Wil Johnson as Ser Vaemond Velaryon (season 1): The younger brother of Lord Corlys Velaryon, and a commander in the Velaryon navy. Ali, Lorraine (August 19, 2022). "HBO's first 'Game of Thrones' spinoff recaptures the power, grandeur of the original". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 11, 2022 . Retrieved October 11, 2022. Clark, Travis (October 17, 2022). " 'The Rings of Power' appears to be struggling to connect with younger viewers". Business Insider. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022 . Retrieved November 10, 2022.

Where was House of the Dragon filmed?". Radio Times. January 20, 2021. Archived from the original on October 8, 2022 . Retrieved September 5, 2022. Watercutter, Angela (August 19, 2022). "Thrones v. Rings: The Biggest Battle in TV History Is Here". Wired. Archived from the original on September 13, 2022 . Retrieved November 6, 2022. Ser Tyland Lannister: Lord Jason Lannister's younger twin brother and a cunning politician. He replaces Lord Corlys Velaryon as Master of Ships on King Viserys I Targaryen's small council. He later replaces Lord Lyman Beesbury as the Master of Coin following the ascension of King Aegon II Targaryen. Elliot Grihault as Prince Lucerys "Luke" Velaryon (season 1): The secondborn son of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Ser Laenor Velaryon. He is a dragonrider who rides the young dragon Arrax. Franich, Darren (August 19, 2022). "House of the Dragon review: After a rough start, the Game of Thrones spin-off gets better". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022 . Retrieved October 11, 2022.Andreeva, Nellie (January 15, 2020). " 'Game Of Thrones' Prequel 'House Of The Dragon' To Launch In 2022; HBO Boss On More 'GOT' & Pilot That Didn't Go – TCA". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 14, 2020 . Retrieved March 27, 2020. Six years later, Lord Corlys Velaryon is severely wounded fighting in the Stepstones. His brother, Ser Vaemond, petitions King's Landing to name him Corlys' heir, proclaiming Rhaenyra's son, Lucerys, illegitimate. Rhaenyra and Daemon return to the capital to defend Lucerys' claim. King Viserys is now bedridden, disfigured, and mentally muddled. Queen Alicent and the king's Hand, Otto Hightower, oversee all royal matters. Alicent covers-up Prince Aegon raping a handmaiden. Rhaenyra proposes two marriage arrangements with House Velaryon to gain Princess Rhaenys' support. She implores Viserys to defend her succession, quoting Aegon the Conqueror's dream about the Prince That Was Promised. As Vaemond's petition is presented at court, Viserys, barely ambulatory, enters and declares Lucerys the Driftmark heir. Daemon beheads Vaemond when he denounces Rhaenyra as a whore and her children bastards. The family appears to reconcile during a feast, but after Viserys departs, Aemond incites a fight by insinuating Rhaenyra's three eldest sons are illegitimate. Meanwhile, Alicent's lady-in-waiting, Talya, regularly provides Daemon's former mistress, Mysaria, with information. Viserys, near death, mutters parts of Aegon the Conqueror's dream, which Alicent mistakenly believes to refer to their son, Aegon. Ann Fera, Rae (October 10, 2012). "Collaboration Isn't Always Pretty–Behind The Emmy-Winning VFX For "Game Of Thrones" ". Fast Company. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021 . Retrieved October 28, 2022. Maas, Jennifer (November 10, 2022). "How 'House of the Dragon' and 'Rings of Power' Streaming Viewership Overlaps, According to Nielsen". Variety . Retrieved November 13, 2022. For three years, Lord Corlys and Prince Daemon have battled the Crabfeeder and his forces in the Stepstones without the Iron Throne's support. Meanwhile, King Viserys plans a great hunt to celebrate his and pregnant Queen Alicent's son Aegon's second birthday. Rhaenyra resents her father's excessive attention towards her half-brother, Aegon. The ailing king insists that Rhaenyra, now seventeen, must marry to form a strong alliance and protect their lineage. Many suitors are considered, including two-year old Prince Aegon. Lord Lyonel Strong recommends Ser Laenor Velaryon, Lord Corlys' son, as a potential match to mend the rift between the two houses. Overcoming previous doubts, Viserys assures Rhaenyra she remains his heir and can choose her consort. Meanwhile, brothers Hobert and Otto Hightower secretly scheme to make Aegon the successor, furthering their family's power and prestige. After Ser Vaemond Velaryon pleads for the king's help, Viserys agrees to send aid to the Stepstones. Seeing his brother's support as ending his chance to prove himself, Daemon acts as bait to ambush the Crabfeeder, winning the ensuing battle before the crown's forces arrive.

Nielsen stated in November 2022 that 35% of the viewers of the show were in the age range of 18–34. [135] Similar to Game of Thrones, the first season of House of the Dragon was extensively pirated. [136] According to TorrentFreak, it was the most pirated series of 2022, ahead of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and other series. [137] Comparisons with The Rings of Power [ edit ] Gavin Spokes as Lord Lyonel Strong (season 1): The Lord of Harrenhal and head of House Strong, and Master of Laws on King Viserys I Targaryen's small council. He later replaces Ser Otto Hightower as the Hand of the King. Rice, Lynette (October 21, 2022). " 'House Of The Dragon' Finale Leaks Online". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 23, 2022 . Retrieved October 24, 2022. Cooper, Gael Fashingbauer (September 25, 2022). " 'House of the Dragon' Episode 6: That Confusing Trailer Explained". CNET. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022 . Retrieved October 12, 2022.Giardina, Carolyn (February 11, 2023). " Elvis Collects Pair of Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023 . Retrieved February 12, 2023. Julian Lewis Jones as Lord Boremund Baratheon (season 1): The Lord of Storm's End, head of House Baratheon and Lord Paramount of the Stormlands. He is also a maternal cousin of Princess Rhaenys Targaryen and is the great-grandson of house-founder Orys Baratheon, the half-brother of King Aegon the Conqueror. Larman, Alexander (November 26, 2018). "Fire and Blood by George RR Martin review – not for the average fan". The Guardian. Archived from the original on October 3, 2022 . Retrieved October 7, 2022.