Beginning almost 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon charts a period of history in Westeros which at first glance seems prosperous and peaceful. However, disputes over the succession, driven by anger that the king's heir is a woman, drive the realm into two armed camps, with the threat of civil war looming. At this time in history, House Targaryen has almost twenty dragons at its service, with the dragonriders divided between the two factions, threatening a war that could be more destructive than anything seen previously.
The trailer starts with Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) gazing out to sea, possibly from the coast of the island of Dragonstone. We then see Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) and his associate Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) in front of Dragonstone castle, with Daemon bearing a dragon's egg. He confronts the King's Hand, Lord Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans). A voiceover asks, "What is this brief mortal life if not the pursuit of legacy?"
We then go back in time, quite a bit. We see a dragon and rider flying over the Red Keep in King's Landing as King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine) summons a council of the realm's greatest nobles to declare their loyalty to him and his anointed heir, Rhaenyra (now played as a young girl by Milly Alcock). Rickard Stark, Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) and Boremund Baratheon all swear fealty. The king's brother, Prince Daemon, is clearly angry and upset by this move. The king's cousin, Princess Rhaenys Velaryon (Eve Best), tells Rhaenyra that men would sooner put the realm to the torch than see a woman sit the Iron Throne.
We then see Rhaenyra considering the Painted Table in Dragonstone (the one Stannis spent much time pondering over in the original series), a great gathering in the ruins of Harrenhal and tribute being brought. Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) is brought before the king in the Red Keep whilst a dragon's egg is burned and is told by her father Otto, "We play an ugly game, you have the determination to win it." Members of House Velaryon arrive in the Red Keep where a celebration is being held, and then a funeral is held, possibly at the Velaryon stronghold of High Tide. We then see the older Rhaenyra wearing red and looking determined, whilst Alicent and Ser Crison Cole (Fabien Frankel). We then see a man being dragged before the Iron Throne (possibly Daemon) and a shot of a Kingsguard beating someone. We see Daemon and Rhaenyra facing one another and engaging in a ceremony involving the shedding of blood whilst Lord Otto watches on. Prince Daemon and his men draw swords, whilst Alicent appears to try to stab Rhaenyra with a dagger. We are then told in voiceover, "History does not remember blood, it remembers names" whilst Prince Daemon confronts a dragon.
Over this the music plays, which seems to be mostly new materials but incorporates elements of Game of Thrones' theme at the end.
Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon, on which a lot is riding, debuts on HBO on 21 August this year.
I coundn't care less...
ReplyDeleteMethinks u doth protest too much !!
ReplyDelete