# House of the Dragon, an HBO prequel series to Game of Thrones **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, hbomax-wb-dc\ **Created:** [May 6, 2021, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521 "2021-05-06T13:17:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 22
**Author:** ![SlipperyPete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@SlipperyPete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlipperyPete)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/422 "2022-10-05T18:04:37Z")
I thought Laena claimed Vaghar when she was only 15, wasn’t that before she married Daemon? ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/423 "2022-10-05T18:07:33Z")
Vaghar was Balerion’s mate, sister, or something? She is supposed to reach his final size. ---
**Author:** ![SlipperyPete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@SlipperyPete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlipperyPete)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/424 "2022-10-05T18:08:42Z")
Eh, he just got his eye cut out, I’d give a little grace on some pissed-off insults. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/425 "2022-10-05T18:11:11Z")
> [@SlipperyPete](#): > > I thought Laena claimed Vaghar when she was only 15, wasn’t that before she married Daemon? I dunno, maybe? I just remember in one of the earlier episodes they mention Vhagar was loose somewhere and then she had him. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/426 "2022-10-05T18:12:42Z")
> [@SlipperyPete](#): > > some pissed-off insults Accusing royal children of bastardy is more than pissed-off insults. It is literally treason. If true, it certainly means a death sentence for the adulterers; possibly also for the bastard children. If false, it also can mean a death sentence for the accuser. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Burden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/958977/32.png) [@Jack\_Burden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Burden)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/427 "2022-10-05T18:21:15Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Vaghar was Balerion’s mate, sister, or something? She is supposed to reach his final size. Vhagar is the last of the three dragons that the Targaryens used in the Conquest (Balerion and Meraxes being the other two). Her original rider was Aegon I’s sister/wife/queen Visenya, and then Prince Baelon and then Laena. By the time Aemond claimed her she had grown as large as Balerion had been, more than twice the size of Daemon’s dragon Caraxes. One thing we missed out on due to the time jump was Daemon, Laena, and Rhaenyra riding together, which was a common occurrence. I would have liked to see that. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/428 "2022-10-05T18:22:37Z")
Genetics are fucked up in Westeros (“the seed is strong”), but from what I remember, the fact the kids weren’t Laenors (in the books) wasn’t confirmed, but rumoured. The actor is biracial, and the kids aren’t obviously, but shouldn’t they look Targareyan since 3/4 grandparents are white and actually nearly Albino. Ditto with Daemon’s daughters. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/429 "2022-10-05T18:25:46Z")
> [@SlipperyPete](#): > > Dragons are not cars. They don’t have titles or property value. A rider bonds with them and then they become the rider’s dragon. They don’t belong to any particular family. Right, but access to the dragons and dragon eggs is strictly controlled. You don’t just sneak into the dragon enclosure and try to bond with one. The king (and whomever else the king delegates authority) decides who gets dragon rider training, who gets admitted to the dragon enclosure, who gets to try to bond with which dragon, etc. Aemond definitely broke protocol. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/430 "2022-10-05T18:27:10Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Right, but access to the dragons and dragon eggs is strictly controlled. You don’t just sneak into the dragon enclosure and try to bond with one. The king (and whomever else the king delegates authority) decides who gets dragon rider training, who gets admitted to the dragon enclosure, who gets to try to bond with which dragon, etc. Aemond definitely broke protocol. Vhagar wasn’t one of those dragons, he was just hanging out where he pleased until Laena bonded with him. Aemond didn’t do anything she didn’t do first. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/431 "2022-10-05T18:32:04Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Genetics are fucked up in Westeros (“the seed is strong”), but from what I remember, the fact the kids weren’t Laenors (in the books) wasn’t confirmed, but rumoured. > The actor is biracial, and the kids aren’t obviously, but shouldn’t they look Targareyan since 3/4 grandparents are white and actually nearly Albino. Ditto with Daemon’s daughters. I mean it was reeeeally strongly rumored. They just made it more evident to a TV watching audience by making the Velaryons black. In the books, Velaryons are just as blond haired, purple eyed and aquiline noses as the Targaryens - to have brown haired pug nosed children which really resembled Harwin Strong… well, it was pretty obvious. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/432 "2022-10-05T19:14:42Z")
> [@SlipperyPete](#): > > Eh, he just got his eye cut out, I’d give a little grace on some pissed-off insults. Speaking of that, just how effective is Aemond going to be flying a dragon when he only has one eye? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/433 "2022-10-05T19:40:17Z")
Why should it be a problem? The dragon still has two. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/434 "2022-10-05T20:51:28Z")
> [@SlipperyPete](#): > > Eh, he just got his eye cut out, I’d give a little grace on some pissed-off insults. He got his eye cut out _because_ he delivered that insult (more of a death threat, since he said it while holding up a rock that he was clearly planning to use to bash in the boy’s skull). ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2022, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/435 "2022-10-07T02:11:45Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > There were three dragons leaving with the King’s party. Was the third Helaena’s? She doesn’t seem a dragon-riding type. Yes, Healena the bug-whisperer is a dragon rider. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/gFf4O9bKqbg/maxresdefault.jpg "🧙 Helaena Targaryen knows her future | House of the Dragon Original") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFf4O9bKqbg) ---
**Author:** ![Lantern2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lantern2/32/3010_2.png) [@Lantern2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern2)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2022, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/436 "2022-10-07T20:48:04Z")
I have to agree this is the best episode so far. I have liked the show but it’s been a fairly slow burn but this episode grabbed me like some of the best in early GOT. Although I also have to agree with the complaints that there were too many dark scenes which probably look great on a good OLED tv but not so much on my average LCD. As for green versus black I am firmly in the neutral camp. Too much nastiness on both sides for me to pick one. I will just enjoy the machinations much like I did for I Claudius without rooting for anyone in particular. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2022, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/437 "2022-10-08T03:27:29Z")
Good points, but I feel like there was much more immediate knee-bending, reassurance of fealty, allegiance to historical alliances, etc. in GOT. In HOTD, it seems like people get away with a lot more. Maybe it’s just Viserys who is the outlier in terms of monarchs in that era. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2022, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/438 "2022-10-10T02:34:40Z")
Paddy Considine deserves all the Emmys. What a performance! ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2022, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/439 "2022-10-10T03:08:17Z")
Did Alicent murder the serving girl? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2022, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/440 "2022-10-10T03:49:23Z")
Ah, poor Helaena. For some reason my heart especially goes out to her. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2022, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521/441 "2022-10-10T04:21:57Z")
Even if Rhaenyra’s children were ruled illegitimate wouldn’t Baela and her sister still come before Vaemond in the succesion to Driftmark? > [@Acsenray](#): > > Did Alicent murder the serving girl? No, she paid her off and had her drink moon tea. Alicent seems to have about as much control over her sons as Cersei will have over Joffrey. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-dragon-an-hbo-prequel-series-to-game-of-thrones/941521.md?page=23)