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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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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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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I mentioned this in our “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” finale live blog, but going into the now-concluded “Game of Thrones” spinoff, I had a feeling that I was maybe growing a little tired of Westeros. Between the proliferation of potential sequel shows, of all kinds, the attempts of every other streaming service trying to have its own flagship fantasy saga (to varying degrees of success), and some of the franchise's own woes, I was wondering whether HBO's plan to root us firmly in Westeros for years to come was truly the right move.

I’m not about to retread the ”Game of Thrones” ending debacle, nor do I really want to dwell on the relative disappointment I felt after the “House of the Dragon” season 2 finale, but I did definitely go into “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” with some trepidation.

Even though I read the collected tales of Dunk and Egg well in advance of the show’s premiere and had a lot of fun with the tone and these distinct characters, I still don't think I truly believed a smaller-scale “Game of Thrones” show could carve out its niche. Dunk was a brilliant character on the page, but I wasn't entirely sure whether his misadventures would make for good TV — and then I watched “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," and I left completely hooked once more.

Just when I thought I was out, Westeros pulled me right back in again

Despite a sedate start to the season and its comparatively limited scope, Dunk and Egg’s first adventure proved to be exactly the kind of show I needed it to be: another must-watch to remind me just how fun watching “Game of Thrones” can be.

Across the show’s six-episode run, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” really did deliver everything I feel like I want from this kind of show. It crammed in thrills, shocks, drama, fantastic production design, and was stuffed with great characters, ranging from humble Dunk and his faithful squire through to Daniel Ings' debaucherous Baratheon gent.

The show might have been far shorter in both episode number and runtime, but it still had bags of character, punctuating its own tension with moments of levity and humor — evidenced within minutes of how the series undermines Ramin Djawadi's iconic theme, for example — that were more than welcome.

Even as someone who shamelessly adores the franchise's grand battles above all else, I was majorly impressed by the Trial of Seven. Watching Dunk go toe-to-toe with Aerion Targaryen in that desperate, bloody brawl was every bit as intense as some of the franchise’s best moments, in part because Peter Claffey's hedge knight is just affable.

Sure, I could be accused of succumbing to recency bias, but I can only write what I'm feeling, and what I'm feeling right now is this: "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" is an early frontrunner for the best show of 2026. I have loved having Dunk on my TV screen for the past six weeks, and I have to thank the show for reinvigorating my love of this particular fantasy universe.

It hasn't just impressed me outright, but also reminded me how much I did enjoy a lot of "House of the Dragon," too, and I've now fully given in to getting hyped for "House of the Dragon" season 3, after that action-packed teaser trailer. Speaking broadly, the expanding franchise has delivered two impressive follow-up shows, and, for now, proved that the Seven (or Nine, technically) Kingdoms still have more to offer storytellers and fantasy fans alike.

"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" is now streaming on HBO Max and is due to return for season 2 in 2027.

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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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Over the last few weeks, HBO Max's "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" has been taking us back to Westeros to bring the story of Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his squire, Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell), to life, and this latest "Game of Thrones" spinoff has proven to be another phenomenal fantasy show.

After those last two episodes, I feel more than confident arguing that this will almost certainly go down as one of my favorite shows of the year, and now can't wait to see the fallout from that climactic battle last week.

Looking ahead to the "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" finale this weekend, you can see there's chatter about a forthcoming war, Dunk faces an audience with Maekar Targaryen, and he sure seems "done with princes" ... but would he really turn his back on his bald pal after all that trouble?!

Can't wait to watch the final episode? Here's when you can expect to stream "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 6 on HBO Max, and elsewhere around the world.

What time does 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' episode 6 release on HBO Max?

"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" continues to follow its usual release schedule for this final week. That means you can look forward to watching "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" season finale tomorrow (Sunday, Feb. 22) at 10 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Here's when you'll be able to tune in to "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 6 elsewhere in the world:

• U.K. – Streaming from 3 a.m. GMT on Monday, Feb. 23
• Canada – 10 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 22
• Australia – 2 p.m. AEDT on Monday, Feb. 23

'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' full release schedule

The first season of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" will run for six episodes and is being released on a weekly basis, with this forthcoming episode capping off the first season. Here's the full U.S. release schedule for "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" season 1:

• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 1, "The Hedge Knight" - Streaming now
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 2, "Heart Salt Beef" - Streaming now
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 3, "The Squire" - Streaming now
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 4, "Seven" - Streaming now
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 5, "In the Name of the Mother" - Streaming now
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 6, "The Morrow" - Streaming Sunday, Feb. 22

Is 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' season 2 happening?

If you're not yet ready to say goodbye to Dunk and Egg, you'll be pleased to know that "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" isn't going anywhere. HBO has already confirmed this second "Game of Thrones" spinoff will be back to recount the next of Dunk and Egg's adventures.

The "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" renewal was confirmed back in November 2025. At that time, Casey Boys, Chairman and CEO, HBO and HBO Max Content, confirmed the show would be returning; expect it to air at some point in 2027.

"House of the Dragon," meanwhile, will return for its third season this summer, and the fourth — which we already know will be the show's last — is currently planned for 2028.

What's more, showrunner Ira Parker has major plans to continue exploring much more of Dunk and Egg's lives. Speaking with Esquire, Parker shared they'd be interested in continuing to return to both characters as they aged.

Asked how many seasons they've planned, Parker said: "The truth is—and I've pitched this to HBO with a couple very polite eye rolls—I want to do four or five now with Egg as a kid. Then, I want to come back in 10 years and do four or five more seasons with Egg the Prince.

"And with real Dexter [Ansell] and real Peter, just the age that they are at that point. Then, we’ll come back ten years after that and do well, Egg the adult. So, it would be over the course of their lifetime. And mine too."

Whether or not we get to know Dunk and Egg that well remains to be seen, but it at the very least sounds like we'll be getting to know our new favorite "Game of Thrones" duo for some time yet.

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"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" has undoubtedly become one of the best shows of the year, if not the best. While the series premiere was a bit of a slow burn, last week's "Seven" was one of the best "Game of Thrones" episodes ever, from either the original or the two spin-offs we've gotten from HBO so far. When the "Game of Thrones" theme kicked in as Baelor declared he'd fight for Dunk, it was, as the kids say, absolute cinema.

That meant that this week's episode had a high bar to clear to keep the momentum going. The bad news is that "In the Name of the Mother" isn't quite as good as "Seven," though that's not a huge shock.

The good news is it's still a great episode of television, and its execution of giving us the historic Trial of the Seven between Ser Duncan the Tall and Prince Aerion Targaryen while showing us Dunk's journey from King's Landing street rat to squire to a knight via flashback is masterfully done.

I would have preferred a more contained episode, akin to "Blackwater," but there's no denying that the backstory revealed here was necessary to paint a fuller picture of Dunk. This episode also delivered a stunning moment at the final moment, once again, so trust me when I say, this show is still producing excellent episodes of TV.

Spoilers ahead for "Seven," episode 105 of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms"

'In the Name of the Mother' is two episodes in one, and it mostly works

The whole season has been building to this moment. We've assumed that the tourney at Ashford Meadow would be Dunk's moment of glory, and that's proven to be partially true. Dunk will be given a chance to write his name in the history books at Ashford Meadow, but he won't be participating in the tournament. Instead, he's going to defend his life and honor in a ritual known as the Trial of the Seven.

In "Seven," we learn that this means Dunk must find six other men to fight with him in what could be a battle to the death for all seven. Especially as they'll largely be fighting well-trained Targaryen princes and their sworn Kingsguard. But when Baelor arrives to fight with Dunk, hope arises that this may be a fair fight after all.

That hope is pretty quickly dashed. Dunk is an experienced fighter, and almost immediately, he's knocked from his horse by Aerion and is rendered briefly unconscious. But it causes Dunk's life to flash before his eyes, or at least, the moment when he met Ser Arlin of Pennytree.

From here, we get scenes of Dunk's journey from the streets of King's Landing to becoming Ser Arlin's squire, interspersed between scenes of the Trial of the Seven. Thankfully, we're not cutting back and forth constantly; we spend a large chunk of time in Dunk's past before awaking on the battlefield and resuming the epic battle between Dunk's fighters and Aerion's soldiers. There's a final brief moment of flashback when Dunk is briefly knocked down to the ground again, but for the most part, once we're back in the fight, we're back there for good.

Separately, both these episodes are excellent. Getting to see Dunk as a youth in King's Landing is massive for his character development, and there are some moments of high drama on par with anything we've seen so far this season. Meanwhile, the fight between Dunk and Aerion is well-executed as well. Admittedly, it's very focused on Dunk and Aerion; the other 12 people involved are only shown sparingly, which is a bit of a disappointment. Still, it's a well-scripted, well-choreographed fight between our hero and villain.

Unfortunately, forcing these two, largely (but not wholly) disparate episodes together, diminishes the impact of both. Not in a massive way, but I wish we could have gotten the flashback scenes in one episode, first, and then dedicate an episode entirely to the Trial of the Seven. It would have made each story hit with greater impact, particularly the historic fight.

Verdict: This battle of the century largely lives up to the hype

Despite my qualms with the construction of this episode, the substance of it is excellent. This climactic battle is undercut slightly by pulling us away for several minutes into a different story, but once we're back in the present, Dunk's fight with Aerion is epic. Especially once Dunk starts to go berserk.

Plus, the showrunners once again delivered a stunning moment at the end of the episode, and one that only readers of the Dunk and Egg novellas would have seen coming. I won't spoil it, as it's possibly the biggest moment of the entire season, but the decision to have that moment arrive in the final seconds of the episode, and then immediately cut to the credits, makes it hit with an incredible impact. Yes, it's obvious the show needs to make that choice, but it is still a positive mark that the show executed it properly.

In the end, while "In the Name of the Mother" isn't quite as good as "Seven," and this potential battle of the century isn't quite as good as some we've seen in "Game of Thrones" over the decades, it strikes true enough to the mark to deliver an incredible episode. That means this show is still must-see TV, and might just be the best show of the year so far.

"In the Name of the Mother" ("A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," season 1, episode 5) final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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HBO Max's "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" has taken us back to Westeros to recount the first adventure of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his squire, Egg (Dexter Sol-Ansell). This short, smaller-scale "Game of Thrones" spinoff has more than proven its worth thus far. TG's Malcolm McMillan even proclaimed last week's episode the best of any show so far this year.

After HBO dropped the preceding episode a couple of days early (so fantasy fans could still tune in to Super Bowl LX), we're returning to the show's normal schedule this evening, which has meant early viewers have had to wait a little longer than normal to see what's next for Dunk and Egg.

Given his stirring speech to the tournament crowds, I'm sure I'm not the only viewer who's been desperate to see how this "Trial of Seven" will pan out. However, before he trades blows with Aerion Targaryen foe in battle, it looks like he'll be facing up to his past, as the preview trailer for episode 5 shows us a younger Dunk (alongside some brutal battle footage).

If you can't wait to see what's coming, here's when you can expect to stream "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 5 on HBO Max and elsewhere around the world.

What time does 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' episode 5 release on HBO Max?

As mentioned, the series has now returned to its normal release schedule. That means you can look forward to watching "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 5 tonight (Sunday, Feb. 15) at 10 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Here's when you'll be able to tune in elsewhere around the world:

• U.K. – Streaming from 3 a.m. GMT on Monday, Feb. 16
• Canada – 10 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 15
• Australia – 2 p.m. AEDT on Monday, Feb. 16

'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' full release schedule

The first season of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" will run for six episodes and is being released on a weekly basis until late February. Here's the full U.S. release schedule for "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" season 1:

• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 1, "The Hedge Knight" - Streaming now
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 2, "Heart Salt Beef" - Streaming now
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 3, "The Squire" - Streaming now
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 4, "Seven" - Streaming now
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 5, "In the Name of the Mother" - Streaming Sunday, Feb. 15
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 6, "The Morrow" - Streaming Sunday, Feb. 22

Is 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' season 2 happening?

If you were at all worried about the future of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," don't be: HBO has already confirmed this second "Game of Thrones" spinoff will be back to recount the next of Dunk and Egg's adventures.

The show's renewal was confirmed back in November 2025. At that time, Casey Boys, Chairman and CEO, HBO and HBO Max Content, confirmed the show would be returning; expect it to air at some point in 2027.

"House of the Dragon," meanwhile, will return for its third season this summer, and the fourth — which we already know will be the show's last — is currently planned for 2028.

Determined to make the most of your subscription? Take a look at our definitive breakdown of all the best shows on HBO Max for tons of top streaming recommendations.

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Since premiering in November 2025, HBO's "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" has become a worthy addition to the larger Westeros Universe, with its recent fourth episode being dubbed by us here at Tom's Guide as "the best show episode of the year so far."

The six-episode streaming series is, thus far, a lovingly faithful screen adaptation of George R. R. Martin's "The Tales of Dunk and Egg" novellas, which follow the odd-couple duo of lowborn hedge knight, Ser Duncan the Tall (played by Peter Claffey in the show) and his diminutive squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) — better known by "A Song of Ice and Fire" fans as Aegon V Targaryen — as they traverse Westeros and encounter "great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits" along the way, per the official logline.

However, one key omission from Martin's source material in the streaming adaptation has been seemingly plaguing "AKOTSK" showrunner Ira Parker, who revealed during a recent Reddit AMA that the cut was "not my first not my last [mistake] on this show." During the discussion, per The Hollywood Reporter, a critical fan pointed out a crucial exchange in Martin’s "The Hedge Knight" novella, where Dunk is helpfully reminded by blacksmith Steely Pate that he is "a knight who remembered his vows.”

“Many readers consider [this] to be the soul and the moral of the entire novella,” the fan posted in the AMA thread. “The impact comes not just from the exchange itself, but its careful placement at Dunk’s lowest point, before he realizes any champions have answered his call … It’s an odd choice given how faithful you’ve otherwise been to the novella.”

Rather than discredit the viewer's take, Parker replied to the poster directly, saying: “Honestly it was a mistake on my part. Not my first, not my last on this show. That scene was in the script at one point, then fell out. I agree that ‘a knight who remembers his vows’ is the soul of this story, but I think that is still very much at the core of the show, even if I stupidly left out this scene … it may not be said explicitly, but Dunk’s actions remain the same.”

Faithfulness to the original material has not only been a focus for Parker but also for Martin, the former revealed in a February 2026 interview with GQ.

"I think he mentioned the phrase “faithful adaptation” about four times in his first three words," Parker said of the author. "It was very important for him; he loves “The Hedge Knight,” and he loves these characters. These books are very important for him. He wanted them to be reflected well in a TV show, which was easy for me, because after coming to and reading these books, I very much agree with that. I like these stories as they are presented. I like the tone in which they are presented. We agreed."

That faithfulness extends to the scant screentime of the series, especially in comparison with the more expansive "Game of Thrones" flagship series. “One of George’s biggest concerns was that the story shouldn’t be stretched too far,” Parker told the outlet, adding that the original novellas "are quite slim, even as novellas go, perhaps. I think the original publication of 'Hedge Knight' was something like 84 pages." Thus, "AKOTSK" season 1 consists of just six episodes, each about 30 minutes long.

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all things related to "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," including behind-the-scenes intel on the currently-airing first season as well as details on the in-the-works season two.

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"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" didn't exactly start with an all-time great episode. It was good, but the series premiere was nowhere near as memorable as the "Game of Thrones" show it spun off from. I'd argue that even "Winter Is Coming," the series premiere of the original show, was far better and left a more lasting impression. So, it was fair to wonder if this six-episode season of mere half-hour(ish) episodes would ever reach the highs of its predecessor. Especially since, arguably, the other spin-off, "House of the Dragon," has largely failed to do so.

But with today's surprisingly early episode, "Seven," which HBO moved up on HBO Max from Sunday to today (Friday) to avoid airing against Super Bowl 2026, we finally have this show's first prestige moment. Is "Seven" as good as "Baelor," or "Blackwater"? Perhaps not, but it's a masterpiece nonetheless that deserves to be spoken of in the same conversation. It's the first truly memorable moment this show has had, and it's also the best episode of any show that I've seen all year so far.

Spoilers ahead for "Seven," episode 104 of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms"

'Seven' feels like an episode of 'Game of Thrones'

Up to this point, "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" had dabbled with being like its predecessor, but it had intentionally tried to be something different. There was less sex, a bit less violence and more (literal) potty humor. But one thing the show managed to replicate was the focus on men talking in rooms, even if the rooms were sometimes outside and the men were sometimes women.

But those moments of men talking in rooms were always building to something more. Those scenes were there to craft tension between parties until it had no choice but to boil over epically.

That is what we got in "Seven." We finally got the moment where the tension building all season can no longer be contained. Aerion's decision to opt for a Trial of the Seven rather than simply trial by combat is the first truly stunning moment of the season.

And when Baelor reveals himself to defend Dunk against his fellow Targaryens, that is this show's moment that will live on. It's the moment this show finally declared itself a peer to "Game of Thrones" and not just its little sibling, and "Seven" will now be discussed in the same breath as "Baelor," Blackwater" and "Hardhome." And just to drive that point home, the showrunners hit us with the "Game of Thrones" theme right as Baelor declares his allegiance, right before we cut to black.

Verdict: This is the moment 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' became must-see TV

Of course, now we have to get to the trial itself. But after watching "Seven," you'll now be eagerly awaiting the next episode of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms." You'll no longer be debating if this show is worth your time; it's now earned your Sunday night appointment viewing.

Or, at least, that's where I'm at now. After what's already been a pretty good to great first three episodes, this show just delivered a masterpiece. For that, it now has my attention for good, and I can't wait to see what happens next.

"Seven" ("A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," season 1, episode 4) final rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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After a "Game of Thrones"-less 2025, HBO Max's "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" has taken us back to Westeros to recount the first adventure of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his squire, Egg (Dexter Sol-Ansell) — and the next episode's about to reunite us with the pair even earlier than usual.

Yes, if you're planning to tune in to Super Bowl LX this weekend, you'll be pleased to know you won't have to dodge "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" spoilers, as HBO has confirmed episode 4 is getting an early release on HBO Max.

That's good news, too, as Dunk's truly in hot water. Having saved Tanselle from Aerion Targaryen, our bumbling hedge knight faces a "Trial of Seven," and must gather six men to fight alongside him. Judging by the impassioned speech he gives from horseback in the preview trailer, gathering those allies might be a tall order...

If you can't wait to see what's coming, here's when you can expect to stream "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 4 on HBO Max and elsewhere around the world.

What time does 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' episode 4 release on HBO Max?

As I predicted (and earlier reported), "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 4 is getting an earlier release this year, presumably to avoid competing with Super Bowl LX.

Instead of premiering in its usual 10 p.m. ET Sunday night slot, "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 4 will premiere early at 3:01 a.m. ET on Friday, Feb. 6 on HBO Max. If you'd prefer to watch on linear TV, the episode will still air on HBO on Sunday, Feb. 8, in that 10 p.m. slot.

It's only a minor schedule shake-up, and it does mean fantasy fans can catch the next leg of Dunk and Egg's first adventure a little earlier than usual. And as it's been moved up at HBO Max, the episode will also be available early around the world, too:

• U.S. – Friday, February 6 at 12 a.m. PT / 3 a.m. ET
• Canada – Friday, February 6 at 12 a.m. PT / 3 a.m. ET
• U.K. – Friday, February 6 at 8 a.m. GMT
• Australia – Friday, February 6 at 7 p.m. AEDT

'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' full release schedule

The first season of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" will run for six episodes and is being released on a weekly basis until late February. Here's the full U.S. release schedule for "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" season 1:

• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 1, "The Hedge Knight" - Streaming now
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 2, "Heart Salt Beef" - Streaming now
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 3, "The Squire" - Streaming now
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 4, "Seven" - Streaming from Friday, Feb. 6
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 5, "In the Name of the Mother" - Streaming Sunday, Feb. 15
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 6, "The Morrow" - Airing Sunday, February 22

Is 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' season 2 happening?

If you were at all worried about the future of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," don't be: HBO has already confirmed this second "Game of Thrones" spinoff will be sticking around to recount another of Dunk and Egg's adventures.

The show's renewal was confirmed back in November 2025. At that time, Casey Boys, Chairman and CEO, HBO and HBO Max Content, confirmed the show would be returning; expect it to air at some point in 2027.

"House of the Dragon," meanwhile, will return for its third season this summer, and the fourth — which we already know will be the show's last — is currently planned for 2028.

Want to make sure you're getting the most out of your HBO Max subscription? Be sure to check out our round-up of all the best shows on HBO Max to build up your watchlist.

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It's a good time to be an HBO Max subscriber. The streaming service arguably has three of the best shows on streaming or television right now: "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," "Industry" season 4 and "The Pitt" season 2.

There's just one problem, though: none of these shows can withstand the juggernaut that is Super Bowl 2026. And like with most of HBO's hit shows, the Super Bowl claims Sunday night as its domain.

Now, "The Pitt," which airs on Thursday nights, has nothing to worry about. But "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" and "Industry" are both traditional Sunday night shows on HBO and HBO Max. So, wisely, HBO is moving up the HBO Max release dates for both shows so you don't have to choose between prestige TV and Seahawks vs. Patriots.

Episode 4 of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" will now premiere early at 3:01 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 6, on HBO Max. Simultaneously, episode 5 of "Industry" season 4 will now premiere early on Friday, Feb. 6 at 3:01 a.m. on HBO Max. Both shows will still debut on linear TV HBO at their normal times on Sunday, Feb. 8.

'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' full release schedule

If you haven't been watching the latest "Game of Thrones" spinoff, you should be. In my "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" premiere review, I said that, despite its slow start, the good stuff is coming. If you've been following along, you know already that I was proven correct on that front; this show is excellent.

The first season of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" has already completed three of its six episodes this season. It will run for three more episodes and is being released on HBO and HBO Max every Sunday on a weekly basis (excluding this week's Super Bowl exception). Here's the full release schedule for "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" season 1:

• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 1, "The Hedge Knight" - Streaming now
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 2, "Heart Salt Beef" - Streaming now
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 3, "The Squire" - Streaming now
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 4, "Seven" - Streaming on HBO Max starting at 3:01 a.m. ET on Friday, Feb. 6. Premiering on HBO at 10 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 8
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 5, "In the Name of the Mother" - Premiering on HBO and HBO Max at 10 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 15
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 6, "The Morrow" - Premiering on HBO and HBO Max at 10 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 15

'Industry' season 4 full release schedule

If there's a show out there right now that can one-up "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," it's this one. In my "Industry" season 4 premiere review, I declared it the same "delightfully unhinged" show that I became so addicted to back in 2024, and episode 2, "The Commander and the Grey Lady" is the best episode of TV I've seen this year.

The fourth season of "Industry" has already completed three of its six episodes this season. It will run for three more episodes and is being released on HBO and HBO Max every Sunday on a weekly basis (excluding this week's Super Bowl exception). Here's the full release schedule for "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" season 1:

• "Industry" season 4, episode 1, "PayPal of Bukkake" - Streaming now
• "Industry" season 4, episode 2, "The Commander and the Grey Lady" - Streaming now
• "Industry" season 4, episode 3, "Habseligkeiten" - Streaming now
• "Industry" season 4, episode 4, "1000 Yoots, 1 Marilyn" - Streaming now
• "Industry" season 4, episode 5, "Eyes Without a Face" - Streaming on HBO Max starting at 3:01 a.m. ET on Friday, Feb. 6. Premiering on HBO at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 8
• "Industry" season 4, episode 6, "Dear Henry" - Premiering on HBO and HBO Max at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 15
• "Industry" season 4, episode 7, "Points of Emphasis" - Premiering on HBO and HBO Max at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 22
• "Industry" season 4, episode 8, "Both, And" - Premiering on HBO and HBO Max at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 1

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After a "Game of Thrones"-less 2025, HBO Max's "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" has taken us back to Westeros to recount the first adventure of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his squire, Egg (Dexter Sol-Ansell).

While the streaming service's new "Game of Thrones" spinoff isn't operating on the scale of the Targaryen saga (which continues with House of the Dragon" season 3 in summer 2026), it's proven to be an entertaining watch nonetheless, and this week's preview teaser promises we're in for more fun.

It kicks off with our two leads bickering and sharing breakfast, but it also promises plenty of bone-crunching jousting action and features a rather menacing note from one Aerion Targaryen (Finn Bennett).

If you can't wait to see what's coming, here's when you can expect to stream "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 3 on HBO Max and elsewhere around the world.

What time does 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' episode 3 release on HBO Max?

"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 3 premieres on HBO Max at 10 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 1 in the U.S.

That shouldn't be a major surprise, as that's when the previous episode aired and should be when the rest of the season airs, too, unless HBO Max decides to move the release of next week's episode to avoid clashing with Super Bowl LX.

Here's when the next episode of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" will drop elsewhere in the world:

• U.K. – streaming from 3 a.m. GMT on Monday, Feb. 2 on NOW
• Canada – 10 p.m. ET/PT on Crave
• Australia – 2 p.m. AEDT on Monday, February 2

'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' full release schedule

The first season of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" will run for six episodes and is being released on a weekly basis until late February. Here's the full U.S. release schedule for "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" season 1:

• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 1, "The Hedge Knight" - Streaming now
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 2, "Heart Salt Beef" - Streaming now
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 3, "The Squire" - Streaming Sunday, Feb. 1
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 4, "Seven" - Streaming Sunday, Feb. 8
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 5, "In the Name of the Mother" - Streaming Sunday, Feb. 15
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 6, "The Morrow" - Airing Sunday, February 22

Is 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' season 2 happening?

If you were at all worried about the future of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," don't be: HBO has already confirmed this second "Game of Thrones" spinoff will be sticking around.

News of the show's renewal came back in November 2025. At that time, Casey Boys, Chairman and CEO, HBO and HBO Max Content, confirmed the show would be returning; expect it to air at some point in 2027.

This was confirmed at the same time we learned "House of the Dragon" had been renewed for a fourth installment, due in 2028.

Want to make sure you're getting the most out of your HBO Max subscription? Be sure to check out our round-up of all the best shows on HBO Max to build up your watchlist.

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You need to watch "Wonder Man." Or at least, you really should, whether you're a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe or not. In fact, if you don't read anything beyond this point, I hope you take away that even a Marvel skeptic can like this show, and at the end of its eight episodes, come away from the viewing experience impressed.

When I tell you I had no plans to watch this show, I mean it. I would, on a professional level, of course, cover it if asked. Despite the shine taken off the MCU's star in Hollywood and the world at large, the shows and movies it produces are still among the biggest in any given year. Case and point? "Avengers: Doomsday" still made the list of my most anticipated movies of 2026, even though I find myself unimpressed with Marvel in recent years.

But, as they say in the business, time is money, and just because "Wonder Man" is the biggest show on Disney+ this month doesn't mean you need to watch it. After all, our Tom's Guide managing editor, Kelly Woo, declared this show unlikely to be must-watch TV to the point where she was willing to cancel Disney+ this month rather than watch it as soon as it debuts on the streaming service.

Before watching "Wonder Man," I'd have agreed with her — without reservation. Now that I've watched the eight-episode miniseries, I couldn't disagree more. This superhero show is a well-crafted, engaging story about an unlikely mentor-mentee relationship and the unexpected friendship that comes with it, as well as an engaging tale of betrayal that's dripping with metaphor. If anything, it could have used a bit more superhero stuff to make the Marvel aspects of the show impactful rather than largely ancillary. But regardless, I can't recommend it enough, and I'm genuinely hoping that we get a "Wonder Man" season 2.

'Wonder Man' doesn't need Marvel, but Marvel needs more 'Wonder Man'

If you watch the trailer above, you'll notice two things. First, there are no superpowers on display. Second, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley are rarely on screen alone. Where one goes, so too goes the other.

Eight episodes later, I can tell you that the trailer nails it. Yes (spoiler alert), Simon (Abdul-Mateen) does have superpowers (Marvel gives that away in a subsequent trailer). But until the very last second, they're largely irrelevant to his story.

That's not to say they're totally irrelevant. As you watch the series, you see how Simon's powers shape who he is today. Especially as he tries to be an actor in a world where the superpowered are barred from acting. But while they're part of his character's backstory, it's not essential. What's essential is that Simon needs to overcome the traumas of his past and finally get over the obstacles in front of him. The fact that superpowers are involved in those core components of great storytelling is merely window dressing.

Speaking of storytelling, "Wonder Man" is primarily the story of an unlikely friendship. It's far more about that than it is about capes or costumes. This show is centered around the unlikely friendship between Simon and Trevor, and while Trevor may be a familiar face for anyone who's watched "Iron Man 3" or "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," you don't need to know his backstory going into this show. "Wonder Man" tells you everything you need to know as it plays out the mentor-mentee relationship between the veteran actor Trevor and the struggling Simon, which then becomes a deep friendship ready to be fractured by dark secrets the two friends keep from each other.

Do those secrets involve powers and Marvel lore? They do, but the reason this show is so good is that they don't have to involve either of those things. A Marvel-free version of this show could exist, and it would be just as good, possibly even better.

Which brings me to the two negatives I have about "Wonder Man." While I like that it's focused on substance over style, this is still fundamentally a Marvel property, and I would have liked Simon's powers and his relationship to them to be further explored. His growth as a potential superhero happens off-screen, and I think with more time, it would have been fulfilling to go through that journey with Simon, rather than rushing to the show's endpoint.

I also worry that Marvel, which seems to be careening towards a reboot, isn't going to learn that this is the type of show that people want to see. The studio dumped this show at the end of January as a binge-drop, and while the story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, this show is billed as a miniseries and what's currently on the Marvel release schedule seems aimed at getting to "Avengers: Secret Wars" and tying up loose ends. "Wonder Man" is, in theory, exactly the type of show Marvel should be craving. But instead, I'm worried it's doomed to be the type of show Marvel often forgets that it knows how to make.

Please Marvel, don't let 'Wonder Man' end here

I know I just said I think this show's future is doomed, but there are some hopeful signs that "Wonder Man" could get a second season.

First, there are some early reviews that have already come in, and they're positive as well. "Wonder Man" is currently rated 93% "fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes by critics, which is impressive in general but particularly for a Marvel show. Show creator Andrew Guest also recently sat down with MovieWeb and hinted that a season 2 was not out of the question.

Personally, I don't need it to be a season 2, necessarily. If we get more of Simon (and Trevor) in a future Marvel movie — and not just forgotten or killed off in "Avengers: Doomsday" — I'm fine with that too. But after watching "Wonder Man," it's clear that this is a story worth telling, and there's more of it to tell. So I'm just begging Marvel, please, don't let "Wonder Man" end here.

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After a "Game of Thrones"-less 2025, "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" has premiered on HBO Max, kicking off a bumper year that will see two Westeros-set shows coming to the streaming service ("House of the Dragon" season 3 is due this coming summer, in case you forgot).

This latest "Game of Thrones" spinoff isn't operating on quite as grand a scale as the Targaryens' series, though. As TG's Malcolm McMillan put it in his "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" season premiere review: ""A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" may look like Westeros, but it's a very different show." That's not to say it's less exciting, though, as George R.R. Martin's Dunk and Egg tales might differ in scale and tone, but they're no less entertaining. And, judging by the "Weeks Ahead" trailer, and all the promo footage we've for what's to come in the future, it's going to be an adventure worth sticking with.

If you're planning your streaming for the next couple of months, here's when you can expect to stream "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 2 on HBO Max and elsewhere around the world.

What time does 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' episode 2 release on HBO Max?

"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 2 begins streaming on HBO Max at 10 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 25 in the U.S.

That shouldn't be a major surprise, as that's when the previous episode aired, and — pending any potential movement owing to Super Bowl LX — the same slot the rest of the series should occupy in the weeks to come.

Here's when the next episode of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" will drop elsewhere in the world:

• U.K. – streaming from 3 a.m. GMT on Monday, Jan. 26 on NOW
• Canada – 10 p.m. ET/PT on Crave
• Australia – 2 .m. AEDT on HBO Max

'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' full release schedule

If you didn't know, "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" is six episodes long, and scheduled to air weekly through to a season finale planned for release in late February.

Below, you can find the full U.S. release schedule and episode titles for all six episodes of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms":

• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 1, "The Hedge Knight" - Streaming now
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 2, "Heart Salt Beef" - Streaming Sunday, Jan. 25
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 3, "The Squire" - Streaming Sunday, Feb. 1
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 4, "Seven" - Streaming Sunday, Feb. 8
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 5, "In the Name of the Mother" - Streaming Sunday, Feb. 15
• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" episode 6, "The Morrow" - Airing Sunday, February 22

Is 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' season 2 happening?

If you were at all worried about the future of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," don't be: HBO has already confirmed this second "Game of Thrones" spinoff will be sticking around.

News of the show's renewal came back in November 2025. At that time, Casey Boys, Chairman and CEO, HBO and HBO Max Content, confirmed the show would be returning; expect it to air at some point in 2027.

This was confirmed at the same time we learned "House of the Dragon" had been renewed for a fourth installment, due in 2028.

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It's been a long journey, but "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," the latest spinoff from "Game of Thrones," has finally arrived on HBO Max. And if you're a diehard fan of George R.R. Martin's books, you've been eagerly awaiting this adaptation of his Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas.

If you're not a diehard fan of the world of A Song of Ice and Fire, though, you might have come into this expecting something in the same vein as "Game of Thrones" or "House of the Dragon," the two other series that have brought Westeros to life on HBO and its streaming service. After watching the first episode, you'd be forgiven if you're left scratching your head, because "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" may look like Westeros, but it's a very different show.

How is 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' different from 'Game of Thrones'?

"Game of Thrones" set some clear expectations about what to expect from Martin's world. Sex, palace intrigue and violence ... probably in that order. And the first spin-off we got from the acclaimed HBO series, "House of the Dragon," has largely held true to that ethos, even if it has a bit more violence and palace intrigue (and a lot more dragons) and a bit less sex.

"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," though, while set in the same world, is not that. At least, not if this first episode is any indication. Sure, we meet a few ladies of the night, and we see a bit of Peter Claffey's nude backside as Ser Duncan the Tall, aka "Dunk." But there's very little sex to speak of. And while I haven't read all three novellas from The Tales of Dunk and Egg, my expectation is this isn't going to be a show that has a ton of the nudity that was a hallmark of "Game of Thrones."

That said, you don't need nudity to be an exciting show. Still, there's no denying that this series premiere is decidedly ... well, it's boring. The episode does pick up a bit towards the end when Lyonel Baratheon shows up (Daniel Ings), and I sat up once they started interacting. But for the most part, if I hadn't needed to pay attention to the episode for work, I'd have struggled to look up from my phone.

The best of 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' is yet to come

After reading all that, things may seem bleak. A show that makes "Game of Thrones" boring? Yikes!

But here's the thing: I said sex, palace intrigue and violence were what made HBO's fantasy series so potent. Sure, we may not be getting the sex and palace intrigue as much, but don't worry — the violence is coming.

After all, this season is set at a tournament at Ashford Meadow, and a tournament, as the series premiere alludes, is basically just another way for knights to hit each other with swords when there isn't a war going on.

So yes, the first episode was a bit of a letdown, but I promise you, "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" is going to get better, or at the very least bloody. Given that season 1 is a mere six episodes long, with each episode around just 30 minutes long, it's a small investment to stick with this show and see if it finally gets its spark. Given that the full first season is currently rated 85% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, it's almost certainly an investment that will pay off.

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Move over, winter — spring is coming. At least it is for "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," the much-anticipated "Game of Thrones" prequel series, which was first announced all the way back in January 2021. But, thankfully, the end of that five-year-long wait is in sight, as HBO has announced that the upcoming fantasy drama will officially debut in January 2026.

And, like "GOT" and fellow prequel series "House of the Dragon," it's pretty much guaranteed that the show will be airing in the coveted Sunday night slot, so that would mean January 4, 11, 18 or 25. ("A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" will also be available to watch concurrently on HBO's streaming service, HBO Max.) However, an exact date has not yet been confirmed.

We do know that, unlike its similarly fantastical predecessors, "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" — which is co-created by Ira Parker and George R. R. Martin — will not have a sprawling title sequence. Instead, the new series will feature "a simple title card with medieval typography in between the beginning action of each episode," Parker told Entertainment Weekly.

And fans also got a much-welcome sneak peek at the prequel series with new key art, showcasing Ser Duncan the Tall — aka Dunk, a hedge knight of lowborn background (played by Peter Claffey) — and his young squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). The tagline reads: “A tall tale that became legend.”

Martin superfans already know that "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" is based on the "Tales of Dunk and Egg" novellas, but in case you need a refresh: The show takes place nearly a century before the events of "Game of Thrones" and is "set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne, and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends," per the official logline.

Along with Claffley and Ansell, the "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" main cast includes Finn Bennett, Bertie Carvel, Tanzyn Crawford, Daniel Ings and Sam Spruell. Ross Anderson, Edward Ashley, Henry Ashton, Youssef Kerkour and Daniel Monks, among others, will be making guest appearances. Owen Harris ("Kill Your Friends") will direct the first three of the six-episode order; Sarah Adina Smith ("Lessons in Chemistry," for which she won the DGA Award) will helm the final three.

Tom's Guide will keep you posted on all things "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," including official trailers, key art, character details, plot points, behind-the-scenes intel and more. Looking for something to watch in the meantime? Check out our round-up of the best shows on HBO Max for our definitive list of Max streaming recommendations.

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"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" co-creator Ira Parker just dropped some major info about HBO Max's next "Game of Thrones" spinoff — and the show's made a big change to the usual format. Namely, we won't be seeing another epic title sequence.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Parker revealed that, unlike the original epic fantasy series (and "House of the Dragon"), "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" eschews a sweeping animated sequence entirely. Instead, the new series features "a simple title card with medieval typography in between the beginning action of each episode."

Given the Targaryen Civil War prequel series even co-opted Ramin Djawadi's iconic "Game of Thrones" theme song for its own intro, this may seem like a surprising decision, but Ira Parker went on to explain why they went down that route instead.

"All decisions came down to Dunk, trying to channel the type of person he is into every aspect of this show, even the title sequence", Parker said.

"The title sequences on the original '[Game of Thrones]and 'House of Dragon' are big and epic and incredible. Ramin Djawadi’s score is orchestral and large and beautiful. That's not really Dunk’s M.O. He’s plain and he’s simple and he’s to-the-point. He doesn't have a lot of flash to him.”

Parker later admits that choosing not to have another animated sequence "as probably the most stressful decision" he made, but confirms that "it serves our show."

Anyone who's read the Dunk and Egg novellas, which "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" is based on, will know that they are different in scope from the main saga. Parker also said that the low-to-the-ground perspective has been preserved here, promising that — unlike "House of the Dragon" — "we're not with the lords and ladies, the kings and queens", but instead spending our time with Dunk (Peter Claffey), his "squire" Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell), and the ordinary folk of Westeros.

"This could basically be 14th-century Britain. This is hard nose, grind it out, gritty, medieval knights, cold with a really light, hopeful touch. It's a wonderful place to be. We are ground up in this series, we are starting right at the bottom. We're not with the lords and ladies, the kings and queens," he added.

"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" does not have a confirmed release date yet, but it is expected to air on HBO and HBO Max in 2026. Looking for something to watch in the meantime? Check out our round-up of the best shows on HBO Max for our definitive list of Max streaming recommendations.

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Prime Video's live-action Tomb Raider adaptation has confirmed for the first time that "Game of Thrones" star Sophie Turner will be the next actress to play Lara Croft — and production on the new show is due to get underway in just a few months.

The long-gestating video game adaptation comes from "Fleabag" creator and "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" star, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and, thanks to an update shared on the official Tomb Raider website, we now know the wheels are spinning up on Lara Croft's latest outing.

As per the announcement, we know shooting is due to get underway on January 19, 2026, and that Turner — who had been rumored for the role for some time — had finally been confirmed as the titular adventurer. She follows in the footsteps of Alicia Vikander and Angelina Jolie, who played Croft on the big screen in earlier adaptations.

"I am thrilled beyond measure to be playing Lara Croft," Turner said in a statement shared by the publication. "She's such an iconic character, who means so much to so many – and I am giving everything I’ve got.

"They’re massive shoes to fill, following in the steps of Angelina and Alicia with their powerhouse performances, but with Phoebe [Waller-Bridge, showrunner] at the helm, we (and Lara) are all in very safe hands. I can’t wait for you all to see what we have cooking," she added. (quotes via the official Tomb Raider website).

What else do we know about Prime Video's 'Tomb Raider' series right now?

Along with the above news, we've also learned that Jonathan Van Tulleken ("Shōgun", "Top Boy") has joined the show as an EP and director, while Chad Hodge ("Good Behaviour", "Wayward Pines") has joined as co-showrunner, alongside Waller-Bridge.

Little is known about what form the show will take at present. A brief logline shared simply confirms what we already know: like Prime Video's (excellent!) "Fallout" adaptation, the series is based on a video game franchise.

It reads: ""Tomb Raider" the series is based on the iconic Tomb Raider video game franchise, which follows the adventures of world-famous archaeologist and adventurer Lara Croft."

Of the show, Waller-Bridge said: “I’m so excited to announce the formidable Sophie Turner as our Lara alongside this phenomenal creative team. It’s not very often you get to make a show of this scale with a character you grew up loving. Everyone on board is wildly passionate about Lara and are all as outrageous, brave, and hilarious as she is. Get your artifacts out... Croft is coming..."

A release date has not been set yet, but with filming on the "Tomb Raider" series not getting underway until January, I wouldn't expect one anytime soon.

If you need something new to watch while we wait for more "Tomb Raider" news, check out our round-up of the best shows on Prime Video for tons more streaming suggestions to keep you entertained in the meantime.

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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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While we're not getting more "House of the Dragon" this year, a new "Game of Thrones" spinoff is still making its way to Max: the prequel series "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight."

While we hadn't heard much about the new show for a while, "Thrones" scribe George R.R. Martin has given us a big update about progress on the show, revealing that he's seen a cut of all six episodes and, thankfully, he "loved" them.

In a post on his personal blog, Martin said: "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," for starts. It's done. Ira [Parker] and his team wrapped the first season months ago, and moved right on to post-production.

"I've seen all six episodes now (the last two in rough cuts, admittedly), and I loved them. Dunk and Egg have always been favorites of mine, and the actors we found to portray them are just incredible. The rest of the cast are terrific as well. Wait until you guys meet the Laughing Storm. And Tanselle Too-Tall."

"It's as faithful an [sic] adaptation as a reasonable man could hope for," he added, concluding with "I hope you will love the show as much as I do."

How's that for high praise?

What else have we learned about 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms'?

The series is based on "The Hedge Knight", the first short story about Ser Duncan the Tall (played by Peter Claffey) and his squire, Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). Ser Duncan hails from Flea Bottom, and makes his way to the town of Ashford, where he aims to participate in a tourney of sorts.

Martin has cautioned against expecting the level of excitement seen in "House of the Dragon's" most explosive episodes, though. "Viewers who are looking for action, and more action, and only action… well, this one may not satisfy you.

"There’s a huge fight scene here, as exciting as anyone could ask for, but there are no dragons this time around, no huge battles, no white walkers… this is a character piece, and its focus is on duty and honor, on chivalry and all it means," he wrote in the same post.

One big question remains: When will "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight" arrive on HBO and Max? Well, Martin also offered a clue on that front, too.

"The series will make its debut late this year, I am now told. How late, I could not say. Maybe in the fall," he wrote.

As a release window, that's not too precise, but with "The White Lotus" season 3 and "The Last Of Us" season 2 coming up in the next few months, it already seemed like "The Hedge Knight" wouldn't be coming our way soon. At least we know it's definitely airing in 2025.

Hopefully, we'll get more info about the new show soon. And if you need something to keep you entertained in the meantime, be sure to check out our guides to the best Max shows and the shows like "Game of Thrones" to stream next.

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It looks like George R.R. Martin might have yet another reason not to finish "The Winds of Winter"; Warner Bros. is apparently working on another "Game of Thrones" spin-off — and this one's feature-length.

This news comes from The Hollywood Reporter, who yesterday (October 31) reported that the studio has quietly been developing "at least one" "Game of Thrones" movie.

Don't get too excited, though; from what their sources have revealed, the project's in its infancy. THR says there are no creatives attached to the project just yet, but reports that the company is "keen on exploring the idea of Westeros invading cinemas".

Given just how popular the original series was during its 2011-2019 run — millions of viewers and countless accolades, including 59 Emmy wins — plans for a movie aren't all that surprising.

This month alone we're also getting "Dune: Prophecy" and "The Penguin" finale. If HBO and Max can build on some of Warner Bros' most popular movie hits, then Warner Bros. can surely do the reverse.... as long as they do it right. But without a clearer idea of what shape this movie might take (or who'll be driving it forward), I'm a little skeptical that it's the right move.

Is a 'Game of Thrones' movie a good idea?

Look, I know in my fantasy dork heart that, should the "Game of Thrones" movie happen, I'll be seated at my local movie theater on day one. "Thrones" obviously has serious big-screen potential; you only need to revisit something like the Battle of the Bastards for proof.

That said, I can't help but admit that I have had this lingering fear that we might be on the cusp of hitting a "Game of Thrones" saturation point in the near future.

"House of the Dragon" season 2 has been and gone, and while the series has certainly felt like a worthy "Game of Thrones" successor, I do wonder if more frequent returns to Westeros are going to start to feel less impactful.

Ultimately, while "HOTD" is set during a different period on Martin's timeline (and includes a lot more dragons), the show is, ultimately, more of the same thing: a heady mix of fantasy action, politicking and backstabbing, and family drama.

Should Warner Bros. commit to building on the "Thrones" fantasy universe, I just hope that they do it purposefully, and have a particular event or story in mind that will be distinct or exciting enough to warrant being told, as opposed to just... cashing in on a well-known name as much as possible.

It's a cliché at this point to turn to Marvel's muddy multiversal era, but the comparison feels apt. I don't want this fantastical world to evolve into a new version of the MCU at its lowest point; a franchise that's bogged down with too many projects that make tuning in feel more like homework than, well, fun.

Granted, at this early stage in the rumored "Game of Thrones" movie's lifespan, these fears could well prove pointless. For all I know, once a plan is settled on, it could well go on to be as important to the genre as the original HBO show has been. Or, it could go the same way as Kit Harington's now-canceled Jon Snow spin-off; it's simply too early too tell.

We'll definitely be following news about the potential "Game of Thrones" movie, so be sure to keep checking back. If you need some more streaming recommendations in the meantime, here are the 8 best shows like "Game of Thrones" to stream 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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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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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 might be over, but "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" — the second of the (many) "Game of Thrones" spinoffs to get off the ground — is poised to bring us another story from George R.R. Martin's rich fantasy world very soon

Penned by George R.R. Martin and Ira Parker, "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight" will introduce us to two beloved characters from a series of Martin's novellas: Dunk, the nomadic knight, and his squire, Egg.

Variety first revealed that A Dunk and Egg adaptation was in the works back in 2021. Two years later, we learned that the show, which is set roughly a century before everything that happened in the original HBO saga, had gotten a straight-to-series order at Max. And after months and months of waiting, we're now staring down the barrel of the series' release in just a few months.

Below you'll find everything we know about "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" right now, including every confirmed star and a short synopsis of what's to come.

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• "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" just got delayed

'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' release date

Finally, HBO has confirmed the "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" release date. The good news was confirmed in a teaser trailer that premiered on October 9 (more on that below).

You can look forward to streaming "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" on HBO from Sunday, January 18, 2026.

While you wait for the show to return, be sure to check out our round-up of the best Max shows and the best shows like "Game of Thrones" to keep you entertained in the run-up to "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms".

'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' plot: What's the new spin-off about? 

HBO's logline for the series reads: "A century before the events of "Game of Thrones", two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros... a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne, and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends".

It's widely reported that this first season of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" draws from "The Hedge Knight", the first Dunk & Egg novella, meaning we at least have a rough idea of what we might see very soon. Spoiler warning here; we're going to outline what happens in that first book

"The Hedge Knight", unsurprisingly, tells the story of how Dunk, a poor boy from Flea Bottom became a hedge knight (a wandering knight with no master). In the story, the hedge knight whom Dunk has been a squire to for many years passes away. On his deathbed, Ser Arlan of Pennytree supposedly knights Dunk.

After weighing up his options, Dunk decides to continue to the town of Ashford, in the Reach (picking up Egg en route), where he wishes to participate in a tourney. We won't spoil exactly what happens in Ashford, but we'd note that the tale sees them crossing paths with several members of the Targaryen dynasty.

Who's in the "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" cast? 

The main stars of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight" were named in April 2024.

Dunk will be portrayed by Peter Claffey, who you might know from the Apple TV Plus original, "Bad Sisters". Joining him as his squire, Egg, is Dexter Sol Ansell, who was recently seen in "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes".

When production began, several more stars were confirmed, as were their characters' identities. Below, you can find the current "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" cast list, as of the latest announcements.

• Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall
• Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg
• Finn Bennett ("True Detective: Night Country") as Aerion Targaryen
• Bertie Carvel ("Dalgliesh") as Baelor Targaryen
• Tanzyn Crawford ("Tiny Beautiful Things") as Tanselle
• Daniel Ings ("The Gentlemen") as Ser Lyonel Baratheon
• Sam Spruell ("Fargo") as Maekar Targaryen

Is there a 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' trailer yet?

The final trailer for "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" came in December, and gives us a proper look at what's in store for Ser Dunk. What stands out, to me, is how it feels distinctly lighter than what you might expect from Westeros (which is keeping with the original stories). Though the battles that are teased still look as ferocious as ever...

Previously, HBO dropped a teaser for "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" on October 9, 2025.

This teaser suitably introduces us to Ser Duncan the Tall and his sassy squire before ending with that all-important release date.

Check the trailer out below:

We got a brief glimpse at the show as part of a big Max sizzle reel released ahead of the "House of the Dragon" season 2 finale, and we saw our first footage from "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms". While that video's since been taken down, very similar clips appeared in a more recent teaser (linked below).

Skip ahead to around the 1:30 mark, and you'll see some expert swordsmanship, and Duncan absolutely clobbering someone.

Will there be more than one season of 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms'?

In a word: Yes.

In November 2025, Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO, HBO and HBO Max Content, confirmed the show had been renewed for a second season (as reported by TVLine), with the second season slated for release in 2027 (per a sizzle reel promising we'd return to Westeros every year between now and 2028).

Granted, that's no surprise; all signs pointed to a series renewal anyway. HBO's Francesca Orsi told Deadline back in February that the series is on track for a three-season run, presumably to match up with the three stories Martin has written to date.

"You're going [to] be so impressed by Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell as Dunk and Egg, the two leads", Orsi said. "So much so that we're already planning on how do we build this for the three seasons in total. We're not picking it up officially, but it's looking very good."

And in March, "Game of Thrones" creator George R.R. Martin told Collider the show's team was already working on the next season.

"I've seen Dunk and Egg, the first season, and it's great, and now they're working on the second season," he said. "Those are two characters were really special to me, and they're unusual, those characters. They're not what most people would expect in a fantasy story."

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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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• Watching "House of the Dragon" season 2? Make sure you change these 3 TV settings

“House of the Dragon” season 2 is set to bring some major dark fantasy vibes to households everywhere come this Sunday, June 16, and while the fandom might be itchingly ready for the return of Matt Smith’s Daemon Targaryen, their TVs might not be. 

With season 2 bringing even more dragons to the silver screen, you’ll want your TV looking stunning for the big action set pieces and huge reveals forthwith. Plus, while it’s a running gag that “House of the Dragon” is one of the darkest shows on TV, this season will fix the ‘too dark!’ complaints — which should mean you won’t have to fiddle too much with TV brightness. 

Even the best TVs don’t come ready for “House of the Dragon” out of the box. An extra level of TLC is in order and luckily we’ve got you covered on how best to approach it, no matter what TV you might have. So, strap in and get the mead ready as we dive into the best way to experience “House of the Dragon” with just a few simple clicks. 

Turn on Filmmaker mode or turn off motion smoothing

It comes as arguably one of the most important settings on the TV — motion smoothing. Few if any know of just how important this setting is, similar to how gamers will immediately turn off motion blur in practically any new game release. 

Motion smoothing, otherwise known as motion interpolation, is a setting on newer TVs that makes content match the TV's frame rate. This means that "House of the Dragon," which runs at 24fps, would be pushed up to 60fps or 120fps depending on the TV. 

While it might sound like something you would want on, say "Elden Ring," you won't get much out of watching "House of the Dragon" in 60fps — let alone anything higher. That being said, definitely turn motion smoothing off as it isn't necessary. 

Or, you could simply turn to Filmmaker Mode. Here at Tom's Guide, Filmmaker Mode is the best picture mode to experience most entertainment in — emphasis on most, as it's not an end-all-be-all type of setting. 

Launched in 2019, Filmmaker Mode does away with unnecessary stuff like the aforementioned motion smoothing to deliver an entertainment experience that meets the same qualities as those presented in a conventional movie theater — only it's based upon your TV's processing power. 

Given that the mode was introduced only four years prior, expect it to only exist on TVs from 2020 and onward. It also only comes standard on 4K TVs, so if your display falls out of these requirements, you'll probably have to stick with just turning off motion smoothing — that is, of course, if your TV supports that, as well. 

Dialogue boost 

It's no secret that TVs tend to come equipped with pretty lousy speaker systems. You can make all the adjustments you want, but at the end of the day you're really at the mercy of what's inside your TV; it's why we typically recommend getting one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars to bring true audio immersion to all of your at-home entertainment needs. 

But one setting in particular will definitely help in bringing "House of the Dragon" to life in an extraordinary way — that being dialogue boost. Not all TVs will have such a setting, but most modern sets do have some form of audio boosting measure or dialogue boosting support that can improve the clarity of spoken words. 

Not all TVs will have the same name for this feature, either. Case in point is that you might find it called "Dialog Clarity" or even "Active Voice Amplifier" on the best Samsung TVs. On LG TVs, you can expect the setting to be called "Clear Voice." 

As you can see, it's not readily identified across the industry, so just be on the lookout for some form of dialogue enhancing function in the audio or sound settings on your TV so you can ensure Matt Smith's words never go unheard. 

For those who might not have such a setting, you could always try to do this manually by way of increasing treble and reducing the bass. This isn't a one-size-fits-all approach, but will definitely aid in bringing out the best that "House of the Dragon" has to offer in season 2.

Lower brightness and boost contrast

Okay, it might feel a bit counterintuitive to lower the brightness on one of the darkest shows found across the best streaming services, but it can negatively impact the overall look of the show. It's best to keep your brightness at the minimum, closer to around 50%, so it doesn't wash out the image and keeps those darker scenes looking more realistic and lifelike — despite the connotation that details may be harder to see. 

In the same vein, you should also boost the contrast just a smidge to give those details better potential to pop. Raising contrast also ensures you get deeper shadows in certain scenes, making the depth of the show truly pop in the best way possible. 

You can also improve the experience by boosting or lowering the TV backlights. This will come down to the ambient environment that surrounds your TV; with a living room more awash in light, you'll want to raise the backlighting, whereas if your living room is more of a dungeon (as it probably should be for "House of the Dragon"), then you'll want to lower the backlighting. 

Best TVs for watching House of the Dragon

Looking for a new display to watch this season’s hottest shows? Check out these top picks from our guide to the best TVs of 2024.

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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.

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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Considering how big Game of Thrones was at its peak, it’s surprising that the franchise has only managed to produce one spin off — House of the Dragon. Though it isn’t for lack of trying, judging from reports. Back in 2022 a report claimed that at least four GoT spin-offs were being considered, and GoT creator George R.R. Martin just confirmed one will be switching to animation.

In fact, R.R. Martin says that “we now have three animated projects underway.” But there’s one that's particularly noteworthy.

The Game of Thrones author confirmed that the spin-off “9 Voyages” will be making the shift to animation on his “Not a Blog” blog. This is technically a spin-off from House of the Dragon, following Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) — also known as the Sea Snake. House Velaryon is known for its ships, and that may be why the show is apparently switching mediums.

Why animation could be the best option

Martin claims that the show itself would have to spend half of its time at sea, which would be “prohibitively expensive” in live action. Not just because of the ships and water, but also because it would see the action move to a different port city each week. So there’s no way of saving costs by building and reusing a set for the full season.

Animation can be pretty costly and time consuming too, as Martin notes, but claims that it gives a much better chance of “fully realizing” the show.

A switch to animation could be exactly what Game of Thrones needs to push the franchise to the next level. There are strict limitations on what a live action series can do, and there's only so much screen time a CGI dragon can have on a TV budget.

Not only does animation mean you can add fantastical elements to the Game of Thrones universe without the prohibitive CGI costs, it also means you can add some variety to the world. Considering 9 Voyages constantly changing location, it means showrunners can make each port seem totally unique — rather than just the same variations of gray stone buildings we've seen previously.

Martin even leads his blog post by saying many nice things about the animated series Blue Eyes Samurai. He noted that it's the kind of show you can enjoy even if you're not a fan of animated TV shows, especially if you like his work. That suggests animated Game of Thrones spin-offs may take some inspiration from Blue Eyes Samurai and other shows like it.

This isn't the first time Game of Thrones ditched live action

Animated sequences have already covered some of Westeros’s history as extra features on DVD and Blu-ray releases, while Martin himself notes that at least two other animated spin-offs are in early development.

None of them have actually been officially greenlit though, including 9 Voyages, which means they may never make it to TV screens. Martin has previously confirmed preliminary work on an animated show called “The Golden Empire” set in the mysterious Yi Ti, but not much else is known about that — and it’s equally unclear what the second animated show could be.

We’ve heard about Ten Thousand Ships, set 1,000 years before Game of Thrones, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, based on the Dunk and Egg novellas. My money would be on Ten Thousand Ships being the likely animation candidate, but there’s no way to know for sure. There’s an equal chance that this mysterious show could be something totally new.

We’ll just have to wait and see how this all pans out. In the meantime House of the Dragon season 2 is on the way, and will be debuting on HBO sometime later this year. 

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House of the Dragon season 2 will take a much shorter trip around Westeros when it arrives on HBO and Max at some future date. But fans shouldn't worry — the Game of Thrones prequel will still be "jam-packed" with action and drama. 

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, director Claire Kilner offered some insight into why House of the Dragon season 2 will feature just eight episodes, two fewer than its inaugural season. 

Earlier reports suggested the episode count had been trimmed specifically to better serve the narrative, and Kilner seems to confirm them.

"There are eight wonderful episodes with so much happening in every episode, and we have trouble, at times, bringing them down to one hour," Kilner explained. "Ryan's [Condal, showrunner] decision was to give it a good opening and a good ending, and they're jam-packed with emotional and visually exciting events."

That sounds like House of the Dragon season 2 overall could be as long or even longer, minute-wise, as the first installment.

House of the Dragon has been a smash success for HBO. Based on George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood history tome, House of the Dragon managed to accomplish a feat that many deemed near-impossible: building upon the enormous popularity of Game of Thrones.

According to HBO, House of the Dragon managed to average 29 million viewers weekly in terms of live and digital viewers, which elevated it to the most-watched HBO series since Game of Thrones ended in 2019. 

Production continues on House of the Dragon season 2

Season 2 is set to pick up after a game-changing event in the season 1 finale that will intensify the war for the Iron Throne between Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and her younger half-brother Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney). 

Filming has been underway for months and Kilner describes the atmosphere on set as more relaxed, citing a sense of family among the cast. "Everybody knows one another and wants to do good work, and they know their characters so much better," Kilner shared.

For season 2, Kilner is among the returning directors, alongside Geeta Patel. The full lineup for season 2 also includes veteran Game of Thrones director Alan Taylor, who’s stepping into something of a supervisory role after the exit of original co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik.  

Kilner praised Taylor's impact on the team. “Alan helps us up our game. He's such an accomplished director, and I really love the way he uses depth of field and focus in his storytelling,” she said.

Unfortunately, fans will likely have to wait for 2024 for House of the Dragon season 2. HBO chief Casey Bloys previously urged eager viewers to stay patient.

“We’re just starting to put the plan together, and just like last time, there are so many unknowns," Bloys told Vulture in October 2022. "It’s not to be coy or secretive, but you don’t want to say it’s going to be ready on this date, and then you have to move it.”

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The want for more shows like "Game of Thrones" is understandable — and while there are many imitators, only a select couple of fistfuls are worth recommending.

"Game of Thrones" was a milestone in television--a sprawling, high-polish series that elevated the fantasy genre to prestige TV (winning 59 Emmys over eight seasons). Even viewers who didn't normally obsess over zombies and dragons were pulled in by the all-too-human aspects of the show--the pride, jealousy, betrayal, love, lust, ambition, nihilism and other emotions conveyed by a masterful cast. 

Despite a lot of disappointment with later seasons, "GoT" still left a big hole in millions of viewing lives when it concluded in 2019. HBO has tried to fill the gap with House of the Dragon (one of the best Max shows), a prequel focused on the decline of House Targaryen. But the show has had just one season so far, which diehard Thrones fans quickly burned through.

But you can soothe your Westeros withdrawal with an array of excellent shows that capture the adventure, pageantry, magic, and intrigue of Game of Thrones.  And they're available on Netflix, Max or Starz.

'His Dark Materials'

Philip Pullman's novel trilogy comes to life in this three-season series. It centers on Lyra Silvertongue (Dafne Keen), a tween growing up at a college quite like the Oxford University of our world. But Lyra's world is rather different: full of magicians and animal companion "daemons" that are physical manifestations of humans' inner selves. 

Like many child heroes in fantasy tales, Lyra's story is built on the revelation that she is a very different person than she had believed, with an identity (including her family) wrapped up in forces and events far greater than she could have imagined. Lyra's quest for the truth takes her across her own world and into several others, including a dystopian twist on our own. His Dark Materials stands out for Pullman's and the showrunner's ability to combine the familiar, in a world so like ours, with the fantastical to produce both a thrilling story and a commentary on the roles of science, religion, and family in our own society.

Watch on Max

'The Last Kingdom'

Based on Bernard Cornwell's The Saxon Stories books, this BBC Two/Netflix historical fiction series traces the battles between Saxons and Danes for control of ninth century Britain. The lead character Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon) has a foot in both worlds. The son of a Saxon nobleman of the same name, he is captured as a boy by invading Danes and raised in the household of their lord, Ragnar. 

As a young man, Uhtred returns to his homeland to claim his birthright to the kingdom of Bebbanburg. When that fails, he aligns with Wessex, the last independent Saxon Kingdom. Given his dual identity, Uhtred is both familiar and foreign to both sides in the decades-long struggle. He sees himself as having the potential to bring the two sides together, despite how very far apart they are. The Last Kingdom is compelling not only for its adventure and drama but as a fascinating view into a critical but largely overlooked historical era.

Watch on Netflix

'The Magicians'    

While set in modern times, this five-season SyFy show, based on Lev Grossman's book series, will satisfy a GoT fan's hankering for fantasy. The story begins as young Quentin Coldwater (Jason Ralph) enrolls at Brakebills University to learn the art of magic. In Harry Potteresque fashion, he makes quick friends with fellow students who realize that the world is in great danger, and they will be called on to exercise their still-forming skills to save it. 

Season 2 takes the heroes beyond this world to the magical kingdom of Fillory--although the magic part is in danger. The rest of the series is largely dedicated to saving magic--often at great cost to the magicians themselves. Like Game of Thrones, The Magicians isn't shy about offing key characters or otherwise turning the narrative on end to challenge its viewers.

Watch on Netflix

'Outlander'

Time is fluid in this seven-season show based on Diana Gabaldon's novel series by the same name. It starts when World War II nurse Claire Randall (Caitríona Balfe) is suddenly transported from 1945 back to 1743 Scotland and the Jacobite rising against the English. Knowing her history, Claire realizes that the movement is doomed, but she is unable to persuade her newfound Highlander friends to abandon the cause. 

Instead, she winds up falling in love with and marrying one, Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan). Outlander spans time and space, with plotlines in 18th century France, England, and America as well as the late 20th Century United States--as Claire juggles marriages with men of two different centuries. The story spans generations, too, with Claire's adult daughter Brianna (Sophie Skelton) playing a key role. All this complexity holds together thanks to Balfe's ability to portray Claire as a coherent moral constant amidst all the turmoil.

Watch on Netflix or Starz

'Shadow and Bone'

Netflix's retelling of Leigh Bardugo's book series describes a world of early-modern European-like nations, in which magic plays a crucial role. The lead, Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li), is a military cartographer as well as a Grisha--a person with magical powers who can play a critical role in saving her nation. That nation, called Ravka, is divided by a near-impenetrable darkness called the Shadow Fold. 

Alina may have the power to break The Fold and save her country, which makes her invaluable to Ravka's General Kirigan (Ben Barnes). But another faction seeks to capture Alina and harness her powers for their own advantage, while an anti-witch faction seeks to hunt down and kill her. Yet other people worship her. Alina's struggle to navigate the varied and complex reactions to her identity is as captivating to watch as any magical powers she and her fellow Grisha can wield.

Watch on Netflix

'Succession'

While the factions in "Game of Thrones" battle for control of Westeros, those in this other HBO hit fight over media conglomerate Waystar RoyCo. And while the drama of GoT begins with an empty throne, Succession starts with patriarch Logan Roy (Brian Cox) deciding to retain the chairman's seat indefinitely--much to the chagrin of his ambitious adult children. 

Military battles are replaced by legal and political jockeying, as the Roys wage bloodless (but still vicious) struggles to influence and control the media empire. While the Murdoch family may first come to mind as inspiring the Roys, show creator Jesse Armstrong says they were just one among several models, including the Hearsts, Sumner Redstone of Viacom, Robert Fitz of Comcast, and Robert and Rebekah Mercer of Breitbart. 

Succession's fourth and final season debuted in 2023. While Thrones could draw on magic, gore, stunning wardrobes, and oodles of special effects to hold audiences attention, Succession has become equally addicting by using just clever, witty dialog and nuanced performances.

Watch on Max

'The Witcher'

With magicians, monsters, and a gritty medieval aesthetic, this TV series based on a book (that was adapted to a video game) may bear the most kinship to "Game of Thrones". It also boasts the most-sophisticated cinematography in this collection, with more complex lighting and alternative camera angles than you are likely to see in any other show. 

Achingly fit-looking Henry Cavill stars as Geralt of Rivia, a "witcher" mutant warrior who earns his coin by killing the monsters that have bled out from parallel universes to infest a world known only as The Continent. Geralt is the classic reluctant hero--a misanthropic loaner drawn out of his nihilist existence by both world-changing dangers and a reluctant sense of duty to a powerful but endangered young girl, Crown Princess Ciri (Freya Allan), whom he has sworn to protect. 

Season 3 debuts on June 29, 2023, and a fourth season, with Liam Hemsworth swapping in for Henry Cavill, is in the works. Netflix also launched a prequel miniseries, "The Witcher: Blood Origin", in December 2022, but it's less compelling.

Watch on Netflix

'Once Upon a Time'

If you like your family drama and power struggles without a side of sex or extreme violence, "Once Upon a Time" should scratch the itch just fine. Set in the fictional town of Storybrooke, it follows Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison_, who discovers that it's her destiny to break the curse that's fallen on every single fairy tale character that lives there. And we mean every fairy tale character, from Cinderella to Snow White and everyone in between. As Emma works to unravel the truth for all the characters, now living double lives as "real" people, she also uncovers some unsavory truths about some of the other townsfolk as well as her ultimate purpose in life. Of course, she can't get there without a ton of family tension and some old-fashioned good versus evil encounters. 

Watch on Hulu

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• Ted Lasso season 3's latest episode made me love the show again

Battles of different kinds are fought this week on House of the Dragon episode 3. After House of the Dragon episode 1 set up a game of thrones, episode 2 saw characters making (and burning) alliances. In episode 3, after another time jump, the Targaryen dynasty has become more complicated than ever. 

The forthcoming civil war called Dance of the Dragons, detailed in George R.R. Martin's Targaryen history, Fire and Blood, is some years away but all the pieces are moving into place. Episode 3, "Second of His Name," introduces several new players who will become very important in future events. 

Here are the two winners and two losers from this week's game.

Warning: Extensive spoilers for House of the Dragon episode 3

Loser: King Viserys I

You'd think the king was a winner after marrying Alicent and finally getting the son he's always wanted (and apparently dreamed in a vision). Around three years have passed since he announced his betrothal, and Alicent has birthed son Aegon and is pregnant with another child. 

Viserys is visibly happy with his new family, but also highly troubled. Daughter and heir Rhaenyra is still angry at him and her former friend. He knows that the nobles want him to chuck Rhaenyra and name Aegon as his heir. He's also trying to broker a marriage for Rhaenyra, too, and she's not having one bit of it. 

For Aegon's second nameday, the king holds a celebratory hunt. He's told that a white hart has been spotted in the woods — a symbol of royalty before dragons came to Westeros. But the hunt quickly sours. The master of ships, Tyland Lannister, is pestering him about the Stepstones war. Lords and ladies are gossiping about the crown's lack of action. Rhaenyra rejects his chosen suitor, Tyland's twin Jason Lannister. 

Then, he admits to Alicent that he might've made a mistake in elevating Rhaenyra as heir. When the stag is caught, it's not the white hart. And it takes him a galling two tries to kill it properly. 

When Viserys returns to King's Landing, he's nursing a fierce hangover. He allows Alicent to nudge him to do something about the Stepstones. He may be king, but his weakness is all too apparent. 

Loser: Rhaenyra Targaryen

Rhaenyra is absolutely acting like the bitter teen stomping around the house because her parent got remarried and gave her half-siblings she never wanted. In her case, though, the stakes are higher than having to share a bathroom. Her 2-year-old brother Aegon represents a threat to her future as queen. 

Just as bad is her father's insistence that she get married. The oily Jason Lannister approaches her at the hunt, bragging about Lannisport wine, the views from Casterly Rock and his wealth. Rhaenyra doesn't want to get married at all, and ends up in a shouting match with her father about it. 

She storms off on her horse, with Ser Criston Cole chasing after her. They spend the day and night talking about her future and whether the realm will ever accept her as queen. While sitting by a campfire, a wild boar attacks them. Things look dire for Rhaenyra until she's finally able to stab it (multiple times) to death. 

Back at King's Landing, Viserys tries to thaw the ice between them. He tells her he won't replace her as heir, but she must marry. However, the choice of husband is up to her.

Winner: Prince Daemon Targaryen

At first, Prince Daemon seems like he belongs on the losers list. He's been exiled and then ignored by his brother, displaced as the heir to the Iron Throne by his niece and has spent three years fighting a fruitless war against the Crabfeeder in the Stepstones. 

After his brother finally decides to send him aid, Daemon reads his message and grimly smirks. Then, he beats the living daylights out of the messenger. He doesn't want nor need the king's help. And he's certainly not going to be known as a failure in battle and lose to some ugly dude called the Crabfeeder. 

Instead, Daemon goes on what seems like a suicide mission. He waves a white flag, but only to trick the enemy fighters into coming out of their caves. Wielding Dark Sister, he cuts down a lot of them as the Crabfeeder watches. 

When arrows pierce his shoulder and leg, Daemon seems done for. Even the arrival of Velaryon troops may not save him. What will? A dragon, of course! Laenor Velaryon swoops in on a dragon, shouting "Dracarys" and blasting the fighters. 

That gives Daemon a chance to go after the Crabfeeder himself. And he emerges from the cave with the upper half of the man — to be fed to the crabs, of course. 

Daemon has triumphed and shown strength. In your face, Viserys!

Winner: Laenor Velaryon

As previously mentioned, Laenor rides his dragon to save the day (and Daemon's life). Who is this guy? He's the eldest son of Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen, and according to Fire and Blood, he rides Seasmoke. 

That's not all that's going for Laenor. He's mentioned as a possible husband for Rhaenyra. Not only does he have Valyrian blood and Targaryen heritage, marriage would repair the rift between their houses. 

So, Laenor has a dragon, he's rich and he's possibly the spouse of the next ruler of Westeros. No notes so far. 

A different game of thrones kicked off in House of the Dragon episode 1 last week. In this week's edition, episode 2 sees various players make moves to advance their positions, but some are more successful than others. 

House of the Dragon is already off to a great start, with the premiere setting viewership records and HBO giving season 2 an early green light. As we know from George R.R. Martin's Targaryen history, Fire and Blood, the forthcoming civil war called the Dance of the Dragons is still some years away. 

So, buckle up for a cutthroat chess match in which the characters attempt to maneuver their way into wielding more power. Episode 2, "The Rogue Prince," is all about making alliances, while burning others. 

Here are three winners and two losers from this week's game.

Warning: Extensive spoilers for House of the Dragon episode 2

Winner: Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen

Despite having been installed as the official heir to King Viserys, Rhaenyra begins the episode a bit down. She's treated like a child by her father, an unwelcome nuisance by the small council, and a naive fool by her older cousin Rhaenys. Most of all, she's worried that Viserys will heed the nobility's calls to remarry and produce more heirs, though it's been just six months since Queen Aemma's death. 

The lords of Westeros may have bent the knee to her as heir, but she knows their approval is precarious — especially if Viserys has more children and any of them are male.  Rhaenyra needs to cement her role, show strength and prove to her father that she isn't a little girl anymore. She does that with aplomb by riding Syrax to Dragonstone to confront her dear uncle, Prince Daemon, who has stolen a dragon egg. 

The Hand of the King, Otto Hightower, is already there, but engaged in a standoff against Daemon that could turn bloody. Rhaenyra shows up and issues her uncle a dare. If he really wants to be heir again, he'll have to kill her. It works — Daemon smirks as if he's rather impressed by her gumption. He tosses her the egg and takes his soldiers back to the fortress. Otto also seems to pay her grudging respect. 

When she returns to King's Landing, Viserys is angry for about five seconds, but also accepts that she's a grown woman now. He also vows again not to replace her as the heir, even if he has more children. 

Winner: Otto Hightower

While Otto was shown up by a teenager in his standoff against Daemon, he is much more successful in his other machination — influencing the king to marry his daughter, Alicent. 

For the past six months, Alicent has been comforting Viserys — in an innocent way, asking questions about his model of old Valyria and acting as a sympathetic ear. Most importantly, she doesn't push him in any way. That isn't the case with others in his circle, particularly Corlys Velaryon and his own cousin Rhaenys. They push Viserys to join their two houses by marrying their daughter, Laena (who is only 12 years old, by the way). 

When Otto hears this idea, he handles it masterfully. After mournfully mentioning his own deceased lady wife, Otto notes he's glad he doesn't have to replace her for duty's sake. "You are the king, but I do not envy you," he sighs. 

His words seem to plant a nugget of rebellion in Viserys' head. He is the king, dammit! Why should he do what everyone says he should do? For once, Viserys stands up for himself. Instead of marrying Laena, he announces he will wed Alicent. And Otto, aside from being Hand, will also be father to the queen. 

Winner: Ser Criston Cole

Ser Criston Cole not only gets hand-picked by Rhaenyra to join the Kingsguard — because he has actual combat experience, not just tournament wins — he also leads the soldiers in Otto's encounter with Daemon on Dragonstone. And he even manages to zing the prince.

When Daemon pretends to only vaguely remember Criston, calling him "Ser Crispin," the knight replies, "Perhaps my prince recalls when I knocked him off his horse." Daemon chuckles. Shot fired and acknowledged. 

Loser: Prince Daemon Targaryen

Unlike his niece, Daemon starts the episode on a high. He's seized Dragonstone and fortified it with his loyal gold cloaks, steals a dragon egg, and plans to make Mysaria his second wife and have babies with her.  The egg is taken so that he can follow family tradition and place it within her cradle. 

But when it's discovered that the egg was the same one put in (poor dead) Baelon's cradle, Viserys blows his top. He wants to fly to Dragonstone and confront his brother himself. Otto cautions him against it and offers to go in his place. 

At first, Daemon seems to have the upper hand, thanks to his formidable dragon, Caraxes. But when Rhaenyra arrives on Syrax, the sides are balanced. What's more, Rhaenyra proves her strength and courage by standing up to her uncle. He is clearly fond of her, but also knows he would truly be playing with fire if he tried to harm her. 

Daemon backs off, but when he returns to his chamber, Mysaria gives him another setdown. She isn't all that pleased with the idea of marrying him and having his babies. If hostilities increase, the king still likely would never put his brother's head on a pike. But she would be in grave danger and the only thing Mysaria cares about is liberation from fear. 

Loser: Corlys Velaryon

Corlys cannot catch a break this week. First, the king brushes off the continuing raids in the Stepstones by the so-called Crab Feeder. Corlys is genuinely worried about the shipping lanes that make him and his family so wealthy. He also thinks it's a bad idea for Viserys not to make a display of strength, as it will embolden other enemies. Taking out the Crab Feeder would kill two, uh, crabs with one stone. 

Then, his scheme for Viserys to marry Laena falls apart. His ambitions won't rest, though. If this isn't his way to get closer to the Iron Throne, Corlys will find another — by forming an alliance with Daemon. Maybe this week's losers can band together to become next week's winners. 

Welcome back to Westeros! It's been approximately 10 billion years since our last visit (really three, but it feels like an eon) and the place is both different and the same. 

For one, House of the Dragon is set nearly two centuries before Game of Thrones, when Targaryens ruled and their mighty dragons streaked through the sky. But the story has all the scheming political intrigue, brutal violence, titillating sex scenes and power-hungry conflicts that turned Game of Thrones into a cultural sensation.  

House of the Dragon's series premiere was heavily anticipated by fans, by entertainment pundits, by HBO and its parent company Warner Brothers Discovery and by me, the writer of this House of the Dragon recap. 

So, let's dig into how this series takes flight in episode 1, "The Heirs of the Dragon."

Editor's note: Extensive spoilers for House of the Dragon episode 1: The Heirs of the Dragon follow (as you'd expect, given that this is a recap)

So many Targaryens, only one Iron Throne

"The Heirs of the Dragon" begins with some exposition. About a century after Aegon's conquest of Westeros, the Targaryens are at the height of their power. Yet, trouble looms as the old king Jaeherys nears death. His two sons are dead, leaving a bunch of potential heirs to the Iron Throne. 

He calls a council of lords to decide, and their top two choices are grandchildren Rhaenys and Viserys. She has the stronger claim, but he's ... well, he's a man. They end up voting for Viserys, while Rhaenys becomes known as "the queen that never was." The nobility's distaste for women in power is clearly going to be a major thread in this series, just as it was in Game of Thrones.

Nine years later, Viserys has one teen daughter, Rhaenyra, but is convinced his pregnant wife, Queen Aemma, will birth a son. He's even holding the Heir's Tournament, with lords and knights traveling from all corners of the realm to participate. 

Rhaenyra is full of spunk and verve. She loves riding her dragon, Syrax, and wishes she could be a warrior heading into the battle. But Aemma reminds her that their role is to continue the Targaryen line. "The childbed is our battlefield," the queen notes. 

She has a close relationship to her father's current heir-apparent, her uncle Prince Daemon. He's been named commander of the City Watch and returns to King's Landing with a present for her — a Valyrian steel necklace. The moment Daemon clasps it around her neck thrums with some real incestuous energy. Targaryens gonna Targaryen, right?

Rhaenyra is also close with Alicent, the daughter of the Hand of the King. Otto Hightower is extremely loyal to Viserys and loathes Daemon. He's outraged when Daemon leads his gold cloaks on a violent, bloody raid in the criminal districts of King's Landing. The night ends with several dozen severed heads, hands, arms, legs and other body parts piled into a wagon. 

Daemon argues that he's merely enforcing the laws, but Otto and several other council lords find the spectacle distasteful. 

Let the game (of thrones) begin

The tournament kicks off with a giddy Viserys announcing the queen's labor has started.

After gossiping about various nobles with Alicent, Rhaenyra's eye is caught by a handsome knight by the name of Ser Criston Cole. Apparently, he's a commoner (gasp!) and is of Dornish descent (interesting). 

Ser Criston and Daemon meet each other in a joust, with Criston shocking the prince by unhorsing him. Daemon grabs a sword, intending to continue in hand-to-hand combat. Despite Daemon's prowess and renown as a fighter, Criston defeats him. He asks Rhaenyra for her favor. Hmmm, will the princess fall for a commoner? Who's not a Targaryen? Now that would be a shocking turn of events. 

Meanwhile, Viserys is called from the tournament to Aemma's birth chamber. The baby is breech and the maesters give him a choice: They could possibly save the child if they cut it out of her, but Aemma would die. 

Viserys is torn but ends up giving them the go-ahead for the surgery. This scene is not for the faint of heart (or weak of stomach). She screams and screams some more, as the blood gushes out of her. 

Finally, the baby emerges and cries. It's a boy. 

Fire and blood

The queen's funeral takes place on a cliff near King's Landing. The pyre containing Aemma's wrapped corpse has another smaller figure on it — baby Baelon did not survive. 

Viserys looks like a ghost. It's up to Rhaenyra to give the order to light the pyre. "Dracarys," she tells Syrax. The flames consume poor Aemma and Baelon. 

Back in the council chamber, Otto brings up the issue of succession. My dude, give the grieving widower a little time? Corlys Velaryon initially states Daemon is the heir, but Otto points out how violent and impulsive the prince is and what a terrible ruler he'd be (all while the man in question eavesdrops from behind a screen). 

The Hand mentions Rhaenyra, but other lords protest that she's a mere girl. That leads Corlys to bring up his wife, Rhaenys, the queen who never was. Their bickering gets to Viserys, who storms out. 

Otto makes a wily move to ensure Daemon never becomes the heir: He sends his lovely daughter, Alicent, to comfort the king. 

After overhearing the council meeting, Daemon spends a boozy night at the brothel with his City Watch pals and his prostitute paramour, Mysaria. He makes a speech that toasts Baelon as "the heir for a day."

These words get back to Viserys, courtesy of Otto, of course. The king is enraged that his brother was basically celebrating the destruction of his family. Viserys effectively banishes Daemon by ordering him to return to his wife at Runestone. He has decided to name Rhaenyra his heir. 

Before she is installed as the heir, Viserys tells her a secret that has been passed down from king to heir in the Targaryen line. Aegon had a vision that a terrible winter is coming, one that could bring about the end of men. A Targaryen must sit on the Iron Throne to unite the realm against this threat. Aegon called his foretelling "a song of ice and fire." 

As the lords of Westeros, including Rickon Stark of Winterfell, pledge fealty to Rhaenyra, Daemon and Mysaria take flight on Caraxes. 

Only time will tell how long this state of affairs continues. Or if you want to be spoiled, you can read George R.R. Martin's history tome Fire and Blood, a chronicle of House Targaryen. But, as we know from Game of Thrones, the Targaryens don't stay in power. Right now, they are Rome before the fall. And with dragons involved, the fall is going to be even more epic. 

Next: This is why I loved House of the Dragon episode 1 but I feel this one moment threatens to ruin it. And House of the Dragon episode 3 recap: 2 winners, 2 losers in Westeros this week. 

House of the Dragon is about to take flight. The Game of Thrones prequel series premieres this weekend to high anticipation. While the end of GoT disappointed pretty much everyone, HBO is betting that some fire and blood will scorch those bad memories into ashes.

In fact, the House of the Dragon reviews are in and it has a good 85% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Winter already came and went on Game of Thrones, which concluded its eight-season run in May 2019. HBO wanted to follow up on the most popular show in its history, so the network began developing a handful of potential spinoffs. They moved forward with one: House of the Dragon. 

The idea was pitched by author George R.R. Martin himself, who also recommended Ryan Condal serve as head writer and showrunner. Game of Thrones veteran director Miguel Sapochnik also came on board as co-showrunner. Martin's blessing and participation should come as a relief to fans, as he wasn't much involved in the latter seasons of GOT. 

As the first follow-up to one of the biggest television sensations in recent years (and perhaps the last piece of true monoculture), House of the Dragon has big boots to fill. While many elements from the original show carry over, significant changes have been made to set the prequel apart. 

Here are the seven most important things to know before watching House of the Dragon. And be sure to check out our guide on how to watch House of the Dragon so you can see all the action. 

What is House of the Dragon about?

House of the Dragon is based on several of Martin's works, primarily the history tome Fire and Blood. It chronicled the Targaryen family's exploits over centuries, beginning with the Doom of Valyria and Aegon I Targaryen's conquest of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. The show's plot also draws from the novellas The Princess and the Queen and The Rogue Prince. 

The first season focuses on the events leading up to a particular segment of Targaryen history: the Dance of Dragons. The bloody and brutal civil war pits various Targaryen family members and their companion dragons against each other. 

When does House of Dragon take place?

House of the Dragon takes place around 129 AC (after Aegon's conquest) and nearly two centuries before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen and other events in Game of Thrones.

The show also features flashbacks to the childhoods of key figures, as younger actors portray Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower. Additionally, the trailer indicates at least one scene set at the Great Council of Harrenhal in 101 AC. The gathering of Westeros lords decided who would succeed Jaehaerys I as king among his four surviving grandchildren (Rhaenys, Viserys, Daemon and Aemma). They selected Viserys, much to the fury of Rhaenys. More on that below.

Who are the main characters?

Like Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon features a sprawling ensemble. We'll keep this character rundown to the 10 most important roles. 

Do I need to have seen Game of Thrones? 

Watching Game of Thrones is not mandatory for understanding and enjoying House of the Dragon. As a prequel set hundreds of years before GOT, it shares no common characters. 

Fans of the original series will get some references and their significance more easily, such as the Iron Throne, the Citadel and various noble houses like the Lannisters and Baratheons. 

If you've seen all of Game of Thrones and want to rewatch some episodes before House of the Dragon, here are five that we recommend. 

"Winter Is Coming" (season 1, episode 1): A table-setting pilot that introduces Daenerys Targaryen and how her existence threatens King Robert Baratheon's rule. It also features the politicking, ambition-seeking, alliance-making and backstabbing that will also mark House of the Dragon.

"Fire and Blood" (season 1, episode 10): The birth of Daenerys Targaryen's dragons.

"The Dance of Dragons" (season 5, episode 9): Daenerys rides Drogon for the first time and Princess Shireen Baratheon recounts the story of the Dance of the Dragons civil war to her father, Stannis.

"The Spoilers of War" (season 7, episode 4): The "loot train robbery" is the site of a fearsome and deadly dragon attack. Lots of fire, lots of blood.

"Beyond the Wall" (season 7, episode 6): Not only is there quite a bit of dragonriding, but there's also a dragon death, which should happen multiple times during the civil war.

While the series finale, "The Iron Throne," is a portrait of the toxicity that seems to run in Targaryen veins, as Daenerys goes power mad, we can't truly recommend rewatching it. It'll just reopen old wounds.

How long will the series run?

Game of Thrones ran for eight seasons, roughly meant to correspond with Martin's (unfinished) books. House of the Dragon has no similar parallel. 

The Dance of the Dragons civil war lasted about two years and it's possible the show will take its time covering that. It could break each year out into its own season, or split them in half and tell its story over four seasons. When that story wraps up, though, House of the Dragon could become an anthology of other Targaryen tales. 

As Sapochnik told Entertainment Weekly, "We've chosen a story that's almost like Star Wars: Episode IV. It's the New Hope. We can go backwards, we can go forwards. There's a lot of opportunities there. I hope we've been given the opportunity to set up something." 

What has changed from the books?

One of the biggest differences between House of the Dragon and Martin's writing is that Corlys Velaryon is Black. 

In the books, mentions of the Velaryons indicate they have pale skin, silver hair, and purple eyes. The showrunners wanted a more diverse, inclusive cast, and with Martin's blessing, altered the family's race.

"The world is very different now than it was 10 years ago when [Game of Thrones] all started. It's different than 20 years ago when Peter Jackson made The Lord of the Rings. These types of stories need to be more inclusive than they traditionally have been," Condal told EW. "It was very important for Miguel and I to create a show that was not another bunch of white people on the screen, just to put it very bluntly."

In fact, Condal said that Martin almost wrote the Velaryons as a Black noble house.

"Long, long ago when he was conceiving of this world, [Martin] himself had considered the idea of making Velaryons a race of Black people with silver hair that essentially came from the other side of the ocean and conquered Westeros," Condal noted. "That's a fascinating idea and that always really stuck with me because it's such a stark image. I just thought, 'Well, why couldn't we do a version of that now?"

Why is the Iron Throne different?

One of the first things GOT fans will notice as a difference from the original show is the size of the Iron Throne. The one on House of the Dragon is much bigger and more fearsome, aligning better with how it was described in Martin's books. 

The author previously said, "I state repeatedly in the book that the Iron Throne is huge… huge. It towers over the room like a great beast, and it’s ugly, it’s asymmetric. It was put together by blacksmiths, not craftsmen and experts in furniture manufacture."

The Game of Thrones version was scaled down due to budget and practical concerns. But House of the Dragon had no such barriers.

"I've got to say, it's one of the most satisfying processes because there was no limit placed on how we did it," Sapochnik explained. "Rather, we designed it and then kind of worked backward."

As for how and why it changed by the time Game of Thrones takes place, well, as the showrunners note, a lot of things can happen in 200 years.

Next: Also, these 7 must-watch HBO Max movies are 95% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes.

Just over three years after Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen’s story came to a (slightly unsatisfying) ending with Game of Thrones, HBO is finally bringing Westeros back to our screens in House of the Dragon. 

The first episode is airing at 9 p.m ET on HBO and HBO Max tonight, but is it worth your time? Critics have been given access to the first six shows of the ten-episode season, and the consensus is mixed with some saying it recaptures the epic glory of Game of Thrones in its prime, and others finding it considerably more bland.

The series has a 88% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes which is pretty high — here’s what it’s about and the general consensus straight from the pens of the critics.

What is House of the Dragon about?

The first thing to know about House of the Dragon is that it’s a prequel to Game of Thrones rather than a sequel. It’s set 200 years before the events that Westeros watchers will be familiar with, and concerns itself with the Daeneyrys’ Targaryen ancestors’ brutal civil war.

If you’re concerned that this is HBO going rogue with George RR Martin’s world, don’t be: it’s still based on the writer’s work. Specifically, this concerns itself with the second half of his 2018 book “Fire & Blood” which chronicles House Targaryen’s rule from the beginning. 

Having seen the first nine episodes, the author himself says he’s a fan of the show, which certainly makes it more appealing to GoT diehards.

What do the critics think of House of the Dragon?

But what about the critics who’ve seen the first half? Well, it’s a mixed bag.

It’s “a roaring success” according to The Guardian’s four-star review. “In short, all is as it was in GoT’s heyday,” it concludes. “Fun, propulsive, looking great and sounding passable. And that, after the bizarrely poor finale to what had been a roaring success of a show, is a relief.”

The LA Times agrees, saying that it “recaptures the power, grandeur of the original”. As does The Wall Street Journal, which states that it’s “a success dramatically, as captivating as any season of Game of Thrones.”

The Film Yap goes even further, saying it “captures much of the magic and glory of GoT” with “a compelling mix of dastardly schemes, bloody battles and Shakespearean plots.”

So far, so good, but others are less enthusiastic — especially on the characterization front. The New York Times, for example, calls the line up “flat” and “stamped out on Martin’s production line of medieval fantasy types.” 

What does that mean in practice? Empire’s review gives us a good insight. “The writing so far lacks the sparkle of Thrones’ most profound moments: there is no equivalent to the witty drinking-and-knowing-things of Tyrion, no petty scheming of Littlefinger’s level, no revealing character moments as startling as Robert and Cersei finally having an honest conversation.”

Or, to put it more bluntly, Rolling Stone simply calls the characters “uniformly dull.” 

But perhaps it’s unfair to judge a show with quite so many characters to introduce so quickly. Critics, after all, have only seen 60% of the series and presumably, there will be a cliffhanger to enjoy at the end of the ten-episode run. 

“The good news with House of the Dragon is that the beginning is the worst part,” says EW describing a show that gets better as it goes along. “Dragon doesn't soar immediately, but no House was built in a day,” it concludes.

Should you watch House of the Dragon tonight?

For fans of Game of Thrones, it’s a cautious thumbs up, especially if you’re patient enough to give it a few episodes to bed in. The general consensus is that while it may not quite match Game of Thrones at its peak, it will at least scratch the itch for fans of political intrigue and ultraviolence.

But for anybody who has yet to take a tour of Westeros with Game of Thrones, this may be one to pass. As Nina Metz of the Chicago Tribune writes: “Does the show work if you’re coming in cold? My guess: It may leave newcomers wondering what all the Game of Thrones fuss was about.”

Next: These 5 must-watch Netflix movies have 90% and up on Rotten Tomatoes and this is why I am so excited for Welcome to Wrexham — a real life Ted Lasso story. And here's why I loved House of the Dragon episode 1 but I feel this one moment threatens to ruin it. Also, these are the 7 best new movies to stream this week on Netflix, HBO Max and more (August 22-26).

HBO Max is now HBO Max, again, after its brief foray into just going by Max.

But regardless of the name, it is still our favorite streaming service. With a wide variety of content, including HBO shows, HBO Max originals, Warner Bros. Studios movies and shows and all the Discovery content, there's more to watch than we can even list here.

Of course, this all comes with a price, and that price has gone up over the years.

Currently, plans start at $9.99 a month for the Basic with Ads plan and top out at $20.99 a month for the Premium tier and its 4K streaming resolution.

But there is some good news. If you want to add Disney and Hulu to your HBO Max subscription, you can! There's now a Disney Plus, Hulu and HBO Max Bundle that gets you the basic, ad-supported tier of all three streaming services.

So let's dive into what makes HBO Max our top pick for the best streaming service.

HBO Max pricing and availability

HBO Max currently has three tiers: Basic with Ads, Standard and Premium.

Basic with Ads is $9.99 a month (or $99.99 a year). It comes with ads to bring down the price, and gives you just two simultaneous streams. It also caps your streaming resolution at Full HD 1080p.

Standard is $16.99 a month (or $169.99 a year). It adds the ability to download up to 30 movies and/or shows and ditches the ads (except in live sports). It also adds select live sports broadcasts.

Premium is $20.99 a month (or $209.99 a year). It boosts your streaming resolution to 4K and adds Dolby Atmos audio support. It also gives you two additional streams (you're still capped at two simultaneous streams for live sports) and gives you 100 downloads instead of just 30.

HBO Max supported devices

A long time ago, hardware support was our biggest gripe with HBO Max.

But thankfully, HBO Max no longer suffers from this issue. You can watch Max on Roku, Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, iOS, iPadOS, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, as well as Chromecast.

HBO Max shows

HBO Max, of course, features HBO shows. That means acclaimed shows like "The Last of Us," "Succession," "The Sopranos," "Six Feet Under," "The Wire," "Sex and The City" and "Insecure."

But, you also get unscripted shows such as the Food Network's "Cupcake Wars" and "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives." There are also home lifestyle shows such as "Fixer Upper," "Diary of an Old Home" and "Maine Cabin Masters."

HBO Max movies

HBO Max draws in a wealth of movies thanks to decades worth of Warner Bros. movies. It also has some HBO Max original movies, but it's mostly Warner Bros.' new and old movies that you'll be watching

New movies tend to show up on HBO Max 45 days after their theatrical release, but that's not a hard and fast rule.

HBO Max content library

No streaming library impresses me as much as HBO Max's, but it also confuses me like no other.

35,000 hours of content is as dense as it gets, especially since it's from a combination of engrossing prestige TV and relaxing comfort food programming. Yes, while HBO owns Sunday nights, HBO Max is going to try and take your eyes every night.

Then, they just started canceling and deleting titles left and right, with the bloodletting beginning with HBO Max movies, and then moving onto HBO Max shows, and now two HBO shows: Westworld and The Nevers.

But you also get the most popular Discovery shows ... though they're also starting to disappear.

Still, even with shows and movies vanishing, more are coming in, so you're never lacking for something to watch.

HBO Max design and interface

The thousands of hours of film and TV history contained within HBO Max can be hard to sort through, but improved personalized recommendations seek to fix that.

In the home screen, you get "lenses" for Movies, Shows, HBO and New & Notable, and scrolling down you'll find lots of curated content. Those sections include Featured Content and Just Added content.

You'll also see Brand Spotlights, which are hubs for groups of content. Those include HBO, DC, HGTV, TLC, Wizarding World for Harry Potter, Magnolia Network, Food Network and Discovery.

HBO Max performance and 4K streaming

So far, HBO Max feels fast and responsive.

To get 4K streaming, though, you'll need the $20.99 per month Premium tier. That tier will also give you Dolby Atmos sound and a couple of other perks besides.

HBO Max parental controls

HBO Max allows for 5 user profiles, which are classified as either Adult or Kid. Kid accounts give parents the control to limit the content a child can watch by the MPAA rating (G to NC-17) and those for TV (TV-Y to TV-MA). 

HBO Max verdict

As this HBO Max review explains, there's very little we're annoyed with, and it's mostly about some shows disappearing and some plans costing a bit more. The library is still strong, and the app seems cleaner and as snappy as ever.

HBO Max is throwing a party to get everyone excited for Game of Thrones' prequel, House of The Dragon. But this procession isn't about someone shouting "Shame! Shame! Shame!" This time, HBO Max is practically chanting "Stream! Stream! Stream!"

Yesterday (Monday, August 1), HBO Max added the entirety of Game of Thrones in 4K UHD quality. And it's not just sharp, either. The seasons are presented in HDR 10, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. That means you'll see — provided your TV supports these standards, and you're not as blind as Maester Aemon — all eight seasons of Thrones with high contrast and strong colors. And it'll sound immersive too. Hopefully, all of this content survives the incoming corporate bloodbath, as HBO Max could be dead, as Discovery Plus is rumored to take over.

Scrolling through the Game of Thrones spotlight section in HBO Max, I noticed that HBO Max has collected both a bunch of perks and a list of episodes you might want to watch. For example, they've got the ultimate screensaver for Thrones fans, with 30-minutes of "ambient video" that presents landscape shots of the houses, followed by the characters who lived in them. It's basically split into three sections, with wide shots of House Lannister, Stark and Targaryen.

Personally, I saw this news as something rather exciting. While I was personally done with Game of Thrones, the prospect of HBO Max fixing the show's biggest mistake (that didn't happen in the writers' room) gives me a big reason to go back to Westeros before the new season starts.

The remastered Game of Thrones episode I want to watch first

The news of Game of Thrones going 4K with HDR 10 and Dolby Vision had me thinking of one episode and only one episode. You might remember it: "The Long Night." 

Perfectly named for the epic amount of complaints it received, the third episode of the eighth and final season of Thrones was supposed to be all about the massive battle between the Night King and his army and humanity's forces. Instead, criticism of the episode's dark lighting was first and foremost. 

The Long Night has decent placement in the HBO Max app's Game of Thrones spotlight. Not only is it listed in both "Valar Morghulis: The Best Battles" alongside such epics as Battle of the Bastards and Blackwater, but it's also in the "Most-Watched Episodes" list. 

And it looks like I'm not alone. If the list is in order of popularity (it appears to be, as it starts with the first nine episodes, then a few season two episodes) then The Long Night's prominence — right after those early episodes — is of note. 

I didn't get to watch Game of Thrones on a great TV like the one I have now (the LG 55-inch C7 OLED). I've always been curious about watching that episode with a better TV, so this is a perfect time to go back and answer the question I've always been curious about. Was my TV at fault, or is "The Long Night" just too damn dark? 

Let me know in the comments below if you go on such an investigative journey as well.

Next: Work on Stranger Things 5 begins, but ST4 didn't beat Squid Game. We've collected the HBO Max shows with 100% Rotten Tomatoes ratings. Plus, now that the Game of Thrones prequel series is here — here's everything thing you need to know before you watch the House of the Dragon. Also, the reviews are in for the House of the Dragon.

Remember those rumors that we may get another Game of Thrones spin-off, following the adventures of Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) after season 8? George R.R. Martin, author of the Game of Thrones books, has revealed some tantalizing information about it. 

Writing on his own personal blog, Martin confirmed the show is in early development. But not just that, it seems as though the whole thing was Kit Harrington’s idea.

Interestingly, Martin is just confirming what Emilia Clarke, Daenerys Targaryen herself, revealed in an interview with the BBC. “It’s been created by Kit, as far as I can understand," Clarke said, “so he's in it from the ground up. So what you will be watching, hopefully, if it happens, is certified by Kit Harington."

However, Clarke herself is not likely to appear in the show. She said as much when the BBC asked if she’d return to her most famous role. Plus it wouldn’t make much sense for Daenerys to appear in a show set after Game of Thrones’ final season.

Like so many Game of Thrones characters before her, Daenerys is dead — killed by Jon Snow to prevent her going on a genocidal rampage across the planet. That’s why he was exiled north of the wall in the finale, setting the stage for the sequel series.

The question still remains as to whether the show, whose working title is Snow, will actually get made. Martin confirmed that the spin-off is still in the scripting stage, as is the case with three other Game of Thrones spin-offs: The Hedge Knight, based on Martin’s Dunk & Egg stories, 10,000 Ships (a.k.a Nymeria) and The Sea Snake (a.k.a 9 Voyages).

But nothing has been greenlit, and there’s no guarantee that any of these shows will ever get made. Martin himself isn’t particularly hopeful that all four shows will make it to broadcast — as much as he’d like them to.

Without prior approval from HBO, Martin isn’t willing to divulge any more details about Snow at the moment. Just that Harrington came up with the idea, brought in his own people to develop the show, and that team has visited Martin’s team in Santa Fe to “hammer out the show."

Well anything to avoid writing the Winds of Winter, right? Martin ended his blog by confirming he’s not forgotten about it, and has been writing up a Tyrion chapter this past week. But I suspect we may be seeing Snow on HBO Max before the book actually on store shelves.

In the meantime House of Dragon, the first Game of Thrones spin-off to make it past the pilot stage, will premiere on HBO and HBO Max on August 21.

Update: The Jon Snow TV show is definitely happening, and we have Game of Thrones author George RR Martin to thank for that news

Game of Thrones could be getting another spin-off, this time a sequel series following the adventures of Jon Snow after the events of the eighth season. This news comes from The Hollywood Reporter, and includes the teaser that Kit Harrington is set to reprise his role.

But, in the words of Jon Snow himself, I don’t want it. Game of Thrones crashed and burned in spectacular fashion during its final season, and it’s about time HBO realized that it should be left to the annals of television history.

The sequel series is reportedly in early development, and marks the third attempt at a live action Game of Thrones spin-off. The first, Bloodmoon, starring Naomi Watts, never made it past the pilot stage, while the Targaryen-themed House of the Dragon is set to premiere on August 21.

Those of you who haven’t placed mental blocks around the Game of Thrones finale will remember exactly what happened to Jon Snow (and if you've not seen it yet, spoilers follow). 

The final season saw Jon discover he was the true-born son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, rather than Ned Stark’s bastard, and the only living character with any claim to the Iron Throne. Or what was left of it, at any rate.

Then, after killing Daenerys and preventing what felt like burgeoning genocide, Jon was imprisoned and exiled — sent to the north of the wall with the remainder of the wildlings. 

Given that Jon’s fate was left open-ended, there are plenty of ways in which a sequel series could go — and some of them are even quite intriguing. For instance, we know that his cousin Sansa Stark has declared the North to be an independent kingdom, so there's potential there for conflict between Winterfell and the land beyond the wall. 

We also know that the millennia-long winter north of the wall is finally thawing, which could entirely change the landscape of the region and provide plenty of opportunities for the characters to explore interesting areas and interact with fascinating creatures. What's become of the Giants, for instance? Do the Children of the Forest still exist?

But rich though the potential may be, I can't get remotely excited about the possibility of another sequel. 

Oathbreaker

Game of Thrones was huge during its run, and the hype for the final season was electrifying. 

However, the way things played out drove the entire franchise into the ground, to the point where one of the biggest TV shows of the 2010s, possibly of all time, disappeared from the pop culture consciousness. 

There are no memes, no rewatch discussions, nothing. Only a bunch of very bitter people who can’t quite get over how much of a crapfest the final season was. There hasn’t been a backlash to a final season quite so immense since Lost ended. But unlike Lost, which was treated incredibly unfairly, Game of Thrones did deserve at least some of the reception it got.

It has been three years since the Game of Thrones finale blundered onto TV screens, and the time for a spin-off has long-since passed. People have stopped caring, and it means any related series faces an uphill battle — no matter how good it might end up being.

Had HBO been more proactive while Game of Thrones was still on the air, things might have been a little different. 

For instance, we’ve already seen Amazon get to work on a bunch of spin-offs to The Boys. That comic adaptation is riding the popularity train at the moment, so whatever spin-offs Amazon greenlights should get an instant boost — even if, like the animated The Boys Presents: Diabolical anthology series, they aren’t all that great.

The wars to come

House of the Dragon, to its credit, seems to be focusing on the better things about the Game of Thrones franchise. For one, it promises to feature a bunch of dragons that are bigger and badder than the trio from its predecessor, as well as majoring on the harsher sides of fantasy politics that made the first few seasons of Game of Thrones so compelling. But it still faces the stigma of being associated with the original series.

Other live-action spin-offs we know about will also be set before the events of Game of Thrones. They include 10,000 Ships (a.k.a. Nymeria) with showrunner Amanda Segel, 9 Voyages (a.k.a. The Sea Snake) with showrunner Bruno Heller, and Dunk and Egg (based on George RR Martin’s novella) with showrunner Steve Conrad.

Being prequels, all of these shows have the advantage that they don’t need to try to course-correct. The unnamed Jon Snow Show, meanwhile, will have to grapple with the fact that it’s set after such a derided finale, and try to figure out a way to make people care again.

Then again, this may give the Game of Thrones franchise the chance to fix some of the biggest mistakes of the final season. My main criticism is that the finale was rushed, with little explanation or context for how and why characters ended up where they did. A little bit more context, either told through flashbacks or an ongoing story, could be the perfect way to help retcon Season 8.

That said, the show is only said to be in early development as it stands, and there’s no guarantee that it will make it to even the pilot stage, let alone get a full season. Personally, I'm hoping it won't.

Next: Be sure to check out the 11 new shows and movies to watch this weekend.

Update: Another Game of Thrones spin off is coming, and George RR Martin just confirmed it will focus on Jon Snow

Elden Ring is the latest brutally-challenging action RPG from From Software the developer behind Dark Souls, Bloodborne and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Helmed by legendary game director Hidetaka Miyazaki, the critically acclaimed title is also a collaboration with novelist George R. R. Martin. 

Martin is, of course, most famous for his fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire which was adapted in the wildly popular HBO series Game of Thrones. Martin worked alongside Miyazaki to create Elden Ring’s world and establish a foundation for the game’s intriguing but fairly ambiguous story. 

Miyazaki and From Software clearly enjoyed working with Martin, as they left a hidden Game of Thrones Easter egg within the massive world of Elden Ring. Even better, it’s not just a winking nod, it’s a weapon that you can use to vanish some of the Lands Between's most deadly foes. 

Called the Grafted Blade Greatsword, the weapon is a clear reference to the iconic Iron Throne from the Game of Thrones series. Like its royal chair inspiration, the sword is made up of several sharp blades all meshed together into a single weapon that looks particularly spiky. 

If you’re still exploring the early stages of Elden Ring (perhaps you’re grinding levels before tackling the game’s first boss Margit the Fell Omen?) you can still unlock this sword. This is because the Grafted Blade Greatsword is found in one of the first areas of the game. 

Below we’ll walk you through exactly where you’ll find this Game of Thrones inspired blade, and what stats you'll need to actually wield it. 

How to find Elden Ring’s Game of Thrones sword

Your hunt for the Grafted Blade Greatsword begins in the Weeping Peninsula. This is an early game area to the South of the starting location, Limgrave. It’s actually fairly easy to skip this whole part of the map. Many players will head straight for Stormfront Castle in the North, but it’s well worth exploring the Weeping Peninsula fully for its many secrets.  

Within the peninsula is a towering structure known as Castle Morne, you can’t really miss it. Once you’ve fought your way through the castle’s you’ll come up against a fearsome boss known as Leonine Misbegotten. Defeat this feral beast and your reward will be the Grafted Blade Greatsword. 

Unfortunately, once you’ve obtained the weapon, it’s unlikely you'll actually be able to wield it. This is because it requires you to have a strength stat of 40 to use it properly. We suggest storing it for now, and bringing it out for later battles once you’ve had the chance to level up a couple dozen times. 

As an aside, we recommend you play Elden Ring on the PS5, as that console appears to offer the best overall performance.