The Key Locations Game Of Thrones Fans Want To See In House Of The Dragon
The upcoming "Game of Thrones" prequel series "House of the Dragon" premieres on HBO on August 21, 2022, and when it does, it will take fans back to Westeros for the first time since the original series' controversial finale. The prequel is set 200 years before the events of "Game of Thrones," telling the story of the origins of House Targaryen and how they gained control of the Iron Throne (via HBO).
Paddy Considine plays King Viserys I, the dragon-riding family's patriarch and ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. The story begins when Viserys makes the controversial decision to appoint his daughter Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) his heir, kicking off a round of political machinations that should be familiar to anyone who loves "Game of Thrones." Almost immediately, Rhaenyra faces a challenge from her uncle Daemon (Matt Smith), as well as the Targaryens' rivals, the Velaryons. Based on the teaser-trailer released last month, the Starks, Baratheons, and Targaryens are all in play, too (via YouTube).
For more casual fans, "House of the Dragon" is a chance to see more dragons and politics. But for aficionados of George R.R. Martin's source material, and the history of Westeros, it's a chance to see different sides of the world of "Game of Thrones." On Reddit, fans have been vocal about which locations they hope the show will visit.
Fans are hoping to see more of Oldtown
Redditor u/comrade_batman kicked off a Reddit thread sharing the locations they hoped "House of the Dragon" would travel to, specifically naming Oldtown and Storm's End. So far, the post has received more than 200 upvotes.
Oldtown is one of the two largest cities in Westeros, after King's Landing. "Game of Thrones" fans remember Oldtown as the home of the Order of Maesters, the house stewards and medicinal experts who serve many of Westeros' most prominent families. Sam (John Bradley) and Gilly (Hannah Murray) travel there so Sam can apprentice as a Maester, and it's where he finds a cure for Jorah Mormont's (Iain Glen) greyscale affliction. It's also the home of the Starry Sept, the seat of the Faith of the Seven, Westeros' dominant religion–before King's Landing's High Septim supplants it.
Oldtown plays a relatively small role in "Game of Thrones," but it should be a bigger factor in "House of the Dragon." By the time Viserys I takes the throne, he's the fifth Targaryen ruler since Aegon's Conquest. The Targaryens have already built King's Landing, and it's replaced Oldtown as the seat of the Seven Kingdoms. But due to Oldtown's size, wealth, and the presence of the Order of the Maesters and the Starry Sept, it still plays an integral role in Westerosi politics. At the time, it's ruled by the Hightower family, who swear fealty to the Targaryens. Their leader, Otto Hightower, temporarily serves as Viserys I's Hand, then returns to the role 20 years later. Rhys Ifans plays Otto Hightower in the upcoming series, so he'll no doubt be a major player in its politics.
Fans would also like to revisit Storm's End
Storm's End is the ancestral home of House Baratheon, and a legendarily unconquerable fortress. Ironically, it's a minor location in the original "Game of Thrones" series. When "Game of Thrones" begins, the leader of House Baratheon, Robert (Mark Addy) has already taken the Iron Throne, and so spends most of his time at King's Landing. The show finally visits Storm's End only when Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) recognizes Robert's illegitimate son Gendry (Joe Dempsie) as a Baratheon.
It would make sense for "House of the Dragon" to spend more time there. In "Game of Thrones," the Baratheons and Targaryens are mortal enemies for obvious reasons, but before Robert's Rebellion they were allies for centuries. That's still the case when Viserys names Rhaenyra her successor. Several Baratheons have been cast in "House of the Dragon," including Julian Lewis Jones as Boremund Baratheon (via Game of Thrones Wiki) and Laura Lake as Ellyn Baratheon (via Winter Is Coming).
On Reddit, fans have already been connecting the dots.
"There's no way this series gets to its conclusion and Storm's End doesn't feature," wrote Redditor u/Tootsiesclaw. "I feel like there were at least three key scenes there, plus no doubt they will add the meat on the bones in some storylines."
"They have to feature Storm's End," u/InvincibleReason agreed. "Its where the Dance truly kicked off, where Aemond and Lucerys both went to gain the support of Lord Borros Baratheon and the death of Lucerys, which then led to Blood and Cheese."
Time will tell which locations "House of the Dragons" will use, but George R.R. Martin's world is so dense that the possibilities are nearly endless.