I was pleasantly surprised to learn that we will get a second season of House of the Dragon much sooner than expected. In a press event earlier this month, HBO CEO Casey Bloys announced that season 2 of the show will come to Max in the early summer of 2024.
If you haven’t seen the first season, all ten episodes are available on Max. House of the Dragon is set 200 years earlier than its predecessor series, telling the story of the House Targaryen, the dragon riders from whom Daenerys Targaryen is descended. House of the Dragon centers on the family of King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine), a good king with a kind heart, chosen by the Lords of Westeros to succeed the Old King. Naturally, a good and kind man does not usually do well in Westeros, and King Viserys is surrounded by an extensive cast of family and competitors to the throne. Read on for more on the cast of characters, and how to watch House of the Dragon.
Where to Watch House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon airs exclusively on HBO, and the easiest way to watch it is with Max. A subscription to Max costs $15.99 per month for their ad-free plan and $9.99 per month for their ad-supported service (meaning a few commercials with every episode). You can sign up here. Max is supported on Android, iOS, Apple TV, Chromecast, Playstation, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and more. You can check out my review of Max for more details on this streaming service.
Max doesn’t only air HBO but content from WarnerMedia and other sources. Content on Max includes:
- A selection of acquired series and movies
- All of HBO
- An exclusive collection of new Max Originals
- Select favorites from the WarnerMedia brands Warner Bros., Discovery, New Line Cinema, DC, CNN, the Turner Library, Rooster Teeth, Looney Tunes, and more
- A selection of acquired series and movies (South Park being a notable example)
Who is Who in House of the Dragon
Like much of the Game of Thrones franchise, House of the Dragon promises epic storytelling with an expansive cast. Here is a quick peek at the characters we know so far.
In addition to King Viserys Targaryen (Considine), there is Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy), his eldest child and a pure Valyrian dragon rider; her only downfall is being a woman, which impedes her ability to inherit the throne. Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith), the king’s younger brother, is a peerless warrior, dragon rider with the true blood of the dragon, and most likely next in line…but did he lose the coin toss on Targaryen’s sanity? Alongside the prince is his unlikely and mysterious ally, Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno), who came to Westeros with nothing, sold and resold, but rose up from her past against all odds to surprising power.
At the King’s side is Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), the Hand of the King, loyal and true, with his eyes on Prince Daemon’s machinations. His daughter Alicent (Olivia Cooke) is one of the most beautiful women in the Seven Kingdoms, as well as close to the king’s circle, putting her in possession of a keen political acumen and knowledge. Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) is the lord of House Velaryon, a Valyrian bloodline as old as House Targaryen, and the most famed nautical adventurer in Westeros with the largest navy in the world. His wife, Princess Rhaenys Velaryon (Eve Best), is also a dragon rider and cousin to the King, passed over for the throne because she’s a woman.
With no title or claim to the throne is Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), a common-born steward of Dornish descent, known for his honor and masterful sword skills.
Additional cast members include Milly Alcock, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Emily Carey, Harry Collett, Ryan Corr, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jefferson Hall, David Horovitch, Wil Johnson, John Macmillan, Graham McTavish, Ewan Mitchell, Theo Nate, Matthew Needham, Bill Paterson, Phia Saban, Gavin Spokes, and Savannah Steyn.
