The political machinations in the Game of Thrones universe, comprised of epic battles and secret meetings between powerful Houses, are often referred to as a wheel. The wheel goes on turning, constantly crushing those who happen to get in its path. However, it is also safe to assume that the wheel analogy suggests history operates in a circular nature and that a similar situation in the present will eventually reflect historical events from the past.


Judging by the few episodes of House of the Dragon that has already aired on HBO, it is clear that the show will feature all the fascinating political bartering and backstabbing that made audiences fall in love with the original series. It stands to reason that the metaphorical wheel that barreled through the eight seasons of Game of Thrones was already rolling during the reign of the Targaryen family. As such, there will likely be a lot of parallels between the two series, both in theme and in content. There is an almost 200-year gap in time between the events of the shows, but the wheel just keeps on turning.

That being said, which moments from Game of Thrones could prepare us for House of the Dragon?

A Familial Fling: Jaime and Cersei Lannister ​

In the original Game of Thrones, one of the most high-profile relationships is the one between Jaime and Cersei Lannister, who are twin siblings. Despite having been married to the former King of Westeros, Robert Baratheon, all three of Cersei’s children (two of whom spent time ruling the Seven Kingdoms before their untimely deaths) were actually conceived from her dalliances with her brother. Over the course of the series, more folks become privy to this information, which causes all manner of problems.

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It is immediately established in House of the Dragon that House Targaryen is no stranger to incestuous relationships. The family has utilized familial marriages to maintain their royal bloodline for centuries. In the most recent episode, “King of the Narrow Sea,” audiences got a first-hand look at this when Princess Rhaenyra got hot and heavy with her uncle, Prince Daemon Targaryen. In future episodes of the show, their relationship will likely continue to be explored, possibly even evolving into a marriage.

In the Game of Thrones universe, blood is incredibly important, and it seems that certain members of influential Houses take their familial obligations a bit too seriously.

Battles with Dragons: The Long Night

Near the end of Game of Thrones, there was an epic battle between the living and the dead. The conflict took place at Winterfell and resulted in unbelievable bloodshed, only ending when Arya Stark buried her Valerian steel dagger in the Night King’s stomach.

“The Long Night” is the only episode of Game of Thrones that features dragons fighting on opposite sides of the battlefield. Daenerys’ dragon Viserion, after being killed by the Night King earlier in the season, was brought back from the dead. The reanimated reptile breathed blue flames and killed countless soldiers at the Battle for Winterfell. In House of the Dragon, there will undoubtedly be many scuffles that feature multiple dragons.

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Rhaenyra has already proven to be every bit the dragon rider that Daenerys was. It will be fascinating to see what a dragon battle between two equally skilled riders might look like in an era where the best practices of aerial warfare are better understood.

Unfit to Rule: King Robert and King Viserys Have the Same (Yet Different) Issue

At the beginning of Game of Thrones, the man in charge is King Robert Baratheon, and at the start of House of the Dragon, the ruler is King Viserys Targaryen. Though they both have positive attributes — at one time, King Robert was an almighty warrior, and King Viserys seems to be kind-hearted — neither of them make very good kings.

Robert was more interested in drinking and consorting with women of the night during his time as King. Viserys seems too delicate of disposition and lazy to be an effective ruler. The power vacuum that King Robert left following his death was the genesis for essentially the entire plot of Game of Thrones. The first few episodes of the new spinoff series have seen King Viserys struggling to choose an heir, so if he dies while things are still uncertain, it will definitely cause a lot of problems for House Targaryen.

Fans have a lot of passion for Game of Thrones. The new spinoff series seems to be a worthy successor. While it is definitely a unique offering, there have already been many moments in House of the Dragon that reminds fans of its predecessor.