How To Watch Game of Thrones And House of the Dragon In Correct Order

HBO’s Game of Thrones is 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. GoT also 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 Thrones continues to draw a new generation of fans who may or may not be familiar with George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy novels. It has also spawned a spinoff prequel series, House of the Dragon, as well as the upcoming A 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?

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The Timelines of House of the Dragon And Game of Thrones

How Is House of the Dragon Connected To Game of Thrones?

Game of Thrones arrived almost a decade before House of the Dragon, on April 17, 2011, and it concluded its run on May 19, 2019. 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 the Naomi Watts-led Bloodmoon pilot, but gave a straight-to-series order to House of the Dragon.

House of the Dragon promised 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 October 29, 2019, and it premiered on August 21, 2022. Season 2 arrived on June 16, 2024. Viewers of the original Game of Thrones, and even those remotely aware of the Targaryens, will find that House of the Dragon (inspired by the in-universe text, Fire & Blood) is a deep dive into the chronicles of this premier House. The title card of House of the Dragon contextualizes the connection between the events of the prequel and Game 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.

While Game of Thrones laid 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 Dragon drives 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 in Game of Thrones and her ancestors in House of the Dragon take great pride in their Valyrian blood. House of the Dragon Season 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 Thrones takes 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, and House of the Dragon picked up in the ninth year of his grandson’s reign: 112 AC. The deadly civil war known as the 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, and Game of Thrones begins roughly 15–16 years later.

Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon: Release Order vs. Chronological Order

If the viewer were to go by the release order, Game of Thrones comes first, but the chronological order demands House of the Dragon should be watched first. That being said, Game of Thrones is much richer in themes than House 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 televised Thrones universe, because it finely explores the Houses Stark, Lannister, the Riverlords of Central Westeros, and the Arryns. This knowledge is useful in understanding the political setup of Westeros.

Game of Thrones is a masterclass in political intrigue, which is what drew viewers to the franchise in the first place. By contrast, House of the Dragon has had a dull dud second innings, and will not be able to generate long-term interest and engagement. Ideally, Game of Thrones should be watched first, followed by House of the Dragon. Here’s hoping A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is 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.

First TV Show

Game Of Thrones

First Episode Air Date

April 17, 2011

Where to watch

HBO Max

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