connection between the events of the prequel andGame of Thrones:
It is now the ninth year of King Viserys I Targaryen’s reign.
172 years before the death of the Mad King, Aerys, and the birth of his daughter, Princess Daenerys Targaryen.
WhileGame of Throneslaid the groundwork by introducing many of the key locations (King’s Landing, Harrenhal, the Wall, Winterfell, the Twins, Riverlands, Dragonstone, and so forth),House of the Dragondrives the narrative forward with key prophecies; namely, Aegon’s Dream, and The Prince That Was Promised. Furthermore, the Targaryens' Valyrian heritage, Valyria, and its Doom (prophesied by Daenys the Dreamer) are part of the broader narrative. They ground both stories, explaining how Daenerys inGame of Thronesand her ancestors inHouse of the Dragontake great pride in their Valyrian blood.House of the DragonSeason 2 utilized the rebirth of dragons montage in the finale to underpin the connection between the two shows: House Targaryen’s rich legacy, the resurgence of the dragons,and Daenerys' story.
Game of Thronestakes place in 298 AC, with “AC” used to label the years, starting from Aegon I’s Conquest of Westeros. Viserys I’s predecessor, the Old King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, passed away in 103 AC, andHouse of the Dragonpicked up in the ninth year of his grandson’s reign: 112 AC. The deadly civil war known asthe Dance of the Dragons, fought between the Greens and the Blacks, begins in 129 AC and concludes in 131 AC. The Mad King is assassinated in 283 AC, andGame of Thronesbegins roughly 15–16 years later.
Game of ThronesandHouse of the Dragon: Release Order vs. Chronological Order
If the viewer were to go by the release order,Game of Thronescomes first, but the chronological order demandsHouse of the Dragonshould be watched first. That being said,Game of Thronesis much richer in themes thanHouse of the Dragon.It deals with the existential threat of the Dead and the White Walkers in detail and boasts expansive world-building. It is an ideal entry point into the televisedThronesuniverse, because it finely explores the Houses Stark, Lannister, the Riverlords of Central Westeros, and the Arryns. This knowledge is useful in understandingthe political setup of Westeros.
Game of Thronesis a masterclass in political intrigue, which is what drew viewers to the franchise in the first place. By contrast,House of the Dragonhas had a dull dud second innings, andwill not be able to generate long-term interestand engagement. Ideally,Game of Thronesshould be watched first, followed byHouse of the Dragon.Here’s hopingA Knight of the Seven Kingdomsis worth the wait.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones, based on the Song of Ice and Fire book series by George R.R. Martin, tells the sprawling story of warring families in Westeros. This includes the Starks, the Lannisters, the Baratheons, and the Targaryens. Along with human conflicts, Westeros is also threatened by the re-emergence of dragons, and an undead enemy from beyond the Wall.
