The new Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon explores a family feud that escalates into civil war as King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine) chooses to remove his riotous brother Prince Daemon (Matt Smith) from the royal line of succession. the Iron Throne instead to his daughter Princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock).
The series’ opener, The Heirs of the Dragon, begins with a prologue that establishes how Viserys came to power and why his own accession to the throne was questioned by certain factions, with an unseen narrator describing what happened prior to the main event. events of the spin-off.
As the first century of the Targaryen dynasty drew to a close, the health of the ancient king, Jaehaerys, deteriorated.
“In those days, House Targaryen was at the height of its strength, with 10 adult dragons under its yoke. No power in the world could compete with it.
King Jaehaerys reigned for nearly 60 years of peace and prosperity, but tragedy had claimed both his sons, leaving his succession in doubt.
“So in the year 101 the old king convened a Great Council to choose an heir. More than 1000 lords made the journey to Harrenhal.
14 succession claims were heard, but only two were really considered: Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, the king’s eldest descendant, and her younger cousin, Prince Viserys Targaryen, the king’s eldest male descendant.
“Rhaenys, a woman, would not inherit the Iron Throne. Instead, Messrs chose Viserys, my father.
“Jaehaerys summoned the Great Council to prevent a war being fought over his succession, for he knew the cold truth: the only thing that could bring down the House of the Dragon was himself.”
In short, Viserys (Paddy Considine) became ruler, beating his older cousin Rhaenys (Eve Best) as the stodgy old lords of the Great Council couldn’t bear to see a woman on the Iron Throne.
The story then jumps forward nearly a decade, with an on-screen caption confirming that the rest of House of the Dragon takes place nine years after the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen, 172 years “before the death of Mad King, Aerys and the birth of his daughter, Princess Daenerys Targaryen”.
But who actually supplies the opening story explaining how Viserys became king and why Rhaenys became known as the “queen who never was”?
There is quite a big clue in the narration itself, with the speaker identifying King Viserys as “my father”.
However, it is not Milly Alcock, who plays Princess Rhaenyra in The Heirs of the Dragon, who tells the tale of Targaryen’s family history.
Instead, the speech will be given by Emma D’Arcy, who will replace Alcock as Rhaenyra when House of the Dragon jumps forward in time again midway through the first season. (Olivia Cooke will also replace Emily Carey as Alicent Hightower.)
This is D’Arcy’s only contribution to the first episode, as she does not appear on screen, although she is credited in the credits for providing the voiceove