AnotherGame of Thronesstar, this time former Jaime Lannister Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, has revealedthey haven’t watchedHouse of the Dragon, and the reasoning is a little different from what others have offered.House of the Dragontakes place about two hundred years before the events ofGame of Thronesand follows thetumultuous reign of House Targaryenover the Seven Kingdoms.
The show is based off of the first volume ofFire & Blood, a novel by George R.R. Martin that is written in the style of a historical record recounting the reigns of the Targaryen kings. The first volume ofFire & Bloodwas released in 2018; there has been no confirmation thus far regarding the second volume’s release and few updates on its progress have been released.
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As the two shows take place in the same world, it’s not surprising thatGame of ThronesandHouse of the Dragonhave some similarities - and it’s those similarities that have put off Coster-Waldau from watching the new show. In an interview withEntertainment Weekly, the actor explained his hesitation, saying, “I have not [seenHouse of the Dragon]. One day it came on and I saw the opening credits. And it was a little strange because it was the same music and the title sequence was kind of similar. I was like, ‘Ah, this is too soon. Too soon.'” While Coster-Waldau is the latestGame of Thronesstar to offer his thoughts onHouse of the Dragon, he’s not the first.
Previously, Emilia Clarke revealedshe also hadn’t watched the show, though her stance seemed more concrete that Coster-Waldau’s. Speaking withVariety, Clarke said, “It’s too weird. I’m so happy it’s happening. I’m over the moon about all the awards… I just can’t do it.” She clarified her reasons for avoiding the show altogether, adding, “It’s so weird. It’s so strange. It’s kind of like someone saying, ‘You want to go to this school reunion that’s not your year? Want to go to that school reunion?’ That’s how it feels. I’m avoiding it.” Seeing as Clarke’s character Daenerys Targaryen is directly related to the charactersHouse of the Dragonis centered around, it’s not surprising that the show feels strange for her to watch. Kit Harrington also discussed his hesitation to watch the show, but unlike his co-stars he did decide to watch it and has voiced his appreciation for the series.Harrington is potentially returningto the world ofGame of Thronesin a sequel series centered around his character Jon Snow, so he may feel more pressure to keep up with the franchise than his other co-stars.
The apprehension fromGame of Thronesstars hasn’t stood in the way ofHouse of the Dragon’s success. The first episode alone garnered741 million minutes of viewing time on HBO Maxduring its first week of release, and the series as a whole has enjoyed praise from both critics and audiences. With season 2 already in development, fans won’t have long to wait for more Targaryen drama. Perhaps an even more successful second season will convince even the most adamantGame of Thronesstars to give the prequel show a shot.
Season 1 ofHouse of the Dragonis available to stream now on HBO Max.
