"And now we begin." That's the final line of tonight's episode of "House of the Dragon," and it's a fitting one. This episode of season 3 feels like the show is resetting the board ahead of a climactic second half of the season.

But while there are no battles or dragon-induced deaths in this episode, it doesn't lack for drama. In season 2, episodes that lacked violence also felt like they lacked forward momentum. That is not the case in tonight's episode, which has tensions ready to reach a boiling point as we enter the final four episodes of season 3.

A major part of this is that, despite winning the Targaryen civil war, Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) now finds herself fully embroiled in a conflict with House Hightower. Ormond Hightower (James Norton), it is revealed, has been ruling Oldtown like a kingdom under the nose of the Targaryen empire. Now, he's putting forth Daeron Targaryen (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) as a Hightower king, hoping to cleanse the realm of dragons once and for all.

However, those aren't the only players still on the board. Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) lives, albeit in a hellish existence. Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) is gone, according to Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin), but as we haven't seen a body, we can expect he'll be back. And while Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and Helaena (Phia Saban) are trapped in the Red Keep, they're potentially harboring the biggest threat to the Iron Throne.

Spoilers ahead for "House of the Dragon" season 3, episode 4

The Dance of Dragons may have just become a three-sided conflict

As I mentioned already, for an episode that features only one death of consequence, a lot happens in this episode that's important to note. We now know that Daemon (Matt Smith) is aware that his daughter Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) is Sheepstealer's rider. Despite her claims to the contrary, this clearly breaks his heart, and he chooses to lie to Rhaenyra rather than betray his child.

We also seem to learn that Aegon's dragon, Sunfyre, still lives. Despite Aegon and Larys (Matthew Needham) literally farming excrement to stay alive, that feels like it will matter down the line. Similarly, Alys lying about Aemond's whereabouts sure seems like it's going to be a key point before this tale's conclusion.

Of course, then there's Rhaenyra and Ormund, who are now our two main rivals for the Iron Throne. Ormund has some allies still and has conquered Tumbleton, giving him and his 15,000 men a foothold in Rhaenyra's backyard. Rhaenyra has dragons, though, but lacks the will to use them on people who raised her banner just to destroy Ormund. She also lacks any money, something that will surely be a factor down the line.

But the biggest reveal of the show isn't any of these. Instead, it's a brief, maybe minute-long scene between Alicent and Helaena. Alicent goes to aid her daughter with her robe, but Aegon's sister-bride recoils at the attempt.

It's then clear in an instant: Helaena is pregnant, and there's a countdown clock until we get a new claimant for the Iron Throne.

Verdict: 'House of the Dragon' no longer feels like it's stalling for time

Now, just because Helaena is seemingly pregnant doesn't mean her new child will go on to threaten Rhaenyra. The very existence of Aegon's child in Helaena's womb is a threat, and if she were to start showing, Queen Rhaenyra would have her killed in an instant. So now, Alicent and Helaena have to find a way out of the Red Keep and King's Landing before that fateful moment arrives.

Again, this was just a brief moment in the episode, but it altered the composition of the series's conflict in an instant.

That's probably the greatest success of this episode and season 3 in general. Brief moments like this, or Ormund's brief yet portentous line at the end of the episode, move the story forward in momentous ways. This episode felt like it was constantly adding more and more tension, building potential energy that's almost certainly going to be unleashed in the back half of season 3.

Conversely, in season 2, the brief moments felt like stalling for time. We'd spend entire scenes with characters and feel the story and plot were not advanced one iota. Because showrunner Ryan Condal has managed to fix this problem, it allows even a relatively tame episode such as tonight's to still be great.

Stream "House of the Dragon" on HBO Max now

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"House of the Dragon" might be the biggest show on any streaming service right now, but the HBO series brings some baggage. Season 2 did not go over well, thanks to a lackluster ending, and people doubted whether it even merited renewing their HBO Max subscription.

So far, through two episodes, though, season 3 has been a return to form and delivered an epic season premiere. Can episode 3 continue the show's hot streak? Check out streaming editor Malcolm McMillan's instant reaction to the shocking episode below:

'House of the Dragon' season 3 synopsis

Based on George R.R. Martin's book "Fire & Blood," this spin-off series of "Game of Thrones" takes place nearly 200 years before the events of the original show. It's set during a devastating war of succession within House Targaryen known as the "Dance of the Dragons," a war that would mark the beginning of the end of Westeros' ruling house.

In season 3, things are finally coming to a head, as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) prepares to take King's Landing (and the Iron Throne) from her usurper half-brother Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney).

'House of the Dragon' season 3 trailer

'House of the Dragon' season 3 cast

Here are the key members of the cast of "House of the Dragon" season 3:

• Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen
• Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen
• Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower
• James Norton as Ormund Hightower
• Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon
• Fabien Frankel as Criston Cole
• Matthew Needham as Larys Strong
• Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria
• Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon II Targaryen
• Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen
• Harry Collett as Jacaerys "Jace" Velaryon
• Phia Saban as Helaena Targaryen
• Bethany Antonia as Baela Targaryen
• Jefferson Hall as Jason Lannister and Tyland Lannister
• Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull
• Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull
• Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena Targaryen
• Kurt Egyiawan as Orwyle
• Freddie Fox as Gwayne Hightower
• Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers
• Kieran Bew as Hugh Hammer
• Tom Bennett as Ulf White
• Joplin Sibtain as Jon Roxton
• Ellora Torchia as Kat
• Tommy Flanagan as Roderick Dustin
• Simon Russell Beale as Simon Strong

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"House of the Dragon" might be the biggest show on any streaming service right now, but the HBO series brings some baggage. Season 2 did not go over well, thanks to a lackluster ending, and people doubted whether it even merited renewing their HBO Max subscription.

So far, though, season 3 has been a return to form and delivered an epic season premiere. Can episode 2, titled "Queens Landing," continue the positive trend? Check out streaming editor Malcolm McMillan's instant reaction to the momentous episode below:

'House of the Dragon' season 3, episode 2 details

Episode title: "Queen's Landing"
Episode run time: 64 minutes
Episode synopsis: As Alicent risks everything to fulfill her end of the bargain, Rhaenyra must decide whether the Iron Throne is worth the cost. (HBO)

'House of the Dragon' season 3 synopsis

Based on George R.R. Martin's book "Fire & Blood," this spin-off series of "Game of Thrones" takes place nearly 200 years before the events of the original show. It's set during a devastating war of succession within House Targaryen known as the "Dance of the Dragons," a war that would mark the beginning of the end of Westeros' ruling house. In season 3, things are finally coming to a head, as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) prepares to take King's Landing (and the Iron Throne) from her usurper half-brother Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney).

'House of the Dragon' season 3 trailer

'House of the Dragon' season 3 cast

Here are the key members of the cast of "House of the Dragon" season 3:

• Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen
• Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen
• Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower
• James Norton as Ormund Hightower
• Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon
• Fabien Frankel as Criston Cole
• Matthew Needham as Larys Strong
• Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria
• Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon II Targaryen
• Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen
• Harry Collett as Jacaerys "Jace" Velaryon
• Phia Saban as Helaena Targaryen
• Bethany Antonia as Baela Targaryen
• Jefferson Hall as Jason Lannister and Tyland Lannister
• Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull
• Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull
• Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena Targaryen
• Kurt Egyiawan as Orwyle
• Freddie Fox as Gwayne Hightower
• Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers
• Kieran Bew as Hugh Hammer
• Tom Bennett as Ulf White
• Joplin Sibtain as Jon Roxton
• Ellora Torchia as Kat
• Tommy Flanagan as Roderick Dustin
• Simon Russell Beale as Simon Strong

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Tonight's "House of the Dragon" season 3 premiere had one job: wash away the stench of season 2. The season 2 finale (all the way back in August 2024!) felt like it was building towards a major showdown... only to pull the rug out from under us with a cliffhanger ending. People felt cheated, and suddenly, there was concern that the show and franchise as a whole had lost their way.

Having nearly two years to sit in those bad vibes didn't help. And when "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" arrived this year to critical acclaim, it felt like "House of the Dragon" had been eclipsed.

After tonight, though, I think we can put our concerns to rest. Or, at least, lock them in a room in Dragonstone for the time being. Tonight's season 3 premiere wasn't perfect, and frankly, it would have worked so much better as the finale of season 2. But it delivered epic battles on dragonback and brought back the expectation that anyone and everyone can die in Westeros.

Spoilers ahead for "House of the Dragon" season 3 premiere

'House of the Dragon' season 2 should have ended with this battle

At the end of season 2, everyone seems set to converge for a major battle.

That's where the season 3 premiere picks up. Daemon (Matt Smith) is fighting the Lannisters with the Rivermen. Ormund Hightower (James Norton) is on his way to King's Landing to aid Aemond (Ewan Mitchell), who has deposed his brother Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney). And a Triarchy fleet led by Lohar is on a collision course with Corlys Velaryon's (Steve Toussaint) fleet in the Gullet, not far from Dragonstone, where Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) is planning to take King's Landing with the help of the former queen consort Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke).

Unfortunately, we spend a good chunk of the episode going over this, and that's because the show thinks we need to. It's been nearly two years since the end of season 2, and there's only so much you can fit into a "Previously on ..."

Maybe there were budgetary concerns as well (60 minutes of fighting is more expensive than 30, after all) but it didn't feel like Ryan Condol and company cheaped out on this episode. We got the appearance of numerous dragons outside of the Gullet, and those cost just as much as any battle.

Had this been the season 2 finale, I think that the show could have devoted the entire episode to the epic battle in the Gullet, similar to what "Game of Thrones" did in "Blackwater." If it had done that, I'd have been hard-pressed not to declare the episode a five out of five. The fighting is well choreographed, there are some epic one-on-one battles, and we see some major character deaths. Plus, there are three dragons fighting in the Gullet, one of which goes down into the depths, never to return, and another that is out of control, burning friend and foe alike.

In short, it's exactly the choreographed chaos we love in a Westerosi battle. While the climactic death of Jacaerys "Jace" Velaryon (Harry Collett) doesn't hit as hard as the showrunners would probably have liked, Lohar's demise is satisfying to watch. Now the question remains: Can this show deliver more of the same as season 3 goes on?

Verdict: Anyone can die in 'House of the Dragon,' and this season seems set on proving that

My favorite aspect of this episode was that, while watching it, I felt that basically anyone and everyone could die. Those in King's Landing, as well as Ormund's army, felt safe (for now), but just about everyone else felt in peril, even those fighting far from the Battle of the Gullet.

That's one of the things we came to love from "Game of Thrones," and part of why the final seasons of that show were a bit underwhelming. George R.R. Martin sets the expectations that he will kill his darlings on a whim, and your fan-favorite characters will never be safe. I'm just hoping that by the end of season 3, we have quite a few more dramatic deaths to add to the list.

Stream "House of the Dragon" on HBO Max now

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Outside of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," it's been a while since we've hung out with House Targaryen. In fact, it's been a long two years since "House of the Dragon" season 2 offered up that polarizing finale, leaving fans eagerly awaiting their grand return to Westeros.

Luckily, that wait is almost over, with "HOTD" season 3 roaring its way onto HBO and HBO Max this month with a "big bloodbath" on the horizon to test Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy), Daemon (Matt Smith), Alicent (Olivia Cooke), Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) and the rest of the realm. Like the previous installments of the "Game of Thrones" prequel series, season 3 will have eight episodes total, though there are some supersized editions in the works. For example, that much-anticipated premiere will clock in at 72 minutes, 14 whole minutes more than the season 2 opener.

To get you fully prepped for the season ahead, here's everything to know about the "House of the Dragon" season 3 episode release schedule, so you don't miss one fiery moment.

'House of the Dragon' season 3 release date and time

As has become Westeros tradition, Sunday evenings at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max are reserved for "House of the Dragon," with the season 3 premiere debuting on Sunday, June 21.

As you'll no doubt remember, this is also the coveted timeslot of fellow franchise titles including "Game of Thrones" and "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms." New episodes will continue each Sunday until the finale episode on Sunday, August 9.

'House of the Dragon season 3' full release schedule

If you're planning your "HOTD" viewing for the next couple of months, here's when the rest of "House of the Dragon" season 3 will premiere on HBO and HBO Max:

• "House of the Dragon" season 3 episode 1: June 21
• "House of the Dragon" season 3 episode 2: June 28
• "House of the Dragon" season 3 episode 3: July 5
• "House of the Dragon" season 3 episode 4: July 12
• "House of the Dragon" season 3 episode 5: July 19
• "House of the Dragon" season 3 episode 6: July 26
• "House of the Dragon" season 3 episode 7: August 2
• "House of the Dragon" season 3 episode 8: August 9

What is 'House of the Dragon' season 3 about?

"The throne knows no mercy," teases HBO about the upcoming season of "House of the Dragon," and there certainly won't be any leniency from either side—Team Black (the contingent that supports Rhaenyra as heir to the crown) versus Team Green (those that back her half-brother Aegon II Targaryen's claim to the Iron Throne)—as they battle it out for control of the realm.

All of that simmering political tension from episodes past boils over into a brutal civil war, pulling to the screen several of the biggest battles from George R. R. Martin's "Fire & Blood" book, including the deadly Battle of the Gullet. Altogether, it's sounding like season 3 of the acclaimed HBO drama will be bigger, bloodier and more action-packed than ever. We can't wait!

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all things "House of the Dragon" season 3, including new teaser clips, plot details, casting news and more. In the meantime, you can catch up on the fantasy drama's first two seasons on HBO Max.

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After a long two-year wait, "House of the Dragon" is getting ready to roar its way back onto our screens with an action-packed third season that series creator Ryan Condal has already teased will be "goddamn huge." And series stars Matt Smith and Emma D’Arcy are expanding on that intel and how the season's "big bloodbath" will impact their characters Daemon and Rhaenyra Targaryen, respectively.

The "Game of Thrones" prequel series returns on HBO and HBO Max on Sunday, June 21, and ahead of that premiere, the actors gave some behind-the-scenes scoop while attending season 3's world premiere in London's Leicester Square this Monday. Per The Hollywood Reporter, D’Arcy is looking forward to finally seeing some "momentum" in Rhaenyra's campaign for the Iron Throne after the deal the Targaryen queen struck with Olivia Cooke’s Alicent Hightower last season.

“There is a feeling that the position she finds herself in is fated in some way … [It’s a] character who has been kind of restrained from action for two seasons [who is] finally on the precipice of seizing her end,” D’Arcy said. Bigger action means a bigger production, the actress added: "There is an increased ambition to the set pieces, but also to the narrative drama. It’s really a conflict that’s been building for two seasons, [it] suddenly ignites, and there is stakes, therefore, everywhere. It’s exciting when you feel there’s been a bar raise. I think you want to meet it, and I think certainly the acting company felt like that at the start of last year.”

With the previous seasons' simmering political tension boiling over into outright war between Team Black (the contingent that supports Rhaenyra as heir to the crown) versus Team Green (those that back her half-brother Aegon II Targaryen's claim to the Iron Throne), Smith concurs that the drama has been turned up in terms of "scale, blood. It’s a big bloodbath, really, this season,” he told THR, “which is absolutely where it’s needed to go. I think that’s when the show is actually operating at its best in many ways — particularly for Daemon.”

Fittingly, "House of the Dragon" will have an extra-large ensemble for its third edition: Along with D'Arcy, Smith and Cooke, fellow returning cast members include Fabien Frankel, Steve Toussaint, Harry Collett, Tom Glynn-Carney, Ewan Mitchell, Bethany Antonia and Phoebe Campbell. They'll be joined by franchise newcomers such as James Norton as Lord Ormund Hightower, Dan Fogler as Ser Torrhen Manderly, Tom Cullen as Ser Luthor Largent and Tommy Flanagan as “Winter Wolf” leader Lord Roderick Dustin.

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all things "House of the Dragon" season 3, including new teaser clips, plot details, casting news and more. In the meantime, you can catch up on the fantasy drama's first two seasons on HBO Max.

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If you love action movies and TV shows, I've scoured the release calendars of all the best streaming services and taken a look at what's coming to movie theaters in the near future, and put together a watchlist just for you.

Whether you're after big-screen thrills, a revenge story or something a little more fantastical, I've got you covered. Below, I've assembled a quick round-up of five new shows and movies that action fans should have on their radar, including a brutal martial arts movie, the return of "Game of Thrones" action, and more. Here are the five action releases at the top of my list and how to watch them.

'The Legend of Vox Machina' season 4

This adult animated fantasy series, inspired by the tabletop Dungeons & Dragons adventures of Critical Role's party of voice actors, is back to retell another chapter of their quest.

Season 4 picks up a year after the Chroma Conclave arc. Their adventuring party has separated, on the hunt for love, family, and purpose. However, when a long-slumbering evil awakens to threaten the realm, the members of Vox Machina must reunite to take on an epic new foe.

Watch "The Legend of Vox Machina" Season 4 on Prime Video from June 3

'Masters of the Universe'

Travis Knight is reviving the legendary sci-fi/action-fantasy franchise in a brand-new live-action movie that's bringing He-Man and the rest of the Masters of the Universe back to the big screen.

In this new adventure, Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) has been separated from his home planet for well over a decade. When he tracks down the Sword of Power, Prince Adam is led back to Eternia, but finds the evil Skeletor (Jared Leto) ruling the realm. Naturally, it's up to Adam and his trusted allies — Teela (Camila Mendes) and Duncan/Man-at-Arms (Idris Elba) — to save the day, and that means the Prince has to embrace his true destiny as He-Man once more.

See "Masters of the Universe" in theaters from June 5

'The Furious'

Kenji Tanigaki's "The Furious" is slated for release in mid-June, and it's already impressed adrenaline junkies: the film's sitting at a 100$ on Rotten Tomatoes, with reviewers heaping praise on the brutal fight scenes.

The film centers on Wang Wei (Xie Miao), who is out for revenge. After his daughter is kidnapped by a criminal network, and he can't get the corrupt police force to help, Wei sets out to find his daughter himself. His only ally is Navin (Joe Taslim), a journalist whose wife has mysteriously disappeared. Together, this unlikely pairing seeks their vengeance, ruthlessly fighting back against the kidnappers in what Lionsgate has called an "explosive martial arts showdown."

See "The Furious" in theaters from June 12

'House of the Dragon' season 3

The latest chapter of "House of the Dragon" is arriving later this month, and everything we've seen of season 3 suggests that the brutal conflict between the two factions of House Targaryen is truly heating up.

The season ended with armies mobilizing for war across Westeros, and now we're getting glimpses at devastated battlefields. Expect carnage right from the get-go: the new season's due to open with "The Battle of the Gullet," and showrunner Ryan Condal (via Variety) said the series opener is “arguably the craziest episode of television ever made.”

Watch "House of the Dragon" season 3 on HBO and HBO Max from June 21

'Supergirl'

Finally, I've decided to round out this list with Craig Gillespie's "Supergirl," the second big-screen watch from the newly-booted DCU (here's a full rundown of every upcoming DCU movie and show, if you need an update).

After a brief cameo at the end of 2025's "Superman," Supergirl/Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock) is taking center stage for this sci-fi/superhero trip that seemingly sees her going full "John Wick," judging by the trailer. After an unexpected and ruthless villain strikes a little too close to home (and harms Krypto?!), Kara joins up with an unlikely ally and embarks on an epic, interstellar journey of vengeance and justice.

See "Supergirl" in theaters from June 26

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Westeros, the fantastical, medieval-like world dreamed up by George R.R. Martin for his iconic "A Song of Ice and Fire" book series, is well-trodden territory for television lovers. It has served as the setting for some of TV's biggest shows, from the OG "Game of Thrones" to popular spinoffs "House of the Dragon" and "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms." And now that sword-swinging universe is getting the big-screen treatment.

Back in October 2024, The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Warner Bros. was quietly developing "at least one" movie in Martin's fantasy world. However, details were scant on the early-days project, with no creatives yet attached to the project nor any information about exactly how the cinematic spinoff would expand on the Westeros tales fans already know and love.

However, a year-plus later, we finally have some forward movement and fresh details on the rumored project: According to Page Six Hollywood, screenwriter-playwright Beau Willimon, best-known as the showrunner of the Netflix political thriller "House of Cards" and a writer on the Disney+ sci-fi series "Andor," has already penned a script and submitted an initial draft that was received positively by Warner Bros. executives.

Per the Page Six report, the storyline may center on Aegon I, also known as Aegon the Conqueror and Aegon the Dragon, the first king of the Targaryen dynasty, who united the realm — well, except Dorne and the lands beyond the Wall, obviously — 300 years before the beginning of "Game of Thrones." Given the royal's influence over all other "GoT" stories we've seen so far, it makes sense that a feature film expansion would cover King Aegon I's epic takeover of Westeros.

However, given all of the off-screen mess that's happening over at Warner Bros. as of late, it remains to be seen if this Aegon-focused flick ever makes it out of development purgatory.

In case you missed it, last week, the bombshell news hit that Warner Bros. Discovery has accepted Paramount's merger offer after competitor Netflix walked away from the deal; soon, HBO Max — which is the streaming home to all of the studio's Westeros-based TV adaptations — will soon be merged with Paramount+ into one mega streaming service.

How that industry-shaking merger will affect the Aegon movie as well as other Westeros-based properties ("House of the Dragon" has been renewed through its fourth season, with season three slated to drop sometime this summer, and a "Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" is set to return with its second season in 2027) remains to be seen.

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all Westeros-related developments across screens big and small, including upcoming "Game of Thrones" spin-offs and behind-the-scenes intel on current series like "House of the Dragon" and "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms."

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As one "Game of Thrones" spinoff approaches its end, HBO is already starting to build up hype for our second return to Westeros later this year: the "House of the Dragon" season 3 teaser trailer has landed — and it looks good.

I thoroughly enjoyed "House of the Dragon's" second season, but I had one complaint about the finale, and that was that it stepped on the brakes and ended just before the action I'd been craving. I really thought we were on the cusp of another epic battle ... but we weren't. However, it looks like my prayers have been answered, and judging by the new footage (embedded below), "House of the Dragon" season 3 looks set to correct that misstep in a big way.

This new teaser sets up conflict, and lots of it. Rhaenyra's (Emma D'Arcy) preparing to descend on King's Landing, though her son's not sure she can truly trust Alicent. We see glimpses of war raging across the land and sea, with dragons spitting fire overhead, snapshots of foreboding conversations, and plenty of faces scarred by strong emotions. Simply put, it looks like "House of the Dragon" is about to deliver the kind of fantasy spectacle I've been waiting for, and I cannot wait to see the carnage play out on TV.

Sure, I've already been delighted by what "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" has served up over the last few weeks, and I don't want this article to undercut my excitement for the forthcoming season finale — Dunk's impassioned speech to the crowds at Ashord Meadow, his phenomenal "Trial of Seven" brawl, and that shock end to episode 5 are some of my top TV highlights of 2026, so far — but this trailer has my hype levels sky-high already.

There's truly nothing I love more on TV than a grand "Game of Thrones" battle, and it looks like we're due plenty of fantasy chaos when the series returns this June (as the teaser confirms).

"House of the Dragon" season 3 premieres in June 2026 on HBO Max.

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We're in the final weeks of the year, which means that all eyes are looking toward 2026, especially where TV networks are concerned. And one of the biggest — and buzziest, especially after the industry-shaking news of that Netflix-Warner Bros. merger hit last week — streaming services around is giving viewers an early holiday gift in the form of an HBO Max 2026 teaser reel spotlighting the return of some of the network's most hotly anticipated series, from "Euphoria" to "House of the Dragon" to "The Pitt" and more.

Today (Dec. 12), HBO released the two-minute "Coming in 2026" teaser, packed with new clips from returning shows such as "Dune: Prophecy" season 2, "Industry" season 4 and "The Comeback" season 3 — which sees Lisa Kudrow reprise her iconic character, Valerie Cherish, 11 years after the second season aired — as well as never-before-seen footage from upcoming new series like "Lanterns," "War," "Rooster," "Half Man" and an untitled Larry David Project.

The promo highlights several big-name stars across its various titles, from comedy legends like Steve Carell, Jerry Seinfeld and Mel Brooks to dramatic staples like Kyle Chandler, Carrie Coon and, of course, Zendaya. The teaser clip also includes previously released scenes from other HBO originals like "Hacks," "The Gilded Age" and the "Game of Thrones" prequel "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," all of which will also be hitting the Home Box Office streamer in the coming year. Take a look at the teaser below:

And, per the preview, here's a full lineup of the upcoming shows that are returning and debuting on HBO Max in 2026, so far, and when fans can expect to tune into the new episodes:

• "The Pitt" season 2 – January 8, 2026
• "Industry" season 4 – January 11, 2026
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" – January 18, 2026
• "The Comeback" season 3 – March 2026
• "Rooster" – March 2026
• "Euphoria" season 3 – April 2026
• "House of the Dragon" season 3 – Summer 2026 
• "DTF St. Louis" – TBD 2026  
• "Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!" – TBD 2026  
• Untitled Larry David Project – TBD 2026  
• "Half Man" – TBD 2026  
• "Hacks" season 5 – TBD 2026  
• "Stuart Fails to Save the Universe" – TBD 2026  
• "The Gilded Age" season 4 – TBD 2026  
• "War" – TBD 2026
• "Dune: Prophecy" season 2 – TBD 2026
• "Lanterns" – TBD 2026

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Westeros fans are already excited about the promise of "House of the Dragon" season 3, the next installment of the "Game of Thrones" prequel series. Alas, we still don't have a release date (we'll keep you posted the second we hear!), but news of filming kicking off in England and new actors joining the cast should be enough to hold George R. R. Martin stans over for awhile.

Still, we're chomping at the bit until Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy), Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) and the rest of our favorite "House of the Dragon" characters are back on screen. That's especially so now that showrunner Ryan Condal has teased a special high-concept episode to come in the new season.

While speaking to Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the showrunner revealed that one episode of the third season will be a more "conceptual" and "character-driven" installment than "House of the Dragon" fans have seen from the HBO fantasy series so far.

“We got to have a little fun this season, and there’s a conceptual episode that I’m really excited about that [Sara Hess] wrote, and that’s all I’m gonna say about it," Condal shared during the podcast appearance.

"It isn’t in the traditional vernacular of what we have laid out. It’s very character-driven, I think it’s really great and I’m really excited to see it rendered.”

Exactly which character's journey will be on the receiving end of this more experimental narrative style in the new episodes is so far unknown. Condal played coy when it came to naming names, as well as how that treatment will play out visually onscreen. But it will be interesting getting a more introspective and emotional look into a character's mindset, especially as the turmoil of a major war rages around them.

Outside of the more focused, interior look into the personalities of "House of the Dragon," the third season is set to go bigger and better with its storylines. In a previous interview with Gold Derby, Condal said: "Season 2 is huge. Season 3 is huger, in many ways.

"There are, by my quick count on stage, four major events from the book that we get to adapt and realize in three dimensions in this season. That's really exciting on a scope-and-scale perspective, and I think it's the thing the show does really well."

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all things related to "House of the Dragon" season 3, including that aforementioned concept episode as well as new teaser trailers, plot points, character details, casting announcements and more.

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Sorry, Dunk and Egg fans — “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is no longer slated for release in 2025.

Despite assertions from Warner Bros. Discovery execs that the next “Game of Thrones” spinoff would be coming our way at some point this year, that’s no longer the case.

This news comes from WBD’s upfront presentation on Wednesday, where (per Variety), we know that advertisers were given a first look at the “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” trailer (and before you ask, no, that trailer’s not made it into the wild yet).

The publication reports that the footage ended with a card confirming that the series would drop in 2026. HBO content chairman Casey Bloys narrowed that release window down a little further.

When cuing the teaser on-stage at Madison Square Garden, he said the spinoff was coming in the “winter,” which hopefully means the series will at least air very early in 2026.

Admittedly, we didn’t have a precise release date for “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” up until now (just the expectation that it was coming in 2025), but it’s still disappointing news — and it’s also got me worried about another Max series altogether.

What does the ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ delay mean for ‘House of the Dragon’ season 3?

Given the nature of George R.R. Martin’s “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” stories, it seemed to be the perfect, smaller-in-scope series to keep us immersed in Westeros between seasons of the “Game of Thrones” prequel series “House of the Dragon.”

And while I still think that’s probably the core aim here, I can’t help but be a little worried that this delay could mean the wait for “House of the Dragon” season 3 could be even longer than expected.

Back in March, we learned that “House of the Dragon” season 3 had entered production and would be filming in the U.K. (in Hertfordshire and North Wales) between March and October of this year.

At the time, showrunner Ryan Condal also teased that the third season was “huger” than what we’ve seen from the show so far.

So far, we’ve waited roughly two years between seasons and have seen new installments of “House of the Dragon” in the summer, so I was working under the assumption that a summer 2026 release would be a likely window.

But if we consider the season’s bigger scope, HBO surely wants to give “Game of Thrones” spinoff plenty of time in the sun, and the info that the third season is expected to be filming through to October, I’m concerned we won’t be reunited with Rhaenyra, Alicent, Daemon and the rest of the "House of the Dragon" crew for a while yet.

Hopefully, I’ll be proven wrong when HBO shares confirmed release dates for both shows.

In the meantime, if you need something new to watch while you wait for more spinoff news, you can check out our guide to the best Max shows you can stream on the service.

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We've gotten good news out of Westeros as of late: Not only has "House of the Dragon" season 3 officially kicked off production in England and North Wales, but HBO has also revealed several of the new actors who will be joining the cast for the much-anticipated third season.

Per Entertainment Weekly, "House of the Dragon" has got its Ser Roderick Dustin, or Roddy the Ruin, if you better know him by his nickname. Tommy Flanagan, a Scottish-born actor TV fans know from "Sons of Anarchy," "Peaky Blinders" and "Westworld", will be playing the "old and hoary warrior" that led House Dustin during the Targaryen civil war.

Voracious readers of George R. R. Martin's "Fire & Blood" series — upon which the high-fantasy HBO series is based — might remember that Ser Roderick ends up leading a 2,000-man army of veteran soldiers called the Winter Wolves into battle, in defense of Rhaenyra Targaryen’s claim to the throne.

EW also confirmed the casting of actor-comedian Dan Fogler ("A Complete Unknown," the "Fantastic Beasts" movies) as Ser Torrhen Manderly, a knight from House Manderly. The northern man is described in Martin's novels as being clever, corpulent and courtly, albeit a bit brusque and gluttonous.

Flanagan and Fogler join previously announced season 3 newcomer James Norton ("Happy Valley", "Little Women") as Ormund Hightower, the nephew of Otto Hightower (played by returning cast member Rhys Ifans) and cousin to Olivia Cooke's Alicent and Freddie Fox's Gwayne.

In the books, Ormund leads the Hightower armies against Rhaenyra and the Blacks during the Dance of the Dragons, as teased in the season 2 finale.

"This is the biggest new role that I think we've added since season 1," showrunner Ryan Condal told Entertainment Weekly about casting Norton as Ormund Hightower. "I think that Ormund is really going to delight and surprise the audience with what he brings to the narrative and with what James does with the character."

Condal also explained that Ormund is the son of Lord Hobert Hightower, who was played by Steffan Rhodri in the show's first season. "Hobert has since passed away, and Ormund has inherited the High Tower. So Ormund is the voice of the south."

James Norton and the rest of the incoming cast will join returning stars including Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Steve Toussaint, Rhys Ifans, Fabien Frankel, Ewan Mitchell and Tom Glynn-Carney, the latter of whom will remain "a big, big part of the show" despite his character, King Aegon, disappearing from the narrative in "Fire & Blood," Condal assured.

Rounding out the season 3 ensemble will be fellow returning actors Sonoya Mizuno, Harry Collett, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Phia Saban, Jefferson Hall, Matthew Needham, Tom Bennett, Kieran Bew, Kurt Egyiawan, Freddie Fox, Clinton Liberty, Gayle Rankin and Abubakar Salim

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all things related to "House of the Dragon" season 3. In the meantime, if you need to find another show to fill the "HOTD" void, check out our round-up of the best Max shows you should be streaming right now.

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It has been nearly nine months since that fiery season 2 finale of "House of the Dragon" roared its way onto screens and set up the next phase of the big Targaryen civil war. (Though, admittedly, the finale was a bit light on beastly battles for more action-minded "HOTD" viewers.)

And after that lengthy gestational period, we finally have some development out of Westeros.

According to the Watson Observer, the hit HBO series — a prequel of the fantasy behemoth "Game of Thrones" — has begun principal photography for its upcoming third season at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden in Watford, Hertfordshire.

The location certainly isn't a surprise, as the first two seasons of "House of the Dragon" were largely filmed in the Leavesden studios. The digs have also played home to other high-profile fantasy properties, including the "Harry Potter" film franchise, as well as Hollywood blockbusters including Margot Robbie's "Barbie" and the Timothée Chalamet-led "Wonka."

For "House of the Dragon," elaborate sets have reportedly been constructed for the upcoming season and a casting call-out was placed looking for "rugged men" who could serve as extras for battle scenes. Per the Observer, filming will take place in both Hertfordshire and North Wales between March and October of this year.

The amped-up production seems in line with what showrunner Ryan Condal has previously teased about the new episodes.

"Season 2 is huge. Season 3 is huger, in many ways," he told Gold Derby . "There are, by my quick count on stage, four major events from the book that we get to adapt and realize in three dimensions in this season. That's really exciting on a scope-and-scale perspective, and I think it's the thing the show does really well."

What does that mean for the 'House of the Dragon' season 3 release date?

Though official word on when "House of the Dragon" season 3 will air has not yet been formally announced by HBO, knowing details about the production schedule actually gives fans some clues as to when they'll be able to see Emma D'Arcy (as Rhaenyra Targaryen), Matt Smith (as Daemon Targaryen), Olivia Cooke (as Alicent Hightower) and the rest of the not-so-merry Targaryen bunch back on their screens.

HBO greenlit "House of the Dragon" season 3 on June 13, 2024, just a few days ahead of the season 2 premiere. The March start of filming aligns with earlier reports that posited that season 3 would enter production in early 2025. With cameras rolling through October — and an extensive post-production phase to take place thereafter — that timeframe supports the speculation that HBO is planning to drop the new episodes in summer 2026.

It would also nicely mimic the production timeline for "House of the Dragon" season 2, which saw filming kick off in April 2023 and episodes begin airing in June 2024. So, we'll have our eyes peeled for a potential summertime 2026 drop.

Condal also revealed to Gold Derby that writing "House of the Dragon" season 3 was easier than on previous installments, which may have helped speed up things production-wise.

"As the actors embody the characters, it actually becomes much easier to write in a more interesting way, because you get to know everybody really well," he said.

"For Season 3, there's much more shape and depth to it right out of the gate, because you're writing for people you know. There are some major new characters this season, but 85 percent of them, we already knew who they were, and it just makes it much more rewarding to write."

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all things related to "House of the Dragon" season 3. In the meantime, if you need to find another show to fill the "HOTD" void, check out our round-up of the best Max shows you should be streaming right now.

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The season 2 finale of "House of the Dragon" certainly left some people scratching their heads. My colleague Martin Shore even went as far to say he felt "cheated" by the eighth and final episode of the season. I don't know that I'd go quite that far, but I certainly felt like the show was pulling its punches ending the season as it did.

So on Monday (Aug. 5) I was already apprehensive about the show going forward. Then came the announcement that season 4 would be the show's final season. This news came from "House of the Dragon" showrunner Ryan Condal and once I saw that news, alarm bells started ringing.

But once I also saw that season 3 would likely have just eight episodes (h/t The Hollywood Reporter), I went into full panic mode. Eight episodes was already not enough this season, and now we were getting another truncated season? Yikes.

Of course, the real reason I'm so panicked is because we've been here before. "Game of Thrones" famously had pacing issues over its final two seasons. In the previous six seasons, we took 10 episodes a season to carefully construct the world George R.R. Martin laid out in "A Song of Ice and Fire" and then suddenly we rushed through the final act of the story in a mere 13 episodes. We went from a marathon into a sprint without warning, and by the end we were left exasperated.

'House of the Dragon' needs to heed the pacing mistakes of 'Game of Thrones'

While my colleague Martin and I had similar feelings about the season 2 finale, we have differing opinions about Condal's announcement that the show will end with season 4. He thinks that this will be the perfect amount of time to tell the proper story of the Dance of the Dragons from "Fire and Blood" and could fix the show's biggest problem — its slow start.

However, I think in his argument, which is well reasoned, he actually highlights exactly why I'm panicked. As Martin points out, George R.R. Martin wrote in 2022 that HBO would need 'four full seasons of 10 episodes each to do justice to the Dance of the Dragons, from start to finish."

For the record, I agree with that assessment. 40 episodes feels about right to tell the story. The problem is, we now are on pace for closer to 34 episodes if the next two seasons have eight-episode arcs like season 2. That's six hours of story just gone — thrown out the window like a Stark. 

And we need every second of that available storytelling time after spending significant time with Rhaerya and Alicent's childhoods in season 1 — time well spent in my opinion — and several hours of season 2 being devoted to Daemon Targaryen's acid trip at Harrenhall, which was probably more than we needed to spend there.

Perhaps I'm fretting for nothing and there are other explanations for the choices the show is making. Season 2 was impacted by the Writers Guild of America strike and while season 3 is tipped for eight episodes that might not yet be set in stone. I'm even cynical enough to think that we were prevented from an epic battle to end season 2 is because HBO wants to keep certain characters alive so the actors can promote season 3 in two years time.

If season 3 is officially just eight episodes, perhaps budgetary concerns are the reason why we only get eight episodes in 2026. This is something Condal as much as admitted in his Monday press conference. In theory, if we get fewer episodes for budget reasons, the episodes we do get should be more spectacular than expected.

But I'm not sure that's a good thing. Both "Game of Thrones" and "House of the Dragon" have succeeded when executing balanced, methodical storytelling. And while we dislike the pacing of the final seasons of the former (among other things), there were certainly some spectacular moments. The issue was they were rushed through and even unearned at times. The budget and spectacle was there but ultimately unsatisfying.

I'm not the only one with these concerns though, and I'm sure the showrunners have heard them from voices more powerful than mine. Maybe we will ultimately get the "four full seasons" that G.R.R.M. said was necessary to deliver the Dance that was promised. If we do, I'm hopeful based on what we've seen so far that "House of the Dragon" will avoid the ignominious ending that befell its predecessor. But if the next two seasons are only eight episodes each, I'm convinced that the show's pacing will repeat the mistakes that ultimately defeated "Game of Thrones."

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The day after "House of the Dragon" season 2 came to an end and the wait for season 3 began, we finally got confirmation of how many more seasons are in the works.

At a press conference discussing the Max show's season 2 finale, showrunner and co-creator Ryan Condal revealed that "House of the Dragon" season 3 would enter production in 'earlyish 2025', and confirmed the "Game of Thrones" prequel would conclude with season 4. 

This is more or less exactly how long writer George R.R. Martin said it would take to adapt "Fire & Blood". In 2022, he wrote on his 'Not a Blog' site that you would need 'four full seasons of 10 episodes each to do justice to the Dance of the Dragons, from start to finish". 

While you might be dismayed to learn one of the best shows on Max isn't going to be around much longer, I'm convinced that this decision to stick to that plan could be a big boon for the show's remaining instalments. 

Why I'm happy 'House of the Dragon' is ending after season 4

Don't worry, I'm not about to start complaining at length about "House of the Dragon" season 2. I'm a big fantasy nerd at the best of times, and I've loved having the first of the "Game of Thrones" spinoffs back on my screen. 

The Dance of the Dragons has been a brilliant vehicle for drama and all the things that made its predecessor such a compelling watch in the first place. However, I'd be lying if I said this was a perfect season, for one major reason: pacing. 

The first season benefitted from telling almost a contained story: across ten episodes, we experienced King Viserys' troubled reign and watched as the two factions in the ensuing battle formed, with Lucerys' death functioning as a catalyst to fully pull Rhaenyra into the fray.

Comparatively, I feel like the show has been spinning its wheels a little in season 2. While it has contained some amazing highlights — the Battle of Rook's Rest or Hugh Hammer's claiming of Vermithor spring to mind —  I couldn't help but feel somewhat cheated by that season 2 finale, and where it left us. It brought us so close to one of the best brawls in the entire campaign but decided to cut things off just before the Battle of the Gullet, instead.

Considered as a whole, I feel like the season lacked a little forward momentum. Yes, it has boasted plenty of character-led, engrossing drama, but has also felt a bit too much like build-up play. I get the notion of wanting to build up anticipation, but for a show all about the bloody chapter in House Targaryen's history... I'd like to see a bit more blood. 

With just two seasons left, though, I'm convinced that this won't be an issue going forward. We've already gotten to know a lot of our key players now, and that season finale was still a big statement of intent. The Seven Kingdoms are ready for war, and it's coming no matter what. 

If you look further down the timeline, you'll see that some of the fiercest battles and the darkest days of the Dance of the Dragons are still to come. One of the coolest moments was namechecked by Helaena in her prophecy to Aemond; if you know what happens above the God's Eye, I'm sure you can't wait to see it, either. 

Revolts, betrayals, and plenty more dragon action are now within our reach. And if we're getting a similar amount of episodes for the remaining two seasons, those anticipated moments are going to have to start coming our way a little more frequently than they have done so far.

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"House of the Dragon" season 2 has been and gone, and the wait for "House of the Dragon" season 3 is on—but luckily for "HOTD" fans, that wait won't be too long now, based on the latest update from the HBO fantasy hit.

Whether or not you agree that you feel somewhat cheated by the "House of the Dragon" season 2 finale, one thing's for sure: the stakes are higher than ever, and some serious action is all but guaranteed when one of the best HBO Max shows returns to our screens.

The rest of George R.R. Martin's "Fire & Blood" contains some spectacular, brutal battles, and, off the back of how exciting the Battle of Rook's Rest was to watch, I cannot wait for "House of the Dragon" season 3 to bring those stories to life on HBO and HBO Max.

Here's what we know about "House of the Dragon" season 3 right now.

'House of the Dragon' season 3 release date speculation

As of our latest update, we still don't have a "House of the Dragon" season 3 release date, and I wouldn't be surprised if we don't get one for a while yet, either.

However, we do have promising news: Filming on the third season has officially wrapped, meaning that the powers that be are now in post-production on the new episodes. Production got underway on season 3 in Hertfordshire, England and in North Wales back in March, nine months after the season 2 finale roared onto HBO Max.

If we use the production schedule of the past two seasons as a guide—season one saw filming end in February 2022 with an episode-one premiere in August 2022, while season two filming ended in September 2023 with a premiere date of August 2024—we're looking at a six- to eight-month wait for season three.

But we did just get another release-window hint from HBO CEO Casey Bloys, who told Deadline in September that "House of the Dragon" season 3 will
be just outside of [the 2026 Emmy eligibility window],” which is set for May 31, 2026. Therefore, we'd put money down that the new episodes arrive sometime in June 2026.

We've known that the show would be returning for a while; HBO confirmed two more seasons of "House of the Dragon" would be on the cards in June 2024.

If you need to find another show to scratch the same itch while you wait for a release date or other news, check out our guide to the best shows like "House of the Dragon" or our round-up of the best HBO Max shows for tons of top streaming recommendations.

Who's in the 'House of the Dragon' season 3 cast? 

Although we don't know for sure, we'd expect most of the ensemble cast to return for "House of the Dragon" season 3.

Barring those who have already lost their lives in the Dance of the Dragons thus far — no, I'm still not over Rhaenys' death — everyone's got a part to play in the ensuing conflict, one way or another.

Here's a list of just some of the main stars we're convinced will make an appearance in the third season:

• Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen
• Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower
• Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen
• Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen
• Phia Saban as Helaena Targaryen
• Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon II Targaryen
• Harry Collet as Jacaerys Velaryon
• Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon
• Bethany Antonia as Baela Targaryen
• Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena Targaryen
• Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower
• Matthew Needham as Lord Larys Strong
• Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers
• Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull
• Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull
• Kieran Bew as Hugh Hammer
• Tom Bennett as Ulf the White
• Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria
• Jefferson Hall as Jason and Tyland Lannister
• Tom Taylor as Lord Cregan Stark

At the end of January, we also learned (via Variety) that British actor James Norton had boarded the show as Ormund Hightower.

Ormund is Otto's nephew and the current Lord of Oldtown. In the show, he's currently leading the Hightower forces to King's Landing to bolster the Greens' defences against Rhaenyra's allies.

Condal called Norton's casting "the biggest new role that I think we've added since season 1," adding, "I think that Ormund is really going to delight and surprise the audience with what he brings to the narrative and with what James does with the character."

In April 2025, we learned the identities of some new cast members, too. Per Entertainment Weekly, we learned "Sons of Anarchy" and "Peaky Blinders" star Tommy Flanagan had joined "House of the Dragon" to play Ser Roderick Dustin, or "Roddy the Ruin."

EW further confirmed that actor-comedian Dan Fogler has joined the show as a knight known as Ser Torrhen Manderly.

'House of the Dragon' season 3 plot

While exact plot details will no doubt stay under wraps for quite some time just yet (yes, OK, you could look ahead in the original book, but we won't do that here), all signs point to all-out war in "House of the Dragon" season 3.

Both the Greens and Blacks spent season 2 attempting to bolster their forces in one way or another, and in the season finale's final moments, both sides braced for conflict, and their forces began to march off to war.

Rhaenyra's faction might have suffered a blow after Aemond and Vhagar defeated Rhaenys and Meleys, but they've since gained three new dragonriders, and Daemon renewed his vow to Rhaenyra and showed he'd managed to raise a huge army at Harrenhal.

After waging more of a successful ground campaign, the Greens were on the back foot, though Tylan Lannister has at least secured an allegiance with the Triarchy, which might mean they can break Corlys' naval blockade in the Gullet.

At the very least, we've been promised big things by showrunner, Ryan Condal. Speaking in July on an episode of "The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of" podcast, he teased that "House of the Dragon" season 3 is bigger than ever.

"We're right in the middle in the thick of it, and it's going great. I mean, the season is just goddamn huge.

"Every day I walk around there and look at the things that we're building and the things that we're doing and the number of costumes and extras and all that ... I knew it was bigger than season 2, but I don't think I realized quite how much," Condal added.

Is there a 'House of the Dragon' season 3 trailer yet?

Not yet, but as soon as one arrives, we'll be sure to include it here.

Is 'House of the Dragon' season 3 the show's last? 

Yes, it has been previously confirmed that "House of the Dragon" would run for four seasons.

At a press conference discussing the season 2 finale, showrunner and co-creator Ryan Condal announced that the "Game of Thrones" prequel would conclude with season 4.

We don't yet know whether the series will also be another eight-episode run; when asked, he said: "I haven't had discussions with HBO about it. I would just anticipate the cadence of the show, from a dramatic storytelling perspective, will continue to be the same from season 2 on' (via Variety).

News that the spinoff will end with season 4 isn't too surprising. After all, George R.R. Martin claimed on his 'Not a Blog' site that 'it is going to take four full seasons of 10 episodes each to do justice to the Dance of the Dragons, from start to finish' back in 2022. So, apart from the fact that we switched to a shorter second season, it sounds like things are progressing more or less according to plan.

This also means we could be on for some seriously explosive final seasons, as some of the Dance of the Dragons' bloodiest battles take place further down the timeline.

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This article contains major spoilers for "House of the Dragon" season 2.

Need the "House of the Dragon" season 2 finale ending explained? The hit Max show wrapped up with a surprisingly action-light eighth episode that focused primarily on setting up the next phase of the Targaryen civil war.

I'l admit to feeling somewhat cheated by the "House of the Dragon" season 2 finale precisely because it was an anticlimactic end to an already truncated second season. Rather than deliver another epic "Thrones"-style battle, we instead capped the season off with a different episode entirely. 

The focus was on emotional moments like Alicent challenging her increasingly volatile son, Aemond, or said unruly ruler learning of his downfall at the God's Eye while trying to convince Helaena to ride Dreamfyre to battle. And of course, we can't forget Alys showing Daemon a vision of the future — which included glimpses of Daenerys and the Night King — and his subsequent realization that he must pledge his support and his forces to support his wife in the conflict to come. 

Even though we didn't witness another dragon fight, it was still an important episode. It positions the Seven Kingdoms on a knife-edge and makes it clear that "House of the Dragon" season 3 will engulf the realm in all-out war.

How did 'House of the Dragon' season 2 end? 

The episode concluded with a callback to Rhaenyra’s clandestine visit to King’s Landing, except this time, Alicent Hightower is the one making a secret journey over to Dragonstone. 

There, Alicent presents her former friend with a tempting offer. With Aemond away from the Red Keep on Vhagar, Helaena is the de facto ruler of Westeros. Alicent asks Rhaenyra to allow her to be free of the war and asks to be allowed to leave the Red Keep with Helaena and granddaughter Jaehaera in tow. 

Alicent promises that this would mean Rhaenyra could effectively stroll into King's Landing and claim the Iron Throne in a matter of days, without any further bloodshed. Not long ago, Rhaenyra might have taken this bargain. Even in the finale, she insists she'd hoped having more dragons would have been a sufficient deterrent for war. 

Alas, this emotional scene concludes with Rhaenyra acknowledging that she must take part in the war to come. Because of how things have played out, she must quash any opposition to her claim on the Seven Kingdoms. 

Once Alicent leaves the building, we see Rhaenyra's new dragonriders — Addam of Hull, Ulf, and Hugh Hammer — dressing for war. This is the beginning of an epic montage that shows various armies on the move. Importantly, the blue dragon that soars over the troops from Oldtown banners is Tessarion, Daeron Targaryen's mount.

At Harrenhal, Daemon looks out over his massive army from the Riverlands. Our gaze then turns out to sea: Tyland Lannister sets sail for the Gullet alongside Admiral Sharako Lohar (Abigail Thorn), having secured an alliance with the Triarchy's vast fleet. Likewise, Corlys and Addam of Hull row out towards a large boat. 

That montage also shows Rhaena finally tracking down Sheepstealer somewhere in the Vale, Men from the North marching through the Twins to support Rhaenyra, a glimpse at Otto Hightower who has been locked away in a cage, and the reveal that Larys Strong has successfully convinced Aegon to flee King's Landing after all. 

The scene concludes with matching cuts of Alicent and Rhaenyra staring off into the distance, perhaps thinking over what's to come to Westeros very soon. So yes, it is a somewhat action-light finale, but it's still one that puts the pieces in place for the Dance of the Dragons to truly take flight. 

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This article contains spoilers for "House of the Dragon" season 2.

I can't be the only one who was expecting to see another battle on Max this evening, can I? After that incredible final shot in the penultimate episode and the "House of the Dragon" season 2 finale trailer, I felt like we were on the precipice of another glorious "Game of Thrones" grand battle. 

With her new dragonseed allies, Rhaenyra managed to send Aemond and Vhagar running scared from their shores and was poised to strike back. Likewise, the teaser previewed dragons soaring above the Seven Kingdoms, Daemon rallying his new army and a settlement laying in ruins.

To me, everything screamed a jump toward the Battle of the Gullet (which just so happens to be a particularly bloody battle in the Dance of the Dragons). With troops rallied across Westeros' seas and shores, it felt like the slightly uneven pace of the season was about to pivot once more. 

Instead, the season 2 finale stepped on the brakes, just a tad, favoring more relationship drama. Alys helped Daemon see what lay ahead, leading him to bend the knee to his queen all over again, Alicent offered to give up King's Landing to her former friend, and Tyland Lannister got to know a key figure from the Triarchy: Admiral Sharako Lohar (Abigail Thorn).

I appreciate that it sounds like I'm being negative about the season 2 finale, and to be quite clear, I'm not sure that I am. Frankly, Daemon and Rhaenyra's reunion was a suitable pay-off for a storyline that I have previously said was dragging the series down. 

Likewise, I thought it subtly hinted at what's to come for Ulf (which I won't spoil for anyone unfamiliar with his arc), Alicent's bid to end the war was another wonderful exercise in mirroring and Tyland's desperate attempt to win over the Triarchy was a welcome bit of light relief. I'd even love to spotlight the brief exchange between Criston Cole and Gwayne Hightower out in the field: the transformation Frankel's character has gone through might be one of my unexpected highlights of the series.  

All that said, I just can't shake the feeling that I'm at least a little bit disappointed to have my expectations subverted so much. I know it's not the show's fault: I'm the one who expected "House of the Dragon" season 2 to conclude in another fiery clash, after all.

But given the trailer was comprised mostly of scenes that were either from moments of drama or shots from montages of both factions preparing to go to war, I can't shake the feeling that I wanted a little bit more, well, fire and blood ... from this adaptation of "Fire & Blood", especially given we no doubt have a long time to wait for season 3. At least we've got "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" to look forward to!

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This article contains spoilers for "House of the Dragon" season 2.

It might be hard to believe, but "House of the Dragon" season 2 is about to come to an end. Before the series bows out, though, Max has treated us to a quick sneak peek at what's to come in the final chapter... and it looks like we're about to get a truly incredible season finale.

Now that's not really a surprising statement. The penultimate episode already ended with the balance of power shifting. Having secured some new dragonriders, Rhaenyra drew Aemond out into the skies, only to see him frightened off by the Queen flanked by Syrax and fellow dragons, Vermithor and Silverwing as the final shot of the episode — a moment that I called one of the best 'Thrones' moments ever. 

Following that epic climax, Max has dropped a new trailer designed purely to build the hype for the forthcoming season finale: Check it out below.

The short clip depicts the Greens in disarray. Criston Cole is still busy fretting about the havoc the dragons will bring to the Seven Kingdoms, Larys Strong and Alicent appear to be challenging Aemond's leadership, and he makes a plea to Helaena to ride out on Dreamfyre. 

Meanwhile, Rhaenyra's busy telling her allies that they need to press the advantage that they have gained, Corlys Velaryon's men are at sea, and Daemon can be heard delivering a rousing speech to his new army from the Riverlands, calling for them to offer 'no mercy' to their foes. From how things play out in the teaser, I know which side of this war I'd rather be on, that's for sure. 

All that talk is spliced with shots of armies marching or sailing off to war, and dragons soaring through the skies. In other words, it seems like we're seeing the stage set for a second battle.

And given the raw spectacle of everything that happened at Rook's Rest in that stunning fourth episode, I'm super excited to see how the team bring the next stage of the Dance of Dragons to life when the "House of The Dragon" season 2 finale hits our screens this weekend.

"House of the Dragon" season 2 concludes this Sunday, August 4 at 9 p.m. ET on Max and HBO. If you're searching for a new show to replace your Sunday night viewing, check out our guide to the best Max shows you can stream right now for more streaming recommendations.

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Warning: This article contains major "House of the Dragon" season 2 spoilers!

Look, I know I already said that "House of the Dragon" season 2's second episode contained one of the best "Game of Thrones" scenes, but I'm doing it all over again, because how could you not talk about just how cool the final shot of the show's penultimate episode was? 

This second season has seen Rhaenyra's (Emma D'Arcy) faction has been on the back foot. Sure, the Greens aren't exactly thriving over in King's Landing, either, but at least they've had some successes in the war. Our queen, meanwhile, started the season being accused of ordering the assassination of an infant. 

While fighting to change her public perception, Rhaenyra has also lost two major allies. After their argument, Daemon slipped away to Harrenhal with Caraxes, where it's unclear whether Daemon is still willing to work for her. Worse, Rhaenys and Meleys fell at Rook's Rest in a truly exciting battle scene that brought some much-needed momentum to the mid-season. 

As things are building to what looks like a truly epic season finale (judging by that final trailer), the show has evened the playing field: Rhaenyra just gained three dragonriders, the balance of power has swung in her favor, and she got to send Aemond running scared back to King's Landing in this penultimate episode. It's a scene that I'll be replaying on Max on repeat because it's just... so cool?

Another awesome "House of the Dragon" moment

After starting the episode by flying out to meet with Seasmoke's new rider, Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty), who graciously pledged his services to the Queen, Rhaenyra gained two further allies. 

In another chaotic sequence, Vermithor's furious power was made abundantly clear when the Bronze Fury torched and ate dozens of would-be riders before Hugh Hammer stepped in and claimed the giant beast. And while Ulf the White escaped Vermithor's flames... he ended up becoming her third rider after Silverwing toyed with him. 

In a genius show of force, Ulf and Silverwing fly over King's Landing, sending the city into panic and drawing Aemond out on Vhagar. Before, Aemond could be certain he'd emerge victorious; after all, he'd already seen off Meleys and the Queen That Never Was. Here though, he's forced to flee back home, because Rhaenyra's ready to make her move. 

Cut to that killer final shot: Rhaenyra sporting a killer red dress, flanked by Syrax and Vermithor as Silverwing mounts one of the towers behind her, with a steely gaze fixed out across Blackwater Bay. It's a scene that's already generating a ton of hype among fans online (seriously, just search 'Rhaenyra' on X/Twitter), and also one which I am certain serves as a prelude to what will no doubt be one of the biggest TV highlights of the year. I simply cannot wait to see what the "House of the Dragon" season 2 finale has in store for us. 

Sure, I'm sad that we'll soon have a long wait on our hands to see more from the Dance of the Dragons, but when "House of the Dragon" is readily serving up memorable moments like this, it'll be worth the wait. 

Already wondering what's next from Westeros? We've got a guide detailing everything we know about the new show, "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight" and rounded up everything we know about all the other "Game of Thrones" spinoffs we've heard about over the years, too. 

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First off, let me make something crystal clear: I like “House of the Dragon”. I definitely have less affection for it than I do for “Game of Thrones” — then again, George R.R. Martin’s fantasy epic is my favorite show of all time — but I don’t take much pleasure in the fact I’m about to dunk on it. Or, to be more specific, throw shade at its digital effects. 

Trouble is, I’m a bit of a snob when it comes to CGI, so I can’t help myself. “Jurassic Park” means more to me than I’ll ever be able to fully convey in words. The fact the most influential effects movie of all time (perhaps tied with the original “King Kong” from 1933) still has better CGI than most movies and TV shows 31 years after Steven Spielberg wowed the world with that Brachiosaurus shot bothers me a lot.

Circling back to “House of the Dragon”, I’m becoming increasingly frustrated with the inconsistent quality of the effects work being churned out by Global VFX Studio MPC. Initially, I thought this was down to budget constraints (even questionable CGI isn’t cheap to generate). Yet according to The Media C-Suite, “House of the Dragon” is the 7th most expensive show ever to be produced, while its predecessor ranks at number 8.

If the site’s reporting is accurate, an average episode of “HotD” costs $20m to produce, while “Thrones” cost a “mere” $15.4 million per episode before it wrapped in 2019. I can only assume the prequel’s substantially larger budget is because right from the first episode, the producers have been paying actors who are simply better known than their "GoT" counterparts were when David Benioff and D.B. Weiss’ HBO epic first aired back in 2011.

After all, Sean Bean was the only real household name when “Game of Thrones” hit our TV screens as Ned Stark. By contrast, its prequel series had to fork out for the likes of Paddy Considine (please, please seek out “Dead Man’s Shoes” if you haven’t watched his gritty and amazing 2004 British thriller), Rhys Ifans and former “Doctor Who” star Matt Smith.

Enter the dragon 

However the money is being allocated in the making of the show’s production, there are so many shots in “House of the Dragon” that don’t pass my obsessive eyeball test. And weirdly, the titular leathery lizards normally aren’t the problem. 

Aemond Targaryen (damn can that dude pull off an eye patch) is blessed with the biggest and baddest dragon in the show. Almost every time the colossal Vhagar has appeared on-screen I’ve been impressed by the small details that have gone into the Titanic-sized dragon’s design — like the multiple tears in its colossal wings that clearly show off the beast’s age. 

That said, I still think a fully grown Drogon (the real MVP from “Game of Thrones”) would incinerate Aemond’s mighty mount in a full-on fight. 

The real issue for me is that “House of the Dragon” appears to have engaged less real-world location shooting than “Game of Thrones." This results in a ton of straightforward shots between characters involved in a scheming chat where you can clearly make out the background scenery — be it even the simple brick walls of a castle — relies on heavy amounts of green screen. 

Blurring the lines 

The other big problem for me is just how blurry a lot of the show’s big action scenes look in motion. Now, I realize if you’re looking at the images in this article, you may be thinking the CG in “House of the Dragon” looks decent enough. All I can tell you is that when I took these shots on my iPhone 14 Pro, they ended up looking a ton better than when I was watching the show in person. 

To be clear, I’m not watching HBO’s latest piece of appointment TV on a subpar LCD screen at 720p. The photos you’re looking at (and again I appreciate it might be tough to make out the quality of the effects work if you’re reading this on a phone), are of the show on an LG G3 OLED on a U.K. Sky Stream box at 4K resolution, which averages a video bitrate between 8,000-14,000kps.

And make no mistake, Sky Stream normally produces glorious Ultra HD pictures through my 1GB fiber optic connection; to the point where the quality is so good, watching movies on the little puck-shaped streaming device is up there with the best-looking 4K Blu-ray movies.

“House of the Dragon” and its inconsistent CG work isn’t helped by the fact that in my opinion, the final three seasons of “Game of Thrones” produced the best computer-generated imagery in the history of TV. Yes, yes, there’s that tiresome argument that “The Long Night” is darker to look at than peering into a black hole, but the odd questionable lighting decisions aside, I genuinely think the quality of the effects (which were made by FX house Pixomondo) in those final seasons are mostly immaculate.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m absolutely going to keep watching “House of the Dragon”, as I think the quality of the writing and acting are largely top-notch. I just hope the blockbuster show can up the quality of its inconsistent CGI when season 3 rolls out.

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Warning: This article contains spoilers for "House of the Dragon" season 2!

If you look through any of the articles I've written about the second season of "House of the Dragon," you'll know that I've been a big fan of what the team has produced.

 Just a few weeks ago I said episode 2 contained one of the best "Game of Thrones" scenes ever, and even when it felt like "House of the Dragon' season 2 was losing momentum, the Dance of the Dragons then delivered that climactic dragon duel between Rhaenys (Eve Best), Aemond (Ewan Mitchell), and Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney). 

Last week's episode was certainly a quieter, more emotional installment, but it still had its moments. But after episode 6, even I've got to admit that Daemon Targaryen's extended visit to Harrenhal is starting to drag the show down. Now I'll preface this argument by saying that the sixth episode was hardly devoid of action, which is probably why I feel like this particular plot thread stands out so much. 

In episode 6, we see Rhaenyra and Mysaria have started stoking civil unrest in King's Landing (and sharing a passionate kiss in Dragonstone). Plus, the Queen begins her search for new dragonriders ... though Steffon Darklyn falls foul of Seasmoke, the same dragon later seen chasing Addam of Hull outside of Spicetown. 

Elsewhere, Jason Lannister musters his forces for the Greens' war effort and Rhaena learns that Lady Arryn has kept a big secret from her: a wild dragon is causing trouble up in the Vale, and Prince Regent Aemond is currently hard at work securing the crown for himself. To do so, he dismisses his own mother from the Small Council, and immediately starts painfully intimidating his now-conscious brother into staying silent so he can stay in charge.

But amidst all that, we have to suffer. Even though these episodes have been driven by terrific acting, have included surprise cameos from ex-stars — earlier in the season, it was the return of Milly Alcock, and this week we saw Daemon reunited with Viserys (Paddy Considine) — and have been home to some great comic exchanges (I love Sir Simon Russell Beale as Simon Strong), every time we head back to Harrenhal, it feels like the brakes slam on and the show grinds to a halt. 

On the one hand, I recognize that Daemon's stay at the castle has been important for his development. The curse of Harrenhal has had a big impact on him, to the point that he's willing to ask Alys Rivers for advice instead of just fleeing the grounds. Learning that Alys had "plied her craft" and Lord Grover had passed moved him to tears, a remarkable moment of weakness for the firebrand, self-sure figure. 

All that said, I just can't shake the feeling that these diversions are meshing with the rest of the show. There's so much happening in Westeros, yet we keep being ushered from the frontlines of the Dance of Dragons or the council chambers to see Daemon unravel just a little bit more or learn a very small amount about his inner life.

These sequences, mysterious though they are, are starting to feel repetitive, and having quite so many of them crop up in so many episodes of the series is really starting to feel more like filler that's detracting from goings-on elsewhere in Westeros. 

I remain optimistic that this sub-story will build to a suitably dramatic conclusion. Daemon, after all, has to return for future battles, and in his changed state, he and Caraxes are bound to bolster Rhaenyra's forces in a big way. But I just wish they weren't taking up quite as much space in such a small season, as they're starting to make the pace feel uneven. 

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Warning: This article contains massive spoilers for "House of the Dragon" season 2!

Two weeks ago, "House of the Dragon" season 2 served up one of my favorite "Thrones" scenes in a long time, wherein Otto Hightower and King Aegon II went toe-to-toe in King's Landing. But that statement pales in comparison to the reaction that the show's fourth episode just drew from me. 

As much as I love all the politicking that comes with "Game of Thrones," I was starting to get a little apprehensive about when we'd finally start to see the two factions' forces go to war.

I wasn't disappointed when episode 3 skipped the Battle of Burning Mill; if anything, the hard cut from bickering youngsters to the Riverlands strewn with the corpses of forces from Houses Bracken and Blackwood was extremely impactful. That said, it did mean we were left waiting for one of Westeros' hallmark battle sequences just a little bit longer. 

After a season and a half of build-up, we were really starting to need a change of pace and to see the consequences of the Targaryens' actions outside the chambers of Dragonstone and King's Landing. We've had the odd bit of action here and there, but what we really needed was something akin to the "Battle of the Bastards". Thankfully, in episode 4, we got just that.

The Battle of Rook's Rest was utter carnage

Frankly, the entire episode was a treat, but if I have to list everything I liked about it, we'll be here all day. So, we'll focus on the climax of the episode: the Battle of Rook's Rest. 

On paper, this shouldn't be a big deal. Per the council scenes in the episode, we know that it's not exactly the biggest or most important prize on the map: Aegon's still keen for Harrenhal, which Daemon has claimed, but Criston Cole and Aemond have masterminded a plan to march on the small, vulnerable settlement owned by Lord Staunton (who is a member of Rhaenyra's council) instead.

Nevertheless, forces are mustered, and Criston's army launches their attack. Rhaenys volunteers to go to Rook's Rest aid riding Meleys, and battle commences. But the reason this is so exciting is the stakes just keep rising. 

Just as Meleys starts torching Cole's men, he signals for Aemond and Vhagar to come out of hiding in the nearby woods. Problem is, the impetuous Aegon has flown in on Sunfyre, after receiving a telling-off from his mother. Cue the first dragon fight of the season!

Meleys has seen the most combat, so she overpowers the younger Sunfyre, but the soldiers stop to marvel as Vhagar enters the fray. Whether he meant to or not, Aemond calls for dragonfire while the two others are locked in combat, singing Sunfyre's wings and sending the dragon and his own brother tumbling to the ground.

To keep all eyes above, the camera throws us in with the footsoldiers on the ground and tilts skyward at the real spectacle of the day — Meleys and Vhagar continuing to duke it out before falling out of the sky in a pirouette of flames. 

As soldiers scramble to get out of Vhagar's way on the ground and Cole is knocked out cold en route to find Aegon, it looks like the two dragons might get to leave ... but then Vhagar's jaws snap shut around Meleys neck, choking the life out of Rhaenys' mount and sealing the battle as a resounding success for the Greens.

Cue a haunting shot of Rhaenys surrendering to death as the rest of Meleys' body collapses on the keep in a blast of flames. That's followed by scenes of the carnage wrought by the multi-dragon brawl and Criston picking his way toward Aegon's side. End scene. 

We've heard plenty of talk of just how powerful the dragons are thus far, but seeing it actually play out in front of us was incredible. All this excitement stands as proof that Ryan Condal and the "House of the Dragon" team know how to stage "Thrones" action, and it has left me more desperate to see the next chapter than I have been all season. 

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Warning: This article contains spoilers for "House of the Dragon" season 2!

As of the end of "House of the Dragon" season 2 episode 3, war looks inevitable in the Max series. There's already been bloodshed on both sides of the Dance of the Dragons, but members of both factions grow anxious for battle. 

Both sides have been keen to win more allies in the war to come, and we've just been introduced to a key supporting character, Ulf (played by Tom Bennett), in one of the least likely places. 

"House of the Dragon" season 2 has already brought new faces into the fold, so what makes this particular addition to the story quite so exciting, you ask? Well, that's because, per the source material, Ulf ends up claiming a dragon of his own and playing an important role in the war to come. 

Here's what we know about him so far, what Ulf gets himself tangled up in later down the line, and why his appearance has me quite so excited. 

Who is Ulf in 'House of the Dragon' season 2?

Ulf was briefly seen in "House of the Dragon" season 2's second episode, as one of the passersby who saw the executed ratcatchers suspended from the walls of King's Landing. In the most recent installment, we got to sit down with him and a few of his friends in a tavern, where the drinker laid bare both his heritage and his allegiances in the Targaryen feud.  

He claims King Jaehaerys Targaryen ("The Conciliator") as his grandfather and to be a son of Baelon the Brave. He also calls Rhaenyra the "One True Queen," and specifically mentions being a "dragonseed," which was a term used to describe the bastard children of the Valyrian Houses. He notes that some would kill him for claiming to be a Targaryen, and then promptly shuts up when Aegon II sweeps in for a night on the town alongside several members of the Kingsguard.

If you're asking why I'm excited over what could easily be dismissed as a bit of drunken blustering on Ulf's part, allow me to explain what happens later on the Targaryen timeline. 

Warning: Book spoilers ahead!

In an event known as both "The Red Sowing" and "The Sowing of the Seeds," Rhaenyra's son Prince Jacaerys makes a bold move to bolster the Blacks' forces: He promises huge rewards to anyone capable of mastering one of Westeros' untamed dragons. While many people die in the process, Ulf is one of the successful candidates, laying claim to Silverwing, the most docile of the unclaimed beasts.

He goes on to play a part in "The Battle of the Gullet", which has already been hinted at. But later down the line, he and a fellow seed, Hugh (Kieran Bew), betrayed Rhaenyra during the First Battle of Tumbleton, setting their dragons on the town. 

The reason I'm delighted to see Ulf  — and two of the other dragonseeds, Hugh, and Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty) — is chiefly because it means we're really starting to move forward in the timeline of events. Much of the show so far has existed either within the bickering factions or the War Council rooms. But following the seeds' debut, and the events of episode 3, it's really starting to look like the Dance of Dragons is ready to fully take flight. 

From "Game of Thrones" episodes like "The Battle of the Bastards", we already know that HBO can do killer battle scenes, those that lie further down the timeline could make for some seriously good TV. I simply cannot wait to see where the show goes next. 

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"Game of Thrones" viewers fans are no strangers to powerhouse performances and truly stunning scenes. There's the infamous Red Wedding, the shocking end to the original pilot, Cersei's walk of shame, Tywin's murder ... that list could easily go on.  

"House of the Dragon" season 2's second episode, in my eyes, boasts another scene that could stand alongside the very best scenes in "Thrones" history. Season 2's second episode already made headlines for being the longest "House of the Dragon" episode yet, but I think it should be making waves for another reason entirely: It might just contain one of my favorite scenes yet ... and it probably isn't the one you're thinking of. 

There are spoilers ahead — don't read on until you're caught up!

This second episode is fuelled by a heady mixture of grief and rage. News of Jaehaerys' murder reaches Aegon II. He's understandably furious and urges action against Rhaneyra's forces in revenge. But the Hand of the King, Otto Hightower, as ever, sees an opportunity in the death of Aegon's son: He plans a funeral procession through the streets of King's Landing, with the view of naming Rhaenyra a "Slayer of Infants", in an effort to turn public opinion further against her. 

Alicent and Helaena (unwillingly) participate in the procession, though Aegon's unsatisfied. Having learned that one of Jaehaerys' killers was a ratcatcher, he's had every ratcatcher in the city publicly hanged throughout King's Landing. Angered by his brash maneuver, Otto confronts the boy-king. And this is the moment that had me glued to my screen, most of all. No, not the Cargyll twins' climactic duel to the death. Nor was it Rhaenyra confronting Daemon for all his misdeeds, or the moment the people of King's Landing lay eyes on their king's fallen heir. Instead, my favorite moment of episode 2 was an argument between a petulant boy-king and his controlling advisor. 

Otto vs. Aegon is an early 'House of the Dragon' season 2 highlight 

There is so much tension in the air in this confrontation. Otto Hightower forgets himself, admonishing the king as a "fool," while Aegon plays at being cool-headed. Rhys Ifans chastises him for his rash move, spitting his lines with such force, trying to get him to understand his actions will only turn the public against him, the very same people they're actively trying to win to their cause. 

In the past, Aegon has been guided by Otto. But he's clearly done with that. He took action because he fears being perceived as weak. Furthermore, it is clear he wishes for things to escalate. In his words, "wish[es] to spill blood, not ink!"

The tipping point comes when Aegon reveals Criston Cole has also "acted", prompting a hilarious slow-turn from Otto, as he demands to know what the Lord Commander has done. The plan is ludicrous, though, as it turns out, almost very effective: Criston, embarrassed by Jaehaerys' murder, has dispatched Ser Arryk Cargyll to Dragonstone. There, he is to take the place of his identical twin brother, Rhaenyra's protector, and kill her. 

A weary Otto moves from rage to regret, lamenting Viserys' death, and Aegon's lack of skills. With a pained face, he realizes Aegon wasn't meant for the throne. He'd already been chastised for being too generous with the public at court in episode 1, but here he's also proven himself a hasty, rash ruler. 

The problem is, Aegon has grown more self-assured by the second, and (with an insolent chuckle), he demands Otto relinquish his badge, offering the role of King's Hand to Ser Cole. After warning that Aegon requires a strong guiding hand and that he will regret this move, Otto tosses his badge at Cole's feet. But as he swings the door open, Aegon gets in one last, smug blow with just three words: 'You are dismissed'.  

Fuelled by Rhys Ifans and Tom Glynn-Carney's brilliant performances, this whole sequence becomes a tennis match of power, constantly careening backward and forwards until Aegon II decides he wants to forge a new path, one with the fiery-tempered Ser Criston Cole at his side. It's an intense watch, and I cannot wait to see the fallout from Aegon's decision as the series continues. 

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In the years since HBO's fantasy saga aired, there's been a ton of chatter about "Game of Thrones" spin-offs. We've heard pitches for new stories (animated and live-action) set at various points on the timeline, both long before and after the Song of Ice and Fire, animated — but only two have managed to make it to our screens, as of our latest update.

"House of the Dragon" season 2 has now come to an end, and "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" has just premiered on HBO Max. And while we can content ourselves with following Dunk & Egg's exploits and look forward to "House of the Dragon" season 3 later in 2026, it sure seems like there's much more "Thrones" stuff out there.

At a talk in August 2024 (according to an attendee on X), "Game of Thrones" creator George R.R. Martin stated that there were seven "Game of Thrones" spin-offs — three live-action, four animated — in various stages of development at that time.

Since then, though, we've learned that Warner Bros. is apparently in early development on a "Game of Thrones" movie. Then, in February 2025, HBO exec Francesca Orsi told Deadline that there was a "promising" new spin-off in the works that was "still in the Targaryen line".

Our latest major update comes courtesy of a new The Hollywood Reporter interview with George R.R. Martin. Published in January 2026, it gave us fresh info about some of the projects already on the list, and hinted that the shelved Jon Snow project might return with a new legacy character in the frame instead.

Whether any of these projects is the same one Martin was talking about remains to be seen, and just because we've heard about these projects doesn't mean they'll manage to make it to air. After all, we know of at least three "Game of Thrones" spin-offs that have been actively cancelled, so there's every chance more will follow suit.

Regardless, I've scoured the internet for as much info as I could find about all the rumored "Game of Thrones" spin-offs that have been mentioned at one time or another and tried to identify (wherever possible) whether work is continuing on them or not. Here's what we know right now.

'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms'

Status: Airing Jan-Feb 2026

After "House of the Dragon", "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" is the next "Game of Thrones" spinoff to make it to our screens.

The series will adapt the first of George R.R. Martin's Dunk & Egg stories, which sees how the nomadic knight Ser Duncan the Tall first enlists Egg as his squire and follows them to Ashford, where Dunk wishes to take part in a tournament. Production on the six-part show was confirmed to be underway on June 18, 2024 and star Dexter Sol Ansell confirmed filming had wrapped in September 2024.

In our "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" season premiere review, TG's Malcolm McMillan gave the episode a 3-star verdict, writing: "While the premiere feels sluggish, the short 30-minute runtime and high production value make it worth the investment for fans of Westeros lore."

'Ten Thousand Ships'

Status: In development (as of June 2024)

"Ten Thousand Ships" is a prequel series set 1,000 years before the events of "Game of Thrones" that deals with the history of Princess Nymeria and the Rhoynar (one of the ancestral groups of the people of Westeros, the others being the Andals and the First Men).

In April 2024, writer Brian Helgeland (who was attached to the project) outlined the plot of his series in an interview with Inverse. "Essentially, it was the story of Moses but swapping him out for Nymeria", he said. "Her country gets ruined, and her people are forced to live on the water, which is why the show was called 'Ten Thousand Ships.'"

"They end up having to leave and find a new home like the Israelites leaving Egypt. She’s leading all these people, trying to hold everyone together but things are always in danger of falling apart as they travel around a fictionalized version of the Mediterranean, looking for a new home to settle in."

Although it was presumed canceled, George R.R. Martin let slip on his blog that things have changed. On June 11, he revealed that playwright Eboni Booth was working on a new pilot for "Ten Thousand Ships."

"We’re all very excited about this one", Martin joked, "though we’re still trying to figure out how we’re going to pay for ten thousand ships, three hundred dragons, and those giant turtles."

The 'Game of Thrones' movie

Status: In development (as of 2024)

On October 31, 2024, The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Warner Bros. had quietly been developing "at least one" movie in Martin's fantasy world. Details beyond that statement are very light, as the project is thought to be in very early development.

At the time of writing, there were no creatives attached to the project, and it was unclear how this new spin-off would expand on Westeros, either. Nevertheless, the publication said Warner Bros. is apparently "keen on exploring the idea of Westeros invading cinemas". Watch this space, I guess!

An 'Aegon's Conquest' spinoff

Status: TBC, but possibly in development

Aegon's Conquest is the period in which Aegon I Targaryen (aka "Aegon the Conquerer) and his sister-wives Visenya and Rhaenys managed to conquer six of the Seven Kingdoms (Dorne managed to resist) with their dragons and army. In doing so, he became the first king to sit on the Iron Throne, founding the Targaryen dynasty.

In 2023, Variety reported that a series based on this campaign was being "actively discussed" at HBO. At the time, they said that the search for a writer was underway as HBO was "keen to move forward and get it into development." There were even claims that there might be a feature component to the pitch (a movie that would then lead into the proposed TV show).

In February 2024, The Hollywood Reporter shared the news that "The Batman 2" co-writer Mattson Tomlin was attached to the project.

And in a huge interview with George R.R. Martin in January 2026, THR reported that a spinoff centered on King Aegon's conquest was being developed "as a possible drama series and by the Warner Bros. film team as a mammoth "Dune"-sized feature film."

'Bloodmoon'

Status: Canceled

Before "House of the Dragon" came on the scene, there was a different "Game of Thrones" prequel in development: "Bloodmoon." HBO ordered a pilot for the prequel from Jane Goldman back in 2018 which reportedly cost them $30 million to make.

Naomi Watts was due to star, and we saw some set photos of Watts in costume earlier this year when makeup designer Flora Moody shared them online.

'Empire of Ash' / a Doom of Valyria spinoff

Status: Canceled

"Empire of Ash" is the alleged working title of a spin-off that comes from an unverified report that once leaked on a "Game of Thrones" wiki, so don't put too much stock in the name.

However, per The Hollywood Reporter, we do know that writer Max Borenstein ("Kong: Skull Island") had at one stage been developing a series that would expand on the "Doom of Valyria", a cataclysmic event of some sort that caused the collapse of the entire Valyrian Freehold, the ancestral home of House Targaryen.

Speaking to Inverse in 2021, Borenstein wouldn't confirm the nature of his series pitch, but he told the publication that he was "very passionate" about his idea and hoped that he'd get to return to it in the future. "House of the Dragon" has certainly worked hard to show just how dangerous the dragons can be, and it would be great to find out exactly what happened to this part of the world.

Given this period has been explored before, I can't help but wonder whether that "promising" new spinoff Orsi mentioned —the one that is "still in the Targaryen line" — could well indicate there's renewed interest in bringing the Doom of Valyria to our screens (but that's not official, that's purely my own hunch).

'Flea Bottom'

Status: Canceled

Back in 2021, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that this live-action prequel set in the titular King's Landing slum was confirmed not to be moving forward. The area was home to a number of notable faces, including Dunk and Jon Snow's ally, Davos Seaworth (pictured).

It sounds like development never got very far, either, with THR saying "Flea Bottom" was "always the most nascent of the ideas that were made public" at the time.

'House of the Dragon'

Status: Renewed for two more seasons.

"House of the Dragon" likely needs no introduction. It was the first "Game of Thrones" spin-off to make it to our screens and recounts the "Dance of the Dragons," the brutal, bloody civil war between two factions of House Targaryen that played out nearly 200 years prior to the events of "Game of Thrones."

Even though the original show's ending left us on a sour note, "House of the Dragon" has all but proved that there are still tons of people interested in Westeros. Nearly nine million viewers tuned in to watch the season 2 finale, and plenty of them (myself included) will now be eagerly awaiting "House of the Dragon" season 3's debut, which is expected in 2026. Oh, and if you missed it, the series will conclude with season 4.

'Nine Voyages/The Sea Snake'

Status: In development

A spin-off based on famous sailor Lord Corlys Velaryon (nicknamed the "Sea Snake", which was once the working title) has been on the cards for some time now. But in January 2024, George R.R. Martin confirmed that "Nine Voyages" had switched mediums and would now be an animated project.

"Nine Voyages" will, presumably, explore the so-called "great voyages" that Corlys (and his grandson) undertook to the Further East lands of Essos. There are other animated projects thought to be in development, but this is the one we know the most about at the time of writing, and it's almost certainly one of the shows Martin was talking about in August.

A Robert's Rebellion series

Status: TBC, but very unlikely

Remember Robert Baratheon? The man on the Iron Throne before Joffrey? Well, this rumored series was apparently one of the ideas thrown around when HBO was first exploring potential "Game of Thrones" spin-offs.

In short, the rebellion was a brutal war between the Great Houses that saw Aerys II Targaryen (the "Mad King") overthrown by Robert Baratheon and a few of his key allies like Ned Stark and Jon Arryn.

Despite fans' appetite to see this particular chapter of history in a series, it certainly seems unlikely, especially as Martin himself isn't all that interested in making one. In 2017, he said we'll know all we need to about the Rebellion, and he felt at the time it would "feel too much like a twice-told tale." So, we'll just have to wait for those last books to arrive, instead.

'Snow'

Status: Shelved

It sounds like Jon Snow’s story will stay as is, at least for now. In 2022, news broke that a Jon Snow sequel series (which “Thrones” star Kit Harington pitched to HBO) had entered development (news which George R.R. Martin confirmed in a blog post). If you were intrigued to see what Snow got up to after the events of "Game of Thrones," we’ve got bad news for you: the Jon Snow show’s on ice

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly in April 2024, Harington said: “It’s not happening — and not happening anytime soon anyway. We bounced some ideas around and nothing really lit us up. It just didn’t. I think we don’t want to do something that’s not worth it. So for the time being, we’re just shelving it."

It sure sounds like Harington couldn't ever be tempted into returning to the role, either. While he's due to lend his voice to a fresh recording of the "Harry Potter" books, when Variety asked if he would want to voice Jon Snow if anyone recorded new "Thrones" audiobooks, he said this: "No, god no. I don't wanna go anywhere near it. I spent 10 years doing that. Thanks, I'm alright."

THR's January 2026 interview with Martin revealed the series would have found Snow a broken man. There report read: "Having chased off his direwolf Ghost and thrown away his sword Lonclaw, Jon spent his time building cabins and burning them back down again. Harington also wanted Jon to die and to avoid being a hero."

While this sequel series seems very much canned, that same story hints that a follow-up is still very much on the cards; see below.

A sequel series featuring Arya Stark

Status: Possibly in development

As mentioned, THR's Jan. 2026 interview reports that "Drops of God" creator Quoc Dang Tran has apparently boarded the "Game of Thrones" sequel series.

Details are still being "fleshed out," apparently, but one possibility is to shift the story over to Essos, and to add a different Stark sibling to the mix: Maisie Williams' Arya Stark.

THR continues: "This is very early development, however, and HBO is naturally being quite cautious about handling this one. “We are very interested and excited by the prospect of a sequel but also keenly aware of how high the bar of execution needs to be,” one insider says."

'The Golden Empire'

Status: TBC

"The Golden Empire" is another one of those animated projects in the works, but we know very little about it, save for the fact that it's set in Yi Ti — as confirmed on Martin's "Not a Blog" site — one of the nations of Essos that was only briefly mentioned in the "Game of Thrones" TV adaptation. It's a region that supposedly exists parallel to Imperial China, though we've not had any more info on it for a while, now.

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"House of the Dragon" season 2's premiere kicked off the new chapter of the "Game of Thrones" prequel in exactly the kind of dramatic fashion you'd expect, leaving us for a full week to sit with that shocking ending. 

If you can't stomach waiting all that time to return to Westeros, Max (our pick for the best streaming service) has just dropped a new preview trailer showcasing what's to come as the "Dance of the Dragons" truly takes flight. For obvious reasons, don't watch it (or read on), as we're veering fully into spoiler territory from here on out. 

When a trailer begins with Westeros' reigning king, Aegon II, you know things are getting real. From that point onwards, this ominous trailer is snapshots from fraught strategic meetings,  snapshots of dragons flying overhead, and shots of migrating armies, with signs pointing to a fraught conflict within the Riverlands. 

There's a real forward momentum to proceedings as things descend into chaos in the final moments as the fighting properly breaks out, then we cut away for a last comment from Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel): "We have given the war to the dragons." Does that mean Rhaenyra and the Blacks are due to gain the upper hand, despite Rhaenyra's fears Daemon's machinations threaten her claim? 

Watch this new "House of the Dragon" season 2 clip below:

What happened in the 'House of the Dragon' season 2 premiere?

"House of the Dragon" season 1 ended with the shocking death of Lucerys Velaryon at the hands of Aemond and his colossal dragon, Vhagar (as you'll know if you read out "House of the Dragon" season 2 primer). 

In this new episode, Rhaenyra seeks her revenge. She is absent for the early part of the episode, mourning her son. Upon her return to Dragonstone, she assembles the Black Council and tells them she wants Aemond Targaryen.  

Daemon had been demanding that the Blacks act and go straight after Aemond in Rhaenyra's absence, anyway, and this spurs him to take grisly action. After consulting with his former mistress, Mysaria — who had been arrested for handing secrets to the Hightowers — he hires a city guard and ratcatcher (Blood and Cheese) to King's Landing to assassinate him. 

The problem is that the two would-be assassins aren't able to find Aemond inside the Red Keep, but are determined to claim the life of a Targaryen prince. In a harrowing sequence, they confronted Queen Helaena and forced her to indicate which of her children was Prince Jaehaerys, Aegon's direct heir, before slaughtering him in his bed. Helaena flees to Alicent's chambers to deliver the news, finding her in bed with Ser Criston Cole. Judging by the above trailer, news of Jaehaerys' death isn't going to go down well, for anyone. 

"House of the Dragon" season 2 premiered on Sunday, June 16 at 9 pm ET on Max and HBO. New episodes will air on a weekly basis through Monday, August 5. 

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After nearly two years away from our screens, "House of the Dragon" season 2 is poised to follow the Dance of the Dragons into full swing this Sunday.

This second season finds Westeros about to enter a bloody civil war. House Targaryen is divided into two factions, both of which believe they have the right to sit on the Iron Throne. Which side's going to take flight when one of the very best Max shows returns?

Given we've had to wait a while for this second chapter, you might well need a refresher on the many, many twists and turns that the "Game of Thrones" prequel has already taken. Be warned, though: There are major spoilers ahead for "House of the Dragon" season 1, so if you're not caught up just yet, get back to binging before the show returns for season on HBO and Max on June 16.

1. One house, two factions

With season 2 ready to take the Dance of Dragons into full-scale war, it’s worth remembering who is on which side. House Targaryen is split into two political factions known as the Greens and the Blacks, named after the colors of House Hightower and House Targaryen, respectively. 

The Greens are comprised of people who support the reign of the Seven Kingdoms’ current monarch, Aegon II Targaryen. They include Aegon’s mother, Alicent Hightower (widow of King Viserys Targaryen); her father and Hand of the King, Otto Hightower; Aegon’s sister-wife, Helaena; his younger brother, Aemond; and Ser Criston Cole, the new Commander of the Kingsguard. In addition, they have the support of Larys Strong, Tyland Lannister and, recently, Borros Baratheon.

The Blacks stand in opposition, supporting Rhaenyra Targaryen and her son, Jacaerys’ claim to the Iron Throne. Key members include Rhaenyra, her husband Prince Daemon, the members of House Velaryon, and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen.

2. How it all started

Struggling to remember how all the drama began? Well, the trouble in “House of the Dragon” began when Viserys disinherited his brother, Prince Daemon, and named a new successor to his throne. Several members of the Viserys’ Council never saw Daemon as a good fit for the Iron Throne, but he remained Viserys’ presumptive heir until he and the Queen Consort, Aemma Arryn, had the son he wanted to raise so badly. 

After a number of failed pregnancies, the pair had their son in episode 1. While Aemma was in labor, Viserys opted for an emergency operation that claimed the queen’s life in the hope it would save his heir’s life. Tragically, the baby died just hours later, too. 

Episode 1 culminated with Viserys stripping Daemon of his claim to the throne. The wayward Prince had been overheard mocking Viserys’ new son as “The Heir For a Day”, a nickname that incensed the grieving king. 

Under pressure to name a rightful heir from his advisors, Viserys decided to break with Targaryen tradition and named his daughter, Princess Rhaenyra, as the heir to the Iron Throne instead. However, things only got more complicated from there. 

3. How Aegon II claimed the Iron Throne

In his final moments before death, King Viserys returned to Aegon the Conquerer’s prophetic dream (a Targaryen must hold the Iron Throne so they can unite the Seven Kingdoms against the forces beyond the wall), believing he was speaking to Rhaenyra. But it was Alicent by his side at that moment, and she assumed he was trying to tell her he wished their son, Aegon, to succeed him. Reusing the same names for generations can create some terrible misunderstandings.

Following the king’s death, Otto Hightower assembled the Small Council to reveal Alicent’s news … which is precisely when Alicent discovered Otto and co. had been scheming to install Aegon II as king. In their eyes, Viserys’ last words are immensely helpful; they only serve to legitimize their plot.   

Before long, the newly formed “Green Council” arranged a coup, forcing the heads of numerous houses to swear an oath to Aegon in the throne room of King’s Landing (executing those who refuse). Plans to eliminate Aegon’s key rivals start being thrown around, and Aegon’s coronation is held. 

Rhaenys (who had been held captive in Kinqg’s Landing) nearly took the chance to kill the usurpers during the ceremony but opted instead to fly to Dragonstone and inform the Blacks of both Viserys’ death and the coup, prompting the faction to crown Rhaenyra their queen and to begin preparations for the war to come.  

4.  Rhaenyra and Alicent could have buried the hatchet

The two key figures were close to reconciling in the moments leading up to Viserys’ death. At a feast, the ailing king called on Alicent and Rhaenyra’s families to put an end to the growing divisions between them (which, by this point, was a big ask). 

Rhaenyra was the first to extend an olive branch. She offered a toast to Alicent, thanking her for standing by Viserys and supporting him throughout his reign. In exchange, Alicent offered a toast to Rhaenyra and her house, shocking everyone by proclaiming she would "make a fine queen." This prompted several more members of both factions to at least try and act civil.

Aemond shattered any semblance of good feeling with his infamous toast, wherein he paid "tribute" to his nephews by making an insulting nod to their true parentage, calling them “Strong boys”. (They were fathered by Ser Harwin Strong, while Rhaenyra was married to Ser Laenor Velaryon). A fight broke out between Alicent and Rhaenyra’s sons and prompted Rhaenyra and co. to return to Dragonstone.

Rhaenyra did pledge to return to King’s Landing after seeing her family home … but then the whole coup happened. And given how season 1 ended (more on that in just a second), there’s little chance we’ll see the two reconciled ever again. 

5. First blood has been drawn

The first season concluded with what will no doubt be a pivotal moment in the Dance of the Dragons: the death of Lucerys Velaryon.

Rhaenyra’s second son had been dispatched to Storm’s End to seek an alliance with the Baratheons. When he arrived, Lucerys found his rival and uncle, Aemond, had already successfully gained their favor by pledging to marry one of Borros Baratheon’s daughters. 

While there, Aemond demands one of Lucerys’ eyes (in exchange for the one he maimed during a fight when they were much younger). Borros intervened and Lucerys fled on his dragon, Arrax ... but Aemond gave chase on Vhagar.

Panicked, Lucerys’ dragon spat flames at Vhagar. Aemond was unable to wrest control of his colossal mount, and it retaliated by comping down on Arrax and Lucerys mid-flight, killing them both in one fell swoop. 

Rhaenyra had previously considered abandoning her claim to avoid war altogether…but once she learned of her son’s death in the final moments of the previous season, it certainly looked like she had abandoned all her fears and was finally ready to fight back. 

6. There are still allies up for grabs

While it has been made very clear that everyone must be prepared to choose a side in the Dance of the Dragons, there are some unclaimed allies yet to pledge to one side or the other. 

In the season 1 finale, the Blacks hoped they could rely on three major Houses: Baratheon, Arryn and Stark, and the latter two are very much still in play. Rhaenyra’s mother was Aemma Arryn, and she hopes that the current leader, Jeyne Arryn, will side with her. 

What of House Stark? Well, the former leader, Rickon Stark, swore an oath of fealty to the young Rhaenyra, and the Black Council very much believes that the current leader, Cregan Stark, will keep that promise. (“The North remembers”, after all). Here's a list of all the new characters we're going to meet in "House of the Dragon" season 2, so you can prepare for the other new faces set to appear in Westeros.

Jacaerys Velaryon was dispatched to speak to Arryn and Stark just as Lucerys was sent to Storm’s End. Hopefully, he was a more successful emissary than his younger brother. But even if he isn’t, Rhaenyra’s got other options. Which brings us to one last thing ….

7. Dragons are about to become an even bigger deal

The Greens might have more powerful friends at present, but the Blacks have them outmatched in another department: They’ve got way more dragons.

While Aemond and Vhagar represent a formidable threat and the Greens have two other fully-grown dragons at their behest, Rhaenyra’s group possesses both more riders and more dragons, even after Lucerys’ death. And as we already know, those dragons pose a far more powerful force on the battlefield. 

"House of the Dragon" season 2 is due to feature even more dragons than the first. This makes sense, given Daemon made it abundantly clear to Rhaenyra that he wished to wield the power of the unclaimed and wild dragons that are still out there. In the season 1 finale, he approached Vermithor in the Dragonmont. If brought into the fold, Vermithor could certainly be a worthy foe to Vhagar in the battles that will no doubt come. 

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If you didn't already know that "House of the Dragon" was a "Game of Thrones" prequel series, those opening credits were a pretty clear clue. That same rousing theme song — a cello line composed by German composer Ramin Djawadi — from the original HBO series also kicks off each weekly edition of its spinoff, though the visuals differ for each show. 

"House of the Dragon," which is set 200 years prior to its predecessor and focuses on the succession war within House Targaryen, shows a literal bloodstream flowing across King Viserys’ detailed model of Old Valyria to signal different branches of the Targaryen family tree. Along with introducing the individuals that make up the show's cast and crew, the opening sequence also shows which Targaryens are connected and how, important info going into the show's second season as the "Dance of the Dragons" civil war between Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and her half-brother King Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carey) rages on. 

However, it looks like those "House of the Dragon" opening credits graphics will get a makeover for season 2, which premieres on HBO and Max on Sunday, June 16 at 9 p.m. ET. Instead of blood cascading over the stone model, the names of actors, producers and other crew members will be embroidered throughout a cloth tapestry, displaying the tumultuous history of the Targaryen family as blood seeps through the fabric. 

In an interview with Gizmodo’s io9, "HOTD" showrunner Ryan Condal shared the reasoning behind the new season 2 title credits: “We did decide to go with the new main title sequence this year. When we were looking at the sequence we did in season one, which I think works very well, it was visually dynamic and interesting, but it was really about—it was essentially a family tree. It was about the bloodlines of this generational family that begins with Viserys and then goes down through Rhaenyra and Alicent and then on to the generation of their children.”

However, now that Westeros fans are better acquainted with the show's main power players — from Daemon (Matt Smith) to Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) to Alicent (Olivia Cooke), and so on — Condal and Co. felt that fans didn't need as much of a refresher on the old family tree.

“The family is kind of set at [this] point,” Condal told the outlet. “Game of Thrones loves an evolving title sequence, and we just didn’t really know where to go with it from there. So the idea was, if the first season was about ancestry and bloodlines, season two is now about [being part of] this living history, this period that becomes very seismic, both in this time and then for all the decades to come. 

"This is such a famous time in history that even characters in the A Song of Ice and Fire books are thinking back to the Dance of the Dragons, which is the most brutal and bloody civil war fought in this time.”

The opening credits switch-up is far from the only change this season: along with fewer episodes than season 1 and a slew of both new characters and new dragons, "House of the Dragon" also made a much-anticipated update when it comes to the show's lighting after fans bemoaned the dimness of many scenes from last season. Still, be sure to change these three TV settings before watching "House of the Dragon" season 2.

That means you'll be able to clearly see all of those fiery dragons and family backstabbing when the show returns on June 16. Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all updates surrounding "House of the Dragon" season 2, and in the meantime, you can revisit the first season of "HOTD" with a Max subscription. 

For "House of the Dragon" viewers, the problem with season 1 wasn't that the content of the show was too dark (though a drama that sees people getting eaten by dragons can unsurprisingly get a bit grim and gory). 

No, the real issue was that many scenes of the show were literally too dark to see, a complaint that also plagued the show's predecessor, "Game of Thrones." However, that onscreen snafu will reportedly be rectified for the upcoming "House of the Dragon" season 2, showrunner Ryan Condal recently assured fans. 

In a June 6 interview with The Hollwood Reporter, the "HOTD" creator revealed that, though he is "very proud of season 1," there are things he wished they had more time to work on in postproduction. One such thing was how the show was lit. In response to the social-media outrage about the lighting last season, HBO reps at the time said that the dimness was "an intentional creative decision," reported Variety. But Condal has now revealed that producers "went into season two very conscious of that feedback" from fans. 

"Season 2 is much more in line with my particular aesthetic and what I think the show should look like," Condal told THR about the upcoming episodes, which will kick off on Sunday, June 16 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max. "It’s not a massive difference, but I don’t anticipate getting the 'it’s too dark' note again."

That's extra good news for "HOTD" fans because this season is all around bigger than the previous one, despite having fewer episodes than the 10-episode first season. There are a whole host of new characters, new dragons and big battle scenes, not to mention the show's longest installment yet, so Westeros diehards will definitely be wanting to see every single moment crystal clear. 

Condal also acknowledged that the success of the show's first season hasn't entirely alleviated feelings of pressure going into season 2.

"I heard a This American Life interview where they talked to one of the comedy acts that followed The Beatles on Ed Sullivan. They bombed, because they were playing to an audience of 16-year-old girls who just wanted The Beatles to come back. I’m glad I didn’t hear that before our first season because I would’ve collapsed in on myself. We were following one of the most successful TV series of all time," he said. 

"I knew that we made a good show, so I was not surprised that there were good reviews. What surprised me was 29 million people showing up. But I’m not taking that for granted, thinking they’ll all come back."

If you do plan to come back for round two, Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all updates surrounding those "House of the Dragon" season 2 episodes. (Here's the full episode release schedule for the second season, BTW.) In the meantime, you can revisit the first season of "HOTD" with a Max subscription before the new season begins on Sunday, June 16. 

Westeros fans recently got some intel about the episode title and runtime of the premiere episode of "House of the Dragon" season 2 — which will hit HBO and Max on Sunday, June 16 at 9 p.m. ET, so mark your calendars — and now we've learned that the season's second episode will break a record for the "Game of Thrones" prequel series.

Yes, despite "House of the Dragon" season 2 having fewer episodes than its 10-episode predecessor, the second episode will be the show's longest installment yet, clocking in at 72 minutes, eight more than the hour-and-four-minute premiere. That runtime is five minutes longer than last season's longest edition, which only stretched to 67 minutes. So though the episode count is less than it was during the first season, it might appease fans to know that the episodes so far are longer than an hour.

And the new season will need that extra screentime, what with all of the new characters, new dragons and big battle scenes to come. "House of the Dragon" season 2 will pick up shortly after the events of that shocking season one finale, during which Rhaenyra Targaryen's half-brother Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) killed her young son Lucerys (Elliot Grihault) during a dragon chase gone wrong. That tragedy has spurred a fiery succession war inside House Targaryen between Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) and Team Black and her half-sibling Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) and Team Green. Given that the premiere episode is titled "A Son for a Son," it seems like Rhaenyra and her supporters will be seeking revenge against Aegon and Co. in the upcoming episodes.

Though we don't yet know the episode title or full premise of the season's second episode, we do know that it will air on Sunday, June 23 and was directed by Clare Kilner. And we also know that George R. R. Martin — the author behind "Fire & Blood," the book on which "House of the Dragon" is based — called early cuts of the ep "powerful, emotional, gut-wrenching" in a December 2023 blog post on his website. 

The writer was given a sneak peek at the first two editions of "House of the Dragon" season 2 and said: "Of course, I am hardly objective when talking about anything based on my own work… but I have to say, I thought both episodes were just great. (And they are not even finished yet). Dark, mind you. Very dark. They may make you cry. (I did not cry myself, but one of my friends did)."

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all updates surrounding those "House of the Dragon" season 2 episodes, including titles, runtime and any schedule changes. (Here's the full episode release schedule for the second season, BTW, including the big finale.) And we've also got all of your intel about the various "Game of Thrones" spinoff series that are in the works, including the Dunk and Egg prequel and the Aegon the Conqueror series. You can revisit the first season of "HOTD" with a Max subscription before those new season 2 episodes drop beginning Sunday, June 16. 

The season one finale of "House of the Dragon" had a shocking end even by Westeros standards. (Warning: spoilers ahead!) That explosive last episode saw the death of young Lucerys "Luke" Velaryon (Elliot Grihault), who was killed by his uncle Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) during a dramatic dragon chase. 

That tragedy only fueled the already tense relationship between Luke's mother, Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy), and her half-brother and the usurper of her throne, Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney), to whom Aemond is allied. As viewers saw in the final moments of season two, Luke's death takes that sibling rivalry and turns it into a full-force civil war. 

After the official trailer gave fans a sneak peek at how the "Dance of the Dragons" succession war will play out in "House of the Dragon" season 2 — the premiere episode will hit HBO and Max on Sunday, June 16 at 9pm ET — viewers got an early look at one scene from the upcoming premiere, which finds Rhaenyra's husband Daemon (Matt Smith) discussing his stepson's death with his cousin Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best).

In the new clip, which aired during a recent interview with actor Matt Smith on CBS Mornings, shows Daemon concerned that Rhaenyra took off alone on her dragon Syrax after receiving word of Luke's killing. 

"What if Aemond were to happen upon her?" the prince worries. "Then I would pity Aemond," replies Rhaenys, though she acknowledges that Rhaenyra was wise to "recuse" herself and not to give in to vengeful impulses against her half-brothers. Given how absolutely enraged Rhaenyra looked at the end of season 1 of the "Game of Thrones" prequel, her choosing against immediate retribution is quite a feat. 

And though Rhaenyra is rightfully fired up in season 2 (reportedly much more so than in "Fire & Bone," the history book on which "HOTD" is based), we will see a "much weaker" version of her husband this time around, Smith told CBS Morning. 

"I think [Daemon] sort of tumbles into anonymity in a way. He gets sort of softer, lazier, fatter, slower," the actor revealed. "He's sort of haunted by his demons really, by ghosts, by apparitions, by the weight of all the bad deeds that he's done...I think he becomes more exposed, so to speak."

And as for why new viewers should tune into the show's second season, Smith joked that "House of the Dragon" is the perfect show "if you like blond, maniacal families." He added: "It's like a great, big, political sort of Odyssey really and it's violent and sexy and strange. And there are some really wonderful characters, we've got some fabulous new actors who've come in this year." The actor also singled out Aegon II's actor Tom Glynn-Carney as "just fantastic" in "HOTD" season 2. 

Whether you're rooting for Rhaenyra and Team Black or Aegon II and Team Green, Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all things related to the second season of "House of the Dragon." In the meantime, you can catch up with everyone in House Targaryen by rewatching the show's first season with a Max subscription. 

"House of the Dragon" fans only have to wait a few more weeks for that fiery second season to come scorching its way onto our screens, with the premiere episode hitting HBO and Max on Sunday, June 16 at 9 p.m. ET. We already have the full episode schedule for season 2 — which will have fewer editions than its 10-episode predecessor but will have significantly more dragons this time around — and now we have a little intel about what to expect from that season premiere.

The first episode of season 2 will be titled "A Son for a Son," which is fitting given what happened in that shocking season 1 finale. If you need a refresher: the final moments of the show's first season set the "Dance of the Dragons" civil war very much into motion after Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell), brother and ally to King Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney), horrifically killed Rhaenyra's young son Lucerys (Elliot Grihault), aka his nephew, during a dramatic dragon chase. 

That event definitely added extra kindling to the already tense relationship between half-siblings Aegon II and Rhaenyra as they fight over who is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. The episode title is taken from a quote by Rhaenyra's husband Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith), who can be heard proclaiming in one of the "HOTD" trailers: "Make it a son for a son." That means it's near-certain that Rhaenyra and the rest of Team Black will very much be seeking revenge against Aegon and Team Green in the upcoming episodes.

Written by "HOTD" showrunner Ryan Condal and directed by Alan Taylor, the season 2 premiere will reportedly clock in at 64 minutes. And it will pack a lot into those 64 minutes. George R. R. Martin — the author behind "Fire & Blood," the book on which "House of the Dragon" is based — called early cuts of the episode "powerful, emotional, gut-wrenching, heart rending in a December 2023 blog post on his website.

The author was given a sneak peek at the first two editions of "HOTD" season 2 and said of the season kick-off: "Of course, I am hardly objective when talking about anything based on my own work… but I have to say, I thought both episodes were just great. (And they are not even finished yet). Dark, mind you. Very dark. They may make you cry. (I did not cry myself, but one of my friends did)."

Along with appearances by returning main cast members like Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy, Tom Glynn-Carey, Rhys Ifans and Ewan Mitchell, the premiere will also introduce several new characters, including Blood, Cheese, Sir Rickard Thorne, Leon Estermont and more.

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all updates surrounding those "House of the Dragon" season 2 episodes, including titles, runtime and any schedule changes. And we've also got all of your intel about the various "Game of Thrones" spinoff series that are in the works, including the Dunk and Egg prequel and the Aegon the Conqueror series. You can also revisit the show's first season with a Max subscription before those new season 2 episodes drop beginning Sunday, June 16. 

The impending Dance of the Dragons war of "House of the Dragon" season 2 may be a conflict between two opposing factions inside House Targaryen — Team Black (the contingent that supports Rhaenyra Targaryen as heir to the crown) versus Team Green (those that back her half-brother Aegon II Targaryen's claim to the Iron Throne) — but it's also a fiery feud between two women. 

We're talking, of course, about Rhaenyra (played by Emma D'Arcy) and her former childhood friend Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), who dramatically changed up their dynamic when she, you know, married Rhaenyra's dad. (Awkward!) The relationship between the two female leads gets infinitely more complicated as we get deeper into the "Game of Thrones" prequel series and that will no doubt continue when the new season premieres on HBO and Max on Sunday, June 19. 

However, in "Fire and Blood," the George R. R. Martin novel on which "House of the Dragon is based," both Rhaenyra and Alicent are far more passive characters on page than they are onscreen — the former is basically a figurehead during the war and she and Alicent have no established friendship in the book. (Book Alicent is actually a whole decade older than Rhaenyra.) 

"House of the Dragon" executive producer Sara Hess told Entertainment Weekly about how it's both "a benefit and a hardship" for the show to fill in the gaps left by the book when it comes to Rhaenyra and Alicent's stories. 

"There's not as much roadmap there," Hess told the outlet. "We had to flesh out all of those things, but I think it is a benefit in that we're not going against anything that's in the book. It's not that it's saying Alicent did this and we're having her do something else, it's that she disappears from the narrative. It's really interesting to think about because women do disappear from historical narratives."

There won't be any disappearing from this narrative for either woman — Hess notes that, though Rhaenyra begins season 2 in a position of great weakness (what with the shocking death of her son Luke, as well as Aegon II usurping her throne) and Alicent in one of great power as mother and advisor of the king, "the story of this season is that they change places." That heightened focus on the women characters also expands the stories of their children, especially those of Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) and Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell).

So, are you Team Rhaenyra or Team Alicent? HBO played into that rivalry by releasing dueling trailers to promote season two, one that followed D'Arcy's Rhaenyra and the Dragonstone forces and the other centered on Cooke's Alicent and the rest of the King's Landing crew. 

Whichever team to whom you pledge your allegiance, Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all things related to the second season of "House of the Dragon." In the meantime, you can catch up with Rhaenyra, Alicent and all the rest of your favorite "HOTD" characters by rewatching the show's first season with a Max subscription. 

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When "House of the Dragon" season 2 comes around on HBO on Sunday, June 19, you'll definitely be seeing more new characters, more fire-breathing dragons and more fantastical world-building from the "Game of Thrones" prequel series. What you won't be seeing is more episodes — the drama's second season will only have eight episodes, two fewer than the standard 10-ep order of its previous installment. 

It's a seemingly surprising move for the network, especially given that "HOTD" is an expansion of one of HBO's most iconic and successful properties. (For comparison, "Game of Thrones" boasted 10 episodes a year for seasons 1 through 6, followed by a 13-episode final chapter that was split into the show's last two seasons.) Deadline reported back in March 2023 that the reduced episode order was "part of a long-term plan for the show" and that the reasoning behind "the episode count trim was story-driven," per an HBO spokesperson. 

However, a new interview in Entertainment Weekly with "House of the Dragon" executive producer Sara Hess suggests that season 2's eight-episode order was actually not a move by the creative team, and instead came from above. (According to Deadline, some sources believe that leadership changes and cost-cutting strategies at HBO's parent company, Warner Bros. Discover, were to blame for the shrunken episode order.) 

 "It wasn't really our choice," Hess revealed to EW, though she declined to delve into exactly why the decision was made or if it impacted the team's plans for the season. 

That 2023 Deadline article reported that a portion of the plot originally intended for season 2, "including a major battle," was being moved to the show's still-to-be-greenlit third season. And while HBO still hasn't made official announcements about a potential "House of the Dragon" season 3 — for reference, the series was renewed for a second season in August 2022, less than a week after its series premiere — the creative team is already cracking away at ideas for the third season. 

"House of the Dragon" showrunner Ryan Condal revealed to the outlet that he and Hess were "deep into writing a third season" should HBO decide that they want more from the Targaryen-centered spinoff. Advance planning is required to maintain the current schedule of one new "HOTD" season every other year, he explained. 

In terms of the future of the series, "You certainly don't want to rush to get to an end, but you also don't want to overstay your welcome," Condal said. "You want to find this very satisfying place to go out that ties up enough loose ends and leaves others intentionally open because, as we know, this history marches on for another 150 years to Daenerys."

As for what "HOTD" fans could expect, did Hess and Condal give up any details about the team's plans for season 3?  "Nice try, but no," Hess jokingly told the pub. 

But if there is a third season to come, star Olivia Cooke (who plays Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower in the show) also told EW that she will be preparing for filming differently than she has these previous two editions. "By the end of season 2, I was a f---ing shell of myself. I was a husk. I could not form a sentence. I was so tired," she revealed. "I need to implement some way of getting through season 3, if there's a season 3, to really harness as much energy as possible. It is a behemoth."

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all things related to "House of the Dragon" season 2 and, potentially, season 3. In the meantime, you can catch up with all of your favorite "HOTD" characters by rewatching the show's first season with a Max subscription. 

Given the name of the series, it's no shock that dragons will play an awfully important role in "House of the Dragon" season 2, especially after what happened during that shocking season 1 finale. (You know, when Aemond Targaryen's dragon Vhaghar killed Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys Velaryon and his dragon Arrax, kicking off the big succession war in House Targaryen.)

And while we met plenty of mythical monsters in the first season of the "Game of Thrones" prequel series — from Rhaenyra Targaryen's (Emma D'Arcy) she-dragon Syrax Syrax, to the scarlet-hued Meleys ridden by Rhaenys (Eve Best), to the ferocious Caraxes mounted by Daemon (Matt Smith) — the Dance of the Dragons means that there are undoubtedly more creatures to come in the show's second season. (New episodes will kick off on HBO and Max on June 16 at 10pm Eastern Time.) 

The aforementioned fire-breathers will be back for the second installment (well, except Arrax, for obvious reasons), as well as fellow first-season creatures like Seasmoke, Vermax, Dreamfyre and Vermithor. Joining them will be new-to-viewers dragons like Aegon's (Tom Glynn-Carney) golden beast Sunfyre and Moondancer, the dragon of Daemon's daughter Baela — we've already gotten a peek at those two the brand-new "House of the Dragon" trailer — as well as Silverwing and Tyraxes. There are also several wild dragons on Dragonstone, who might make appearances in the upcoming season. 

And if you're having a hard time remembering which dragons belong to Team Green (the political faction that supports the claim of Aegon II Targaryen on the Iron Throne) versus Team Black (those that back Viserys's daughter Rhaenyra Targaryen's as heir to the crown), Daemon handily broke it down in the season 1 finale. 

"They have three adults, by my count," he said of the Greens. As for the Blacks, "we have Syrax, Caraxes and Meleys. Your sons have Vermax, Arrax and Tyraxes. Baela has Moondancer...There are also unclaimed dragons. Seasmoke still resides on Driftmark. Vermithor and Silverwing dwell on the Dragonmount, still riderless. Then there are the three wild dragons, all of whom nest here...Dragonstone has 13 to their four. I also have a score of eggs incubating in the Dragonmount." So going into the second season, Team Black has the advantage of more dragon power, but we doubt that Team Green will be going down without a fight. 

All of those dragons will no doubt give a fiery boost to those battles between the Targaryen siblings: in a new HBO featurette, "House of the Dragon" showrunner Ryan Condal declared: "Season two, there is a war brewing. We were excited to get into it because this is the juicy part of the drama ... Both sides have dragons. The stakes keep going up and up and up."

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all things related to "House of the Dragon" season 2, including new trailers and behind-the-scenes clips, casting info and insights, episode details and, yes, dragon-based data. In the meantime, you can catch up with all of your favorite "HOTD" characters — and their fire-breathing friends — by rewatching the show's first season with a Max subscription. 

If you're anything like us, you're doing a rewatch of that first "House of the Dragon" season in anticipation of the season 2 premiere of the "Game of Thrones" prequel series, which will debut on HBO and Max on Sunday, June 16. And during our refresher binge, we were surprised to find that one memorable scene from the show's first season — an episode 8 moment between Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) and his brother, the ailing King Viserys (Paddy Considine) — featured a key improvisation from Smith. 

In the eighth episode of the prequel series, an ill and bedridden Viserys musters up the strength to march into the throne room and sit on the Iron Throne one last time to defend daughter Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) and her children's rights of succession against the relentless Greens. During the scene, Viserys's crown slips from his head, and in an unplanned but still-in-character move, Smith's Daemon retrieves and reinstates the crown atop his brother's head. 

The episode's director, Geeta Patel, discussed filming the moment in an interview with Entertainment Weekly: "There was one moment in the throne room where Daemon helps Viserys up the stairs to the throne 'cause Viserys is so weak, he can't make it himself. First, a soldier comes up to Viserys, and Viserys shakes him away and says, 'No, no, no. I can do this myself.' He has the pride. And then another person comes to him and he thinks it's a soldier and it's actually his brother."

"When we were shooting that — I think the rehearsal again, the first day — the crown fell off of Paddy's head and Matt picked it up and we just kept going. We didn't stop [filming]," Patel continued. "There was a discovery there of this moment. So then the three of us got together and they were like, 'We felt this. This felt like the turning point in our relationship.' It's just a silent moment."

Patel revealed: "I was so thankful that accident happened, that the crown fell off because it proved to be, at least for me, quite a heavy moment and quite a turning point for a storyline that had started in the pilot: 'Hey, I want your crown and by the end here I'm gonna put the crown back on your head and I'm gonna help you to your throne'." That evidence of the siblings' bond is made even more poignant when Viserys succumbs to his illness by the episode's end. 

We already know that Daemon is a staunch supporter of his wife-niece Rhaenyra's right to follow in her father's footsteps and assume the Iron Throne — see what Matt Smith said about the Targaryen succession war for proof — so old Viserys would at least be proud of that. 

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all intel surrounding "House of the Dragon" season 2, including behind-the-scenes tidbits like cast improvisations, directorial decisions and more. In the meantime, you can revisit that moving brotherly moment between Daemon and King Viserys by streaming the show's first season with a Max subscription. 

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There are many prequels and spin-offs swirling in the Westeros TV universe, from those that have already made their way to screen—like "House of the Dragon," which will be debuting its much-anticipated second season on HBO and Max on Sunday, June 16 — to the ones that are still in the planning and production stages, like the straight-to-order Dunk and Egg-based series "Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight," which just cast its lead actors. 

But now it looks like one previously proposed spin-off series isn't happening after all: yes, like "Bloodmoon," that failed "Game of Thrones" prequel, HBO is not moving forward with its planned Jon Snow-focused series, revealed its star Kit Harington. A sequel following Harington's "GOT" character — a Stark bastard who is later revealed to be (spoiler alert!) Aegon Targaryen, giving him a legitimate claim to the Iron Throne — was announced to be in development in 2022, but those plans have changed, the actor recently told ScreenRant. 

"Currently, it's off the table, because we all couldn't find the right story to tell that we were all excited about enough. So, we decided to lay down tools with it for the time being," Harington revealed to the outlet, though he added: "There may be a time in the future where we return to it, but at the moment, no. It's firmly on the shelf." 

Given that Jon Snow’s fate was left open-ended in the original series—after killing Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), he is exiled from Westeros and returned with the Wildings to the lands beyond The Wall — there's plenty of directions that a sequel could go. Who knows, we could catch up with the character a full decade down the line, if a spin-off ever does end up materializing in the future. 

As for Harington, the English actor can currently be seen in the action-crime thriller "Blood for Lust," opposite Scoot McNairy and Josh Lucas. He will also pop up as a new CEO in the third season of HBO's business drama "Industry," as well as the upcoming romance film "Eternal Return," written and directed by Yaniv Raz and co-starring Naomi Scott. 

Along with "The Hedge Knight," there are several other non-Jon Snow-related spin-offs planned for the "Game of Thrones" world, including a show centered on Aegon the Conqueror and the animated series "Nine Voyages" focused on "House of the Dragon" character Corlys Velaryon, known as the Sea Snake. And then, of course, there's season 2 of "House of the Dragon" itself, which will delve even deeper into the fiery succession war between Jon Snow's seventh great-grandmother Rhaenyra Targaryen (played by Emma D'Arcy) and her half-brother Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney). 

Tom's Guide will be sure to keep you posted on all news of the "Game of Thrones"-related projects currently in development by HBO, including all spin-offs and prequels, whether they're Jon Snow-focused or not. In the meantime, Westeros fans can revisit all eight seasons of "Game of Thrones" as well as the first season of "House of the Dragon" by streaming the fantasy series with a Max subscription.

The first "Game of Thrones" prequel series — that would be "House of the Dragon," of course — will soon be returning to our screens in June (here's the full episode release schedule so you don't miss a single fiery moment.) And now there's major movement on the second spinoff series, "Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight," which just cast its two most important characters.

Based on George R. R. Martin's "The Tales of Dunk and Egg" trilogy of novellas, "The Hedge Knight," will pick up about 100 years before the events of "A Song of Fire and Ice," the fantasy book series that inspired both "Game of Thrones" and "House of the Dragon." At the center of the story, which will take place between the "HOTD" and "GOT" time periods, are two unlikely heroes wandering around Westeros: "a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg," according to the official HBO description.  

Playing Ser Duncan will be Peter Claffey, who TV fans might remember from the Apple TV Plus show "Bad Sisters" and the BBC Three horror comedy "Wrecked." Joining Claffey is Dexter Sol Ansell as Aegon "Egg" Targaryen; the British child actor was most recently seen in "The Hunger Games" prequel film "The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes." 

The upcoming prequel will pull from the first of Martin's three "Dunk and Egg" novellas — the author released “The Hedge Knight” in 1998, “The Sworn Sword” in 2003 and “The Mystery Knight” in 2010 — and will likely consist of six hourlong episodes, with future seasons to focus on the latter books. 

"The pilot script is already written, and I think it’s terrific,” Martin shared on his blog back in April 2023. “It was written by Ira Parker, who is no stranger to Westeros. He was part of Ryan Condal’s writing staff for the first season of "House Of The Dragon," and wrote the fourth episode "King Of The Narrow Sea."

And though the title "Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight" is a bit long and meandering, Martin was emphatic that the prequel wouldn't just be known as "Dunk & Egg."

"Whether that will be the final title, I can’t say for sure… beyond saying that no, it won’t be called TALES OF DUNK & EGG or THE ADVENTURES OF DUNK & EGG or DUNK & EGG or anything along those lines. I love Dunk and I love Egg, and I know that fans refer to my novellas as 'the Dunk & Egg stories,' sure, but there are millions of people out there who do not know the stories and the title needs to intrigue them too," Martin wrote on his blog. "If you don’t know the characters, DUNK & EGG sounds like a sitcom. LAVERNE & SHIRLEY. ABBOTT & COSTELLO. BEAVIS & BUTTHEAD. So, no. We want 'knight' in the title. Knighthood and chivalry are central to the themes of these stories."

Tom's Guide will be sure to keep you posted on all news of the "Game of Thrones"-related projects currently in development by HBO, including "The Hedge Knight" prequel and when fans could expect to see the spinoff. In the meantime, Westeros fans can revisit both "Game of Thrones" and "House of the Dragon" by streaming the fantasy series with a Max subscription.

Given that explosive "House of the Dragon" season 1 finale, it shouldn't come as a shock that Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) will play a vital role in the upcoming second season of the "Game of Thrones" prequel series and the ongoing succession battle between his siblings Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) and Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) over their late father's throne. And a new teaser pic from HBO is ominous proof. 

In the image, which was posted to the official "House of the Dragon" Instagram page on March 28, you can see the prince known as Aemond One-Eye (for obvious reasons) strategizing over a spread of maps alongside Ser Criston Cole, played by Fabien Frankel. The caption to the photo reads, "Challenging kin," which clearly suggests that Aemond is gearing up for battle against his Targaryen brethren.

Cole is an interesting character in the civil war. He has ties to Rhaenyra as her former personal guard and lover; however, his anger and heartbreak over Rhaenyra's arranged marriage to her first husband Laenor Velaryon lead Ser Criston to switch sides and vengefully lend his services to Aegon II. And readers of "Fire & Blood," the George R. R. Martin book series on which "House of the Dragon" is based, will remember that Aemond and Criston are found frequently side-by-side in battle during the Dance of the Dragons, so it's fitting that the Targaryen prince would seek out the knight out in his scheming. 

In case you need a refresher on that season one finale — spoiler warning! — we last saw Aemond at Storm's End trying to convince Lord Borros Baratheon to support Aegon's bid for the crown by promising to marry one of the lord's daughters. However, the presence of Aemond's nephew Prince Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault), who had come to speak on behalf of his mother Rhaenyra, caused a bit of a family feud, as Aemond still resented Luke for wounding his eye when they brawled as kids. Their argument at Storm's End turned into an all-out dragon chase between the uncle and nephew, with Aemond's dragon Vhagar killing Luke.

Needless to say, going into season two, Rhaenyra isn't just out for the throne — she's out for blood. The recently released dueling trailers, representing the "blacks" (a.k.a. Rhaenyra, Daemon and their Dragonstone forces) and the "greens" (Aegon II, Aemond and the King's Landing crew), see Rhaenyra taking a more active role in the succession war than she did on the page, and we're going to assume vengeance against her half-brother is no small part of that. 

"House of the Dragon" season 2 is set to return on Sunday, June 16 on HBO — graciously, that's a lot earlier than we initially thought — with eight new hourlong episodes packed with plenty of family drama and fire-breathing dragons. While you wait to see how Aemond's wicked plans against the rest of the Targaryens play out, you can revisit "HOTD" season 1 with a Max subscription. And bookmark Tom's Guide for all new intel and updates on the second season of "House of the Dragon." 

Somehow, "House of the Dragon" season 2 is almost at an end. If you've not hopped on board just yet, now is the perfect time to get caught up on one of the best shows on Max and, frankly, all of TV.  

The "Game of Thrones" prequel's first season — which is set nearly 200 years before the events of the flagship show — featured 10 hourlong episodes, capping off with that dramatic finale, "The Black Queen," on October 23, 2022. 

Across that first season, we saw House Targaryen split into two factions, setting the stage for the infamous "Dance of the Dragons" civil war which decides which group will eventually lay claim to the Iron Throne. (Here's a "House of the Dragon" season 1 recap if you need a reminder of what's happened so far). 

Season 2, sadly, is only eight episodes long and is continuing to air on Sunday nights on HBO and Max — but not for long.

'House of the Dragon' season 2 release schedule

Here's when you can expect the remaining "House of the Dragon" season 2 episodes to drop:

• Episode 201, "A Son for a Son": June 16
• Episode 202, "Rhaenyra the Cruel": June 23
• Episode 203, "The Burning Mill": June 30
• Episode 204, "The Red Dragon and the Gold": July 7
• Episode 205, "Regent": July 14
• Episode 206, "Smallfolk": July 21
• Episode 207, "The Red Sowing": July 28
• Episode 208: August 4

Season 2 picks up shortly after the events of the climactic season 1 finale, wherein Rhaneyra (Emma D'Arcy) was crowned by her allies as the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms following King Viserys' (Paddy Considine) death. Already dealing with opposition from her half-brother, Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) who'd been crowned by the Greens in King's Landing, her reign became even more complicated when her son Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault) was killed by Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and his colossal dragon, Vhagar. 

That first move drew Rhaenyra's ire, and she sought retribution for her son's death. As the season has continued, the Dance has now finally taken flight. Peace now seems impossible, as bloody battles have already been fought across the Seven Kingdoms, and we've already suffered another huge death. Who knows what the rest of the season has in store for us? 

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all updates surrounding those "House of the Dragon" season 2 episodes. And if you're hungry for more info in between episodes, we've also got intel on all the "Game of Thrones" spinoffs currently in development, including the rumored Aegon the Conquerer series and"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight".

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"House of the Dragon" season 2's release date has been one of the most anticipated announcements this year. And now, the wait is finally over. We know when HBO's acclaimed TV show is returning to HBO and Max this summer.

In an announcement today, Max — the streaming service for HBO and the rest of Warner Bros. Discovery — revealed that they're expanding access to Max throughout Europe. But what they also revealed, is that House of the Dragon season 2 premieres on Max on June 17. 

That means "House of the Dragon" season 2 will premiere on June 16. HBO releases its shows on HBO and Max on Sundays, and June 17 is a Monday. But taking into account time zone differences, a Monday, June 17 release in Europe would line up with a 9 p.m. ET release time on Sunday, June 16.

Update: HBO has dropped not one, but two new trailers for season two of "House of the Dragon." Check out our reaction to the new trailers.

This isn't a total shock, to be fair. We've known since earlier this month that the follow-up to "Game of Thrones" would be coming to HBO and Max this June. Warner Bros. Discovery streaming and gaming chief J.B. Perrette revealed that the show would be returning in June 2024 at Morgan Stanley’s Technology, Media and Telecom conference on March 4. But we weren't expecting to know the release date until we got the next trailer for the show, which admittedly we were anticipating to arrive at some point today.

Once that trailer is live, we will have further coverage of the announcement, including our reaction to the trailer, which we fully expect to be an epic one. The Dance of the Dragons — a brutal civil war in Westeros that sparked the downfall of the powerful Targaryen dynasty and the power of dragons on the fictional continent — is expected to be in full swing this season following the dramatic conclusion of season 1. I for one, can't wait to see what's next. 

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Our minds might be on all things "House of the Dragon" season 2 — which you can expect sometime in August 2024, per series star Matt Smith — but years before we met Smith's Daemon Targaryen, Emma D'Arcy's Rhaenyra Targaryen and Olivia Cooke's Alicent Hightower, there was actually an entirely different "Game of Thrones" prequel series in the works.

Back in June 2018, HBO ordered a pilot for a prequel from British screenwriter-producer Jane Goldman ("Kick-Ass", "Kingsman: The Secret Service"), with George R. R. Martin — the iconic author behind "A Song of Ice and Fire," the novel series on which both "Game of Thrones" and "House of the Dragon" are based — attached as a co-producer. 

Along with Miranda Richardson, Denise Gough, Shiela Atim, Toby Regbo, and Jamie Campbell Bower, the prequel was set to star Naomi Watts, reportedly as "a charismatic socialite hiding a dark secret," and throwback photos of the Aussie actress in full Westeros wear recently hit the Internet, after hair and makeup designer Flora Moody posted them on Instagram.

Per Entertainment Weekly, the official description of the spinoff — which was then untitled but would later be known as "Bloodmoon" — read: "Taking place thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones, the series chronicles the world's descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour. And only one thing is for sure: from the horrifying secrets of Westeros's history to the true origin of the White Walkers, the mysteries of the East, to the Starks of legend ... it's not the story we think we know."

However, as Moody noted in an Instagram carousel that showed Watts in a long, Cersei-esque blond wig during one of her character's hair and makeup tests, the network decided not to move on with the "Bloodmoon" series, despite the pilot reportedly costing a cool $30 million to produce. 

What was the reason for the cancellation? Former WarnerMedia chairman Robert Greenblatt told The Hollywood Reporter: “It was very well produced and looked extraordinary. But it didn’t take me to the same place as the original series. It didn’t have that depth and richness that the original series’ pilot did.”

And we all know what happened next: HBO, instead, premiered "House of the Dragon" in August 2022 and the Emmy-winning fantasy series received both positive critical reviews and such strong viewership that a second season was picked up a mere five days after its debut. 

And if you're looking for even more great shows like "Game of Thrones", the Westeros Cinematic Universe is expanding even further with the recently announced "Aegon’s Conquest", which will reportedly be "a direct prequel to the hit House of the Dragon, telling the story of the Targaryen’s bloody and brutal conquest of Westeros," per The Hollywood Reporter. 

And along with the second season of "House of the Dragon," "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight" — based on Martin's "Dunk and Egg" novellas — will reportedly start filming this year. 

Tom's Guide will be sure to keep you posted on any news of those "GOT" prequels, as well as the prequels to those prequels! In the meantime, you can revisit both "Game of Thrones" and "House of the Dragon" with a Max subscription. 

Winter is coming — ironically this summer, per series star Matt Smith — with the return of "House of the Dragon" but don't expect to see all of those familiar Westeros faces this time around.

"House of the Dragon" season 2 will further delve into the "Dance of the Dragons" war of succession between Aegon II Targaryen and his half-sister Rhaenyra over their father Viserys I's throne — though Rhaenyra's story will seemingly differ from the book — so it shouldn't come as a shock that fans will be seeing the actors behind those characters in the upcoming season. 

But who won't be rejoining the rest of the cast of the "Game of Thrones" prequel for season 2? Here's all of the "HOTD" casting intel we have so far. 

Who is in the 'House of the Dragon' cast for season 2?

When production on the second season of "House of the Dragon" kicked off in spring 2023, fans got confirmation that many of their season 1 favorites would be returning for the sophomore edition. 

As showrunner Ryan Condol announced in April, per Entertainment Weekly: "We are thrilled to be shooting again with members of our original family as well as new talents on both sides of the camera. All your favorite characters will soon be conspiring at the council tables, marching with their armies, and riding their dragons into battle. We can't wait to share what we have in store."

At the time of publication, here are the "House of the Dragon" cast members confirmed to return for season 2:

• Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen
• Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower
• Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen
• Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen
• Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon
• Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole
• Ewan Mitchell as Prince Aemond Targaryen
• Tom Glynn-Carney as King Aegon II Targaryen
• Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria
• Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower
• Harry Collett as Prince Jacaerys “Jace” Velaryon
• Bethany Antonia as Lady Baela Targaryen
• Phoebe Campbell as Lady Rhaena Targaryen
• Phia Saban as Queen Helaena Targaryen
• Jefferson Hall as twins Lord Jason Lannister and Ser Tyland Lannister
• Matthew Needham as Lord Larys Strong

Which 'House of the Dragon' actors aren't returning for season 2?

As for who won't be returning to "House of the Dragon" season 2, seeing as how we are now exclusively dealing with the stories of adult Alicent Hightower and Rhaenyra Targaryen, the young actresses who portrayed those characters in their youth won't be back: Emily Carey and Milly Alcock, respectively. 

As for whether Carey and Alcock will ever return to "House of the Dragon" as the younger versions of Alicent and Rhaenyra, perhaps in flashbacks, Condal told Variety, "I mean, look, I don’t know." He added that the young princess and her former BFF "are not a part of the story that we’re telling, yet. That’s not a thing that we’re doing right now.”

Also missing from the season 2 cast list is Graham McTavish, who portrayed Ser Harrold Westerling in the show's first season and who we last saw in the penultimate episode of season 1. The actor previously discussed his character's potential season 2 fate with TVLine, “I don’t know where it’s all going, all the rest of it. But I mean, the possibilities are there for any number of scenarios at the moment.” 

The role of Ser Harrold Westerling was greatly expanded from the page, but it's still unclear whether or not he will be back next season. Until then, Tom's Guide will keep you posted regarding all "House of the Dragon" casting news!

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Making its debut during 2020's lockdown, homegrown streamer Binge scored the exclusive rights to HBO's catalogue, becoming an online Aussie hub for the US TV giant's back catalogue.

Not only that, but Binge became a surefire way to stream the latest and greatest reality TV shows, including the Real Housewives franchise and Vanderpump Rules. And through an integration with sister site Kayo Sports, Binge was one of the first budget-friendly streaming platforms in Australia to feature live and on-demand sporting events, too.

However, thanks to the arrival of HBO Max in Australia, Binge has unfortunately lost all HBO content on the platform, meaning some may be debating whether or not to ditch Binge completely in favour of a different service. You may even be wondering how much the service will cost you this month or over the year, and that’s where we step in.

We’ve compiled this extensive guide on Binge, with details on what’s included in its monthly plans and more below. If you’re interested in price comparisons across streaming services available in Australia or finding out what the best streaming services in Australia are, we’ve got you covered with our localised Aussie streaming guides. Or if you're looking for recommendations for what to watch this month, we've got you sorted, too.

Binge Australia plans and prices

Binge currently offers six subscription plans at different price points:

Basic (monthly) | AU$10
Standard (monthly) | AU$19
Premium (monthly) | AU$22
Basic (yearly) | AU$79
Standard (yearly) | AU$149
Premium (yearly) | AU$179

Starting at AU$10p/m for a Basic plan, Binge offers a 7-day free trial for new users, which you can cancel at any time.

Basic

Similar to Stan's Basic offering, with Binge’s basic plan you can stream in HD on one screen at a time. According to the platform, this plan is ad-supported, with ads clocking in up to five minutes every hour.

Standard and Premium

The mid-level plan will cost you AU$19p/m for two screens at the same time and 4K/HDR viewing without ads. The only difference between Binge's Standard and Premium plans is the extra $3p/m and two additional screens.

How to pick the right plan for your needs

With most streaming services — Binge included — plan prices tend to revolve around the number of screens and streaming resolution on offer. Obviously, there are other factors that may go into this, like catalogue access and non-streaming benefits, but for the most part it comes down to this: more screens = higher subscription costs.

Binge’s prices very much reflect this, with each plan based around screens and resolution. The key difference is the inclusion of ads on Binge’s cheapest plan, which could detract some away from the basic offering.

The basic plan could be a great choice for a smaller household or single user, with one device to stream the service on (e.g. a smart TV or laptop) and you don’t mind watching an ad or two every 30 minutes. However, if you want more flexibility between screens (and no ads), then you may be better off investing in the standard plan.

We wouldn’t necessarily recommend the Premium plan unless you require two additional screens. We feel the standard plan would suit larger households with multiple devices and you can set up user profiles to differentiate between kids and grown-up content. Also, there’s no difference in audio or streaming quality between the standard and premium plans, so you might be better off saving your extra dollars every month.

Are there ways to save on subscription costs?

At the time of writing, there are a few ways to save on Binge subscription costs. For starters, you can sign up for or switch to an annual plan on your chosen tier to save some extra pennies.

The annual Basic plan will save you AU$40 per year, whereas the annual Standard plan will save you AU$79 and the premium yearly plan will save you AU$85.

The platform does offer a 7-day free trial for new customers, so you can give it a go and see if it’s worth your money.

If you’re an Optus customer you have the option to get a Binge subscription through select home internet or mobile phone plans, so you may be able to maximise savings by bundling your services.

How does Binge pricing compare to other streaming services?

Binge's AU$22p/m premium offering is cheaper compared to Foxtel’s essentials plan and Netflix's premium plan. Currently, premium streaming plans average at AU$20.99p/m.

In terms of basic and standard plans, Binge is on the higher end compared to other services. Binge's basic ad-supported plan is AU$10p/m, costing just below the AU$10.39p/m average. Meanwhile, Binge's standard plan costs more than the AU$15.77p/m average, totalling AU$19p/m and AU$228p/y.

How does Binge's content catalogue compare?

In terms of content, Binge ranks below most streaming services, only offering 1,686 titles. Those titles consist of 673 movies and 1,013 television shows. While that does seem like a lot, it pales in comparison to competitors like Prime Video and Netflix, which have over 10k titles and 7,648 titles, respectively.

Binge suffered a devastating blow in March 2025, with HBO Max's launch in Australia taking away HBO shows and movies from the platform. This means a good portion — around 420 entries — have been stripped from the streamer.

That said, Binge has a slate of new and recent releases that are still worth tuning in for, including the original series, The Last Anniversary, based on the Liane Moriarty novel of the same name. And the platform increased its lifestyle content by adding a live channel of global franchises and local adaptations of hit shows such as Selling Houses Australia, Great Australian Bake-Off and Love It or List It Australia.

Binge also welcomed live sports and news channels to its platform, through integrations with sister sites, Kayo Sports and Flash News, with no ad breaks during play for selected games.

In July, Binge welcomes Jennifer Garner-fronted series, The Five Star Weekend.

Have Binge prices increased over time?

This homegrown streaming platform was one of the services that introduced ad-supported plans and price hikes last year. As of October 2023, its standard subscription increased by AU$4 to AU$18 p/m, and its premium plan rose by AU$4 to AU$22 p/m.

The platform first upped its prices in 2022, just two years after its first launch. Originally, a standard plan in 2020 would have set you back a mere AU$14 per month, and a premium plan would have cost just AU$18 per month. These current hikes total a 22% increase for standard and 18% for premium in the past two years alone.

Meanwhile, the basic plan remains unchanged since 2020 at AU$10 p/m.

Is a Binge subscription worth it?

If you’ve gotten this far, you’re probably still thinking about whether a Binge subscription is worth your time and money. Here’s where we step in and give you some advice.

With the loss of HBO originals and content catalogue, we struggle to wholeheartedly recommend a subscription to the Aussie streamer. That's tough for us to admit — we've been big fans of Binge for some time now at Tom's Guide — but the major drawcards for the platform can be found on an entirely different service in Max.

That's not to say you should cancel your subscription, though, as there are still plenty of great titles and originals you can find on Binge, including Foxtel Now content for a fraction of the price.

If you're keen on saving big on a Kayo Sports subscription, and only tune in to watch seasonal sports, Binge could be the cheaper alternative for sports fans. With plans starting from AU$10p/m, it could be a surefire way to watch the BBL, NRL and AFL games with little ad breaks. If you’re interested in what it has to offer, we’d suggest giving the free trial a go.

If you’re thinking of cancelling your subscription, we have a guide on how to cancel Binge that you may want to check out.

Rhaenyra Targaryen, the "House of the Dragon" heroine and rightful heir to the Iron Throne, made quite the impression in the first season of the "Game of Thrones" prequel series, thanks to the strong performances of Milly Alcock as the young princess and Emma D'Arcy as her adult counterpart. 

The latter actress will take full reins on Rhaenyra's story in the upcoming "House of the Dragon" season 2, which is reportedly set to premiere on HBO in August 2024 (at least, according to series star Matt Smith, who plays Rhaenyra's uncle-slash-husband Daemon Targaryen). 

However, Rhaenyra's trajectory next season will reportedly differ from the one set out in the book upon which the HBO fantasy drama is based, George R. R. Martin's history tome "Fire & Blood," if the teaser trailer for season 2 is any indication.

Rhaenyra Targaryen in the book vs show

Set nearly 200 years before the events of "Games of Thrones," "House of the Dragon" centers on the succession war within House Targaryen during the height of its power, between heir apparent Rhaenyra Targaryen and her half-brother Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) over their father Viserys I's throne.

The final moments of the show's first season certainly set that civil war, known as the "Dance of the Dragons," into motion after Rhaenyra (D'Arcy) is informed that her young son Lucerys (Elliot Grihault) was horrifically killed near Storm's End by the dragon of his uncle Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell), who is allied with Aegon II.

“Maybe he was trying to scare Luke, but I don’t think ultimately he intended to kill him,” showrunner Ryan J. Condal said of Aemond's action, in HBO's "Inside the Episode." “But now he’s done it, and he has to decide whether or not he’s going to own it in his travel back to King’s Landing.”

If he does travel back to King's Landing, he will undoubtedly have to face Rhaenyra's wrath at some point. The last we see of the character, she is gazing defiantly straight at the camera in grief and fury over her child's death. And given that the first scene of the season 2 teaser features Rhaenyra tearfully looking upon Storm's End, and the last finds her fierce and fearless riding a fire-breathing dragon, it's clear the queen's quest for vengeance is only getting started.

This is a bit of a character departure from the Rhaenyra readers know from Martin's books. Though Rhaenyra is still a vital figure in the action of "Fire & Blood," the royal is far more passive on the page, choosing to stay on Dragonstone and act as a figurehead while the war of succession begins. 

But given the sneak peeks of "House of the Dragon" season 2, it seems that the TV series is instead ramping up The Black Queen’s active participation in the conflict and making her much more of an in-the-trenches leader going forward. 

We're still waiting for the official announcement of the "House of the Dragon" season 2 release date, but while you wait to see how Rhaenyra's revenge will pan out, you can stream the show's first season with a Max subscription. 

Television fans have been awaiting their grand return to Westeros, but "House of the Dragon" star Matt Smith has graciously given a little update on when we can expect to see the Targaryen family back on the small screen in "House of the Dragon" season 2. 

Smith, who portrays Daemon Targaryen in the hit HBO series, recently shared on BBC's "The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show" podcast that the Emmy-winning fantasy series would be coming back for its second season this summer. 

"August, I think, I think summer. This summer, yeah," Smith revealed.

That contrasts with the "early summer 2024" release date mentioned by HBO boss Casey Bloys at a press event this past November. Early summer would be more like June, not August.

Smith also gave an update on where production currently stands on season 2. “I’ve not seen any of it yet, but we finished it last year. So, we’ve gotta do all the ADR and all that business,” he said, referencing “automated dialogue replacement,” or dubbing, which shows like "House of the Dragon" utilize to get clear audio during those big, noisy action scenes and such. 

HBO still has not released an official premiere date for "House of the Dragon" season 2, but at least fans now have a window to look forward to. The second season of the "Game of Thrones" prequel series — set nearly 200 years before the events of the flagship show and centering on the succession war within House Targaryen during the height of its power — was greenlit by the network shortly after the season 1 premiere, which aired on August 21, 2022. 

In the year-plus since season 1 ended (the finale, "The Black Queen," aired on October 23, 2022), "House of the Dragon" viewers got a sneak peek at the upcoming sophomore season in November 2023. The minute-long teaser trailer shows that the conflict between Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) rages on. 

“There is no war so hateful to the gods as a war between kin," Rhaenyra says in the clip. “And no war so bloody as a war between dragons,” replies her aunt Rhaenys Targaryen, played by Eve Best. (Indeed, there are plenty of fire-breathing dragons in the teaser — this is Westeros, after all.)

"House of the Dragon" was one of the few high-profile TV programs not negatively impacted by the writers' and actors' strikes of 2023, as the show's scripts were reportedly completed before the Writers Guild of America went on strike and the majority of the cast is composed of U.K.-based actors, who were not subject to the contract restrictions of Hollywood's Screen Actors Guild. 

Therefore, filming on season 2 was permitted to continue through last year, seemingly keeping production on track for that summer 2024 release window. 

As for future seasons of "House of the Dragon," series co-creator George R. R. Martin revealed in a December 2023 blogpost on his website that work is already being done on seasons 3 and 4. 

He wrote: "I also spent two days locked in a room with ['HOTD' co-creator] Ryan Condal and his writing staff (Sara Hess, Ti Mikkel, David Hancock, and Philippa Goslett) talking about the third and fourth seasons of HOUSE OF THE DRAGON.   They were lively, fun discussions, and we got some good work done… though two days was not nearly enough. There is so much ground to cover that I am not sure twenty days would have been enough."

Tom's Guide will keep you posted when the "House of the Dragon" season 2 release date is officially announced. In the meantime, you can stream the show's first season with a Max subscription. 

We’re all eagerly awaiting updates on the premiere date of HBO's "House of the Dragon" season 2 — we already know that the next go-round will arrive in early summer — and there has been recent good news out of the Westeros universe. First, we got confirmation from George R.R. Martin last week that the "Game of Thrones" animated series Nine Voyages is officially in development, and now "House of Dragon" has earned its very first Emmy award this past weekend.

Though the Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony and telecast doesn’t take place until Jan. 15, the Creative Arts Emmys — which honor technical and craft achievements in American television, the kind of behind-the-scenes stuff skipped over during the big, starry primetime broadcast — took place on Jan. 6 and 7. 

The "Game of Thrones" prequel series was up for seven Creative Arts Emmys across categories like production design, cinematography, sound editing, visual effects and makeup. But "House of the Dragon" ended up taking home a single statue: Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes, honoring the work of costume designer Jany Temime and her team, who beat out fellow fantasy favorites like Disney Plus’ "The Mandalorian," Prime Video’s "The Rings of Power" and FX’s "What We Do in the Shadows."

All hail the costumes on 'House of the Dragon'

Temime — a veteran costume designer for franchises like the "Harry Potter" series and Daniel Craig’s James Bond films — previously discussed coming up with the costuming and inspirations for "House of the Dragon" during quarantine. 

The designer told Harper’s Bazaar, "This show is set 200 years before something which doesn’t exist; it’s not specifically historical, so we wanted references to medieval times, but really the sky was the limit. The Targaryens were also extremely wealthy, so I focused on Renaissance and Byzantine elements to show how rich they were. I had to find something before medieval, and I thought that Byzantine was rich enough; it had a sort of decadence.”

You can see Temine and Co. win their award during an edited presentation of the Creative Arts ceremonies, which will air on Sat., Jan. 13, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FXX and stream on Hulu. 

And then tune in on Mon., Jan. 15 for the Primetime Emmy Awards, where "House of the Dragon" is up for one single, but major, award: Outstanding Drama Series. The stacked category includes some of the prequel’s fellow HBO titles, including "The Last of Us," "Succession" and "The White Lotus," as well as "Andor," "Better Call Saul," "The Crown" and "Yellowjackets." (See a full list of Emmy nominations here.)

The 75th Annual Primetime Emmys will be broadcast live from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on Fox at 8 p.m.  ET / 5 p.m. PT. Cord-cutters can watch the 2024 Emmys live online through any cable TV streaming service that carries Fox, including Sling TV and Fubo. You will also be available to stream the show the next day on Hulu. 

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