Set nearly 200 years before the events of the highly successful Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon takes viewers on a journey through the history of the Targaryen bloodline, which once ruled the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros for many years.
Game of Thrones fans will already know the Targaryen dynasty’s eventual fate, but this prequel provides a look into a time when the Targaryens were the most powerful family in Westeros. The show shows their strengths, weaknesses, and mistakes, showing how they eventually caused the events that unfolded in Game of Thrones.
The first season of House of the Dragon was crucial in introducing the characters and conflicts that are developed further in the second season, which was released during the summer of 2024. Now that viewers have had time to process the exciting twists and turns of the first season, it is worth taking a look back at each episode and its contributions to the full story.
Episode 2: “The Rogue Prince”
Six months after the events of the first episode, King Viserys faces increasing pressure from all sides as tensions rise across Westeros. Lord Corlys Velaryon urges him to act against the Triarchy, who is causing havoc in the Stepstones.
Meanwhile, Daemon seizes control of Dragonstone and announces his plan to marry his mistress, Mysaria. He even steals a dragon egg, intensifying his conflict with Viserys.
As the King, Viserys must balance personal desires and political demands, leading him to consider marrying Laena Velaryon. However, he shocks everyone by choosing Alicent Hightower instead, straining his relationship with Corlys and Princess Rhaenyra.
A key moment in this episode is a conversation between Rhaenyra and Rhaenys, where Rhaenys bluntly tells Rhaenyra that as a woman, she will never be truly accepted as ruler. This conversation highlights the ongoing power struggle women face, a theme that will resonate throughout the series.
Episode 3: “Second of His Name”
Three years have passed since Viserys married Alicent, and tensions are high as Rhaenyra struggles with the pressure to marry, feeling overshadowed by her half-brother, Prince Aegon. During a royal hunt celebrating Aegon’s second nameday, Rhaenyra argues with her father while rejecting a proposal from Lord Jason Lannister.
Still from House of the Dragon (Credit: HBO)
Meanwhile, in the Stepstones, Daemon and Corlys fight against the Triarchy. Daemon, driven by the need to prove himself, defeats the Triarchy’s Craghas Drahar with the help of Corlys’ son Laenor and his dragon.
This episode deepens the complex relationship between Rhaenyra and her former best friend turned stepmother, Alicent.
The birth of Aegon introduces uncertainty about Rhaenyra’s claim to the throne, creating tension between the two women. Additionally, the battle scenes remind fans of the epic moments from Game of Thrones, delivering high-stakes action.
Episode 1: “The Heirs of the Dragon”
The story begins with King Jaehaerys presiding over the Great Council at Harrenhal, where Viserys is chosen as his successor instead of Princess Rhaenys. Fast forward eleven years later, and Viserys is now the King of Westeros.
He is eagerly awaiting the birth of a male heir and hosts a tournament in his unborn child’s honor. This episode introduces us to Rhaenyra, who reconnects with her uncle, Daemon, the Commander of the City Watch.
Tragedy strikes when Queen Aemma dies during childbirth, and their newborn son dies shortly after. In the midst of mourning, Viserys declares Rhaenyra as his heir, a bold move that sets the stage for future conflicts in the Targaryen family.
The episode provides a public declaration of the heir to the Iron Throne, and while it may seem like progress after Rhaenys was overlooked, this act only opens the door to challenges Rhaenyra must face.
Episode 6: “The Princess and the Queen”
Ten years after Rhaenyra’s marriage, she gives birth to her third son. However, Queen Alicent immediately becomes suspicious of the child’s parentage. Tensions between the two women are at an all-time high, and their sons’ rivalry adds to the strain. As Alicent’s son Aemond struggles to bond with a dragon, rumors of Rhaenyra’s sons being illegitimate spread throughout the court.
Still from House of the Dragon (Credit: HBO)
This episode marks a transition in the characters. Both Rhaenyra and Alicent have grown older and more bitter, reflecting the decade of unresolved tensions that have passed since their youthful days.
Episode 5: “We Light the Way”
Daemon kills his estranged wife, Rhea Royce, to free himself for another marriage. Meanwhile, Viserys travels to Driftmark to arrange a marriage between Rhaenyra and Laenor, uniting the Targaryen and Velaryon houses.
Both Rhaenyra and Laenor agree to a mutual understanding, allowing them to pursue other relationships while fulfilling their duties. However, Alicent uncovers Rhaenyra’s secret affair with Ser Criston Cole, setting the stage for tension and betrayal. During a pre-wedding feast, Cole, angered by rejection, murders Laenor’s lover, Joffrey Lonmouth.
This episode shows a darker side of Criston Cole and establishes him as one of Rhaenyra’s enemies. His actions, driven by hurt and jealousy, foreshadow further conflict as he aligns himself with Alicent.
Episode 4: “King of the Narrow Sea”
Rhaenyra begins a tour of Westeros to find a potential husband, as ordered by Viserys. Daemon returns to court, mending his relationship with Viserys. However, Daemon soon leads Rhaenyra into a scandal when they sneak out to the Street of Silk, where Rhaenyra experiences a new sense of freedom.
Although Daemon starts to seduce her, he abruptly abandons her, leaving Rhaenyra to seduce Ser Criston Cole. This leads to a series of events where Otto informs Viserys of Daemon and Rhaenyra’s rumored affair. As a result, Daemon is exiled once again, and Viserys orders Rhaenyra to marry Laenor Velaryon.
The choices made in this episode have long-lasting consequences. Cole’s betrayal and Rhaenyra’s strained relationships with Alicent and Viserys create fractures that will only grow deeper as the story unfolds.
Episode 9: “The Green Council”
Following Viserys’ death, Alicent and Otto Hightower move swiftly to place Aegon on the throne. Alicent believes Viserys’ final words meant he wanted Aegon to be king, despite his long-standing support of Rhaenyra.
Still from House of the Dragon (Credit: HBO)
A struggle for power unfolds, with Aegon reluctant to accept his role. During Aegon’s coronation, Rhaenys interrupts the event on her dragon, Meleys, but chooses to spare the Greens, instead fleeing to warn Rhaenyra.
This episode highlights the growing fractures within the Greens, particularly between Aegon and Aemond, setting the stage for future internal struggles.
Episode 10: “The Black Queen”
Rhaenyra faces the devastating loss of her father, Viserys, and learns of her half-brother Aegon’s usurpation of the throne. Amidst her grief, Rhaenyra endures premature labor and loses her baby.
She is crowned queen, and her council gathers to plan for war. Rhaenyra’s sons are sent to rally support from the great houses of Westeros. However, tragedy strikes when Aemond’s reckless pursuit of Lucerys on Vhagar leads to Lucerys’ death.
The season ends with Rhaenyra’s heartbreaking transformation from a reluctant ruler to a queen determined to fight for her family and birthright.
Episode 7: “Driftmark”
At Laena Velaryon’s funeral, tensions between the Targaryens and Velaryons continue to simmer. The children clash violently, resulting in Aemond losing an eye after stealing Laena’s dragon, Vhagar.
Viserys attempts to calm the situation by urging reconciliation, but the damage is done. Meanwhile, Rhaenyra and Daemon plot together, and Daemon arranges for Laenor’s death to be faked, allowing him to marry Rhaenyra.
This episode shows how Aemond’s actions shape him into a more formidable character. His newfound bond with Vhagar, the largest dragon, adds to the complex power dynamics of the families.
Episode 8: “The Lord of the Tides”
As Corlys Velaryon falls gravely ill, a battle for succession begins. Vaemond challenges Lucerys’ claim to Driftmark, but Rhaenyra and Daemon return to King’s Landing to defend Lucerys’ legitimacy.
A frail Viserys intervenes, reaffirming Lucerys’ claim. After an intense confrontation where Vaemond insults Rhaenyra, Daemon kills him, and the families attempt a brief reconciliation. However, Viserys’ death soon plunges the realm into chaos.
Viserys’ final act of love for Rhaenyra, defending her children’s right to Driftmark, marks a touching and powerful moment in the show. His death, however, leaves the realm on the brink of war.
House of the Dragon season 1 shows the power struggles within the Targaryen family, set nearly 200 years before Game of Thrones. The story follows Princess Rhaenyra, who is named heir to the Iron Throne, but faces opposition in a male-dominated kingdom.
Still from House of the Dragon (Credit: HBO)
King Viserys’ decision to make her his successor causes family tensions, especially with his brother, Daemon, and second wife, Alicent Hightower, who pushes her own son, Aegon, for the throne. As rivalries grow, the families become embroiled in political and personal conflicts, leading to betrayals, tragic deaths, and shifting alliances.
The season culminates in Aegon’s coronation and the devastating death of Rhaenyra’s son, setting the stage for a looming civil war. Throughout the season, themes of power, loyalty, and the high cost of ambition are highlighted, with dragons playing a central role in both warfare and family dynamics.
Former Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) pro-Cheryl Burke has no regrets about leaving the popular reality TV show. After being part of the competition for 26 seasons, Burke retired in 2022 and is not interested in returning. She has even mentioned that there are still many unanswered questions surrounding her departure.
In an exclusive interview with US Weekly, while promoting her podcast Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans, Burke confirmed that she is “done” with DWTS. She explained that teaching another celebrity to dance no longer excites her. The former DWTS star said she is in a much better place since leaving the show.
Burke shared that she no longer wants the show to define her identity, which it did in the past. While talking about her emotions and considering a return to the show, she said, “I’m still a little vulnerable to say, ‘OK, I’m ready to do that.’”
Burke also hinted that there were unresolved questions about why she wasn’t asked to participate in another role on DWTS. She thinks her podcast could be one of the reasons. However, she added that the DWTS team should know by now that she doesn’t mean any harm with her podcast.
She clarified that her podcast only touches on DWTS toward the end, while most of it focuses on her guests. Burke had also expressed her interest in being a judge on the show before she left.
Cheryl Burke Advises Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev
Burke, as a former DWTS pro, also advised Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev, following Chigvintsev’s arrest and their divorce battle. Chigvintsev was arrested in August 2024 on charges of domestic violence, but those charges have since been dropped. Soon after his arrest, Garcia filed for divorce on September 11, 2024.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Burke said the news of the arrest shocked her. She learned about it while recording an episode of her podcast. After reflecting on the situation, she said her “heart goes out” to everyone involved.
She showed concern and love for them, hoping they find healing, even if it means stepping away from their careers. Burke commented, “I hope that Nikki and Artem are protecting their heart, and I hope that, more importantly, their son is okay.”
Cheryl Burke (Credit: ABC)
Burke also shared that discussing sensitive news about her friends on her podcast segment, “Headlines and Hot Topics,” is difficult for her. She has to do it as part of her job but feels uncomfortable because she empathizes with the people she is talking about.
The latest season of Dancing with the Stars premieres every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. You can also stream the episodes and previous seasons on Disney+.
