‘I Think We Do Have a Planned End’

As Season 2 of HBO’s House of the Dragon fast approaches, its showrunner has the entire series mapped out to ensure the show doesn’t make the same mistake as its predecessor, Game of Thrones. Set hundreds of years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon explores the fall of House Targeryan, the once rulers of Westeros. Thrones fans still complain about the incredibly controversial 8th Season, and are frequently worried that House of the Dragon will go down the same path. Luckily, recently appointed showrunner Ryan Condal has a plan.

House of the Dragon

Taking place about 172 years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon tells the tale of the rise of the Targaryens, the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria. The popular HBO spinoff show first starred Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before they were replaced by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke, who play the older versions of the characters. Also starring in the series is Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra’s father, King Viserys Targaryen.

Release Date

August 21, 2021

Seasons

2

Studio

1:26 Pictures, Home Box Office (HBO)

Franchise

Game of Thrones

Network

HBO Max

Directors

Miguel Sapochnik , Clare Kilner , Alan Taylor , Greg Yaitanes , Geeta Vasant Patel , Andrij Parekh

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Condal knows exactly when the show is going to end, and promises he won’t go off-script like Game of Thrones did in its latter seasons. Speaking to Inverse, Condal said “I do know now where we’re going to end this particular story. And when I say end it, I just mean drop the curtain on it.” Based on the beloved fantasy novel series by George R.R. Martin, House of the Dragons is currently building up to the Dance of the Dragons, described in the books as the most violent civil war in the universe’s history. Condal knows that the Dance is only part of House Targaryen’s downfall, but his show will primarily focus on the battle, and its grueling aftermath. He continued:

“History moves on for another bunch of decades after this until the fall of the Targaryen Dynasty. But I think we do have a planned end.”

House of the Dragon Could Run for 4 Seasons or More

HBO hasn’t renewed House of the Dragon for a third season just yet, but Condal is hopeful it will happen, and has already planned ahead with potential storylines. With the end of the show slowly moving into sight, Condal is focusing on the show’s present over its future, saying “I am not yet ready to talk about how many episodes or seasons we need to get there.” However, this hasn’t stopped him from mapping out how the show could end. He continued:

“But I know now, having gone through the process of writing and breaking Season 2 and knowing where we’re going in Season 3, that we have a good plan and we know the roadmap and how to get there.”

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Matt Smith teases the challenges Daemon Targaryen faces in Season 2 of House of the Dragon.

Even book readers are divided on how many seasons House of the Dragon could run for. But one man does have an idea, and it’s safe to say he’s the authority on all things Game of Thrones. George R.R. Martin said in a 2022 blog post that House of the Dragon should take around 4 seasons (each containing 10 episodes) to complete its telling of the Dance of the Dragons. In his own words:

“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.”

While Season 1 established the numerous characters whose fates are intertwined in the civil war, Season 2 promises a lot more action. House Hightower and House Targaryen are assembling forces as war looms over the Iron Throne.