The Game of Thrones universe is expanding with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a new adaptation from George R.R. Martin’s canon. The HBO series is another prequel set in the fictional Westeros, based on Martin’s novella series Tales of Dunk and Egg that follow Ser Duncan “Dunk” the Tall (Peter Claffey), future Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, and his squire “Egg” (Dexter Sol Ansell), who would later become King Aegon V Targaryen.

Egg’s explosive brother, Prince Aerion Targaryen, aptly nicknamed Aerion the Monstrous and played by Finn Bennett, becomes an obstacle in Dunk’s path as the two duke it out as the embodiments of good and evil. But despite stepping into the franchise as this show’s villain, Bennett didn’t watch the original series until the pandemic. “Lockdown was obviously really miserable, but at least I had Game of Thrones,” he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2025. “One of the great things about the show—and where a lot of fantasy shows faltered—is that it’s so political in looking at a kind of War of the Roses setup between these great and noble houses.”

While the actor initially thought he had “flubbed” his A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms audition, he stepped into the role right after shooting the 2025 A24 war film Warfare. Ahead, get to know Finn Bennett, the actor who is giving us Joffrey-levels of evil in the latest Game of Thrones offshoot.

Finn Bennett started acting with his sister when they were young.

Born in Hackney, London, in 1999, Bennett wasn’t raised around the arts. His father, Ronan Bennett, is a novelist and screenwriter of Irish descent, and his late mother, Georgina Henry, was a journalist, making him the first person in his family to pursue this exact line of work. Still, he didn’t always know he wanted to be an actor; as a child, he contemplated joining the circus or becoming a marine biologist.

Despite their creative pursuits, Bennett’s parents didn’t push an artistic career on him, but rather exposed their children to acting as a form of therapy. “When my sister and I were younger, she was going through a difficult time…On a friend's recommendation, my parents sent us both to a stage school on Saturday, which was an hour of music, an hour of dancing, and an hour of drama, and the hour of drama became my favourite hour of the week,” he told 5 Eleven Mag in 2024. At 10, he realized he had found his calling and was soon performing at their local Her Majesty’s Theatre, and made his television debut in 2010 on Foyle’s War.

Though he started in stage productions, Bennett has admitted that he prefers screen acting. “I like rules about the screen, and I enjoy working in a tight environment. That's not to say I wouldn't ever want to do theatre again…But I like something about the rules of film. I love a set. I love how many people it takes to make a movie or a TV show, and you become this big troupe, and that's exciting,” he said.

Finn Bennett’s role in 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' was his introduction to horseback riding.

To truly become a Westerosi knight, Bennett had to learn horseback riding and sword fighting. He told WWD that he was surprised by the weight of the swords and that riding a horse was his favorite activity, which he plans to continue doing in his personal life.

Physical activities weren’t the only things Bennett did to prepare for this role. He also leaned on music, telling GQ Australia that Limp Bizkit, Korn, and Rage Against the Machine were the soundtrack for getting into Aerion Targaryen’s head on set. He dubbed Limp Bizkit’s “Break Stuff” as “Aerion’s theme song”—an apt title for the prince’s demeanor.

Finn Bennett received the prestigious 2025 Cannes Trophée Chopard award.

Bennett joined the ranks of Gael García Bernal, James McAvoy, and John Boyega when he was identified as an emerging young actor at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. “I didn’t really believe it at first,” he told WWD about being chosen as 2025’s Trophée Chopard recipient. “I looked up the previous recipients, and there are some really amazing people on there—not just well-known, but brilliant actors who do the kind of projects I want to do.”

Angelina Jolie was the award presenter, and Bennett used his speech to thank his agent of over a decade. “Your agent is reading all those scripts, selecting you for projects, fighting for you,” he noted in the speech. “Now that we’ve moved into more American projects, she’s on the phone at midnight—I’m not. I just get to reap the rewards.”

Leading up to the award, Bennett starred in two high-profile television shows: HBO’s True Detective: Night Country and Netflix’s Black Doves. Starring opposite Jodie Foster in True Detective: Night Country as Officer Peter Prior was a career highlight for Bennett. “That role could have just been a plot device,” he said. “But [showrunner] Issa López gave him this massive journey. He really affected me.”

He also starred in the A24 film Warfare alongside D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Kit Connor, Joseph Quinn, and Charles Melton—a group of actors he told The Hollywood Reporter he’s still in touch with every day.

Next, he’ll appear in another buzzy A24 film: The Backrooms, a horror movie from 20-year-old YouTuber-turned-filmmaker Kane Parsons that’s set for release later this year.

Blood ties, land, and motherhood are the most important factors in The Abandons, Kurt Sutter’s new Netflix Western series set in the fictional town of Jasper Hollow. Facing off over a land dispute, the latest from the Sons of Anarchy creator (who, we should mention, left the series late in production over creative differences) finds aristocrat and mining mogul Constance Van Ness (Gillian Anderson) in an ugly battle with Fiona Nolan (Lena Headey), a childless woman who has taken in a band of loyal orphans, for the future of their town. But what starts as a business disagreement soon turns both personal and fatal.

Many familiar faces join both Headey and Anderson onscreen for this seven-episode face-off between the two matriarchs in the Wild West—including a few Game of Thrones cast reunions. Before you saddle up for the sprawling drama, find out who’s who in The Abandons on Netflix below.

Lena Headey as Fiona Nolan

Fiona, a devout Irish Catholic who has taken in four orphans to raise as her own, owns a settlement sitting atop silver-rich land. She has an antagonistic relationship with the Van Ness matriarch Constance, who is eager to take over her land.

Lena Headey, 52, is most recognizable for portraying Cersei Lannister on Game of Thrones, for which she was nominated for five Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe Award. On TV, she also starred as Sarah Connor in the series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and lent her voice to the animated series Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Headey has also appeared in the films 300, The Brothers Grimm, The Remains of the Day, and Fighting with My Family.

Gillian Anderson as Constance Van Ness

Constance Van Ness is the head of a European aristocratic family who yields power over other families in the small Oregon town. A devoted mother, she springs into action when her eldest son, Willem, goes missing.

Gillian Anderson, 57, is known for her work in both the U.S. and the U.K. A TV stalwart, Anderson has starred on shows like The X-Files, Sex Education, The Crown, The Fall, and more. She has won two Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards for her work on these shows. On film, Anderson has appeared in The Last King of Scotland, Viceroy’s House, and two X-Files films.

Lucas Till as Garret Van Ness

Garret is Constance’s younger son, forced to step up for his family after his older brother Willem goes missing. Like many in the Van Ness clan, he acts with an air of superiority—especially when interacting with the orphans in Fiona’s camp.

Lucas Till, 35, began his career in indie films like Walk the Line before becoming a Disney heartthrob in films like Hannah Montana: The Movie. He also played the romantic lead in the music videos for famous pop stars, like Taylor Swift’s “You Belong with Me” and Miley Cyrus’s “The Climb” in 2009. Since then, he has starred in the X-Men prequel films as Havok, the title character in the CBS reboot of MacGyver, and gained critical acclaim for playing Bob Zellner in the historical biopic Son of the South.

Aisling Franciosi as Trisha Van Ness

Trisha is Garret’s sister and the most gentle of the Van Ness family. She is a piano aficionado and harbors a secret romance with Elias, one of Fiona’s orphan sons.

Aisling Franciosi, 32, is an Irish actress best known for appearing as Lyanna Stark in Game of Thrones. She also starred in the BBC series The Fall and the TNT drama Legends. In film, she has primarily appeared in horror and psychological thrillers like Speak No Evil, Stopmotion, The Unforgivable, and Home.

Nick Robinson as Elias Teller

Elias Teller is one of the four orphans taken in by Fiona, along with his sister Dahlia. Elias is Fiona’s right-hand man when it comes to their land—a fact that is complicated by his slow-burning relationship with Trisha.

Nick Robinson, 30, rose to fame on the television show Melissa & Joey and the gay romance film Love, Simon. He has appeared on the shows A Teacher and Maid, and in the films Jurassic World, The Kings of Summer, The 5th Wave, and Everything Everything.

Diana Silvers as Dahlia Teller

Dahlia Teller is Elias’s biological sister and another orphan living with Fiona. Her violent encounter with Willem Van Ness in the first episode of the series sets off an even deeper hatred between the two families.

Diana Silvers, 28, began her career on the Hulu thriller series Into the Dark and continued her work in the genre with starring roles in the M. Night Shyamalan film Glass and the Octavia Spencer-led horror movie Ma. Silvers also had a small role in the coming-of-age film Booksmart, and later appeared in the Netflix comedy series Space Force and the Amazon film Birds in Paradise, based on the novel Bright Burning Stars. In recent years, she's also pursued music; she dropped her debut album, the folk record From Another Room, in November 2025.

Lamar Johnson as Albert Mason

Albert Mason is an educated Black man, born free in Philadelphia before being “adopted” into Fiona’s family.

Lamar Johnson, 31, is a Canadian actor and dancer who rose to fame on the dance drama series The Next Step. Johnson starred in the films The Hate U Give, Dark Phoenix, and All the Bright Places. On TV, he appeared on Your Honor and The Last of Us, the latter of which earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.

Natalia del Riego as Lilla Belle

Lilla Belle is one of Fiona’s adopted children, originally of Indigenous descent.

Natalia del Riego, 24, is best known for appearing in the ABC family drama Promised Land and as Rosa Reyes in NCIS: Los Angeles. She also lent her voice to the animated series Velma and Megamind Rules!.

Michiel Huisman as Roache

Xavier Roache is an outlaw hired by Constance to look into Willem’s disappearance. But once he’s under her payroll, she has him attend to some of her other unsavory business requests. According to Tudum, “his shifting allegiances and unpredictable nature make him a wild card in the battle for Jasper Hollow.”

Michiel Huisman, 44, is a Dutch actor best known in the U.S. for playing the heartthrob Daario Naharis on Game of Thrones. He also appeared in the series The Haunting of Hill House and The Flight Attendant, as well as the films Wild and Rebel Moon.

Ryan Hurst as Miles Alderton

Miles is one of Fiona’s peers and the most vocal opponent, fearful that her outspokenness against the Van Nesses will spell ruin for the entire settlement. But Miles is also keeping a few secrets of his own, which come to light near the end of the season and threaten to bring down everything he’s built.

Ryan Hurst, 49, reunites with Kurt Sutter on The Abandons after being a series regular in the acclaimed Sons of Anarchy, where he played Opie Winston. Hurst also appeared in The Walking Dead and Outsiders, and portrayed Gerry Bertier in the popular film Remember the Titans. His other film work includes Saving Private Ryan and Patch Adams, and he is slated to appear in Christopher Nolan’s much-anticipated adaptation of The Odyssey next year.

Katelyn Wells as Samara Alderton

Samara is Miles’s meek daughter, targeted by Garret Van Ness once Miles’s past is discovered. In the aftermath, she has to decide who she is loyal to.

Katelyn Wells, 30, is best known for playing Silver on Netflix’s Ginny and Georgia. Before that, she appeared in Anne Without the E and The Bold Type.

Sophie Turner is correcting a slew of articles that took her quotes about being a single mother out of context.

Turner shares two children—daughters Willa, 4, and Delphine, 2—with her ex, Joe Jonas. Earlier this month, Turner and Jonas finalized their divorce, and they continue to co-parent their two children. Since the breakup, Turner has started dating aristocrat Peregrine Pearson.

In an interview with The Sunday Times, which was published on Sunday, September 29, Turner discussed her new role in TV drama Joan. The Game of Thrones star portrays Joan Hannington, a real-life diamond thief and single mom, in the series.

"If I hadn’t been a mother, I don’t know if I would have been able to bring the same energy that I did into it," Turner said of the new part.

She continued, "It’s such a struggle being a single mother. Joan doesn’t go about it in the best way ... but it is amazing to see her really fighting for her daughter. It's also really important for kids to see just how hard parents work for them."

Many outlets reported that Turner had referred to her own journey as a single mother as a "struggle." However, the Do Revenge actress set the record straight on Instagram.

In an Instagram Story, Turner explained, "I have been widely misquoted today in publications where I have 'stated' that 'it's such a struggle being a single mother.' I’d like to clarify that I was talking about the character of Joan that I play and was not referring to myself, which is obvious from the original interview in the Sunday Times Culture section."

She continued, "I am very fortunate personally to have a lot of help around me, which is not the case for a lot of people—I applaud single mothers doing it alone."

Turner was filming Joan in the U.K. when news of her split from Jonas first surfaced.

"Joan changed me quite a lot," Turner told The Sunday Times. "From utter desperation comes so much will and ambition."

The actress explained, "The series came around at a time in my life where I had to be ambitious and I had to have such strong will and fight against the forces. She gave me a lot of strength."

Sophie Turner has officially moved on from her marriage. Mere days after finalizing her divorce from Jonas Brothers singer Joe Jonas, the Game of Thrones star decided to become Instagram official with her new beau. In a series of snaps seemingly documenting the summer months, Turner shared pictures of her aristocrat boyfriend Peregrine Pearson on Instagram.

Turner's Instagram post included two clear shots of Peregrine, leading fans to comment excitedly. One person commented on the post, "upgraded i see." Another wrote, "Hope your new beau treats you like the queen you are!"

News of Turner's new romance surfaced in November 2023, when she was spotted kissing the Hon. Peregrine "Perry" Pearson in Paris. He is reportedly part of one of the wealthiest families in the United Kingdom, and his parents are Michael Pearson, 4th Viscount Cowdray and Marina Rose Cordle, Tatler reported. Turner's boyfriend will one day inherit the Viscount Cowdray title.

Prior to his romance with Turner, Peregrine was in a relationship with Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark for three years.

Back in January, Turner teased her new relationship on Instagram by sharing some vacation snaps with a group of friends, simply captioned, "Jägerbomb anyone?" Peregrine was tagged in one snap, which featured four people riding on a ski lift. However, his face wasn't visible in any of the pictures, making Turner's recent post extremely significant.

In September 2023, Jonas and Turner released a joint statement regarding their plans to divorce. "After four wonderful years of marriage we have mutually decided to amicably end our marriage," they explained. "There are many speculative narratives as to why but, truly this is a united decision and we sincerely hope that everyone can respect our wishes for privacy for us and our children."

Jonas and Turner welcomed two children together—daughter Willa, who was born in 2020, and daughter Delphine, who arrived in 2022.

Summer 2024 saw the release of House of the Dragon season 2, kicking off the Dance of the Dragons. (Sort of.) After airing over two months, the Game of Thrones spinoff concluded with the anticlimactic season 2 finale, capping off an installment that served more as the second prelude to the epic Targaryen civil war. Sure, the war between the Greens and the Blacks did officially start, with its first major battle at Rook's Rest culminating in the death of one main character and the mutilation of another. But HotD thus far has spent more time setting the stage for epic conflicts than actually showing them.

Luckily for bloodthirsty fans, that's all set to change in House of the Dragon season 3, which was greenlit by HBO days before season 2 even premiered. Read on for everything we know about season 3 so far, including how long we'll have to wait for more dragonfire.

When will 'House of the Dragon' season 3 come out?

House of the Dragon season 3 isn't expected to hit our screens until at least 2026. This would follow the pattern of the previous two installments, which premiered on HBO in August 2022 and June 2024, respectively. Plus, season 2 arrived right on schedule; despite the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes pausing most of Hollywood, HotD is a British series that was able to continue filming with no delays. So it officially takes two years to deliver another round of Targaryen-filled episodes.

While a release date is still far off, we do know that work on season 3 is already underway. In May 2024, showrunner Ryan Condal told Entertainment Weekly that the show's team was already "deep into" writing season 3, should HBO renew it. Following the season 2 finale, Condal revealed in a press conference that cameras will start rolling on new episodes in early 2025, per Variety.

When will 'House of the Dragon' end?

Following the season 2 finale, showrunner Ryan Condal dropped some surprising news about House of the Dragon during a virtual press conference, per The Hollywood Reporter. In response to speculation on how long the series will last, Condal revealed that House of the Dragon will end with season 4, making the spinoff half the length of its eight-season predecessor Game of Thrones. (Though, considering how contentious those final GoT seasons are, this could be a blessing.)

"I think it’s four,” Condal said of the series' length, before noting that the overall plan for the rest of the show was mapped out after the first season, per THR. He also shared that season 3 will likely also consist of eight episodes.

Condal had already hinted that HotD could end sooner rather than later while speaking to Entertainment Weekly last May.

"You certainly don't want to rush to get to an end, but you also don't want to overstay your welcome," he told the outlet. "You want to find this very satisfying place to go out that ties up enough loose ends and leaves others intentionally open because, as we know, this history marches on for another 150 years to Daenerys."

Which cast members will return for 'House of the Dragon' season 3?

HBO has yet to announce the official cast list, but here's everyone still standing at the end of season 2: For the Blacks, there's Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen), Emma D’Arcy (Rhaenyra), Steve Toussaint (Corlys Velaryon), Harry Collett (Jacaerys Targaryen), Bethany Antonia (Baela Targaryen), Phoebe Campbell (Rhaena Targaryen), Sonoya Mizuno (Mysaria), and Tom Taylor (Cregan Stark). Meanwhile, the Greens have Olivia Cooke (Alicent Hightower), Fabien Frankel (Ser Criston Cole), Matthew Needham (Larys Strong), Tom Glynn-Carney (Aegon Targaryen), Ewan Mitchell (Aemond Targaryen), Phia Saban (Helaena Targaryen), Jefferson Hall (Tyland and Jason Lannister), and Rhys Ifans (Otto Hightower), who finally made an appearance in the finale after disappearing for half the season.

Of season 2's new additions, it's most likely that Kieran Bew (Hugh Hammer), Tom Bennett (Ulf), Clinton Liberty (Addam of Hull), and Abubakar Salim (Alyn of Hull) would return. The rest of the cast will depend on where the series takes us, but hopefully season 3 can swing by Harrenhal to bring back Simon Russell Beale (Ser Simon Strong) and Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin) as well.

Who are the new cast members joining 'House of the Dragon' season 3?

As season 3 heads toward production, HBO has announced the first new cast member to join House of the Dragon. Per Variety, Happy Valley and Little Women star James Norton will play Ormund Hightower, "Otto’s nephew, Alicent and Gwayne’s cousin, and the Lord of Oldtown." Season 3 will be the onscreen debut of the character, who was mentioned throughout season 2, and "is presently leading the Hightower host in a march on King’s Landing to support his house against Rhaenyra."

One highly-anticipated casting yet to come is for Daeron Targaryen, Alicent's youngest son, and younger brother to Aegon, Helaena, and Aemond. As of the start of season 3, Daeron is also marching alongside the Hightower army, or should we say, riding his new dragon, Tessarion.

What will 'House of the Dragon' season 3 be about?

Spoilers for the House of the Dragon season 2 finale ahead. The season 2 finale (which could also have served as a season 3 premiere, tbh) laid the road for some epic battles heading into season 3. Queen Rhaenyra officially has the most dragons, after the Sowing of the Seeds recruited dragonriders Hugh Hammer, Ulf the White, and Addam of Hull claiming their own winged nukes. Prince Jace is nervous about giving these wild cards such power, and readers know he isn't wrong to be worried (even though the whole "mongrels" bit is a horrible look). Rhaenyra and Daemon's youngest kids are on a ship bound for Pentos, while Rhaena snuck away to claim a wild sheep-stealing dragon; Hand of the Queen Corlys and his illegitimate son Alyn are also setting sail to defend the blockade in the Gullet. And in the show's most mystical twist so far, Daemon is fully Team Rhaenyra after Alys Rivers and Helaena(!) showed him a "Winter is Coming" vision, complete with a Dany cameo.

Meanwhile, Prince Regent Aemond is scrambling after realizing the Blacks have more dragon power. Hand of the King Criston and his army are on the move, but they're no help unless it's a land-based battle. Aemond asks Helaena to ride her dragon, but she doesn't want to "burn anyone," so she rebuffs him, asking if he'll burn her like he did Aegon. Alicent, who is completely over the whole "trapped in a prison of her own making" thing, plans to flee King's Landing with Heleana, and she even agrees with Rhaenyra's deal: a son for a son. However, the severely-wounded Aegon has fled King's Landing (whether he'd likely be killed by either Rhaenyra or Aemond) for Pentos, accompanied by Larys. Oh also, unknown to everyone, Tyland Lannister has succeeded in bringing the Triarchy (the pirate army that Daemon and co. fought in early season 1) over to the Greens' side.

Basically, as hinted by Ramin Djawadi's epic score, there are a ton of battles on the horizon. (We'll just have to wait two years.) Fire & Blood readers know some of what's in store: The Battle of the Gullet will likely happen in the season 3 premiere, where Corlys will think he's only going up against the Lannister navy and instead be met with the Triarchy. Some other battles to anticipate for the spoiler-prone: Rhaenyra's plan to attack King's Landing, the Butcher's Ball, the First Battle of Tumbleton, and maybe even the Battle Above the God’s Eye.

Per THR, Condal has heard fan's criticisms of season 2's anticlimactic finale, and he's promising that once these battles arrive, they'll have a huge impact. During the August 5 press conference, the showrunner said the decision to push the Battle of the Gullet to season three came down to how big the show could go.

“One of the things that came into play in season two is: What is the final destination of the series and where are we going? It was a combination of factors that led us to rebalance the season knowing now where we’re going. … we are trying to give The Gullet — which is arguably the second most anticipated action event of Fire & Blood — trying to give it the time and the space that it deserves.”

When will 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' come out?

After the success of House of the Dragon, HBO greenlit A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a new spinoff based on a trio of prequel novellas that take place 100 years before the events of Game of Thrones. (The overall Westeros TV timeline goes HotD, then Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, then GoT.) The new series will follow two fan-favorite characters: Ser Duncan the Tall (a.k.a. Dunk), and his squire Egg (a.k.a. Aegon V Targaryen), as they travel throughout Westeros on quests and adventures. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Condal described the new series as being about "the small folk who suffer at the hands of the game of thrones as it's played by the nobles."

On August 4, 2024, HBO released a sizzle reel that featured the first-ever look at A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The brief clip introduced Dunk (played by Peter Claffey) and the young Egg (played by Dexter Sol Ansell), while confirming that the new series will make its debut in 2025. So, HotD fans will have a new tale of chivalry to hold us over until House of the Dragon season 3.

Spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2, episodes 1-9 ahead. Like a fan-favorite character once said, the Game of Thrones universe has a soft spot for bastards and broken things. This affinity continues in the prequel series House of the Dragon, which returned for its second season in June 2024 with some surprising new characters in the orbit of its dueling Greens and Blacks. In addition to setting up the early battles of the Targaryen family's civil war known as the Dance of Dragons, the series also introduces some common folk populating King's Landing and Driftmark. While the inclusion may have seemed surprising to some TV fans, readers of author George R. R. Martin's original Fire and Blood book series know that no scene included in this stacked fantasy series is truly random. (Let's keep the final Thrones seasons out of our minds for that.)

While GoT had Jon Snow and Ellaria Sand (we're ignoring Ramsey), HotD has the dragonseeds, many of whom we were already introduced to before season 2, episode 4. These men (and maybe eventually women) are set up to play monumental roles in the fight for the Iron Throne, even if they aren't all introduced within season 2. Read on for a primer on the dragonseeds we've met on House of the Dragon so far, including which dragons they've claimed, and some extra details from Fire and Blood.

What is a dragonseed in 'House of the Dragon?'

In the era of Westeros where dragons roamed the sky and Targaryens were on the throne, "dragonseed" was the term for bastards of Valyrian descent. A dragonseed is fathered or mothered by someone from a dragon-riding Valyrian family, typically a Targaryen or a Velaryon. Not all children of Valyrian descent inherit dragon-riding skills, but a great amount do. Since the ability to ride dragons is passed down through blood (look up "why Valyrians can ride dragons" for a fun yet harrowing time), a dragonseed doesn't need to be officially claimed by their family to be able to ride a dragon, though that is likely the only way they'd get anywhere near one.

Being a dragonseed is dangerous at any time before Robert's Rebellion since the odds are they could become cannon fodder for a potential heir securing his throne. As Ulf says, “A dragonseed must watch his own neck when he has no white cloak guardsman to do it for him.” However, at a time when dragons are the most valuable weapon in a war, there is a chance the dragonseeds could become indispensable.

Let's meet some of them below.

Addam of Hull

Early in season 2, we meet brothers Addam (Clinton Liberty) and Alyn (Abubakar Salim), who grew up in the Driftmark town of Hull. Remember when Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) was thought dead after a battle in the Stepstones? It turns out that Alyn is the one who saved him, and, as his brother Addam hints in episode 2, that's not the only connection the men have to the Sea Snake. In episode 4, Rhaenys (Eve Best) pretty much confirms that Alyn and Addam are the bastard children of Corlys, adding that Corlys should reward Alyn for saving his life. She also mentions that the pair shouldn't have to hide in the shadows, which is some mighty foreshadowing.

In Fire and Blood, Alyn and Addam are confirmed to be of Velaryon blood, though it's unsure whether they are Laenor (John MacMillan) or Corlys's sons. One passage reads, "That Addam and Alyn were dragonseed no man who looked upon them could doubt, though their mother steadfastly refused to name their father." (Judging by Laenor's sexuality, we suspect it's going to be either Corlys or even his late brother Vaemond on the show.) As for their dragonseed heritage, there was a lovely nod in episode 2, where we got a lengthy shot of Addam admiring his half-brother(?) Laenor's dragon, Seasmoke.

In season 2, episode 6, the silver-gray dragon Seasmoke sets off the claiming of the dragonseeds. Seasmoke was originally bonded to Rhaenyra's husband Laenor Velaryon (John Macmillan), but after Laenor faked his death, the dragon roamed wild around Westeros, near Dragonstone and Hull. One afternoon, Seasmoke descends on Addam out of the blue and the pair embark on a fearful chase. Once Seasmoke corners Addam, it becomes clear that the dragon has found her new rider. Though we still don't know of Addam's paternal parentage, it seems as though the dragon somehow senses that he is her old rider's half-brother.

At the start of episode 7, Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy)hears word that Seasmoke has been claimed and confronts the new rider. Addam quickly bends the knee to the queen, and Rhaenyra forms the idea to search for dragonseeds among the bastard Targaryen children of King's Landing.

Ulf the White

Ulf the White (Tom Bennett) is one of the residents of King's Landing, who we first see among the crowds learning of the ratcatchers' untimely deaths after the incident known as Blood and Cheese. In episode 3, we properly meet Ulf at a tavern, where he's regaling his crowd of friends with the story of his parentage. According to Ulf, he's the bastard son of Baelon the Brave, and therefore half-brother to Daemon (Matt Smith) and the late King Viserys (Paddy Considine). (In actuality, Baelon was Jaehaerys' heir to the Iron Thorne, but he died before his father, leading to the Great Council of Harrenhal where Viserys was chosen as king over Rhaenys.)

Ulf's friends do not believe him, as he doesn't have white Targaryen hair, but Ulf points out that Rhaenyra's son Jace (Harry Collett) is a brunette. He also dubs Jace the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, though he quickly toasts Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) once the usurper shows up at the brothel. House of the Dragon has yet to confirm Ulf's parentage, but Fire and Blood fans know that the loudmouth's claim has some truth to it.

In episode 7, Ulf's friends tell him that Rhaenyra is seeking Targaryen bastards to claim dragons. Though Ulf confesses that he doesn't even know if his claims are entirely true, he has gotten free drinks from his white-haired heritage, so he sets off to Dragonstone partly to save fast. As the attempt to find a rider for Vermithor goes sour, Ulf runs off through the mountain Dragonmont and stumbles upon the unclaimed she-dragon Silverwing. They unexpectedly bond, and Ulf even gets the chance to ride his new dragon over King's Landing.

Hugh Hammer

In the first episodes of season 2, one of the common folk we meet is Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew), a blacksmith whose family is struggling through the Velaryon blockade of the Gullet. Upon a first look, he represents the many residents of King's Landing who face starvation, along with his wife Kat (Ellora Torchia) and their ill daughter. However, as you can tell by the uncommon white hair, Hammer has some Velaryon heritage.

Once the recruiting drive for the Blacks begins in King's Landing, Hugh reveals to Kat that he had been hiding the truth of his parentage. He says that his mother was a sex worker with silver hair, who was "granted more freedom than most because of who she was." He also adds, "She used to tell me I was no different to her brother’s boys, Viserys and Daemon, but I was ashamed of her."

In an interview with Decider, Bew confirmed that Hugh's mother is Saera Targaryen, the notoriously sex-positive ninth daughter of King Jaehaerys I (Michael Carter), who fled to become a sex worker in Lys rather than become a Silent Sister. That heritage may have played a part in Hugh claiming Vermithor in the Dragonmont, as the second-largest dragon was previously bonded to the late king. Hugh also impressed the dragon in a show of courage, where he confronted it to give another woman a chance to escape.

Are there any female Dragonseeds?

As of season 2, episode 9, all of the dragonseeds introduced in House of the Dragon have been men. However, the most powerful dragonriders (or at least the most beloved) in the Thrones TV universe have been women—so hopefully there's at least one female dragonseed incoming. Hopefully, they'll make their appearance sooner rather than later.

Spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 4 ahead. On Sunday, July 8, House of the Dragon gave everyone what they were waiting for. From the fictional lords populating the Green and Black Councils to certain carnage-hungry fans, countless voices have been calling for the Game of Thrones spinoff to bring on the action promised for season 2, as the Targaryens and their dragons face off on the battlefield. In episode 4, "The Red Dragon and the Gold," the war truly began with the highly-anticipated Battle of Rook's Rest, which ended with both the first major death and the first major cliffhanger of season 2.

The battle begins when Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) and the Green Army attack one of the castles in the crownlands close to King's Landing, as a detour on his campaign to retake Harrenhal. Ser Criston (who, despite being the worst, is a great tactician) uses the castle as bait to lure out one of the Blacks' dragons, at which point a hidden Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and his beast Vhagar will emerge and fight. When Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best) and her dragon Meleys arrive to help defend the castle, Criston sounds a signal for Vhagar to storm in, but they're interrupted by King Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) on his (much smaller) dragon Sunfyre. The leader of the Greens flies to battle without alerting his family, his council, or his army, and subsequently gets smoked.

House of the Dragon had spent episode 4 (and every Aegon scene since the season 2 premiere), setting the foundation for this rash act. Even before his son Jaehaerys II was beheaded by Blood and Cheese, he was hungry for bloodshed against his aunt Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), leader of the Blacks and rival for the throne. Being a new king and a horrible strategist, Aegon had no idea what he was doing, and his entire council (including his mother Alicent, played by Olivia Cooke) chose to ignore him. Even his new Hand of the King Criston set out to battle as soon as humanly possible. So, Aegon's decision to ride into battle himself is a desperate grab for respect and deference—gone horribly wrong.

Meanwhile, Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) has already been pissed at his older brother Aegon all season. Sure, Aemond's base state is intimidation, but it's become clear that he thinks his sibling is an imbecile. In episode 3, there was also that scene in which Aegon tormented Aemond at the brothel. So when Aemond and his beast Vhagar join the battle, Aemond chooses to attack Rhaenys and Meleys without any concern about Aegon getting caught in the dragonfire crosshairs. A fatally wounded Sunfyre crashes to the ground, and several minutes later, Rhaenys and Meleys also crash to their fiery deaths. (R.I.P. Rhaenys, the Queen Who Never Was.)

After that confirmed death, the episode ends with Criston searching for Aegon and finding Sunfyre's crash site. Aemond stands next to it, sword drawn. He quietly picks up Aegon’s fallen dagger and uses it to point to his brother's unmoving body, framed by the dying dragon. However, the episode ends before it's confirmed whether the king who sits on the Iron Throne is actually dead. Could the Greens have already lost their leader in the war's first major battle? The series wants to keep this a cliffhanger, but luckily for impatient fans, George R.R. Martin's novel Fire and Blood has the answer. Major spoilers for Fire and Blood ahead.

Miraculously, Aegon does survive a faceful of dragonfire at the Battle of Rook's Rest, where he suffers "broken ribs, a broken hip, and burns that covered half his body." As Martin explains, "His left arm was the worst. The dragonflame had burned so hot that the king’s armor had melted into his flesh." Ouch.

Sunfyre also survives(!), but he's grounded for a long while, due to Meleys breaking one of his wings. The dragon stays near Rook's Rest to recuperate, with Ser Criston stationing men to protect Sunfyre and sending him sheep to eat, and eventually, the dragon recovers enough to fly again. However, he's a little off, with one historian later describing him as "a great golden fire-breathing chicken."

So, while not dead, Aegon's down for the count. Per Fire and Blood, he remains on bed rest for over a year, sleeping "nine hours out of every 10" and suffering from burns that "brought him such pain that some say he prayed for death." He remains king in name, but Aemond takes over as Prince Regent and Protector of the Realm, with Cole remaining as his Hand of the King.

Considering war stats, the Battle of Rook's Rest can't be considered a win by either side; the Greens (temporarily) lost their king while the Blacks lost their MVP and biggest dragon. The question going forward is whether having Aemond on the throne will turn the tides in either direction.

Of course, there is the dangling question of whether HBO's televised version of the Dance of the Dragons will decide to kill Aegon off after all. It would be the biggest change from Fire and Blood yet, but House of the Dragon has already made some big book-to-film changes in season 2 so far. Also, the major House of the Dragon spoilers that were included in Game of Thrones are vague enough that the prequel series could meet its canon conclusion with or without Aegon. Still, for the sake of some major story twists going forward, the series adaptation will hopefully decide to keep its plot close to the book.

House of the Dragon, HBO's hit Game of Thrones prequel, returned for its second season on June 16, finally ending 20 months of waiting from passionate fans. After the major cliffhangers left during the season 1 finale, the Dance of the Dragons is officially underway as season 2 picks up just days after the Targaryen civil war claimed its first life. Season 2 wasted no time plunging viewers into the depths of despair prompted by the conflict between the Greens and the Blacks, as one side of the war grieves an insurmountable loss as another faces their own.

There's a lot to unpack in the early days of the Westerosi war, as great houses choose sides and bodies begin to pile up. Read on for the answers to all your burning questions about House of the Dragon's season 2 premiere episode, including how the book version of that final scene is somehow even more brutal. (If needed, you can also find primers on everything to remember from House of the Dragon season 1, the season 1 time jumps, the full Targaryen family tree, or each of the living dragons here.)

Do the Starks pledge their support to Rhaenyra and the Blacks?

House of the Dragon season 2 begins with a lovely surprise: a voiceover that sounds very familiar to the Northern accents of Jon Snow and Robb Stark. In fact, it is Cregan Stark (Tom Taylor), the ancestor who currently serves as Warden of the North. In the HotD season 1 finale, Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett) was dispatched to Winterfell to ask Cregan for the North's support in the Targaryen civil war on behalf of Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy), but it looks like Jace had to travel even further up, as Cregan gives him a dutiful explainer of the Wall and the Starks' duty to defend it—which includes sending members of their household (yes, even a noble) to fortify the Night's Watch.

It's a fun homage to the honorable house at the center of the original Game of Thrones, and it gives an explanation of why Cregan may be resistant to send men south to fight for Rhaenyra. (As he says, "[his] gaze is forever torn between north and south," and a season of winter is approaching.) Cregan even points out that when he brought Jace's namesake (and great-great-grandfather) to see The Wall, his and his wife's dragons wouldn't even cross it. (Really wish that trait would've passed down to Dany's dragons. R.I.P. Viserion.)

Cregan's answer to Jace's request gets buried among the devastating news that's delivered by raven, but the Starks do end up promising 2,000 men to Rhaenyra's cause. (House Arryn also joins the Blacks, in exchange for a dragon to guard the Vale.) Having the Starks, and the North, on the Blacks' side is a great boon, though the North is a long ways away from both Dragonstone and King's Landing. TV fans may be cheering that the Starks are in play, but book fans know it'll take a while for them to fully enter the war.

How do Rhaenyra and the Blacks find out about Lucerys's death?

As Rhaenys (Eve Best) points out, learning of a child's death via raven is something you wouldn't wish on any Westerosi mother. We see the moment where Jace receives the news of Luke's death, but when we first see Rhaenyra in season 2, she already knows what's happened. In fact, she's lurking around the seas near the Stormlands searching for any hint of Luke's body or his dragon Arrax. Eventually a group of fisherman dredge up what looks like part of Arrax's wings (ouch) and some of Luke's clothing. Rhaenyra brings some of Luke's effects back to Dragonstone for a funeral, and both Emma D'Arcy and Harry Collett deliver some truly heart-shattering performances of grief.

While Rhaenyra's off for several days searching for Luke's mortal remains, Daemon (Matt Smith) and Rhaenys are holding down the fort at Dragonstone. They are patrolling to help hold Corlys Velaryon's (Steve Touissant) blockade of The Gullet, which has stopped all sea travel and trade to King's Landing. Daemon is impatient to go to action, particularly wanting to conquer Harrenhaal (House Strong's castle), or go straight to the capital to kill Vhagar and her rider Aemond (Ewan Mitchell). Rhaenys wisely tells him to calm himself and wait—there's a lot of scenes of women telling impatient men to calm themselves this episode—until Rhaenyra's return. "The mother grieves while the queen shirks her duties," is Daemon's callous response. Though Daemon does remain on Dragonstone, he doesn't entirely give up on his "vengeful impulses." (More on that later.)

What are the Greens doing at the start of 'House of the Dragon' season 2?

From their seat in King's Landing, the Greens are facing some growing pains with the new regime. They have basic fortifications in place: Aemond patrols against threats on Vhaghar, and scorpions are set up on the city walls. In a brief loaded moment, queen Helaena (Phia Saban) says she's not afraid of the dragons, but "the rats." King Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) brings their young son Jaehaerys along to the Small Council meeting; though he is the heir, toddler Jaehaerys is too young to learn anything and keeps playing with the attendance stone and distracting Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall). Alicent is still hoping to negotiate peaceful terms with Rhaenyra, and she's still furious at Aemond for Luke's death. However, though Alicent wants Aemond to remain at a distance, Aegon insists that his brother attend the small council meeting.

The conflict at the center of the Greens' war strategy seems to be the Hightowers' advice of restraint versus Aegon's impulses of: "I have dragons, burn them all." Even though the Greens' dragons are bigger than the Blacks', Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) and Ser Otto (Rhys Ifans) point out that Aegon needs to be careful and not put himself and the dragons in harm's way before the Greens have even heard back from the Westerosi houses.

Plus, Aegon still has to run the country while he's at war, and a later Throne Room scene shows that he's too shortsighted to see how his actions can have reverberations. At one point, Alicent says to her father that they "only need to mind Aegon until the novelty of rule is spent," and once he's calmed down, the sensible pair can lead their team to victory. The hunker-down-and-fortify strategy isn't a bad thing for the start of a war, and creepy Ser Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) has wiped out all the disloyal household staff, so the Greens will be safe, right? Right?

How do Mysaria and Daemon reunite?

Remember the long-ago, peaceful days of House of the Dragon's first episodes, when Rhaenyra was still just a teenager and Daemon was her bad-boy uncle who was pissed that he was skipped over as heir? Back then (before the incest marriage) Daemon had a short-lived romance with a mistress named Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno). As he went on to wed his niece, Mysaria worked her way through King's Landing to becoming a powerful merchant of secrets known as the White Worm, who had spies in the Red Keep and gave Aegon (who went missing before his coronation) up to Otto in exchange for him closing down the child-staffed fighting pits. Unfortunately, their exchange didn't go well, and Larys burned down Mysaria's home, with the spymaster presumed dead.

That fire was not the last we saw of Mysaria; partway through the season 2 premiere, she's found on a ship, attempting to flee King's Landing. Ser Erryk (one of the twin knights who fight for different sides in the war) brings her to her ex, Daemon, and he blames her for putting Aegon on the Iron Throne, before she reminds him, "You only blame me because your true enemies are out of reach." Daemon blames everyone: Mysaria, Rhaenys, even Ser Erryk, who barely had a chance to get away from the Kingsguard himself, let alone kill Aegon. It's obvious that Daemon's rage has no where to go... until Rhaenyra finally arrives back at Dragonstone, and says her first lines of the whole premiere: "I want Aemond Targaryen."

Who are Blood and Cheese?

Early in the premiere, Daemon makes his intention to kill Aemond clear, simply stating, "A son for a son." Once a plan forms in his head, he visits Mysaria in her dungeon cell and asks her for her knowledge of the Red Keep in exchange for her freedom. That night, we see Daemon travel to King's Landing incognito, where he pays a City Guard knight who hates the Hightowers to let him into the city. The pair then go track down one of the ratcatchers who works in the Red Keep, who happens to have a lot of gambling debt. Daemon pays the ratcatcher to kill Aemond Targaryen, but the catcher asks what to do if they can't find Aemond. The scene cuts away before Daemon's answer.

In the source book Fire & Blood, the two assassins are named Blood and Cheese, so I'll use the same names on the unnamed show characters for ease's sake. Cheese leads Blood into the castle, and the pair even walk right by Aegon getting drunk with his friends (what's the male version of handmaids?) on the Iron Throne. Cheese falters halfway though since he usually doesn't work in the royal quarters, but Blood (who really hates the Hightowers) spurs him on. They arrive in the room where Aemond and Criston just were, now empty, and go on to find Helaena in her room with her twins.

Daemon's instructions were clear: "A son for a son." Helaena isn't a son, but as Cheese holds a knife to her throat, he points out the twins in their beds. Blood asks which is the boy and which is the girl, and Helaena points at one of the beds. Blood thinks she's lying, but Cheese sees something in her eyes, and recognizes that she told the truth. As Blood and Cheese decapitate the toddler off-camera, Helaena scoops up her daughter Jaehaera and silently flees through the Red Keep chambers. Still silent, she makes her way to Alicent's bedroom (and runs in on Alicent and Criston having sex, which will have to be processed another day). As Alicent asks what's wrong, Helaena rocks her baby girl and says, "They killed the boy," with a thousand-yard stare.

How is Jaehaerys' death different from the show than the book?

Okay, that was a LOT to take in, but book readers know that the Blood and Cheese incident is even more devastating in Fire & Blood. The essentials are mostly the same: Daemon hires a ratcatcher and a (disgraced) Kingsguard to sneak into the Red Keep and kill one of Aegon's children. In the book, Aegon and Helaena have three children (boy, girl, boy, eldest to youngest), and the assassins ask her which of her boys to kill. Except, Helaena choses the youngest boy, Maelor, reasoning that he's just two and doesn't fully understand what's happening. Instead, Blood and Cheese tell Maelor that his mother chose him to die, and kill Jaehaerys the heir; in the years after the incident, Helaena can barely stand to look at Maelor as he grows up. All-in-all, it's an extra layer of psychological torture that TV fans unfamiliar with the source material won't have to deal with. (TV fans who are reading this, thank you for allowing me to emotionally scar you a bit.)

Why does Alicent pray during Lucerys' funeral?

While Emma D'Arcy is the MVP of this episode for their heart-wrenching portrayal of Rhaenyra's immense grief, I'd like to spend a final moment discussing Alicent's psyche over the course of the premiere. There has been plenty of debate within both season 1's airing and Westerosi history on whether Alicent is really the evil queen at the center of the Dance of the Dragons. But House of the Dragon does a solid job humanizing the woman who became queen at a young age and who mostly just wants to protect her family.

It's clear throughout the episode that Alicent is sorrowful over Luke's death, even before she prays for him in the emotional shots intercut with the boy's funeral on Dragonstone. Like in the season 1 finale, she really wants for there to be minimal bloodshed in the civil war, and as of the premiere, she hasn't fully accepted that violence is inevitable. There may have even be a solid chance that she and Rhaenyra could have reached a place of peace in their long-dormant friendship and for the realm as a whole, before the son and the grandson's demise. Now that Blood and Cheese has happened, we'll see whether Alicent goes full vengeance, or if she still shows mercy to both sides of the Targaryen conflict.

Emilia Clarke has been open about her brain injuries and subsequent surgeries over the years, and in a new interview, she opened up about the very real fears these episodes of her life awoke in her.

"When you have a brain injury, because it alters your sense of self on such a dramatic level, all of the insecurities you have going into the workplace quadruple overnight," Clarke told U.K. social enterprise magazine the Big Issue.

"The first fear we all had was: 'Oh my God, am I going to get fired [from Game of Thrones, on which she played Daenerys Targaryen between 2011 and 2019]? Am I going to get fired because they think I’m not capable of completing the job?'"

Clarke was back at works within weeks of her first brain injury, and was terrified that the pressure of it all would cause a second one. "Well, if I’m going to die, I better die on live TV," she thought at the time.

In 2019, the Me Before You actress wrote a deeply personal essay in the New Yorker about her health problems. She revealed that she's suffered one aneurysm in 2011, when she was 24, and underwent brain surgery at the time.

In that essay, she wrote, "Season 2 would be my worst. I didn’t know what Daenerys was doing. If I am truly being honest, every minute of every day I thought I was going to die."

In 2013, Clarke had to have a second brain surgery, this time a more invasive one, for which the recovery was even more painful than the first time around.

But while the actress admitted that there were times she felt herself lose all hope while all of this was happening, she founded the charity SameYou in 2019 to give hope to others who are recovering from brain injuries.

Earlier this year, Clarke and her mom were invited to Windsor Castle, where Prince William awarded them with MBEs for their work with SameYou.

Another royal link? The Big Issue, which supports people in the U.K. impacted by poverty, also happens to be the magazine Prince William has taken to the streets in the past to sell to passersby—as part of his commitment to helping those affected by homelessness.

Growing up in the spotlight isn't easy—just ask any of the former child stars from Disney Channel and Nickelodeon. But aside from long hours and mistreatment by the industry and fans alike, there's a less-discussed factor at play. How do you differentiate yourself from the character you've come to be known for?

Maisie Williams, for instance, signed on to play Arya Stark in Game of Thrones when she was only 12. "I was so lost for so long and I knew that I was, and when I couldn't pin down what I felt my identity was within that, it brought me a lot of discomfort,” the actress said to The Sunday Times (via People). "It's hard to even put myself back there and talk about how tough it was just because I think it's done."

The HBO series ran for eight seasons, coming to a close in 2019. Since then, Williams has appeared on a number of other TV shows, the most recent being Apple TV's The New Look, where she plays legendary designer Christian Dior's sister, Catherine. She's also experimented with daring new style looks, including a Matrix-inspired getup for the 2021 Met Gala and a slicked-back pixie cut.

And while Williams told The Sunday Times that she's now "a lot more comfortable in my own skin," that feeling of being "lost" affected her auditions for non-GOT projects.

"It was at its absolute worst when I also was the most out of touch with myself—not knowing your identity and that kind of thing—I think rejection at that point felt so personal, so painful," Williams told the U.K. outlet. "I'd solely compare myself to other actresses, and the way people looked, and all of the most destructive ways that you can compare yourself."

Williams' post-GOT journey hasn't always been easy, but the show did bring her lifelong friendships. She was one of two maids of honor at her costar Sophie Turner's wedding to Joe Jonas. The pair attended Kit Harington and Rose Leslie's 2018 wedding, too.

Say what you will about the confusing time jumps or the lack of time with certain characters (shout out to Baela and Rhaena), House of the Dragon succeeded at its goal. HBO's Game of Thrones prequel sucked all of us back into Westeros, when many (myself included) swore not to go back after the original series' disappointing finale (two words: King Bran). Some fans may even be considering a Thrones rewatch, thanks to resurgent memories of how the early seasons built out the world.

A warning before you dive back into HBO Max: There are spoilers for the still-unfolding HotD within Thrones. Since centuries have passed between the series, Thrones treats the Dance of the Dragons—the Targaryen civil war that will make up the rest of HotD's several seasons—as historical fact, mentioned during conversations between characters. The biggest spoiler to watch out for, which gives away the most important death in HotD's future run, comes courtesy of everyone's least favorite Westeros king, Joffrey Baratheon. Spoilers ahead for Thrones season 3 and House of the Dragon.

Season 3, Episode 4 of Thrones, "And Now His Watch Is Ended," is best known for including a pivotal Daeneyrs scene, the first time we see the young Targaryen command the Unsullied and come into her own as a leader (and also baby Drogon goes dracarys on a slaver). The HotD spoiler came earlier in the episode, during a scene where Joffrey regaled his new fiancée Margaery Tyrell with a tour of the Sept. The highlight of his oddly gleeful retelling of Westerosi history is the crypt of a Targaryen queen who was eaten alive at the hands of her own brother's dragon while her son watched. The queen and brother? HotD's own warring monarchs, Rhaenyra and Aegon II.

The mention obviously meant very little back in 2013, when no one knew that Thrones would span a record-breaking prequel that would assumedly end with the same event that Joffrey reduced to an anecdote during an odd attempt at courtship. But it's actually not even the only mention of Rhaenyra and Aegon II. They also came up in a conversation between Shireen Baratheon and Ser Davos Seaworth in Season 5, Episode 9, as the sweet child describes the history book she's reading. (Two things about this episode: It's literally titled "Dance of the Dragons," and it's the same one where Shireen's burned on a sacrificial stake by her father.)

"It's the story of the fight between Rhaenyra Targaryen and her half-brother Aegon for control of the Seven Kingdoms," Shireen explained. Both of them thought they belonged on the Iron Throne," Shireen continued. "When people started declaring for one of them or the other, their fight divided the kingdom in two. Brothers fought brothers. Dragons fought dragons. By the time it was over, thousands were dead. And it was a disaster for the Targaryens as well. They never truly recovered."

So, Thrones fans with photographic memories already know how it all ends (and now so do you if you've made it to the end of this post). It'll be very hard to avoid spoilers throughout HotD's run, since, unlike Thrones, the entire story was already completed before the show began. As fans of the show's source material Fire & Blood have pointed out, the point of the series is not how the Dance of the Dragons ends, but how it plays out. 

For anyone who hasn't dived into any of George R.R. Martin's books (a.k.a. show fans rather than book fans), while the Thrones series are traditional narrative novels, Fire & Blood reads like a very entertaining history book. It's narrated by a scholar whose source material is rumors and lies from people who lived during the events and are obviously trying to make themselves look good, and who often weren't directly involved the events themselves. It's like if the history of the royal family was written based on tabloid stories and no other research. Book fans didn't come away from Fire & Blood knowing the details of the finale's epic dragon-on-dragon sequence; they just knew that it happened and how it ended. The fun comes from seeing all of the characters' decisions and misunderstandings that lead up to Rhaenyra or Aegon II sitting on the Iron Throne.

So, if you get accidentally spoiled, don't worry. You'll likely still have fun watching the civil war go down. (Though you can still be mad at Joffrey. Joffrey always sucks.)

Spoilers for House of the Dragon up to season 2, episode 7 ahead. For its Game of Thrones prequel series, House of the Dragon, HBO has transported fans from the time after dragons to the height of the creatures' and their riders in the Targaryen family's power. While fans first met the fire-breathing beasts with Daenerys' and her three children, the prequel series takes place nearly two centuries prior—where there are many more of the winged creatures taking to the sky and fighting battles.

As House of the Dragon season 2 focuses on the Dance of the Dragons civil war, which unfolds between the two branches of the Targaryen family known as the Greens and the Blacks, it's more important than ever to know which side each dragon sits on. To help keep up, we're breaking down all of the dragons from the hit HBO show based on George R. R. Martin's book series, organized by their allegiance in the Targaryen conflict.

The Greens

Dreamfyre

Rider: Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban)

When Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) enters the Dragon Pits in season 1, episode 6, he's almost smoked by Dreamfyre, who was hatched sometime during the reign of Aegon the Conquerer. By season 2, the blue female dragon has bonded with Aemond's older sister Helaena. Dreamfyre has also laid several dragon eggs. (There's even a theory that she's the mother to the eggs that will become Drogon, Viserion, and Rhaegal!)

Sunfyre

Rider: Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney)

This male dragon is known as "Sunfyre the Golden" for his bright-gold scales and pink-membraned wings. By the time jump after season 1, episode 6, he's already bonded to young Aegon and remains close to the Greens' heir. In season 2, episode 4, the now-King Aegon rides Sunfyre into the Battle of Rook's Rest, where both dragon and dragonrider are severely injured. (It is currently unknown whether Sunfyre is still alive in HotD.)

Tessarion

Rider: Prince Daeron Targaryen

Though we haven't met him yet, viewers learn in season 2, episode 7 that Daeron's dragon Tessarion has grown old enough to ride into battle as part of Team Green. Also known as "the Blue Queen" in the books, the nimble she-dragon is described as "one-third in size" to Vermithor.

Vhagar

Rider: Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell)

Female Vhagar is the oldest and largest living Targaryen dragon, an ancient beast who was ridden by Queen Visenya during Aegon's Conquest. She was lost for years, as we heard from young Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell) in episode 2 before Laena herself encountered and bonded with her. After Laena experiences complications during childbirth and commands her dragon to kill her, Vhagar is brought to Westeros, where she bonds with Viserys (Harry Lloyd) and Alicent's (Olivia Cooke) third-eldest Aemond in season 1, episode 7.

The Blacks

Arrax (Deceased)

Rider: the late Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault)

By season 1, episode 8, Luke has claimed Arrax, a just-matured beast who author George R. R. Martin described as "pearlescent white with yellow flame, golden eyes and a golden chest." In the season 1 finale, we see that he's the smallest of the dragons we've been introduced to thus far, which makes it even more terrifying when he goes up against Vhagar and Aemond. Arrax and Luke are eventually killed by the much larger dragon, marking the first blow of the Dance of the Dragons.

Caraxes

Rider: Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith)

Also known as Blood Wyrm, this red, horned male is bonded to Daemon, and is known for being as fearsome and vicious as his rider. We got to see Caraxes in action during the battle against the Triarchy in season 1, episode 3.

Meleys (Deceased)

Rider: The late Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best)

Known as the "Red Queen," this female dragon has copper strips along her red body and is known as one of the swiftest dragons. We (and the Greens) got a good look at Meleys when she emerged as the "beast beneath the boards" at Aegon II's coronation in season 1, episode 9. By the middle of season 2, though, Meleys and her rider both meet their fate when they're killed by Aemond and Vhagar during the Battle of Rook's Rest.

Moondancer

Rider: Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia)

In season 2 we meet Moondancer, a young, slender dragon with a pale-green body and pearl horns and wingbones. For anyone wondering why Moondancer and Seasmoke (more on Seasmoke later) have such different names than the rest of the dragons, it looks like Laenor (John MacMillan) and Baela didn't follow the custom of giving new dragons Valyrian names (language that is to thank for all the "ae"s in these characters).

Seasmoke

Rider: Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty); previously Laenor Velaryon (John MacMillan)

This pale silver-hued dragon is a younger and more nimble dragon, who bonded to Laenor while he was still young. After Laenor faked his death in season 1, episode 7, Seasmoke was considered wild, and viewers saw her roam the skies near Hull and Dragonstone in season 2. In season 2, episode 6, Seasmoke unexpectedly chases down Addam of Hull and chooses him to become her new rider. (It may have helped that Addam is Laenor's half-brother.)

Silverwing

Rider: Ulf the White (Tom Bennett)

In season 2, episode 7, a dragonseed named Ulf the White stumbles upon and then bonds with Silverwing while he's trying to escape Dragonmont. The previously unclaimed beast is a docile, friendly female dragon with a silver body, and was previously ridden by King Jaehaerys' sister/queen consort Alysanne (Emeline Lambert).

Syrax

Rider: Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy)

This female dragon with a yellow hue bonded with Rhaenyra when the princess was only 9. Syrax opens up the series, though we haven't seen her up close since the first episodes of season 1. Rhaenyra has also never ridden her into battle, though that'll probably change once the Dance of the Dragons starts.

Tyraxes and Stormcloud

Riders: Joffrey Velaryon (Oscar Eskinazi) and Aegon III Targaryen (Jake and Rory Heard)

In season 2, episode 3, Rhaenyra decides to send off her three youngest sons (Joffrey, Aegon "the Younger," and Viserys II) away from Dragonstone, which will not be safe for them as the war continues. The queen has promised a dragon to Lady Jeyne Arryn of the Vale (Amanda Collin) in exchange for an army, so she sends the children (with their cousin Rhaena chaperoning) along with their dragons, Tyraxes and Stormcloud. Both of the dragons are described as no more than "hatchlings," but they will (hopefully) have time to grow as the war goes on.

Vermax

Rider: Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett)

We meet this young horned dragon after the season 1, episode 6 time jump after he's already bonded to Jacaerys and the prince is learning to command him. Vermax was born of the egg that laid with Jacaerys in his cradle, showing that Jacaerys had the "blood of the dragon" and was a true Targaryen (though the Velaryon side was in question).

Vermithor

Rider: Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew)

In season 2, episode 7, Rhaenyra gathers dozens of illegitimate Targaryen bastards to see if they can claim dragons. Hugh Hammer is the brave man who claims Vermithor, the second-largest living dragon in Westeros. Formerly ridden by Jaehaerys I, he's described in Fire & Blood as an aggressive bronze dragon with "great tan wings."

Unclaimed Dragons

Balerion (Deceased)

Rider: The late Aegon the Conqueror

The largest and oldest Targaryen dragon, known as "the Black Dread," is mentioned several times throughout House of the Dragon, as the characters will bring up him and his rider when they speak of the history of Westeros and the Targaryen line. The black and red mal dragon and his rider have been long dead by the events of HotD, but Balerion's head can be seen on display in the Red Keep.

Cannibal, Grey Ghost, and Sheepstealer

According to Fire & Blood, there are three other dragons residing in the caves of the volcano Dragonmont as of Rhaenyra and Aegon II's coronations. If the show stays faithful to the books' dragons (as they have so far), they'll likely be a part of the plot.

Cannibal, Grey Ghost, and Sheepstealer are all completely wild dragons with no previous riders. The largest and oldest of them, Cannibal, has a black body and his name because he eats the carcasses of his kind, newborn dragons, and dragon eggs (which is probably why dragon eggs are kept in warmers and not in the volcano). Grey Ghost is pale grey-white and shy, avoiding men for years at a time. Sheepstealer is a "mud brown" color who only attacks humans when provoked; his name is self-evident.

'Game of Thrones' Easter Egg

Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion

Season 2, episode 3 of House of the Dragon includes a major callback (or call-forward?) to the lead Targaryen of Game of Thrones. When Aegon III and Viserys II are sent off to Pentos under the care of Rhaena, they're accompanied by the fledgling dragons Tyraxes and Stormcloud, as well as a crate of unhatched dragon eggs, one gold, one green, one reddish-black, and one silvery-blue. The first three of those eggs will look quite familiar to GoT fans.

In an interview with Mashable, episode 3's director Geeta Vasant Patel confirmed that those are the same eggs that Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) receives as a wedding gift over 150 years later, in the events of the first episode of Game of Thrones. This answers a major question of how three dragon eggs made it to Essos, especially since Rhaenyra plans for Rhaena, Aegon III, and Viserys II to eventually make it to Pentos should their first destination, the Vale, no longer be safe for them. Hopefully, HotD will continue to follow the eggs' journey to Dany in later seasons.

Spoilers for House of the Dragon up to season 3, episode 2 ahead. Three years after the divisive finale of Game of Thrones, the record-breaking franchise returned viewers to a simpler time in Westeros (though is life in Westeros ever simple?) with House of the Dragon. The highly anticipated prequel premiered in August 2022, instantly becoming a global hit as the decades-spanning series introduced fans to several earlier generations of the infamous, incestuous, dragon-riding platinum-blonde Targaryen family, over 150 years before Daenerys Targaryen was born.

After the Targaryen civil war broke out in House of the Dragon season 2, the now-airing third season features some of the biggest battles and most devastating deaths in the Dance of the Dragons. With its various timelines and sects, the full Targaryen family tree, which originated in author George R. R. Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice book series, is complicated enough to warrant its own book series (or at least three more spinoffs). To help remember who everyone is and how they're related, we've compiled a guide to the Targaryens in House of the Dragon and how they connect to the Thrones platinum blondes we know and love.

The Beginnings of Westeros

Daenys the Dreamer (deceased)

In the first episode of House of the Dragon, two dreamers who are pivotal to the Targaryens' conquest of Westeros are mentioned. The first, Daenys the Dreamer, was the maiden daughter of a Targaryen nobleman in Valyria, the ancestral land where the family lived before settling on the island of Dragonstone. Daenys had a dream about the destruction of Valyria, and she convinced their family to leave before the land was destroyed in a volcanic cataclysm, known as the Doom of Valyria. The Targaryens were the only dragonriders (with the only dragons) to survive, and they lived on Dragonstone for the next century.

Aegon the Conquerer (deceased)

Whenever later Targaryens mention the great Aegon I, they're referring to Aegon the Conqueror, the first king of Westeros who united the realm (minus Dorne and the land beyond the Wall) and founded the Targaryen dynasty. He married both of his sisters, Rhaenys and Visenya, and they had three dragons: Balerion, Vhagar, and Meraxes. After conquering the realm, he founded King's Landing, began construction on the Red Keep, and forged the Iron Throne out of the swords of his fallen enemies.

Also, for anyone confused about "A Song of Ice and Fire" being mentioned throughout House of the Dragon: Upon being named heir, Rhaenyra learns a secret passed down through Targaryen rulers. Rather than ambition, Aegon I's conquest of Westeros was spurred by a dream where he foresaw the end of men. Per the dream, a terrible winter would come to the distant North, bringing a force that would destroy the world of the living.

That dream prophesied the coming of the White Walkers and the second Long Night, with Aegon passing down the solution that all of Westeros must unite for the force to be defeated. Centuries later, his prophecy eventually came true with the events of Game of Thrones.

King Jaehaerys I (deceased)

House of the Dragon begins with a prelude introducing us to King Jaehaerys I, "The OId King," who had the most peaceful reign of any Targaryen. He married his sister Alysanne, and together they had 14 children, with nine surviving into adulthood and two outliving him. As he approached death with no heir apparent, he convened a Great Council to decide who would succeed him among at least 14 contenders, with the vote coming down to his two grandchildren, Rhaenys and Viserys. (This momentous incident took place 172 years before the birth of Daenerys.)

Alyssa Targaryen (deceased)

In HotD season 2, episode 5, we're introduced to the late Alyssa Targaryen, the mother of Viserys and Daemon, via a very incestuous sex dream. Per Fire & Blood, Alyssa was the daughter of King Jaehaerys I and was named after his mother/her grandmother; she also previously rode Meleys, the red dragon that her niece Rhaenys rides during the HotD era. Alyssa was 24 when she died due to childbirth complications, at which time Daemon was around 5-years-old.

Saera Targaryen (deceased)

Though she doesn't appear in House of the Dragon, Saera Targaryen played an important role in the Blacks' season 2 mission to find more dragonriders. In episode 7, Hugh Hammer reveals that his mother was Saera, the notorious, trouble-making ninth child of Jaehaerys I and his wife Alysanne. During her eventful life, she had multiple lovers, hosted sex parties, stole a dragon when her father put her under house arrest, and later fled to Lys to become a sex worker instead of being forced to become a Silent Sister. One of her bastard children, Hugh Hammer, eventually claims the dragon Vermithor in HotD.

'House of the Dragon' Era - Adults

Princess Rhaenys (deceased)

Rhaenys had a stronger claim to the Iron Throne, as the daughter of Jaehaerys' eldest son, Aemon, and Jocelyn Baratheon (an ancestor of the early Thrones king Robert Baratheon). Unfortunately, she was also a woman, so she was skipped over and became "The Queen Who Never Was." Though she didn't take the throne, the shrewd royal still influenced affairs from the sidelines, often scheming with her husband, Corlys Velaryon, Viserys' Master of Ships.

Rhaenys and Corlys had two children who were involved throughout House of the Dragon season 1, a daughter and son named Laena and Laenor. While Laenor married Rhaenyra Targaryen to ally the houses, Laena married Daemon Targaryen and later died in childbirth. As Rhaenyra's aunt (and mother-in-law), Rhaenys supported her claim to the throne before dying in the Battle of Rook's Rest in season 2, episode 4.

King Viserys I (deceased)

"The Young King," Viserys, the fifth Targaryen king of the Seven Kingdoms, also ruled for peace. His reign was the height of the Targaryens' power, with the family and their dragons thriving along with the realm. Viserys married his cousin Aemma Arryn at an early age, and they had one surviving daughter, Rhaenyra. Aemma was pregnant with a second child in the HotD series premiere, with Viserys expecting a son, but neither mother nor son survived labor.

Thanks to the machinations of Otto Hightower, Hand of the King, Viserys ended up marrying Alicent Hightower as his second wife. The couple has four children, and Viserys lived to become an old king with many illnesses. He died of leprosy at the end of season 1, episode 8, and he's best known by the moniker Viserys the Peaceful.

Queen Aemma (deceased)

Aemma was King Viserys I's first wife (and first cousin) and Rhaenyra's mother, who died in childbirth in the HotD series premiere (and deserved so much more). She was a dedicated mother to Rhaenyra, but she had difficulties in childbirth and passed without producing a male heir. Fun fact: Her maiden name was Aemma Arryn; she was a distant ancestor of Jon Arryn, whose death led to Ned Stark being named Hand of the King and everything subsequent in Game of Thrones.

Prince Daemon

Known as "The Rogue Prince," Daemon is the younger brother of King Viserys and started HotD season 1 as the presumed heir. He's an arrogant hothead who believes he would be a better king than his brother. (To be fair, he seems to think he would be better than anyone.) He has many friends (especially among the City Watch) and enemies (especially Ser Otto Hightower). In the HotD premiere, he was unhappily married to Rhea Royce of the Vale, and he had a mistress named Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno).

Things went downhill for Daemon by the end of the season 1 premiere, with Viserys taking away his title as heir and giving it to Princess Rhaenyra. After a failed bit of rebellion and a successful war against Craghas "The Crabfeeder" Drahar, Daemon returned to Westeros and attempted to seduce his niece Rhaenyra. Soon after that didn't pan out (and he was banished from the Red Keep), Daemon's marriage to Rhea Royce ended, with the lady officially dying of a fall from her horse. (It's heavily implied that Daemon killed her.)

Daemon's second wife was Corlys and Rhaenys's daughter Laena Velaryon (a.k.a. his first once removed), with whom he has twin girls, Baela and Rhaena. He became a single father after Laena died by dragonfire while giving birth to a stillborn child. Soon after Laena's funeral, he was married for a third time to...

Princess Rhaenyra

When she was young, Rhaenyra, known as "The Realm’s Delight," was a devoted daughter, a talented dragonrider, and a budding tactician. As the king's only child, she would have been the presumed heir if she hadn't been a woman. However, rather than let Daemon get the crown, Viserys decided to name her as his successor anyway, in a divisive move that made Rhaenyra the closest female heir to the Iron Throne until her great-great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter Daenerys.

Season 1, episode 6 included a 10-year time jump in the HotD storyline, at which point young Rhaenyra actor Milly Alcock left, and Emma D'Arcy took over the role. (Alicent Hightower, a close childhood friend of Rhaenyra, was similarly first played by Emily Carey and, as she aged up, the role went to Olivia Cooke.)

Having previously married Laenor Velaryon in season 1, episode 5, post-time-jump Rhaenyra was mother to three sons by episode 6: Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey (the latter of whom she welcomed in the episode's opening minutes). While Rhaenyra's place as heir was secure, her relationship with Alicent deteriorated to the point where her former friend pushed for her son Aegon to be named heir instead. There were also rumors about her children's parentage (more on that later).

Rhaenyra's marriage to Laenor ended in episode 7 when she married her uncle Daemon after Laenor's "death." The pair welcomed two sons together during the six-year jump before episode 8. They are still going strong when the realm is thrown into conflict in the season 1 finale, where Rhaenyra is named the rightful queen days after her nephew Aegon has usurped the Iron Throne.

'House of the Dragon' Era - Children

Aegon II

Aegon is a common name among Targaryen sons, which surfaces several times in the family tree. This Aegon is the firstborn son of Viserys I and his second wife, Alicent Hightower. As the king's firstborn son, a faction of lords wanted him to be named heir pretty much as soon as he was born, though Rhaenyra had been named heir years prior. After the first time jump in episode 6, Aegon was a bratty teenager who had yet to grapple with his birthright as Rhaenyra's strongest opponent in the succession.

Fast-forward another six-year jump (so the start of episode 8): Aegon has married his sister Helaena (Phia Saban) and they share twins, Prince Jaehaerys and Princess Jaehaera. After his father Viserys' death, Aegon was thrust into the role of king, though he didn't want it; he'd rather drink and gamble and sire rumored illegitimate kids in King's Landing. However, his mother Alicent convinced him to take the throne as the Greens' placed monarch, which set off the Targaryen civil war.

After a short period upon the Iron Throne, Aegon was gravely injured in the Battle of Rook's Rest, when his brother Aemond attacked him. At the end of season 2, Aegon fled King's Landing with Larys Strong to wait out the war in Essos. They're still traveling anonymously in season 3.

Princess Helaena

Helaena is Viserys and Alicent's secondborn and firstborn daughter. By the end of season 1, she had become queen of Westeros as her brother Aegon II's wife, and she was the mother of twins Jaehaerys and Jaehaera. She also exhibited a touch of clairvoyance throughout her life, making some prophetic-sounding observations earlier in season 1 before she eventually gave a confirmed prophecy in episode 9 ("the beast beneath the boards" being Rhaenys and her dragon crashing Aegon's coronation). She also spooked Aemond by foretelling his death in the season 2 finale.

Prince Aemond (Ewan Mitchell)

Viserys and Alicent's third child, Aemond, is more calculating than his elder brother. When he was younger, he was a timid boy and was teased by his nephews, Jacerys and Lucerys. He became a major player in season 1, episode 7, when he bonded with Vhaghar, the largest living dragon in Westeros (and lost an eye in an accident with Lucerys). By season 2, he's a fearsome warrior who thinks he would be a better king than his older brother.

After the Battle of Rook's Rest, where Aemond killed Rhaenys and turned Vhagar on his own brother, the younger prince became regent while the elder recovered. As of season 3, he still leads the Greens' war effort.

Prince Daeron

Though we never meet him in HotD's first two seasons, Alicent and Viserys have a fourth child, their youngest son, Daeron. He grew up in Oldtown, the second-largest city in Westeros, as a ward of his uncle Ormund Hightower. HBO has confirmed that Ormund becomes a major player in season 3, so viewers will likely meet him (and his dragon Tessarion) soon.

Prince Jacaerys Velaryon (deceased)

Rhaenyra and Laenor Velaryon's eldest son, known as Jace, was second in line for the throne while his mother was the official heir. Though he and his brother grew up with Laenor as their father, they didn't look like him, and there were rumors that former Commander of the City Watch Ser Harwin Strong was their biological father. By the end of season 1, episode 6, Jace even asked his mother about his parentage, and she responded, "You are a Targaryen. That's all that matters."

Thoughtful Jace spent season 2 preparing for his eventual duties as king. He was extremely loyal to his mother and had an important place in the war as Rhaenyra's heir. However, in the season 3 premiere, Jace defies his mother to fight in the Battle of the Gullet, where he's killed by the Triarchy after being distracted by a mysterious wild dragon.

Prince Lucerys Velaryon (deceased)

Rhaenyra's secondborn child, Luke, was more mild-mannered than his brother, Jace, and had a tougher time with his fate as a royal. In season 1, episode 8, he was named heir to the seat of House Velaryon, Driftmark, but he later admitted to his mother that he didn't want it and even got "greensick" (Westerosi for seasick). He was fiercely loyal to his mom and honorable, which spelled trouble when his uncle Aemond came after him for revenge after losing an eye. That led to his death in the season 1 finale, as he and his dragon died after narrowly escaping his uncle and his dragon Vhagar in a battle—making his death the first in the Dance of the Dragons.

Prince Joffrey Velaryon

Rhaenyra and Laenor's (but allegedly Harwin's) third son was born at the start of season 1, episode 6, and sports little dark baby curls similar to his brunette brothers. He was named Joffrey after Laenor's late lover, whom Ser Criston Cole killed on the night of Rhaenyra and Laenor's wedding. (Joffrey is a common Westerosi name even before the young terror Joffrey Lannister is born centuries later.) By season 3, Joffrey has been sent to stay at the Eyrie in the Vale, away from the war.

Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia)

During Daemon's marriage to Laena Velaryon, the couple had two daughters, elder Baela and younger Rhaena. Laena was also pregnant with a third child in season 1, episode 6, but the baby was stillborn and wouldn't deliver, with Laena commanding her dragon to kill her by fire rather than suffer a slow, painful death by childbirth. After episode 7, Baela lived with her grandmother Rhaenys in Driftmark, while Rhaena moved in with her father and Rhaenyra at Dragonstone.

By season 2, Baela is a teenager and dragonrider (bonded with the dragon Moondancer) who's an important part of the Blacks' war effort. She is also betrothed to her cousin (and Rhaenyra's heir) Jace. In the season 3 premiere, she joins Jace at the Battle of the Gullet and sees his demise.

Rhaena Targaryen

Rhaena is the younger of Daemon and Laena's children, who grew up at Dragonstone after her mother's death. She was engaged to her cousin Lucerys Velaryon before his death. She has been a bit of an anomaly all her life, as someone without a dragon in a family of dragonriders.

That changes at the end of season 2 when, while stopping in the Vale on the way to Essos, Rhaena sets out to tame a wild dragon in the Vale. She finds and befriends the dragon Sheepstealer, but when she impulsively joins the Battle of the Gullet, she can't control the half-wild beast. Her actions led to the death of her cousin Jace in the season 3 premiere.

'House of the Dragon' Era - Babies

Princes Aegon III and Viserys II Targaryen

After Rhaenyra and Daemon marry, they welcome two sons whom they name after Aegon the Conqueror and Rhaenyra's father (and Daemon's brother), Viserys. While the blond-haired pair are still babies in season 1, episode 8, they meet their grandfather, King Viserys I, before he dies. Rhaenyra was also pregnant with a daughter, whom she planned on naming Visenya, but she experienced a stillbirth in the season 1 finale.

Unfortunately, the Targaryen tendency to recycle names leads to the moment of confusion that helps fuel the succession crisis: In Viserys I's final moments, he speaks to his wife Alicent and mistakes her for his daughter Rhaenyra, mentioning the Song of Ice and Fire prophecy and naming "Aegon" as the chosen one. Alicent doesn't know that the king was likely referring to the first or third Aegon, not her son, the second. Thus, the Greens claim that Viserys I wanted Aegon II to be king—and place him on the Iron Throne despite Rhaenyra's claim.

At the end of season 2, Rhaenyra sends the toddlers Aegon and Viserys to wait out the rest of the war in Essos, with Rhaena as their guardian. The last time we saw them, the brothers were heading off on their journey across the Narrow Sea without their half-sister. (Fun fact: Their cargo includes three dragon eggs that may make their way to the Targaryens' most famous descendant.)

Prince Jaehaerys II (deceased) and Princess Jaehaera

As all heirs do (no matter how young), Aegon II and Helaena's twin children, Jaehaerys—named after his great-grandfather, mentioned above—and Jaehaera, become targets during their family's civil war. In the season 2 premiere, Daemon pays assassins named Blood and Cheese to kill Aemond; when they don't find him, the pair kill the baby Jaehaerys as Helaena flees with Jaehaera. A traumatized Helaena is still raising her living daughter in season 3.

'Game of Thrones' Era Targaryens

King Aerys II (David Rintoul)

Before the Baratheons (and the Lannisters behind the scenes) ruled over Westeros in Game of Thrones, King Aerys II was the last Targaryen to sit on the Iron Throne. "The Mad King" was initially beloved during his peaceful reign, before he slowly became paranoid, erratic, and murderous (possibly due to the Targaryen tradition of inbreeding). After he executed Ned Stark's (Sean Bean) father, Rickard (Wayne Foskett), and brother, Brandon (Isaac Hempstead Wright), during Robert's Rebellion, Aerys was betrayed by his hand, Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance), and killed by Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). The reign of the Targaryens was over, but the lineage lived on through their two younger children, Daenerys and Viserys (yes, another Viserys), who were smuggled away to the Free Cities.

Daenerys I (Emilia Clarke)

Daenerys Stormborn (first of her name, thank God) grew up in exile in the Free Cities, intending to return to Westeros and reclaim the Iron Throne. Game of Thrones followed her efforts to raise an army and learn how to rule, first as Khaleesi, then as the Breaker of Chains. Throughout conquering Westeros, she eventually succumbed to the "Targaryen madness," or her family's tradition of becoming erratic and murderous every couple of generations. She razed King's Landing, but before she could even sit on the Iron Throne, Jon Snow (Kit Harington) assassinated her. (#JusticeForDany!)

Dany also had two brothers: Viserys and Rhaegar.

Viserys III (Harry Lloyd)

Viserys spent most of his life with Daenerys in the Free Cities, where they were smuggled as children to stay safe from Baratheon forces in the aftermath of the civil war known as Robert’s Rebellion. The rebellion took the Iron Throne away from the Targaryens; Viserys’ sole focus was reclaiming that power. When we first met the duo in GoT, they were preparing for Daenerys's wedding to Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa)—a union orchestrated entirely by Viserys, without Dany’s consent. Arrogant, self-serving Viserys agreed to allow the Dothraki warlord to wed Dany in return for military support in his plans to reclaim the Iron Throne.

We’d be remiss not to mention how creepy Viserys acted toward his little sister, but luckily, we didn’t have to witness it for long. Toward the end of GoT season one, after Viserys had insulted both his sister and her new husband—under the foolhardy belief that his power outweighed the couples, even when surrounded by loyal Dothraki—Drogo promised to give Viserys the “golden crown” he’s after by pouring molten gold on his head, causing his painful death and paving the way for Dany to seek the Iron Throne instead.

Rhaegar (Wilf Scolding)

Dany and Viserys’ oldest brother was long gone before the events portrayed in Game of Thrones began, but he was still a key player in those events. Rhaegar decided to give Lyanna Stark (Aisling Franciosi)—rather than his wife, Elia Martell (Indira Varma)—a wreath naming her “Queen of Love and Beauty” at a tournament that eventually sparked Robert’s Rebellion since Lyanna was then betrothed to Robert Baratheon, who teamed up with Lyanna’s brother Eddard to avenge his honor.

Soon after, Rhaegar and Lyanna ran away together to be secretly married. The Starks and Baratheons framed their union as an abduction rather than a mutual elopement, officially starting the war. Robert ultimately killed Rhaegar at the Battle of the Trident, and Elia and her two children with Rhaegar were killed, too. Lyanna died early, as well, due to complications after giving birth to her and Rhaegar’s only child.

As for that son…

Aegon, a.k.a. Jon Snow (Kit Harington)

Sorry for the spoiler if you somehow haven't caught up to Game of Thrones (also not sorry, because again, it went off the air in 2019), but we can't mention the Thrones-era Targaryens without the secret, non-blonde member hiding in plain sight. As was revealed in the season 7 finale, the Stark bastard Jon Snow was the secret love child of Rhaegar and Lyanna, named Aegon after several of his ancestors.

After he killed his lover/aunt Dany, Jon was exiled back into the Night's Watch and later traveled with the Wildlings to the land north of the Wall. The Jon Snow sequel series is reportedly "off the table" at HBO, but odds are we'll learn what's next for the hero at some point in the future.

20 months after the first blood was spilled, the Dance of the Dragons will officially begin on House of the Dragon season 2. In its time-jumping first season, House of the Dragon set the stage for the legendary Targaryen civil war—which takes place around 150 years before the events of Game of Thrones—while focusing on the friendship-turned-rivalry between King Viserys' declared heir Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) and his second wife Queen Alicent (Olivia Cooke). After Viserys the Peaceful's (Paddy Considine) death, Alicent and her father Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), leaders of the Greens, placed the king's firstborn son on the Iron Throne before Rhaenyra could even hear news of his father's passing. The season ends with the aftermath of Rhaenyra and her allies, known as the Blacks, learning about the usurpers' rise.

With season 1 serving as a prequel for the conflict that spelled the beginning of the end of the Targaryen dynasty, the jam-packed finale (which aired in October 2022) teased the carnage to come with a devastating tragedy, the first death of many in the civil war. While fans undoubtedly remember the shocking scene, the many machinations of which Westerosi families were siding with which side of the conflict may be difficult to remember before diving into the long-awaited season 2, which premieres on June 16. Below, read on for a breakdown of the episode and how season 1 ended so you can prepare yourself—and perhaps choose a side—for House of the Dragon season 2.

Rhaenyra is crowned the rightful queen after losing her unborn child.

When the finale begins, Rhaenyra and her family are settled in Dragonstone with their thoughts still on the events in episode 8. Her secondborn Lucerys (Elliot Grihault) is nervous about being the heir to Driftmark, but Rhaenyra comforts him and says she will help prepare him for his future lordship. The sweet moment is brief before Rhaenys (Eve Best) arrives with the news of Viserys' death and Aegon's (Tom Glynn-Carney) Dragonpit coronation. Daemon (Matt Smith) is immediately furious, assuming that Alicent murdered Viserys and asking Rhaenys why she didn't dracarys them all (as we all were asking at the end of episode 9!). Rhaenys says this war isn't hers to initiate, a stance of neutrality she'll keep for most of the episode.

While Daemon jumps to anger, Rhaenyra is devastated after learning she's lost her father and maybe her throne. She begins bleeding, as the stress of the moment induces an early labor. While Daemon begins planning for war, calling a council around Dragonstone's carved map table, his wife's screams echo from her bed chamber into the Great Hall. Even while she's in pain, Rhaenyra is the one who tells Jaecaerys (Harry Collett) and Luke about their grandfather's death, and she doesn't want Daemon to make any war moves without her. Jace tells Daemon to stand down, but instead of going to his wife/niece's side, he threatens some members of the Kingsguard to swear loyalty to Rhaenyra, under the threat of being executed by his dragon Caraxes.

Like the series' other childbirth sequences so far, Rhaenyra's stillbirth is brutal, visceral, and arguably gratuitous. She refuses help from her nurses, delivering the stillborn baby herself. Once it's over, she silently holds the unliving child, as Daemon finally comes to the chamber. They don't speak before the scene cuts to Rhaenyra performing the burial rights, followed by a beachside funeral where they burn the body in the Targaryen tradition. During the funeral, Ser Erryk Cargyll (the one of the twin knights who was anti-Aegon, played by Elliott Tittensor) arrives and offers Rhaenyra her father's golden crown. Daemon places it on her head, calling back to the emotional scene between himself and his brother Viserys. With that, Rhaenyra becomes queen.

Alicent and Otto Hightower hold off on attacking the Greens.

The next several scenes demonstrate Rhaenyra's restraint while facing a ruinous, dragon-filled war. While she was indisposed, her bannermen received confirmations of some of her alliances, but several houses' alliances are up in the air, including the Arryns, the Starks, and the Baratheons. (We saw in episode 9 that the Lannisters are with the Greens.) The Blacks have the most dragons—13 total versus the Greens' four—and Daemon wants to lead with that, taking over the war meeting and commanding his plans. Before any decisions can be made, Ser Erryk alerts them that a ship is arriving, flying a banner of a three-headed green dragon.

Otto leads the Green party, and Daemon meets him outside on the Dragonstone steps. In a callback from episode 2, Rhaenyra arrives late on dragon-back, with Syrax landing behind the Greens. Otto has a stacked offer if Rhaenyra steps down and supports Aegon: She and Jace get Dragonstone, Luke gets Driftmark, her allies get pardoned, and she and Daemon's young sons receive places in Aegon's court. Daemon's response is classic: "I would rather feed my sons to the dragons than have them carry shields and cups for your drunken, usurper c--t of a king."

Otto's argument is based on the optics that the Greens have built: Aegon II wears his namesake Aegon the Conqueror's crown, carries his sword, and is crowned before the public. He has the "symbols of legitimacy," while Rhaenyra has 20-year-old oaths, taken before Viserys had a son. The Hand's final blow is emotional, as he gives Rhaenyra a torn page from a history book. It's the same page Rhaenyra tore out all those years ago when the girls were studying the story of Nymeria—a warrior princess who ruled over Dorne for two decades, not Arya's direwolf—back in the premiere. It's Alicent's olive branch, to show she remembers their friendship and wants to bloodshed. With that, Rhaenyra tells Otto that she'll give him her response later, to the annoyance of trigger-ready Daemon.

Daemon Targaryen tries to claim the second largest dragon.

At the next war council, lit by candles and the awesome glowing table map, Rhaenyra explains her resistance to attack. She reminds her men of Viserys' stories of ancient Valyria, saying, "When dragons flew to war, everything burned. I do not wish to rule over a kingdom of ash and bone." It's a wise stance (that does ring in our ears as a Daenerys apologist), but Daemon refuses to listen, saying that Rhaenyra's father taught her his feckless ways. The queen clears the room, and in private, she reminds her uncle/husband of the duty that surpasses their personal ambitions: the Song of Ice and Fire prophecy. At its mention, as Rhaenyra says Viserys shared the dream with her when he named her heir, Daemon clutches her throat. It's a show of power that reveals weakness, as Rhaenyra realizes her father never told his brother about the prophecy. It's another sign that Viserys never wanted Daemon as his heir, wounding the prince.

Daemon's missing from the next day's war council, with Rhaenyra assuming he's nursing his wounds. He is, but he's also still building power—just as the queen is. His solution to victory is still dragons, so he heads into the active volcano under Dragonstone, known as Dragonmont, where the wild and unclaimed dragons live. He approaches Vermithor, the second-largest dragon, previously ridden by King Jaehaerys, while singing a High Valyrian song. We don't see what happens between the dragon and the potential rider, but Daemon makes it out of the cave alive, so he and Vermithor are at least on decent terms if they didn't claim each other.

Rhaenyra's son Lucerys is fatally attacked by Prince Aemond.

That third war meeting includes the return of Lord Corlys (Steve Touissant), whose near-fatal injury was the catalyst for the events of episode 8. He arrived at Dragonstone earlier in the episode, while his wife Rhaenys was staying neutral and waiting for his recovery. Once they're awake in the same room, she shames him for running off to war in the wake of their children Laena (Nanna Blondell) and Laenor's (John Macmillian) deaths. She also tells him of his brother's death, which came courtesy of Daemon in episode 8.

After hearing all this, Corlys finally lets go of his ambitions for the Iron Throne and tells his wife they should return to a quiet life in Driftmark with their four grandchildren. But Rhaenys has also switched her stance; she reminds her husband that Jace and Luke will not be safe as Aegon is king. She also supports Rhaenyra after seeing her hesitance to go to war, as she's the only one holding the realm together.

Corlys officially gives his loyalty to Rhaenyra, and shares that their side now has his massive fleet and control of the Narrow Sea. They now have a legitimate plan to attack King's Landing (sounding like another Battle of the Blackwater) but Rhaenyra says she will not be the one to make the first attack of the war. Instead, she wants to send ravens to the Arryns, Starks, and Baratheons, but Jace offers that sending the princes on their dragons would be faster, and more impressive. So Jace heads out to the Eyrie, then Winterfell, while Luke flies to the nearer Baratheon castle Storm's End. Before they leave, she makes her sons swear that they will go as messengers, not warriors, and she has another sweet moment with Luke, saying that she expects him to receive a warm welcome (a.k.a. one of the biggest jinx in TV history).

When Luke arrives at Storm's End on his dragon Arrax, Vhaghar is outside. Instead of turning and running, the brave prince still enters, where Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) waits after arriving with a head start and a marriage pact. Ser Borros Baratheon (Roger Evans) is rude and refuses to read, asking Luke which of his daughters he will marry. (Luke's already betrothed to his cousin Rhaena.) Baratheon derisively sends Luke away for arriving empty-handed, but Aemond quickly jumps to antagonize his nephew, demanding he cut out his eye if he won't fight. Before Aemond can charge Luke, Baratheon orders his guards to escort Luke to his dragon, wanting no bloodshed in his hall.

The chase that ensues, with Aemond and Vhaghar pursuing Luke and Arrax through a literal thunderstorm, is a harbinger of doom for the upcoming war. Remember when Viserys said at the beginning of the season that the relationship between dragons and riders is challenging, as a dragon will never entirely be tamed? That foreshadowing is fulfilled as the large and tiny dragons go rogue, with their riders fruitlessly ordering them to listen to commands. Arrax gets a sneak attack on Vhaghar, the equivalent of a house kitten scratching a lion, and Vhaghar gets upset. It briefly looks like Luke will get away, as he and Arrax emerge through the storm into the sunshine. It's very short-lived, as Vhagar flies up and bites into the pair, tearing both the dragon and the boy in half.

Aemond's expression after Luke's death is a mix of what have I done" and what will I tell my mother? He knows he just set off the war; sure Vhaghar rebelled, but Aemond started the chase. Though it would've been great to see the conversation when he returns to the Red Keep, this episode is Rhaenyra's, so the final scene sees Daemon coming up to the queen and telling her of her son's death. Their backs are to us as he gives the news, so we can only see the devastated sag of the mother's shoulders. But then she turns around, with one tear trailing down her face and a look of fury rivaling all others. Next season, the war is on.

What will happen in season 2 of 'House of the Dragon'?

The House of the Dragon team's goal was to leave with an ending that would have been pleading for a second season, and they delivered. Luckily, new episodes are finally on the way.

The two sides of the Dance of the Dragons are pretty evenly matched at the end of the premiere. The Greens have King's Landing, the Kingsguard, the Lannister fleet, and four dragons, but mostly Vhaghar. They're also absolutely the less honor-bound side, at least during the finale.

Meanwhile, the Arryns' support for the Blacks is nearly guaranteed (Rhaenyra's late mother Aemma was an Arryn before marriage), and there's a good chance that Jacaerys will over the Starks in Winterfell. We won't spoil what happens the original book series, but if the Blacks get the support of the North, that plus the Velaryons plus the dragons will put Rhaenyra ahead even if Alicent didn't have a home-court advantage. Also, that look on Rhaenyra's face hints that those pesky problems of honor and integrity will likely fade away next season.

The Dance of the Dragons will be the war of Fire & Blood as promised by George R.R. Martin's novel. (A bloodbath? Firebath? Dracarys-fest?) The first battle between Aemond and Lucerys shows that the bulk of the fighting in the Targaryen civil war will happen between Alicent and Rhaenyra's children. The opening scene foreshadows their place in the conflict, as Lucerys tells his mother that he doesn't even want Driftmark. It was never really these kids' choice whether or not they would have to fight and bleed and die over the Iron Throne, just as Rhaenyra's and Alicent's places were never entirely their choice. (Viserys at least tried to give Rhaenyra agency over being heir, unlike Otto leading Alicent towards marrying the king, but still.)

There's also very little chance that two of the show's major relationships will ever be the same. However Daemon stans want to frame the event online, the finale shows Daemon and Rhaenyra's absolute differences of opinion, and they may not be able to make it through the war as commander and sovereign, as well as loving husband and wife.

Also, Rhaenyra and Alicent's friendship became much harder to salvage after Luke's death. Even if Aemond admits it was an accident, this goes deeper than an eye for an eye. It'll be interesting to see who comes out alive the next time the two queens face each other (which probably won't happen until season 4 or 5). Time will tell how much Targaryen blood must be spilled for peace to return to Westeros.

HBO's hit show and pop culture phenomenon Game of Thrones is officially a franchise. The first in-universe spinoff, House of the Dragon brought back the world of Westeros with a prequel story filled with royal intrigue and stunning dragons, led by a stacked cast of warring Targaryens.

Though some fans were skeptical of the show's chances after Thrones' divisive finale, House of the Dragon's renewal chances skyrocketed when its premiere episode brought in nearly 10 million viewers, the highest ratings for an HBO premiere ever. In response, the network decided to go all in on the Game of Thrones spinoff.

"We are beyond proud of what the entire House of the Dragon team has accomplished with season 1," Francesca Orsi, executive vice president of HBO Programming, said in a statement. "Our phenomenal cast and crew undertook a massive challenge and exceeded all expectations, delivering a show that has already established itself as must-see-TV. A huge thank you [to co-creator and executive producer George R.R. Martin and co-creator and showrunners Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik] for leading us on this journey. We couldn’t be more excited to continue bringing to life the epic saga of House Targaryen with season 2.”

Here's what we know about the forthcoming second season so far.

'House of the Dragon' season 2 release date

After months of hinting, HBO revealed in March 2024 that House of the Dragon season 2 will premiere on June 16, 2024. The announcement came a few weeks after Warner Bros. Discovery streaming and gaming chief J.B. Perrette said in a Variety interview that the acclaimed GoT spinoff would return this June.

HBO chief Casey Bloys previously revealed during a November 2023 press event that House of the Dragon would return in “early summer” 2024. Bloys also confirmed that season 2 will consist of eight episodes, two fewer than season 1. (Boo.)

The network announced in April 2023 that production had begun on season 2 at Leavesden Studios in the U.K., with the show's official X (formerly Twitter) account posting a new photo from the set. Variety later reported that the show's production wouldn't be affected by the SAG-AFTRA strike, as its cast largely features U.K. actors working under contracts governed by the local union, Equity.

"House of the Dragon has returned," showrunner Ryan Condal said in a statement. "We are thrilled to be shooting again with members of our original family as well as new talents on both sides of the camera. All your favorite characters will soon be conspiring at the council tables, marching with their armies, and riding their dragons into battle. We can't wait to share what we have in store."

'House of the Dragon' season 2 trailer

With just one month until premiere day, HBO released a final trailer for House of the Dragon season 2 on May 14. The theme for this clip seems to be devastation; while the other teasers have focused on taking a side, this trailer shows glimpses of how the Dance of the Dragons will bring violence and misery to both sides of the conflict. After all, as Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) says in one scene, "There is more than one way to fight a war." (And as book fans know, this war will reach new levels of brutality.)

Along with the official release date, HBO debuted two(!) trailers for House of the Dragon season 2 in March, marking the network's first-ever use of "dueling" trailers to highlight the upcoming war between the Greens and the Blacks. The Green trailer focuses on the front led by King Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) in King's Landing, where he, Alicent (Olivia Cooke), Otto (Rhys Ifans), and Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) are preparing for war to defend their claim on the Iron Throne.

Meanwhile, the Black trailer shows Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) and Daemon (Matt Smith) gathering their forces on Dragonstone and recruiting more allies, including a glimpse of a trip to the snowy North. The Dance of the Dragons is about to begin, and as the clips say, "All Must Choose."

On December 2, 2023, HBO released the first look at House of the Dragon season 2, via a set of first-look images and the first teaser. The minute-long clip sets up the upcoming season's clash over the Iron Throne between Rhaenyra and Aegon II, with Aegon's mother Alicent Hightower stating, "The war will be fought, many will die, and the victor will eventually ascend the throne." As expected of a Targaryen civil war, the teaser is also filled with dragons and dragon fire, as we see one of the first battles of the epic conflict.

"There is no war so hateful to the gods as a war between kin," Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best) says, "and no war so bloody as a war between dragons."

'House of the Dragon' season 2 cast

HBO has confirmed which of the House of the Dragon cast is returning for the next season, including all of the main players in the Dance of the Dragons: Emma D’Arcy (Rhaenyra Targaryen), Olivia Cooke (Alicent Hightower), Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen), Rhys Ifans (Otto Hightower), Fabien Frankel (Ser Criston Cole), Steve Touissant (Corlys Targaryen), Eve Best (Rhaenys Targaryen), Harry Collett (Jacaerys Velaryon), Tom Glynn-Carney (Aegon II) and Ewan Mitchell (Aemond Targaryen). Among the actors we lost in Season 1 are Paddy Considine as King Viserys and Elliot Grihault as Lucerys.

Other returning actors include Bethany Antonia (Baela Targaryen), Phoebe Campbell (Rhaena Targaryen), Phia Saban (Helaena Targaryen), Jefferson Hall (Jason Lannister), and Matthew Needham (Larys Strong). Another surprising (unless you're a book fan), familiar name on the list is Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria, a.k.a. the White Worm. It seems as though she survived the Hightowers' murder attempt at the end of season 1 to live another day.

HBO has also confirmed the new cast members joining the series. The most exciting new character for GoT fans will likely be Cregan Stark (played by Tom Taylor), an ancestor to the original series' leads who will become an important ally to one of the sides of the upcoming conflict. Cregan's father, Lord Rickon Stark, has also been confirmed and will be played by Vincent Regan. Other new cast members include Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull, Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers, Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower, Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong, Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull, Jamie Kenna as Ser Alfred Broome, Kieran Bew as Hugh, and Tom Bennett as Ulf.

As for the younger versions of Rhaenyra and Alicent, actors Milly Alcock and Emily Carey are officially not returning for season 2. Showrunner Ryan Condal told Variety that the two characters will not be involved, though they may return through flashbacks in later seasons. "[Alcock and Carey] are not a part of the story that we’re telling, yet. That’s not a thing that we’re doing right now," he said.

"There are things that we haven’t fully sorted out," he added. "I’m not closing the door on anything. So there, how’s that for an answer?"

'House of the Dragon' season 2 plot

Season 2 is expected to pick up immediately following the tragic death of Rhaenyra’s son, Prince Lucerys "Luke" Velaryon (Elliot Grihault), at the hands of Alicent’s son Prince Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) in the devastating House of the Dragon season 1 finale. Rhaenyra had initially been a proponent of peace after her father King Viserys' death, but in the epic final shot of season 1, it was clear on Rhaenyra's furious face that blood would answer for blood. The Dance of the Dragons is officially a go.

Book readers (or the spoiler-prone) know who ends up on the Iron Throne at the end of it all, but if you're following along with the show, there are few hints to find of the specifics of the upcoming season. It's been confirmed that future seasons of HotD won't include the drastic time jumps employed in bringing the season from Rhaenyra and Alicent's childhood days to the start of the war. Co-creator Ryan Condal confirmed to Deadline in October 2022 that there won't be more decade-spanning, recast-mandating time jumps in the next season.

"We tell the story in real-time from here forward," he told the outlet. "The actors are playing these characters until the end. We’re not recasting anybody. We’re not making any huge jumps forward in time. We are now in the Dance of the Dragons, and we’re gonna tell that story.

Future seasons of 'House of the Dragon'

One big question about the GoT prequel is whether it'll face the same fate as Thrones: having more seasons than the source material (to the show's detriment). Luckily, the creative team already has a plan for the end of the series. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the showrunners revealed that they have an ending in mind and a plan for the show to run a certain number of seasons, with sources saying that three to four seasons are plotted so far.

They also hinted that the show, or a subsequent spinoff, could explore another period of the Targaryen dynasty, which stretches back to the Doom of Valyria, or the destruction of the family's first home country, and King Aegon I's conquest of Westeros.

“The Targaryens span both directions,” season 1 director Miguel Sapochnik told the outlet. “So as a spine to other possible stories and spinoffs … this is a great place to start.”

The HBO fantasy drama House of the Dragon treats time much differently than its predecessor, Game of Thrones. While Thrones had a traditional linear timeline (to the point that characters seemed to teleport from one end of Westeros to another in later seasons), HotD covers large swaths of time in the Targaryen dynasty by skipping uneventful periods between installments. Whether the next episode takes place three months or three years after the last, the series only shows the events that hold the most significance leading up to the epic conflict, the Dance of the Dragons.

That being said, it is extremely easy to get confused along the way, especially when the show does a jump that involves recasting two of the main cast. Read on for our breakdown of the big plot developments between each of Season 1's major time jumps leading up to the jam-packed finale (which gets its own in-depth explainer here).

The Show Begins (Episodes 1-2)

Daemon loses his place as heir.

When House of the Dragon starts, King Viserys' younger brother Daemon is his appointed heir, though many members of the Small Council (especially the current Hand of the King Otto Hightower) disagree with his style of leadership. That simmering conflict comes to a head after the death of Viserys' wife Aemma during childbirth, with their son Baelon only living for a short while. Hightower reports to Viserys that Daemon publicly called the deceased infant "prince for a day," and Viserys sends his brother away from court. He also decides to name his sole living child, his daughter Rhaenyra, as heir in an official ceremony.

After he loses his place as successor, Daemon has a short rebellious demonstration, stealing a dragon egg and taking the Targaryen ancestral home of Dragonstone in episode 2. Rhaenyra quickly takes the egg and the castle back (it technically belongs to her as the Targaryen heir), after which Daemon decides to join Lord Corlys Valeryon in his fight to take the Stepstones back from the Triarchy, which is led by factually-named Drahar the Crabfeeder. Upon their victory, Daemon returns to court and seems to be welcomed with open arms...before he makes a pass at Rhaenyra as his second wife. He's thrown out again, returning to the Vale long enough to kill his first wife, Lady Rhea Royce, but he returns for Rhaenyra's wedding, where he meets and shows interest in Laena Velaryon.

Alicent marries King Viserys.

Alicent Hightower starts out the show as a young lady and best friend to Princess Rhaenyra. She's also the daughter of Otto Hightower, who has his own ambitions besides being Hand of the King. He wants to solidify his power over the throne, so following the death of Queen Aemma, he sends Alicent to comfort King Viserys. Though the king would make the strongest alliance by marrying Laena Velaryon (who is literally 12 at the time), Viserys decides to marry Alicent instead, making her queen and throwing a becoming-my-stepmother-sized wrench in Rhaenyra and Alicent's friendship.

Three Years Later (Episode 3-5)

Rhaenyra and Alicent's feud begins.

Episode 3 takes place at least three years after Viserys decides to marry Alicent; the young girl is now a queen with one son, and pregnant with another. Alicent's father Otto is pressing for toddler Aegon to replace Rhaenyra as heir, but Alicent isn't as convinced as her father about the switch. (The kid is younger than two; the conversation can happen at a later date.)

Everything changes for Alicent following Rhaenyra and Daemon's near-hookup in episode 4. Rhaenyra swears on her mother's life that nothing happened between her and her uncle (which is technically only half a lie?) and that she's still a maiden (a full lie, cause she hooked up with Ser Criston Cole the same night). Ser Cole admits as much to Alicent in episode 5, meaning that the princess lied to her, a lie which caused her father to lose his place as Hand of the King. After all this, Alicent forms a deep resentment towards Rhaenyra, as well as a couple of allies in Master-of-Whispers-wannabe Larys Strong (who told her about Rhaenyra's secret Plan-B potion) and Ser Cole.

Rhaenyra marries Laenor Valeryan.

Though Rhaenyra was named heir in the premiere, her journey over the first five episodes is less about learning how to rule and more about solidifying her lineage through marriage. Viserys first allows her to chose her own husband, but after Rhaenyra and Daemon's near-hookup in Episode 4, a furious Viserys makes her marry for the strongest alliance. She'll make the match he snubbed in favor of Alicent years ago, marrying the son of House Velaryon, Lord Laenor. It's not a love match, as Laenor is gay and has a boyfriend, but Rhaenyra offers that they can have their own romantic relationships outside of the marriage.

Rhaenyra and Laenor's Episode 5 wedding is supposed to be a multi-day event of feasts and festivals, but it gets cut short when a freshly-rejected and jealous Criston Cole straight-up murders Laenor's boyfriend Joffrey. After the fight, with the blood still on the floor of the Great Hall, Rhaenyra and Laenor are married as the man is still sobbing over his murdered lover, ending this leg of HotD.

Ten Years Later (Episodes 6-7)

Rhaenyra gives birth to her third son.

Episode 6 takes place at least ten years later, with Rhaenyra and Alicent now played by older actors (Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke). It begins with Rhaenyra giving birth to her third son...and immediately being summoned to bring the baby to the queen. The cruel order shows how strained the relationship between the two former friends has become, but there's another purpose, which we'll get to in a bit.

For now, an update on the Targaryen/Velaryon/Hightower family trees. Since marrying Laenor a decade earlier, Rhaenyra has given birth to three sons: eldest Jacaerys, middle Lucerys, and fresh-out-the-womb Joffrey (who Laenor names afrter his late love). All three sons have surprising dark, curly hair, considering that both Rhaenyra and Laenor are nautrally platinum blonde.

Meanwhile, Viserys and Alicent are parents to teenage Aegon, middle child Helaena, and younger son Aemond. Aegon is a bit of a dick and enjoys...pleasuring himself...out of one of the windows of the Red Keep, which is troubling considering he's Rhaenyra's strongest challenger as heir.

As for Daemon, he married Laena Velaryon after they first flirted at Rhaenyra and Laenor's wedding. They have twin daughters, Baela and Rhaena Velaryon (who do sport the parents' platinum hair, and look awfully different than their cousins Jacaerys and Lucerys).

Alicent is still pissed at Rhaenyra.

A decade of beef between Alicent and Rhaenyra has simmered, though it seems more one-sided based on Alicent's obsession with Rhaenyra's children. It turns out that the queen summoned her stepdaughter immediately postt-childbirth so she could see that the baby's little newborn hair is also brunette. Since Jace, Luke, and little Joff look nothing like Laenor, it's pretty obvious that their father is actually Ser Harwin Strong, who allegedly is Rhaenyra's secret lover.

While Alicent is now powerful enough to directly antagonize Rhaenyra, even speaking with Viserys about her paternity suspicions, the king is either oblivious or is just letting his daughter live her life. Everything that Rhaenyra gets away with enrages Alicent, and when the court starts whispering more loudly about Rhae and Harwin's affair, the queen gets more and more angry. At this point, she's also squarely on Team Aegon for heir, in a large part because that's her best chance to keep her power (and her life), which would likely be forfeit if Rhaenyra ever takes the throne.

Ser Harwin Strong dies.

In Episode 6, everything comes to a head with the question of Rhaenyra's sons' parentage. Ser Criston, who's solidly on Team Alicent and Aegon, goads Ser Harwin into a public fight over Jace and Luke, which adds another mark to the "Harwin's actually their dad" tally. Following the fight, Harwin loses his position as Commander of the City Watch, and his father, current Hand of the King Lyonel Strong, orders him to go back to the family's ancestral home, Harrenhaal, to let the scandal die out.

Unfortunately, Harwin and Lyonel die in a fire soon after arriving at Harrenhaal. The castle has always been considered cursed, so the tragedy could be assumed as fate, but it was actually a plot with an indirect connection to Alicent. Since she and Harwin's younger brother Larys Strong first allied in episode 5, he's become her confidant, and the schemer took her woes about Harwin and Rhaenyra as some sort of coded instruction. He set up the fire to kill his own brother and father, so Harwin can no longer be an embarrassment to the crown, and Alicent's father Otto could possibly return to his place as Hand of the King. The deaths open up a path for Alicent and Larys to increase their power, and we'll likely see how that goes in Episode 7.

Laena Velaryon dies.

Another fan-favorite who met a tragic fate this episode is Laena Velaryon, Daemon's wife and dragon-rider to the massive Vhagar. The couple and their two daughters have been living in the East as guests of Pentos' Prince Reggio Haratis for many years. Though Daemon seems settled and calm, Laena thinks he's moody and depressed, and she wants to return to her own ancestral seat Driftmark in Westeros, where they can raise their daughters to be strong and she can have the life and death of a dragon-rider.

Their fates change very soon, as Laena beings labor for their third child. Eventually the maester tells Daemon that the baby won't come out, and that the only way forward to save the child is an emergency C-section. Daemon (and the audience) remembers how that turned out for Queen Aemma, and he refuses to have Laena be tortured that way. However, without that C-section, Laena will likely still die a painful death due to septic infection.

In the end, Laena takes matters into her own hands, leaving her birthing chamber and walking out to where her beloved dragon rests on the beach. She chooses to die by dracarys, ordering Vhagar to set her on fire, and after some horrified hesitation, the dragon puts his rider out of her misery. We wish we could have spent more time with Laena, but she lives through Daemon and her daughters, who we'll see grow up in later episodes. (Also, both Daemon and Rhaenyra are emotionally single now, so we'll see how that goes.)

Aemond claims Vhagar.

Episode 7 sees the entire family converging in King's Landing for Laena's funeral, with Daemon and Rhaenyra reuniting after years. (Otto Hightower is also back as Hand of the King.) The Velaryons also bring Vhagar to the Red Keep, as the dragon's now riderless and mourning. After the ceremony, Alicent's thirdborn Aemond approaches the largest living dragon to bond with it, and succeeds after a dangerous first ride.

The claiming was chosen by both Aemond and Vhagar, but it's also an insult to Laena's daughters, as they don't get the chance to bond before Aemond sneaks over to Vhagar in the middle of the night. When Jacerys, Lucerys, Baela, and Rhaena come out to confront the prince, he instigates a fight that ends with Luke cutting out Aemond's eye.

After the scuffle, Alicent is furious and demands a literal eye for an eye. The long-simmering rage between her and Rhaenyra finally comes to the surface, and Viserys is directly confronted with the rumors about Jace, Luke, and Joffrey's parentage, but he doesn't want to punish his grandchildren, telling everyone to let bygones be bygones. Alicent flies into a rage and attacks Rhaenyra with the king's dagger, though she's stopped before she can draw blood.

Rhaenyra marries Daemon.

Alicent's attack draws a line between the two women's allegiances, which will become known as the Greens (Team Alicent) and the Blacks (Team Rhaenyra). In the aftermath, Rhaenyra is sure that the upcoming succession after Viserys' death will devolve into a war between her own claim and Aegon's. She and Daemon had already reunited and consummated their will-they-or-won't-they relationship before the kids' fight, but it's not until after that Rhaenyra asks Daemon to marry her and solidify their branch of the family tree. (Targaryens often inter-marry to keep the family bloodline strong; for example, Aegon is betrothed to his own sister Helaena).

The one snag with their alliance/love marriage is the pesky issue of Rhaenyra's first husband. Luckily, they come up with a plan that only includes minimal bloodshed! Laenor and his lover Qarl fake a brawl that ends in his parents Corlys and Rhaenys finding his "corpse." Then the couple escape King's Landing by boat, headed far, far away from the upcoming war. (A Thrones universe happy ending!)

Six Years Later (Episodes 8-9)

Lucerys is pronounced heir of Driftmark.

Episode 8 takes place six years after Laena's funeral, and another Velaryon life is in danger. Corlys has been injured at sea, and will need an heir to assume his duties as Lord of Driftmark. The names in contention are his grandson Lucerys and his brother  Vaemond, who doesn't want his family's legacy to go to a bastard. Rhaenys, Rhaenyra, Daemon, and the rest of the family all converge on King's Landing again, where Alicent and Otto already plan to give the seat to Vaemond.

Meanwhile, Viserys is on death's door and Alicent and Otto are basically ruling in his stead. (Aegon takes no interest in politics, instead running around being the worst.) Rhaenyra and Daemon arrive at King's Landing to no welcome, but they are able to visit Viserys' room and introduce him to their two sons, Aegon and Viserys (yes, keeping track of the names is going to get harder). The father and daughter also discusses Aegon the Conquerer's Song of Ice and Fire, a prophecy passed down from king to king that the Seven Kingdoms must be united to battle against the coming long winter (basically the first king of Westeros prophesied the events of Game of Thrones).

The actual naming of the Driftmark heir is upset when Viserys, who is literally rotting alive, gathers the strength to proceed over the audience where each side argues their case. After making it onto the Iron Throne with an assist from Daemon, he names Lucerys the rightful heir, and Vaemond goes off, finally saying aloud that Jace and Luke are bastards. His head is promptly removed from his body by Daemon, which is allowed since insulting the heir Rhaenyra like that is basically treason anyway. 

Viserys dies (and a massive misunderstanding begins).

The family later gathers for a feast, with Viserys wanting everyone to just get along again. Alicent and Rhaenyra, the dutiful wife and daughter, are actually pretty cordial and hint that there may be some remains of friendship buried deep down. There's even a bit of joy when it's announced that Jace and Luke will marry Baela and Rhaena, respectively. (Both the couples seem happy about it, at least). Of course, Aegon and Aemond won't let the evening go by without insulting Jace and Luke with the Strong rumors, though the evening ends without bloodshed.

That evening, Viserys is back in his bed and obviously hallucinating when he starts talking about the Song of Ice and Fire to Alicent, mistaking her for Rhaenyra. In his mutterings, he mentions the Prince That Was Promised (yes, the one that ends up being Jon Snow) saying that it will be Aegon. Alicent, not knowing the prophecy (or even that Rhaenyra has another kid named Aegon, I think), jumps on the chance that Viserys is saying that his son Aegon could be king. He also tells her, "It’s you, you must do this," thinking that he is speaking to Rhaenyra. So, with a misunderstanding from the ramblings of a dying man, Viserys passes and the Dance of the Dragons begins.

Alicent's son Aegon is crowned king.

In Episode 9, immediately after Viserys' death, Alicent and Otto call the Small Council together, and it turns out they already had a plan to install Aegon as king (minus Lord Beesbury, who argues for Rhaenyra and is immediately killed by Ser Criston Cole). The only problem is that Aegon is missing, and most of the episode is spent on a hunt to find the king that doesn't even want to be king in the streets of King's Landing. Otto and Alicent both send out teams without telling the other, and Otto wins with the help of the White Worm (a.k.a. Mysaria, who seems to be thriving!). 

Alicent and Otto both want Aegon on the throne, but they reach a point of contention when it comes to killing Rhaenyra. Alicent doesn't want to command her death, citing an aversion for murder that could be residual loyalty to either Viserys or Rhaenyra herself. Either way, she implores Aegon not to command his sister's death, while also convincing him that his father really wished for the boy to assume the throne with his dying words. (Again, he definitely didn't.)

The episode ends with Aegon's coronation, at the Dragonpit in front of a crowd of common folk. He's crowned by the new Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Cole, and is supported by his mother and grandfather, his literal sister-wife Helaena, and his brother Aemond, who thinks he himself would be a much better king. Aegon seems to be into the crowd's praise, but the pageantry quickly ends with a reminder that war is coming.

Rhaenys aligns with the Blacks.

While the scramble to crown Aegon is on, Rhaenys is imprisoned in her room in the Red Keep. It's a castle-wide policy, as the Greens can't let any word of Viserys' death reach Rhaenyra. Alicent offers Rhaenys her freedom and Dragonstone if she aligns with their side, but Rhaenys refuses, partly out of honor and partly she was once in Rhaenyra's shoes as "the Queen Who Never Was." 

On the eve of Aegon's coronation, Rhaenys is freed from her chambers by one of the Cargyll twins, who recognizes that the prince isn't Viserys' named heir. They get separated while trying to escape King's Landing, and Rhaenys gets swept into the crowds as they're corralled towards the coronation. Now that she's in the Dragonpit, she heads under the chamber to free Meleys, and the pair interrupt the coronation by erupting through the floor. Meleys bellows at the new king, but instead of yelling dracarys, Rhaenys stays silent as she flies away, heading to tell Rhaenyra that the war is on.

Spoilers for House of the Dragon seasons 1 and 2 ahead. The legendary Targaryen civil war finally begins in House of the Dragon season 2. HBO's fantasy hit, the Game of Thrones prequel based on the George R.R. Martin novel Fire and Blood, depicts an earlier time in the Targaryen family dynasty when the strongest family in Westeros split into two factions battling over the Iron Throne. On one side we have King Viserys I's named heir Rhaenyra (played by Emma D'Arcy), the first woman to get this close to the crown. On the other, we have the king's wife Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and her son Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney), the oldest living male descendant.

HotD season 1 was a time-jumping prologue to the epic conflict, illustrating how Alicent and Rhaenyra went from best friends to strained enemies as tension built amid discussions of succession and the inevitable fighting among their heirs. After Viserys (Paddy Considine) died in episode 8, both opposing sides, known as the Greens and the Blacks, crowned their rightful monarchs of Westeros, setting off a war that set family member against family member, and dragon against dragon.

Read on for our tally of who falls on each side of the conflict as of the end of season 2, which side has the most dragons, and why they're called the Greens and the Blacks in the first place.

Why are they called the Greens and the Blacks in 'House of the Dragon?'

The conflict may as well be Team Alicent vs. Team Rhaenyra, but in House of the Dragon, the sides are known by the subtler designations of the Greens and the Blacks. The Greens' name comes from a standout moment in HotD season 1, episode 5, where Alicent arrives late to Rhaenyra's wedding, wearing a green dress. The pair's friendship had taken its final blow that episode; Rhaenyra had lied to Alicent about losing her virginity, and Alicent's father Otto (Rhys Ifans) had lost his position as Hand of the King for "falsely" accusing that Rhaenyra had been "sullied." Alicent's grand entrance signaled the shift in her alliances, from being the perfect wife and stepmother dressed in the Targaryen colors of black and red to focusing more on her self-interests and wearing her Hightower family color of green.

For viewers who can't list off the colors of the noble houses of Westeros (i.e. most of us), Ser Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) also explained the strength of Hightower green. He says the light at the top of the Hightower in Old Town, the seat of Alicent’s family, glows green to symbolize war. The color change shows that Alicent is ready to protect herself and go to war with Rhaenyra if needed. As the princess gives birth to more brunette sons over the next decade, that resentment only grows stronger.

As for where the name of the Blacks comes from, black is one of the traditional House Targaryen colors, from their sigil having a red dragon on a black background.

In the source material, the name makes even more sense. While Alicent's green dress moment happens at Rhaenyra's wedding in the series, in the original book, it happens at her and Viserys' fifth wedding anniversary. Rhaenyra was wearing a black and red dress at the time, thus her side became known as the Blacks. So both of the names come from the women's symbolic fashion choices.

Who are on Alicent's side with the Greens in 'House of the Dragon?'

The center of the Greens is Alicent and her children: Aegon, Aemond (Ewan Mitchell), Helaena (Phia Saban), and the yet-to-be-seen Daeron (Henry Ashton). Their side of the succession battle supports Aegon as the true heir since he's the king's firstborn son and many lords of Westeros expected Viserys to name him as heir as early as his second birthday. Instead, Viserys steadfastly supported Rhaenyra as his heir until his death, even turning a blind eye to her baby daddy rumors. However, once he died, Otto and Alicent quickly worked to her crown firstborn son Aegon as king before news of Viserys' death could even reach Rhaenyra at Dragonstone.

Fast forward to the end of season 2, and just a few months of war has seen drastic changes to the Greens. Aegon is initially an impatient and ignorant king, and he fires his grandfather Otto as Hand of the King, giving the role to Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) instead. Then, in the Battle of Rook's Rest, Aegon was severely wounded by his brother Aemond, who was named the interim ruler and Protector of the Realm as Aegon recovered. In the season 2 finale, Aegon fled King's Landing with Larys Strong, fearing that Aemond or Rhaenyra would kill him if he were a sitting duck in the capital.

Outside of the Red Keep, the Greens have allied with House Hightower, House Lannister, House Baratheon, and House Tyrell, counting these Great Houses and their vassals among their army. In the season 2 finale, Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall) and the Triarchy strike a deal to create, an alliance of three Free Cities, to fight for the Greens at sea.

On the dragon front, the Greens have held the upper hand with Vhaghar, the largest living dragon whom Aemond rides into battle. However, with Sunfyre presumed dead after Rook's Rest and Helaena refusing to ride Dreamfyre into battle, the Greens only really have Vhaghar and Tessarion, Daeron's young dragon, to go up against the Blacks' many new dragons.

Who are on Rhaenyra's side with the Blacks in 'House of the Dragon?'

Meanwhile, the Blacks' line of succession includes Rhaenyra and her sons Jacaerys (Harry Collett), Joffrey (Oscar Eskinkanzi), Aegon (Jake and Rory Heard), and Viserys. Rhaenyra's eldest sons Jace and Joffrey were sired by the late Harwin Strong (Ryan Corr). Her two youngest are hers with her uncle/husband Daemon (Matt Smith), who she married in season 1 out of love and strategic alliance. Of course, the pair had both been married before, so Rhaenyra also gained two step-children: Baela (Bethany Antonia) and Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell), whose mother was the late Laena Velaryon.

In season 2, Rhaenyra also had an ally in Rhaenys (Eve Best), Viserys' cousin known as "The Queen Who Never Was." She and her husband, Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), offered her counsel and support.

Ultimately, she met her demise in battle when Aemond killed her and her dragon Meleys at Rook's Rest. Following Rhaenys' death, Corlys remained loyal to Rhaenyra and became the Hand of the Queen. The Sea Snake also leads one of Westeros's largest navies, giving the Blacks an advantage at sea (for now).

The Blacks' allies include House Velaryon (as mentioned), House Stark (woo!), House Arryn, and the smaller houses represented among the members of the Queen's Council. Throughout season 2, Daemon reunited the fractured Crownlands to unite all of them on the side of the Blacks, giving Rhaenyra a sizable army closer to King's Landing. Rhaenyra also has a useful ally in her Master of Whispers, Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno). Though Otto forced her to flee King's Landing, the White Worm still has serious connections in the city and was integral in the Blacks' biggest win of season 2.

In season 2, episode 9, Rhaenyra made a controversial decision that turned the tide of the war. After Seasmoke (the dragon of her "deceased" husband Laenor, who is hopefully still very much alive out there somewhere) claimed Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty) as his rider, the Queen recruited dozens of Targaryen bastard children from King's Landing in search of dragonseeds—a.k.a. potential dragonriders. At the end of the brutal, fiery Sowing of the Seeds, Rhaenyra found two new dragonriders: Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew), who claimed the second-largest dragon Vermithor, and Ulf the White (Tom Bennett), who bonded with Silverwing. With these three new riders, the Blacks have seven battle-ready dragons (or eight, if Rhaena succeeds in claiming Sheepstealer) to go up against the Greens' three max (Vhaghar, Tessarion, and potentially Dreamfyre or Sunfyre).

Who is undeclared in the Targaryen civil war in 'House of the Dragon?'

By the end of House of the Dragon season 2, most of the Great Houses of Westeros chose sides, but not every house familiar to GoT fans has been mentioned. House Greyjoy has a small arc in Fire & Blood, but they may have been left on the cutting room floor for the TV adaptation. However, one notable house that will remain undeclared throughout the Dance of the Dragons: House Martell of Dorne. This is mostly because Dorne isn't even a part of Westeros at this point in history; the southern region won't become a part of the Seven Kingdoms until roughly 68 years after the Dance of the Dragons set off.

Which dragons are Greens or Blacks in 'House of the Dragon?'

For anyone keeping a dragon tally as the civil war begins, there are currently 14 living dragons that have been introduced in House of the Dragon. The Blacks currently have the larger number of battle-ready dragons with seven: Syrax (bonded to Rhaenyra), Caraxes (Daemon), Vermax (Jacaerys), Moondancer (Baela), Seasmoke (Addam of Hull), Vermithor (Hugh Hammer) and Silverwing (Ulf the White). As of the season 2 finale, we don't know if Rhaena has bonded with Sheepstealer, but if so the tally goes up to eight. They also have Tyraxes (Joffrey) and Stormcloud (baby Aegon), who are too young to ride, and four dragon eggs, but odds are none will grow fast enough to join the war.

The Greens only have three dragons as of the end of season 2: Vhaghar, Tessarion, and Dreamfyre (still holding out hope that Sunfyre's alive tho!). Aemond and crew have had the upper hand so far, thanks to Vhaghar being massive and many of the Blacks' dragons being relatively small. (Caraxes, the Blacks' largest dragon at the start of season 2, is only half of Vhaghar's size.) However, now that big boy Vermithor and two new dragons are in play, even Aemond is intimidated by the show of force.

There are several more factors to consider than just the dragons, but heading into season 3, the Blacks have an advantage. However, the winds of war may shift once the battles really begin.

HBO's Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon has finally arrived, welcoming fantasy fans to Westeros nearly two centuries before Daenerys Targaryen was born. Dany's Targaryen ancestors are at the height of their power and influence, with the only threat coming from the heir issue. When King Viserys I names his daughter Rhaenyra as his heir, going against all sexist conventions, it sets the stage for an all-out Targaryen civil war, with Rhaenyra on one side and her friend-turned-foe Alicent Hightower on the other.

Like Thrones, HotD is brimming with talented actors, from industry veterans, to newcomers, to a former Prince Philip. Read on for our guide, welcoming the show's sprawling cast.

House Targaryen

Milly Alcock as Young Princess Rhaenyra

The heart of House of the Dragon lies with Rhaenyra, the rebellious crown princess and dragonrider. Though she's expected to raise heirs rather than be one, she's also a growing tactician who has her own ambition for the throne. When her father breaks centuries of tradition and names her as heir, it precedes a clash for the crown that sets off a Targaryen civil war.

The first season of the prequel includes a time jump, with young Rhaenyra played by Australian actress Alcock. She's starred in several Australian drama series, and received the Casting Guild of Australia's Rising Star Award in 2018.

Emma D'Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra

Playing adult Rhaenyra is D'Arcy, a London-born film and stage actor who is nonbinary and uses gender-neutral pronouns. They've previously appeared in the Prime Video action series Hanna, the British comedy/horror Truth Seekers, and the 2020 film Misbehaviour.

Paddy Considine as King Viserys I

King Viserys succeeded his grandfather Jaehaerys on the throne, having been voted in during The Great Council at Harrenhal. He's ruled over a period of peace and during the height of the Targaryens' power, but he only has one child and no male heir, so that period of prosperity will likely be thrown into chaos with his death.

Considine is a British actor and director who's best known for a series of indie films in the 'oos. Stateside, he's best known for playing Simon Ross in The Bourne Ultimatum, Claude Bolton in the HBO miniseries The Outsider, and Father John Hughes in season 3 of Peaky Blinders. He's also part of a rock band called Riding the Low.

Matt Smith as Prince Daemon

Viserys' younger brother Daemon is the presumed heir to the throne at the start of the series, though his hostile personality and antics leave him with very few allies at court. He's also a talented warrior and dragonrider, who thinks he'd be a better ruler than his brother.

House of the Dragon is the latest of Smith's roles in high-profile TV series. After working as a stage actor, he was catapulted to international fame while playing the Eleventh Doctor in the long-running sci-fi series Doctor Who. He then went on to play Prince Philip in the first two seasons of Netflix's The Crown. He's also appeared in the films Terminator Genisys (alongside his Thrones descendant Emilia Clarke), Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Last Night in Soho, and Morbius.

Sian Brooke as Queen Aemma

Viserys' wife and Rhaenyra's mother Aemma (who deserved so much better) is played by Brooke, a British actress who trained with the National Youth Theatre and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She's best known for playing Elizabeth in the fourth season of Sherlock, Deidre Young in Prime Video's Good Omens, and Karen in the Apple TV+ series Trying.

House Hightower

Emily Carey as Young Alicent Hightower

Alicent is the daughter of Hand of the King Otto Hightower, who has grown up in the Red Keep alongside most of the royal family, including her close friend Rhaenyra. Though the girls are besties at the start of the series, the trailer hints that they'll be at odds as adults (probably because of the building connection between Alicent and Viserys).

London-born actress and model Carey made her stage debut when she was nine, landing roles in UK productions of Shrek the Musical and The Sound of Music. She later played the child versions of Diana in 2017's Wonder Woman and Lara in 2018's Tomb Raider.

Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower

Playing Alicent after the time jump is English actor Olivia Cooke, who's best known for playing Emma Decody in the Psycho prequel series Bates Motel. She also starred in the films Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl; Ready Player One; Thoroughbreds; and Sound of Metal.

Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower

Hightower has served as Hand of the King for two Targaryens, advising Viserys as he did his grandfather, King Jaehaerys. He's competent and wise though he has two hidden agendas: his dislike of Daemon, and his desire to raise his family's power (hence him sending his daughter Alicent to comfort the widowed King).

Welsh actor Ifans probably appeared in at least one of your favorite films or shows since the '90s. His stacked resume includes portraying Spike in Notting Hill, Xenophilius Lovegood in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, and Mycroft Holmes in CBS' Elementary. He also recently reprised his 2012 role as Spider-Man villain Dr. Curt Conners, a.k.a. The Lizard, in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

House Velaryon

Steve Touissant as Lord Corlys Velaryon

Lord Corlys, also known as the Sea Snake, is Viserys' Master of Ships and head of the Royal Fleet, as well as the king's cousin by marriage. He's the head of House Valeryon, a powerful house that's richer than the Lannisters, has the biggest fleet among the houses, and has a Valyrian bloodline as old as House Targaryen. Along with heading the second most powerful house, Corlys is still bitter about the realm rejecting his wife Rhaenys for queen years ago.

Barbadian-British actor Touissant has been a prolific actor since the '90s, and has appeared in the film Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, the HBO Max miniseries It's A Sin, and the Prime Video series Fortitude and Small Axe. Fun fact: before landing a main role on House of the Dragon, Touissant auditioned for Thrones several times throughout its run. 

Eve Best as Rhaenys Velaryon

King Viserys' cousin Rhaenys is a Targaryen princess and dragonrider, who married Lord Corlys and has two children with him, Laena and Laenor. She was a contender for the crown following King Jaehaerys' death, and had a stronger claim than Viserys, but since she was a woman she was passed over. She's now known as "the Queen Who Never Was," though her son Laenor can be a serious contender for the throne following Viserys' death.

Best is a London-born film, TV, and stage actor who trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She's best known for playing Dr. Eleanor O'Hara in Showtime's Nurse Jackie, Wallis Simpson in the Oscar-winning film The King's Speech, and Headmistress Dowling in Netflix's Fate: The Winx Saga. She's also received two Tony nominations and a Drama Desk Award for her work on Broadway.

Matt Carver and Theo Nate as Young Laenor Velaryon

Young Laenor Velaryon is Corlys and Rhaenys' first-born son and heir to Driftmark. We meet the young noble as he attends events with his family, before he serves as a soldier during his father and Daemon's conquest of the Stepstones, with the help of his dragon, Seasmoke. He is then betrothed to Rhaenyra, though the two agree to have their own lives within the marriage, as Laenor is gay.

Laenor is played by Carver at young age and Nate (seen above) as a teenager. Carver previously appeared on two episodes of Doctor Who in 2020. Nate made his television debut on the BBC series Time, with HotD as his first multi-episode role.

John Macmillian as Laenor Velaryon

Following the time jump, Laenor is still married to Rhaenyra and stays by her side as they welcome their third child (though he's probably not the father to any of their children). He names the baby Joffrey, after his lover who died at their wedding feast. Like Rhaenyra, he has had his own affairs during the marriage, while still being a supportive husband and father.

Macmillian is a British actor and writer who has a prolific career across the stage and screen. He began his film career with appearances in Hollywood films including Hanna, The Dark Knight Rises, World War Z, and Maleficent. He also appeared in comedy TV shows including Michaela Coel's series Chewing Gum and the British series Back.

Nova Foueillis-Mose and Savannah Steyn as Young Laena Velaryon

The daughter of Corlys and Rhaenys, Laena is introduced as a 12-year-old noble (and potential bride for King Viserys) early in the show. She's later present at the wedding of her brother Laenor and Rhaenyra, where she gets flirty with Daemon. She's played by Foueillis-Mose at age 12 and Steyn (seen above) at age 15.

House of the Dragon is Foueillis-Mose's first-ever screen role, and not much is known about the child actress. Steyn previously starred in the British sci-fi series Intergalactic, and also appeared in the 2019 horror flick Crawl.

Nanna Blondell as Laena Velaryon

After the 10-year time jump, Laena is married to Daemon and mother to two twin girls, Baela and Rhaena. She's also a fierce dragonrider and is bonded to the oldest and largest dragon in Westeros, Vhagar. When we meet her in episode 6, she's expecting her third child and wants to return to her ancestral home Driftmark, and most of all she wants to live and die as a dragonrider.

Blondell was born in Sweden and worked in Swedish television and as a VJ for MTV Sweden early in her career. She's best known for her role in Marvel's Black Widow, and she hosts a podcast where she highlights non-white Swedish women, called Fenomenala kvinnor (Phenomenal Women).

House Strong

Gavin Spokes as Lord Lyonel Strong

The patriarch of House Strong of Harrenhal, Lord Strong serves as the Master of Laws of King Viserys' council. He gives the king wise advice on matters, and later assumes the role of Hand of the King after Lord Hightower loses his position. He serves as Hand for a century, until he runs afoul of the rumors regarding his son Harwin and Princess Rhaenyra.

Spokes is an English screen and stage actor who has starred in several shows including the soap opera Casualty and the miniseries The Ipcress File. After HotD, he's set to appear in the third Magic Mike movie, Magic Mike's Last Dance.

Ryan Corr as Ser Harwin Strong

Known as the strongest man in the Seven Kingdoms, Harwin "Breakbones" Strong is heir to Harrenhal and a member of the City Watch. Though he doesn't join the suitors wishing to become Rhaenyra's husband, the pair do have a couple of encounters that build to an affair in the time period between episodes 5 and 6. Over the decade, he becomes Lord Commander of the City Watch and the assumed father of Rhaenyra's three sons. 

Born in Melbourne, Australia, Corr began his acting career as a teenager in 2003 and has been nominated for several Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (AACTA Awards). He previously appeared in the 2016 film Hacksaw Ridge, 2018's Mary Magdalene, and the BBC series The Secrets She Keeps.

Matthew Needham as Lord Larys Strong

The second son of House Strong is often called the Clubfoot because of his physical birth defect, and he uses a cane to walk on his twisted right foot. Though he's very cunning, he's often looked down on, with his older brother Harwin as his fierce protector. He's also very ambitious, forming an allyship with Alicent Hightower and only revealing his ruthlessness after the ten-year time jump.

UK actor Needham got his start on the British hospital soap Casualty and also appeared in productions staged at the Shakespeare's Globe theater. He previously appeared in the BBC series Sherlock, HBO's Chernobyl, PBS's Sandition, and the BBC's Doctor Who.

Rhaenyra's Children

Leo Hart as Young Jacaerys Velaryon

Rhaenyra and Laenor's eldest son Jace (seen right in the image above with his brother Luke, left) is second in line for the throne, and when we meet him as a child, he's already bonded with a dragon and can beat his preteen uncle in a sword battle. He does have to deal with the rumors of his alleged parentage. House of the Dragon is child actor Hart's first television role, after previously appearing in the short film Hopscotch.

Harry Collett as Prince Jacaerys Velaryon

When we meet him again as a teenager, Jace is a wise prince preparing himself as a future leader. Though he's still the subject of "Strong" taunting, he tries to stay above the fray.

Collett got his star as a child actor, and starred alongside his later Dragon co-star Emily Carey in the "Baby, It's Cold Outside" music video. He also appeared in the Christopher Nolan film Dunkirk, and has also had a recurring role on the British soap Casualty since 2017.

Harvey Sadler as Young Lucerys Velaryon, and Elliot Grihault as Prince Lucerys Velaryon

Jace's shy younger brother Luke is played by Sadler in episodes 6 and 7 and Grihault (seen center in brown cloak) in later installments. While House of the Dragon is Grihault's first credit, child actor Sadler previously appeared on the Apple TV+ comedy Trying.

Alicent's Children

Ty Tennant as Young Aegon Targaryen

Alicent's firstborn Aegon has been a troublemaker since he was young, and bullied both his nephews Jace and Luke and his younger brother Aemond. He's also Rhaenyra's biggest challenge to the throne as Viserys' firstborn son.

Tennant is a legacy in the world of British fantasy acting; his mother is longtime actor Georgia Tennant and his father is David Tennant, who played the 10th iteration of Doctor Who (and Kilgrave on the first season of Marvel's Jessica Jones). The young actor previously acted in the 2019 biopic Tolkien and the Epix adaptation of War of the Worlds.

Tom Glynn-Carney as Prince Aegon Targaryen

Six years later in episode 8, Aegon is still a menace, though he's now married to his younger sister Helaena (following Targaryen customs). He's also now played by Glynn-Carney, whose credits include Dunkirk, the Netflix film The King, and the Prime Video miniseries The Last Post. 

Fun fact: House of the Dragon is his and Tennant's second time playing the same character. Tennant played young Christopher Wiseman in 2019's Tolkien, while Glynn-Carney played the character as an adult.

Evie Allen as Young Helaena Targaryen, Phia Saban as Princess Helaena Targaryen

Alicent and Viserys' second-born Helaena is a quiet, sensitive girl who cares for her bug collection. She also has a habit talking to herself, saying phrases that sound a lot like prophecies. House of the Dragon is both Allen and Saban's second acting credit. Allen previously appeared in the film Lost in London, while Saban (seen above) acted in the fifth season of the Netflix Viking epic The Last Kingdom.

Leo Ashton as Young Aemond Targaryen

When he was younger, Alicent and Viserys' youngest son was a late bloomer, as the only one of his siblings who had yet to bond with a dragon. He eventually claims the largest living dragon in Westeros, though he has to pay a price. Ashton made his debut on the 2018 historical film Peterloo, and later acted in the TV series Deep Water, The Bay, and Red Rose.

Ewan Mitchell as Prince Aemond Targaryen

Six years after he loses his eye, Aemond has become a practiced warrior and a strong antagonist to his nephews Jace and Luke, with his style looking awfully similar to his uncle Daemon. Mitchell previously appeared in the A24 film High Life and the TV series The Halycon and World on Fire, though he's best known for playing Osferth in The Last Kingdom.

Daemon's Children

Shani Smethurst as Young Baela Targaryen, Eva Ossei-Gerning as Young Rhaena Targaryen

Baela and Rhaena are the daughters of Daemon and Laena Velaryon, born during the 10 year time jump before episode 6. In their younger timeline, they're played by Smethurst (seen left) and Ossei-Gerning (right). HotD is Smethurst's first major role, though she was previously credited in a 2018 screen adaptation of Twelfth Night. Ossei-Gerning previously starred in the BBC web series My Petsaurus, and the British series The Snow Spider.

Bethany Antonia as Baela Targaryen

Baela is the elder daughter of Daemon and Laena. She's described in the books as wild and quick to anger, similar to her father. In the show, she becomes her grandmother Rhaenys' ward after her mother's death. Antonia (seen left above) was born in Birmingham, England, and previously appeared on the Netflix shows Get Even and Stay Close.

Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena Targaryen

Baela's younger sister Rhaena grew up with Daemon on Dragonstone after her mother's death, and in the books she loves dancing while Baela loves riding her dragon. House of the Dragon is Campbell's (seen right above) first major role, though she previously appeared on the TV show Midsommar Murders and in the TV movie The Last Dragonslayer.

Everyone Else

Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole

Ser Criston is the Dornish common-born son of the Steward of Blackhaven, who arrives in King's Landing with nothing but his skill with a sword. As the season goes on, he'll get much closer to young Rhaenyra.

British actor Frankel studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, before making his film debut alongside Thrones alum Emilia Clarke in the 2019 film Last Christmas. He's also appeared the BBC miniseries The Serpent and the 2019 NYPD Blue reboot.

Graham McTavish as Ser Harrold Westerling

Ser Westerling is one of the longest serving members of the Kingsguard, having joined during King Jaehaerys' rule. He's also Young Rhaenyra's sworn shield and very loyal to House Targaryen. (For Thrones fans who recognize the surname, his descendants, the Westerlings, are a minor house that swore fealty to the Lannisters and surrendered to Robb Stark in season 2.)

McTavish is best known for playing warrior Dougal MacKenzie in the another beloved fantasy adaptation, STARZ's Outlander. The Scottish actor and author has also appeared in The Hobbit film trilogy, AMC's Preacher, and FOX's Prison Break, among other projects. He's also a prolific voice actor for both video games and animated shows and films.

Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria

Mysaria is a slave from Essos who became a prostitute in Westeros. She has a special romantic relationship with Daemon, enough that he brings her with him as he flees King's Landing at the end of episode 1. When we meet her again in episode 9, she's built a seat of power among the common folk.

Japanese-British actress Mizuno worked as a high-fashion model and danced with several ballet companies before making her film debut alongside Oscar Isaac in the sci-fi film Ex Machina. She's best known for playing bride Araminta Lee in the film Crazy Rich Asians, and she also appeared in La La Land, Netflix's Maniac, and FX's Devs.

Episode 6 of House of the Dragon marked several new beginnings for the Game of Thrones prequel series. Serving as a sort-of second pilot, the episode introduces new House of the Dragon cast members portraying the adult versions of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower, as well as an entire generation of royal kids to get involved in the upcoming succession battle. It also marked an ending for a fan-favorite character, who was also re-introduced via recast in the same episode she met her fiery demise.

Laena Velaryon, daughter of Lord Corlys Velaryon and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, has been part of HotD since the beginning, and we watched her grow from a 12-year-old potential bride (played by Nova Foueillis-Mose) to a flirtatious 15-year-old (Savannah Steyn) for King Viserys to a fierce adult dragon-rider who married Daemon Targaryen and had twin daughters, Baela and Rhaena. Episode 6 saw the couple ten years into their marriage, living away from Westeros in the east, as Laena was expecting her third child.

In a standout scene near the end of the episode, Laena (now played by Nanna Blondell) takes her life into her own hands during childbirth. Her baby will not deliver, with the maester telling Daemon that the only hope of saving the child is an emergency C-section similar to the one that killed Queen Aemma in the show's premiere. Laena overhears, and rather than letting Daemon decide her fate, she walks out to meet her dragon Vhagar, the largest dragon in the world. She commands the dragon to burn her alive, and though Vhagar hesitates, he eventually puts out her misery.

Laena's powerful scene was the talk of the episode, a change from the source book Fire & Blood that gave the dragon-rider more agency over her death (in the book Laena dies of childbirth complications). It's also an introduction to Blondell, who is best known among Swedish TV fans and some Marvel fans who recognized her from a recent film. Read on for everything we know about the talented actress.

She's Swedish.

The 36-year-old actress grew up in Sweden and attended the Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts. She made her on-screen debut on a Swedish TV show in 2005 and also worked as a VJ with MTV Sweden early in her career. She also appeared in the popular Swedish sci-fi drama Real Humans and the French war film Sœurs d'armes (Sisters in Arms).

She had a role in Marvel's 'Black Widow.'

In addition to her work in Swedish and French film, TV, and theater, she also appeared in the Marvel film Black Widow, acting alongside Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh. Her other recent projects include the first Netflix feature film from Sweden, Red Dot, and the Swedish series Partisan.

She has a podcast celebrating successful non-white Swedish women.

Blondell is an advocate for diversity and representation of Black women in Sweden, and interviewed non-white Swedish women on her podcast Fenomenala kvinnor (Phenomenal Women). In a 2021 interview with Nordic Watchlist, she said of the podcast, "This is a way to preserve the stories of these phenomenal women, so young women can have a larger range of role models that looks like them. So in every episode I meet a black woman with a different profession and talk about their journey, life, work and hair."

She was "shocked" when she first saw her Velaryon wig.

Blondell opened up to Vogue Scandinavia about her audition process for the series, saying that she was surprised when she got the opportunity to join the Game of Thrones universe. "When I even got a request to do a casting for it, I was like, 'Are they kidding?'", she said. "I was like, 'Is this for real? Why are they asking me? A Swedish black girl? That’s so weird.'"

She also shared her first reaction seeing Laena's silver-haired wig for the first time. "I was shocked. I was like, 'Oh my god, I look like a glam rocker'." Once she put it on, she said the wig was "big and warm," adding "It’s like having a wool hat."

She also added that every actor who donned a Velaryon wig had a similar reaction. "They were just trying to calm everyone down and be like, 'It’s going to look good.'" 

She bid farewell to her 'House of the Dragon' role on Instagram.

Following the airing of her episode, Blondell shared a special behind-the-scenes pic from set, paired with a sentimental caption. In the pic, she makes a strong-arm pose as she's dressed in the Velaryon wig and a prosthetic baby bump.

"I just wanna acknowledge all of you that have taken the time to write me, I read it all and I'm overwhelmed by all the kind messages you send me. I don't think I fully grasped until now what a loved character Laena was from the book. It was an absolute pleasure to get a chance to walk in her shoes," the caption reads.

Blondell also shared a sweet behind-the-scenes pic of her TV family, including Daemon actor Matt Smith, Baela actress Shani Smethurst, and Rhaena actress Eva Ossei-Gerning.

HBO's House of the Dragon has introduced viewers to an earlier generation of nobles playing the Game of Thrones. The prequel follows a branch of the Targaryen dynasty, focusing on the looming succession battle that will follow King Viserys I (Paddy Constantine's) death. While the king names his only child, Princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock), as his heir in the show's premiere, upsetting centuries of no-women-rulers precedent, he later has the chance to name a male heir, thanks to his surprise marriage to his Hand of the King's daughter (and Rhaenyra's former best friend), Lady Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey).

HotD's first season is split up into two timelines: one where Rhaenyra and Alicent are younger women, and another where they're both mothers with their own agendas for who should claim the Iron Throne (played by Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke). This coming Sunday's episode is the last before the time jump, so read on to learn more about the talented actress behind young Alicent (odds are you've seen Carey in another high-profile role).

She grew up in a theater family.

The British actress and model—who identifies as queer and uses she/they pronouns—grew up in a family of theater workers. In a Rose & Ivy interview, she said that she would help her grandmother, a former West End wardrobe mistress, pair socks backstage during shows. She was scouted when she was eight and began her career in theater when she was 10, performing in British productions of The Sound of Music and Shrek: The Musical.

She made her film debut as the young version of Wonder Woman.

After making her TV debut in the British medical drama Casualty, Carey's first film role was playing young Diana alongside Robin Wright and Connie Nielsen in 2017's Wonder Woman. She followed up that role with another franchise, playing young Lara Croft in 2018's Tomb Raider.

Her other pre-HotD roles include starring in the Netflix teen thriller Get Even, playing Anastasia in 2020's Anastasia: Once Upon a Time, and voice work in the films Where is Anne Frank and Monster Family 2. She also appeared in Idina Menzel and Michael Bublé's 2014 music video "Baby, It's Cold Outside."

She's super active on social media—though she briefly deleted her Twitter during 'House of the Dragon' press.

19-year-old Carey shares her life and candid thoughts with fans on her Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok, all with the handle @TheEmilyCarey. Unfortunately, she did have to briefly delete her Twitter earlier this year, after appearing at Comic-Con to promote House of the Dragon.

"I'm 19, so I'm all on social media, and I've been on social media since I was a kid because I've worked since I was a kid, so I'm very conscious of things ... Any hate that comes in, it's just ... It's a person behind a screen," she told news.com.au. "You just have to move on from it."

"But I will say I did delete Twitter [after Comic-Con] because it's just so loud," she added. "Even when it's good, there's so many and it's so loud."

She'd love to come back for season 2.

Though episode 5 is the last for the younger versions of Alicent and Rhaenyra, Carey told The Hollywood Reporter that she would like to come back in the show's upcoming seasons. (HotD was renewed for season 2 soon after the series premiere.)

"It’s been spoken about, conversations have happened, but, in all honesty, I know absolutely nothing and I have no idea," she said. "Of course, I would love to come back. It depends on how it’s received and where they want to take the show next. I’m just going with the flow!"

HBO's first Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, has introduced a new cast of Westeros lords and ladies fighting for power. The new series, which premiered on August 21 and was renewed for a second season days later, follows Rhaenyra Targaryen, a princess (and Daenerys' ancestor) who is named heir to the throne against centuries of sexist precedent. Unfortunately, in claiming her throne, she'll have to deal with scheming lords and former friends who want to see others ascend.

HotD's first season has two actors playing Rhaenyra over the course of her youth. Australian actress Milly Alcock has received acclaim for playing the headstrong princess over the first four episodes, and she has one episode left before the midseason time jump. Now's the perfect time to learn more about the young star, so read on.

She grew up in Sydney, Australia.

The 22-year-old actress grew up in Australia, and discovered her love of acting at a young age. She told Evening Standard that she was inspired after appearing in a school production of Little Red Rocking Hood.

"I remember being on stage. I had this euphoric feeling. And I was like, 'I want that, whatever that is. Yeah, I want to feel like that for the rest of my life,'" she told the outlet. 

She also said that she advocated for herself at a really young age, joining Sydney’s Newtown High School of the Performing Arts on her own and calling her agent herself to get an audition. "I’ve always been a bit too independent from a very, very young age," she said, adding that when she was four, she "sat my mum down... and told her it was time for me to go to big school."

She won a Rising Star Award in Australia.

Alcock got her start as a teen in Australian shows including High Life, A Place to Call Home, Fighting Season, and Reckoning. Her breakout role was the Australian drama series Upright, where she earned a Casting Guild of Australia Rising Star Award for playing teen runaway Meg. In an interview with Vogue Australia, Alcock said that she had to choose between starring in Upright or attending her last year of high school.

"I knew that this opportunity would be so much more of a valuable experience than getting my piece of paper," she said. "I never doubted it for a second. I was almost too impulsive. I was like: 'No, this is what I’ve been working towards and I’ve been given this amazing opportunity with this amazing cast, with this beautiful script.' I couldn’t say no and I couldn’t let the fear and anxiety of not finishing school haunt me, because that would have defeated the whole purpose of leaving."

She hadn't seen 'Game of Thrones' before she got the role of Rhaenyra.

At the time that she received the chance to audition for House of the Dragon, Alcock was living in her mother's attic and washing dishes to make ends meet. She told Evening Standard that she had never even seen the series' predecessor before she got the part. She said she filmed a self-tape audition with a friend, and he was the one who figured out the connection. "He said, 'This is a Game of Thrones scene. This is the scene with Arya Stark.'"

She also told The Hollywood Reporter that her first day on set was a mind-blowing experience. "It felt like that I had been literally picked up from Australia and someone had just dropped me in the middle of, like, the ocean with nothing around," she told the outlet. "I’d done Aussie television where our whole show’s budget is less than one episode [of Dragon]. I’d never been on a hundred-million-dollar set like that before. So there was a lot of responsibility of having to carry Rhaenyra, and it was interesting because me and Rhaenyra had similar trajectories in our story — the way that we kind of navigated an unforeseen world we really expected to be in, and learned how to face those challenges."

She's a photographer.

In addition to gorgeous shots from her magazine shoots, Alcock has also shared some of her own photography on her Instagram, including both casual and editorial pics of her friends.

Stranger Things season 4 introduces fans to some new faces as our favorite monster hunters enter Hawkins High School. One of the standout new characters introduced this season—in addition to Grace Van Dien, who plays Chrissy—is Eddie Munson, the ‘80s metalhead (long mop of hair included) who runs Hawkins High's official Dungeons & Dragons group, the Hellfire Club. As it tends to happen after becoming friends with Mike and crew, Eddie soon gets involved in the latest mayhem from the Upside Down. 

Playing Eddie is Joseph Quinn, a rather mysterious celeb thanks to his aversion to social media. However, he comes to the Stranger Things-verse with an impressive resumé and a nerdy side, so he fits in just fine. Here's what we know about the season 4 newcomer.

He's British!

Though he plays an American high school nerd in Stranger Things, the 29-year-old actor was born and raised in England. In an interview with Nuit Magazine, he said that he's been acting since he was a baby, starting with a school play and continuing on as a drama scholar in primary and secondary school. He also attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and graduated in 2015.

He's a 'Game of Thrones' alum.

Add Munson's name to the many talented Brits who appeared on the HBO mega-hit. He played a Stark soldier named Koner in the season 7 episode "The Spoils of War." Specifically, he was one of the guards at the Winterfell gate when Arya finally returned home.

Besides his one-off GoT appearance, he's best known for playing Arthur Havisham on the BBC One series Dickensian, as well as acting alongside Helen Mirren in the HBO miniseries Catherine the Great. He also acted alongside Olivia Colman in the National Theatre production of Mosquitos, which he said was "pretty magical" in a Glass Magazine interview.

He's a fan of 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Succession.'

Quinn has shared some of his favorite shows and films during interviews, and he has great taste. He told Glass Magazine that if he could be in a remake of any classic movie or show, he would like to play all the characters in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Also, when asked by The Rakish Gent what the one role is that he wished he had played, he name-checked Roman Roy from Succession. "I don’t know if there is one role in particular but in Succession, Kieran Culkin’s character is a goldmine and he just delivers every line and knocks it out of the park," he said. "His sense of humour and lightness of touch with that character is enviable. But I think these iconic roles are so defined by the actors that played them its hard to imagine anyone else playing them."

He said joining Stranger Things was "daunting."

While Quinn had to adhere to spoiler-free policies for his Stranger Things press, he did open up about the pressures of joining the beloved show. The actor told Collider that he wanted to do his character justice.

"There’s a lot of devotion towards this show, and you don’t want to ruin it," he said. "So it’s been an amazing experience. It’s been surreal to be involved in something like this. It’s just a huge honor, and to be able to participate in this season, and be amongst everyone trying to pull it off, it’s a treat."

He also mentioned the challenge in an Entertainment Tonight interview, saying that joining the show was "daunting," but he added that he is "grateful" for the experience working with the cast. "They’re really nice people, and it was everything that you’d expect. It’s a good thing to go somewhere strange with a bunch of strangers and then leave that place with really dear friends," he said.

His references for Eddie Munson ranged from Metallica to 'The Breakfast Club'.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Quinn opened up about his audition process and the references he used to build Eddie. The actor said the Duffers hired him after he sent two audition tapes, and that he tapped into both heavy metal music and classic '80s movies to connect to his character.

"The Breakfast Club was a film that I found has such great character explorations," he told the outlet. "But I didn’t want to base him on anything. There was a little reference to people who were older than me at school who impressed me, who seemed quite non-conformist."

When asked about music, Quinn added that he listened to a lot of Metallica and Black Sabbath (which makes sense, since Eddie played Metallica's "Master of Puppets" for his Upside Down concert). However, he admitted that he didn't get into Dungeons & Dragons during his research.

"I bought the book, read a bit and went, 'OK, this isn’t going to happen.' All respect to the D&D community, it just didn’t do anything for me. The first game I played was when we did a bit of press in L.A. a few months ago. It’s all depending on your Dungeon Master, and we had a great one."

He actually played the guitar in the finale.

For Eddie's first hero moment of the finale, where he plays guitar to lure away the bats in the Upside Down, Quinn was performing for real in the big scene. The show's music supervisor Nora Felder told Variety that the actor played part of the song.

"Joseph did take time to learn the guitar riff, and was actually playing along to a guide track," she told the outlet. "Everyone thought he did a great job."

Quinn also spoke to the outlet, saying that he had learned to play guitar when he was young. 

"I was lucky that I had learned guitar when I was younger, so I had the foundation. By no means was I a virtuoso, but when it came time to shoot it, I was able to get through it," he said. "We had a sort of black-belt heavy metal guitarist take us through the solo, because that wasn’t going to happen! I couldn’t do that, but I could do the rest of it, which is lucky. It was an amazing experience."

"For a lot of the crew, it was the first time that we all felt like we were in a live music environment since the beginning of the pandemic. It was great fun to be able to do that with Gaten," he added.

He doesn't like social media.

For anyone who looks up the actor and only finds fan pages, it's because Quinn isn't a fan of social media. During his 2017 Nuit Magazine interview, he said that he had gotten rid of his social media page, hinting that he wasted too much time on it (which, fair).

"I don’t have Facebook, I used to but I just spent all my time looking at other people’s lives," he told the outlet. "I don’t have Instagram. I find it an incredibly image centric medium that devalues the use of words. I do have Twitter, I wouldn’t say I use it in a professional capacity—selling myself online. It’s a useful tool for news and seeing what other people are up to. Some people say some funny stuff on it. It can be mentally useful, I’m sure. But I’m not on that team now. It’s also a useful tool for people to communicate I suppose."

However, he may start sharing more on social media for self-promotion purposes. He recently opened an Instagram, and his first-ever post was an image of his Stranger Things character poster, shared on May 7. So far his posts include shots from events and show promos, as well as a fun behind-the-scenes clip.

Doja Cat has a crush on him.

It's a good thing that Quinn got an Instagram, because he'll need to keep an eye on his DMs. In a delightful bit of celebrity gossip, Noah Schnapp (who plays Will Byers) shared a Tik Tok revealing that Doja Cat is interested in Quinn after watching the new season.

The clip includes screenshots of a conversation between Schnapp and Doja, where she asks if Quinn has a girlfriend. The actor tells the rapper to DM him, and helpfully sends a link to his co-star's Instagram. We're hoping for an update on the surprising pairing.

Stranger Things has welcomed several new cast members in its fourth season, some of which have cause fans to think, Wait, have I seen them before? One actor who caught viewers' eyes is Tom Wlaschiha, who plays Dmitri "Enzo" Antonov, a guard in the Russian prison who becomes an ally to Hopper. While the pair start out with only a monetary alliance—Dmitri ransoms Hopper to Joyce for $40,000, signing the letter with Enzo, the name of the restaurant where Jopper were supposed to go on a date—they quickly bond when facing off against a demogorgon together.

Dmitri has become a popular new character, thanks mostly to Wlaschiha, who has experience playing a fan-favorite in another mega-hit franchise. Here's what we know about the booked and busy German actor.

He started out doing theater in Germany.

The 48-year-old actor was born Dohna, Dresden, East Germany. He traveled young, visiting Massachusetts as an exchange student when he was 17, around the time the Berlin Wall fell. In addition to learning German and Russian growing up, he also speaks French and Italian.

Wlaschiha acted in plays in Germany before moving on to TV shows and films based in the country, and breaking into the U.S. in the late '00s. "I started out doing a lot of theaters in Germany. I love theater, this is where I am coming from basically," he said in a 2018 Metro.style interview.

He also said in a Discover Germany interview that he wanted to become an actor at age 15 or 16. "My uncle was a famous opera singer and he was allowed to leave East Germany occasionally in order to perform. Maybe I saw acting a bit as a possibility to see the world," he said.

He played an ally of Arya Stark on 'Game of Thrones.'

Wlaschiha is best known for portraying Jaqen H'ghar, a.k.a. the Faceless Man who trains Arya to become "no one," in seasons 2, 5, and 6 of Game of Thrones. There was a three-year break between the actor originating the role in 2012 and returning to the HBO hit in 2016, and he said in a 2015 interview that he didn't think he'd return to the show. 

"I had some hope, but it was tricky. The character's not in the books anymore, so far, at least," he said. "I was hoping to be back, but normally what you hope for on Game of Thrones doesn't happen."

Besides GoT, he's also starred in Prime Video's Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, NBC's Crossing Lines, and films including Rush and Berlin Falling.

He also does voice work.

In addition to his on-screen work, Wlaschiha has done a good amount of voice acting, including narrating audiobooks and dubbing content into German. He was even able to dub his own part for Game of Thrones. His latest gig is voicing Buzz in German in the upcoming prequel Lightyear.

He enjoys playing flawed characters.

In an interview with Rolling Stone India, Wlaschiha said that he finds it more fun to play the bad guy, and aims to portray his characters as complex human beings. "Whenever bringing a character to life, I think it’s important to portray him as a human being, however flawed, because that’s what a viewer can relate to," he said.

"A good script will always provide multi-layered and conflicted characters struggling with the respective circumstances of the story,” he added. "When I play a character, I always try to not judge his actions on a moral base. That should always be left to the audience."

He loves to travel.

Wlaschiha mostly shares snaps of his work on Instagram, which luckily includes selfies with castmates and pics of the many locales where he films. He also has some posts of what seems to be his personal travels, showing off his wanderlust with pics from Egypt, Russia, Ghana, Switzerland, and Northern Ireland.

Former Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams is absolutely going for it at the 2021 Met Gala: she looks like a high-fashion Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family (although she said it's actually inspired by The Matrix). When she spoke to E! News, she explained what was the inspiration behind the graphic, gothic, sustainable all-black look.

She explained that her outfit was designed by boyfriend Reuben Selby and inspired by The Matrix (just in time for the latest movie trailer to come out, which is impeccable timing). She also spoke about what coming to the event meant to her: "I was brought up on American icons ... these women in film ... it's shaped the woman I became," she explained.

Williams has been blonde (including the eyebrows, which she kept for the look) since April 2021, right around the time she became WWF's new global ambassador for climate and nature. The change already makes her look totally different. She's also been dialing up her high-fashion looks recently, and this is absolutely no exception. Her hair matches the waves of her dress and she actually has stirrup tights into her platform shoes. It took two hours to put the pieces in her hair!

Her boyfriend, Reuben Selby (cofounder of a modeling agency), took to Instagram to talk about the look:

"Maisie and I visited The Metropolitan Museum of Art in August 2019 for the first time and were inspired deeply by the collection and the exhibition "Camp: Notes on Fashion". Little did we know we would see one of our creations on the red carpet two years later."

The look was pulled off by a "team of five" in both the design and the creation of the dress, train and full bodysuit. They thanked Maisie "for your trust, support and creativity. It takes courage to be yourself."

Here's the look from different angles:

Amazing.

• On the HBO hit Game of Thrones, not all actors earn the same pay. Kit Harington, who plays Jon Snow, earns more per episode than Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa Stark.
• When asked about the discrepancy in a new interview with Harper's Bazaar UK, Turner said she doesn't have a problem with the gap in this case. 
• The actress cited the extra work and long hours required by Kit's larger storyline in the series as reasonable justifications for the gap.

Game of Thrones will go down in history as a pop culture phenomenon and a huge critical and financial success for HBO. The network has funneled dump trucks full of money into the series over the course of its eight seasons. With a huge ensemble cast, some of those metaphorical dump trucks have been filled with actors' salaries—but not all of the main cast members are paid the same.

When asked about the discrepancy between her salary and that of her onscreen "brother" Kit Harington, Sophie Turner told Harper's Bazaar UK that the issue is "a little tricky."

"Kit got more money than me, but he had a bigger storyline," she explained. "And for the last series, he had something crazy like 70 night shoots, and I didn’t have that many. I was like, 'You know what... you keep that money.'"

It's also worth noting that Game of Thrones pretty famously tiers its cast's salaries and that Kit and Sophie are in different tiers on that scale. The highest paid group includes Emilia Clarke, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Peter Dinklage, Kit Harington, and Lena Headey all of whom have played arguably the biggest roles in the series since the beginning. Sophie and fellow Stark sister Maisie Williams are in the so-called "B" tier and earn less than the five "A" tier actors.

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for theMarie Claire newsletter.

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Kit Harington and Rose Leslie are officially growing their family. That's right: The Game of Thrones actors are expecting their first child together.

Leslie made the news official, debuting her baby bump for the new issue of the U.K.'s Make Magazine.

"So wonderful working with the beautiful Rose Leslie for the cover story of @make_magazineuk out now! A very special all woman team photographic shoot capturing Rose at this wonderful time as she prepares for motherhood for the first time!" London-based, freelance fashion editor Ursula Lake wrote on Instagram along with a photo of Leslie from the magazine's shoot. "My team were: @billiescheepersphotography @liztaw doing beautiful hair and @justinejenkins wonderful makeup. Rose wears @stellamccartney. Huge thanks to @vrwpublicity for organising the shoot and to Hannah Rand for her interview."

Leslie and Harington have been spending most of their time lately in their gorgeous Tudor manor house in East Anglia, which Leslie jokingly referred to in her Make interview as "the house that Jon Snow built."

It's an appropriate joke for couple, who met on the set of HBO's hit fantasy epic, Game of Thrones, on which they played star-crossed lovers Jon Snow and Ygritte.

The actors fell for each other off camera, too, and were first reported to be dating IRL in 2012. They split up briefly, but got back together and eventually (finally) confirmed their real-life love connection in April 2016. By September 2017, Leslie and Harington had announced their engagement (with an 0ld-fashioned newspaper ad in the The Times, adorably). They tied the knot in a very Game of Thrones-appropriate way—in a lavish ceremony at a castle in Scotland in June 2019.

• Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas now own Sansa Stark's throne from the final episode of Game of Thrones.
• Turner posted a photo of the throne on her Instagram Story with the caption "Welcome home," while Jonas subsequently reposted it to his own story.
• Sadly, Turner has ruled out ever revisiting her most famous role.

Did you think you'd finally stopped mourning the end of Game of Thrones, over a year after the show's divisive final season concluded? Well, prepare to have that freshly-healed grief exposed once again to the cold air, courtesy of one Sophie Turner, the Queen in the North herself! On her Instagram Story, Turner shared a photo of Sansa Stark's throne from the show's last ever episode, as People reports—and revealed that it now resides in the home she shares with husband Joe Jonas, captioning the post, "Welcome home." It's only right, of course, that the throne lives with Turner. But these emotions, Sophie! I simply wasn't prepared!

Alas, it's my sad duty to remind you that no matter how attached Turner may be to Sansa, she won't ever play her again, no matter how many Game of Thrones spin-offs HBO develops. "I think it's time to say goodbye to Sansa. I'm ready...ish, to say goodbye to her," she told Sky News last year, shortly after the show's final episode aired. "I think my watch has ended. It's been 10 years of my life and the best 10 years of my life by far."

"I finished in a very happy place with Sansa and it's time to let her go," Turner continued, just to ensure our collective hopes and dreams were thoroughly ground into the dirt. She added, "I feel like if I played her again it would be just be more trauma."

• Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas welcomed their first child, a girl named Willa, on Wednesday, July 22.
• The name "Willa" actually has a Game of Thrones connection.
• Two different characters named Willa appear across the show's eight seasons.

Happy news broke yesterday: Baby Turner-Jonas has arrived! According to TMZ, Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas welcomed their first child, a daughter, on Wednesday, July 22. The couple named their baby girl Willa, JustJared reports. (Turner and Jonas have yet to confirm their daughter's arrival—or indeed, to speak publicly about Turner's pregnancy at all.)

Naturally, fans of the couple are already attempting to decipher the significance of "Willa"—and considering Turner starred in one of the internet's all-time favorite TV shows, it's little wonder some went hunting for a Game of Thrones connection. And it turns out the name actually appears twice in GoT, though admittedly, said appearances are pretty fleeting.

The first instance: In season 5 of the show, Willa is a young wildling girl who flees from the Free Folk village of Hardhome to Castle Black. She features in two episodes: "Hardhome" and "The Dance of Dragons," according to the Game of Thrones Wiki.

A second character named Willa appears in the show's final season, in the episode "The Last of the Starks." A serving girl at Winterfell, she takes a liking to Tormund at the feast after the Battle of Winterfell, and the pair presumably spend the night together.

Let's be honest: Both Willas have a few minutes of screen time between them, plus there are approximately 9,829,374 characters across all eight seasons of Game of Thrones, so there's a strong chance that Turner and Jonas weren't even aware their name of choice had links to the show when they landed on it. Still, it's a cute bit of serendipity, isn't it?

Sophie Turner's Most Iconic Fashion Moments

In recent weeks, I've stretched my streaming options thin. I've finished Ryan Murphy's Hollywood, cringed for eight-plus hours watching Too Hot to Handle, and, of course, binged every new (and old) movie Netflix has to offer. Enter: Cursed. It may not be HBO's Game of Thrones, but the streaming giant's latest conquest looks intriguing—and entertaining enough to fill all our binge-watching voids. Ahead, here's everything you need to know about Netflix's newest medieval fantasy series.

Cursed is based on the graphic novel of the same name.

The new show finds its story from the young adult graphic novel Cursed. The book was written by Tom Wheeler and illustrated by Frank Miller, who's known for his work on films like Sin City and 300. Both of them are executive producers on the series, with Wheeler also serving as showrunner.

As for the plot of the novel, it's a retelling of the legend of King Arthur. In the fabled tale, Arthur is the one who retrieves the sword, Excalibur, from the Lady of the Lake. But in Cursed, it's the Lady who ends up with the powerful weapon. (We stan a feminist twist.)

Cursed is going to be released on Netflix pretty soon.

Great news: Netflix announced an official premiere date and its going to be July 17. You can expect all 10 episodes of Cursed to hit the streaming service this summer.

Also, still freaking out over this promotional poster featuring the show's tagline: "What if the sword chose a queen?" Iconic!

The trailer for the show looks pretty epic.

The trailer is only two minutes, and it's given me enough goosebumps to last until 2021, so who knows what the show will accomplish.

The clip features the lead actress, Katherine Langford, traveling through like, all the four seasons, tasked to deliver a sword by her mother. "You are not some fragile maid. You are a warrior," says one of the characters in the preview. (AGAIN, GOOSEBUMPS.) The clip ends with her absorbing some of the powers from the sword and proceeding to wipe out two bad guys in front of her. I smell loads of medieval drama.

Katherine Langford leads the cast.

As if I couldn't be more excited, Langford of 13 Reasons Why and Knives Out fame is set to play the lead, Nimue. Langford announced that she was joining the cast in September of 2018 (yes, the show has been in the works for a long time). Newcomer Devon Terrell, who previously played a young Barack Obama in Barry, will take on the role of Arthur.

The rest of the Cursed cast features Gustaf Skarsgård (yes, his brother is Alexander Skarsgård) as Merlin. Daniel Sharman (Teen Wolf) will play the "Weeping Monk," Sebastian Armesto (Harlots) will play the part of King Uther Pendragon, and Lily Newmark (Sex Education) will star as Pym.

"I think first and foremost when casting for Cursed, Frank and I were looking for a mythological truth, actors who could bring the emotion and the humanity to legendary characters without losing the sense of elemental magic and epic stakes," Wheeler tells Entertainment Weekly. "Led by Katherine Langford, who is equal parts classic hero and sword-swinging badass, this extraordinary cast has brought such depth, commitment, and heart to this story. We can't wait to introduce them to audiences around the world."

What else do we know about Cursed?

While the trailer feels like a teaser, we do have photos to quench your thirst. And from these photos, we can't complain.

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

subscribe here

You know when you’re watching an episode of your favorite show and you kinda just expect the characters to continue being played by the same people who played them the week before? Yeah, apparently that’s not a thing. The number of shows that have blatantly recast prominent characters with zero explanation (@ Game of Thrones) is truly staggering. We’re rounding them up, ahead, in case you are bored and need something to get annoyed about. Enjoy!

Fans of this CW series were shooketh when Ruby Rose announced her exit from the show after only one season. According to "sources" (i.e., rumors), Ruby reportedly couldn't deal with the demanding schedule of leading her own TV series. Producers are already looking for someone to fill her shoes for season two.

There wouldn’t have been Jane the Virgin without Jane’s little bundle of joy, her son Mateo (who was the result of her accidental insemination?!). The season 4 poster donned a new face to the character Mateo, played by Elias Janssen. The role was previously played by Joseph Sanders, who simply was too busy with school to continue with the show. Homework, people!

Fans were not happy when Jackie Geary, a.k.a Adam Goldberg's love interest, was recast on The Goldbergs. Originally played by Rowan Blanchard, the role was taken over by Alexis G. Zall at the start of season 6. Rumors swirled that the recast was the decision of the producers, but Rowan is the one who passed on the season.

Allison Stark, the daughter of 'Til Death's central couple Eddie (Brad Garrett) and Joy (Joely Fisher) was recast throughout the show, a total of four times! After the first three changes, the show started referencing the actress swaps on-screen. Krysten Ritter (a.k.a. Jessica Jones) played Ally for seasons 1 and 2, with Laura Clery tagging in the following season, and Kate Micucci carrying the role out in the fourth and final season.

The character Mandy Milkovich in Shameless contributed to the hot mess-ness of this highly dysfunctional family drama. For the first five episodes of the first season, Mandy was played by Jane Levy, but she left the show to star in the ABC sitcom Suburgatory. Actress Emma Greenwell took on the role until she was written off the show in season 6.

Toby Cavenaugh went from being seduced by his step-sister Jenna to being blackmailed to eventually becoming a cop and finding love with Spencer Hastings. In the pilot episode, Toby Cavenaugh was actually called Toby Marshall (a name change came with the recast), played by James Neate. Keegan Allen took over the role and made it his own as Neate went on to star in Amazon's The Man in the High Castle.

Let’s begin with this WTF-ness: Turns out Shailene Woodley originally played Kaitlin Cooper on The O.C. before the role was given to Willa Holland. Creator Josh Schwartz told the Huffington Post they replaced Shailene because “the version of Kaitlin Cooper that we were going to bring back to the show was a little bit older than Shailene would’ve been able to achieve on her own.”

You wouldn’t know this unless you were mining IMDb on a very chill Monday night (hello, me), but Meg was originally played by Lacey Chabert before being replaced by Mila Kunis. Apparently, Lacey was too busy with school and Party of Five, two things of equal importance, to be sure.

Jerry’s dad, Morty, is one of the best parts of Seinfeld, thanks to Barney Martin’s truly iconic performance. But Morty was briefly played by Phil Bruns back in season 1, who was replaced because Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David wanted the character to be crankier. On brand.

Apparently, Game of Thrones didn’t think anyone would notice when an entirely different Night King rolled in during season 6. But hey, they also didn’t think anyone would notice that Starbucks coffee cup. Richard Brake played the original Night King before being replaced by Vladimir Furdik, who—get this—had previously played the first White Walker Jon Snow killed.

That’s right, friends, Nick Jonas was on that Tim Allen show that everyone spent the last eight years side-eyeing. Nick briefly played Kristin’s deadbeat boyfriend in season 1 before being replaced by Jordan Masterson who, let’s be clear, looks literally nothing like him.

It’s hard to imagine a world where Charles Melton doesn’t play Reggie on the criminally-deranged saga that is Riverdale—especially since he and Camila Mendes dated IRL! But once upon a time, Reggie was played by Ross Butler, who didn’t return to the show because (according to speculation) he was too busy with season 2 of 13 Reasons Why.

I know you’re currently like, “Wait...Maura Tierney was literally never on this show,” but! She was actually cast as Sarah Braverman on Parenthood’s pilot episode—it just never aired. Maura ended up bowing out for health reasons, and not only did Lauren Graham step in, but she also ended up finding IRL love with Peter Krause.

Yup, of course another Game of Thrones cast member is on this list. And fun fact, he’s number two of freakin’ ELEVEN recast actors, because apparently this show cannot commit. Case-in-point: replacing David Michael Scott after one episode with Richard Dormer as Beric Dondarrion and hoping no one would notice.

The best part about Arrested Development replacing original Ann actress Alessandra Torresani with Mae Whitman is that Ann is meant to be unmemorable. Mae told People TV, “They were originally going to keep replacing the actress that played Ann, just so you were always on your toes. And then they stuck with me, which I feel like is a real insult. They were like, ‘No, no, you’re making the whole not-memorable thing work, we’ll just go with that.’”

I KNOW, RIGHT? For just *one* episode, Carol was played by Anita Barone—and her scene was pretty important considering Ross found out he was going to be a dad during it. Anita ended up opting out of the series to pursue more full-time acting jobs (RIP, Friends residual checks) and the show cast Jane Sibbett.

Before Noah Centineo was breaking hearts in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, he was busy replacing Jake T. Austin on ABC Family’s The Fosters. Jake issued a pretty salty explanation about his reason for leaving, saying, “I was only asked to return for three episodes and wasn’t going to be able to work on anything else, so I left....”

Literally nothing made sense about Pretty Little Liars, including the fact that Alison’s brother Jason was played by Parker Bagley during season 1, only to return with a new face and floppy hair later in the show. But whatever, Drew Van Acker was hot.

So, this dude on the left is Tom Ellis, and he played Robin Hood for one episode in season 2. Turns out, he couldn’t return due to scheduling conflicts, which is why my husband Sean Maguire stepped into the role and simultaneously stepped into my heart.

Ready for some drama? The original actress who played Aunt Vivian, Janet Hubert-Whitten, had an insane feud with Will Smith and told TMZ—AND I QUOTE—“I will never do anything with an asshole like Will Smith.” Not shocking that she was replaced by Daphne Maxwell Reid.

Oh, look, yet another Game of Thrones character who was casually recast. I cannot emphasize enough how little Ed Skrein of the Magnificent Hair and Michiel Huisman of the Fulsome Beard look alike. To be fair, apparently Ed is the one who decided to leave the show to be in Transformers, but still!

First of all, hello to Nathan Parsons’ sinister goatee. Second of all, get this: Luke Grimes reportedly left the show because he wasn’t comfortable playing a gay character, which is supremely disappointing. Sources say writers and cast members were “baffled and angered” by the decision, and truly, same.

Sadly, Christina Moore took over for Lisa Robin Kelly due to Lisa’s self-admitted drinking problem. “With That ’70s Show, I was guilty of a drinking problem,” she told ABC. “And I ran.”

Well, well, well, look who it is with another inexplicable recasting. To be fair, up until Max von Sydow took over, the role basically consisted of Struan Rodger dramatically sitting in a tree like some sorta low-budget Gandalf. So it wasn’t a complete shock to the system.

Let’s go ahead and get another Game of Thrones recasting out of the way! You probably remember Dickon Tarly best for that time he looked super hot on a horse. So, like, good job, Tom Hopper! But reminder that this poor unfortunate soul was also played by Freddie Stroma, who left the show due to scheduling conflicts.

Lecy Goranson peaced out of Rosanne to go to college after five seasons and was replaced by Sarah Chalke from my favorite show Scrubs (feel free to judge me). Then Lecy came back, was replaced by Sarah again, and came back A-G-A-I-N for the reboot. I’m exhausted.

Jacqueline MacInnes Wood played Black Canary during Arrow’s pilot episode, but was rumored to be too busy to continue the job. The role eventually went to Caity Lotz, woman who can fully pull off an eye mask.

Apparently, all of Mason’s self-cannibalism was too much for Michael Pitt (dude was literally eating his own face) because he stepped away from Hannibal during season 3 and was replaced by Joe Anderson. Understandable.

Nothing ever made sense about Two and a Half Men, including why it was ever green-lit in the first place. Sorry! But high on the list of WTF was actress Missi Pyle being replaced by Alicia Witt, only for Missi to inexplicably return for the series finale. Like...make up your mind, Two and a Half Men.

Fun fact: Like, 8,000 kids played Bobby Draper on Mad Men. This is literally just two of them. A ton of child actors cycled in and out of the role, include Maxwell Huckabee, Aaron Hart, Jared Gilmore, and Mason Vale Cotton—all while Kiernan Shipka managed to retain her job as Sally for the entire series. Speaking of Kiernan, she says all the Bobbys had different nicknames, like Bucket Head Bobby and Slurpee Bobby. At least they made an impression?

When Julie Newmar ditched her iconic Catwoman costume to pursue a movie role, Eartha Kitt was hired and claws-out nailed it. “That character to me was so much fun,” Eartha said. “I was in dire need of tremendous help at that time, and like a starving cat, I had to find a way to survive....People recognized my name and still do because of Catwoman.”

Supergirl endured a pretty major recasting during season 3, when Smallville star Erica Durance replaced Laura Benanti. Laura left the show because of her Broadway schedule, and executive producer Andrew Kreisberg told EW, “We are so blessed that Erica has come aboard to offer her own interpretation of Kara’s mother....We know Erica will continue the proud tradition of legacy actors joining our shows and creating new and exciting takes on classic DC characters.”

Dick York is best known for playing the husband on Bewitched, and fans weren’t here for it when the show replaced him with Dick Sargent so that York could recover from his chronic back pain. Sure, the show lasted a few more years, but ya know what didn’t? Its ratings.

Craving drama? Cool, come hither. Apparently, Sense8 replaced Aml Ameen (who played Capheus) with Toby Onwumere in the middle of season 2 because of—as Deadline reports—“some sort of conflict between Aml and Sense8 cocreator/executive producer/director Lana Wachowski that flared up at the season 2 table read in Berlin and worsened as filming progressed in India.”

Oh, you thought we were done with Game of Thrones recastings? Think! Again! The show replaced Tom Brooke with Daniel Tuite as Lothar Frey—even though Tom’s face was definitely famous among the fandom thanks to the Red Wedding, where he killed Talisa Stark.

Nope, still not done with Game of Thrones. The show replaced Aimee Richardson with Nell Tiger Free in season 5—and get this mess: Apparently, Aimee learned about her recasting during a San Diego Comic-Con panel ahead of the fifth season and posted a photo of herself holding a “princess for hire” sign in response.

Brian Forster replaced Jeremy Gelbwaks because Jeremy’s fam moved to Los Angeles. But that’s far from the whole story. In a truly shady moment, David Cassidy said Jeremy “had a personality conflict with every person in the cast and the producers”—which is a pretty bold statement about a literal child.

Ready for this casting journey? Morgan Fairchild played Jenna for one episode of Dallas, until she was replaced by an actress named Francine Tacker for two episodes in 1980 (not pictured). Then, when Jenna made her triumphant return to the show in 1983, she arrived with Priscilla Presley’s face. Truly, a roller coaster of Jennas.

Lily was originally played by two very adorable twins named Jaden and Ella Hiller, who were replaced by Aubrey Anderson-Emmons. Before the recasting was official, executive producer Steve Levitan said, “We all may determine that as gorgeous and sweet as Jaden and Ella are, it’s not what they signed up to do or what they love. Maybe they don’t love to be on a set and have to listen to us do a scene 10 times. Maybe they would be happier being kids. Honestly, we can’t stress enough that it comes out of wanting to do what’s best for them. We don’t want them to be unhappy. If we feel it’s not in their best interest to stay, we will replace them and ask that people forgive us for doing so.”

Surprise! It’s yet another freakin’ Game of Thrones recasting. This time, the show decided to ditch season 1’s Steven Blount and replace him with an actor named John Stahl for season 2. Fine, whatever, but someone explain how Rickard went fully gray in a matter of months.

Ya know, The Waltons? That show your mom watched when you were in elementary school? Yeah, well, they recast the iconic character known as John Boy, replacing Richard Thomas with Robert Wightman in season 8. Like, imagine a character you’ve loved for eight entire seasons rolling in with a new face. Truly a bold move, Waltons.

Behold: another Last Man Standing switch-up! Kristin was played by Alexandra Krosney during the show’s first season before being replaced by Amanda Fuller. Honestly, the only thing these two have in common is a love for wearing insanely giant scarves indoors.

This is a wild one. Lionel Jefferson was originally played by Mike Evans, only to be replaced by an actor named Damon Evans who, nope, was not related to him. But! In a plot twist, Mike came back for a couple of seasons towards the end of the series.

Phyllis Coates played Lois Lane in the the first season of this classic ’50s-era show, but had other more important commitments that led to actress Noel Neill taking her place. Honestly, they both were incredible.

Hello, just casually here to annoy you with ANOTHER GAME OF THRONES RECASTING. This time, our victim is Sarah MacKeever, who was a “stand-in” for the role of Selyse in season 2 before Tara Fitzgerald took over. Is anyone else deeply bothered by how little these women look alike?

Lily Nicksay started out as the outspoken little sister on Boy Meets World, and leaving the show was a mutual decision between her parents and producers. She was replaced by Lindsay Ridgeway, who joked she’d had “the longest time-out ever” during her first appearance on the show. Love when writers acknowledge their viewers are smart. Take note, Game of Thrones.

Literally so sorry to keep doing this to you, but Game of Thrones recast The Mountain not once, not twice, but THRICE. He started out being played by actor Conan Stevens, who had scheduling conflicts in season 2 and went on to star in The Hobbit. At this point, Ian Whyte stepped in—also playing a giant Wildling named Dongo. Finally, Icelandic actor Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson took over the role for its most famous iteration in season 4 and got to do memorable scenes like the crushing of Oberyn’s skull. Fun!

Before Audra McDonald took on the role, Naomi was played by Merrin Dungey. Variety reported that the switch was “partly a chemistry thing between Merrin and Taye Diggs, who played Naomi’s estranged husband, Sam.” The outlet also suggested the recasting was hard for EP Shonda Rhimes, since she’s close friends with Merrin.

Guess they were hoping fans would just see some red hair and assume Bella Thorne hadn't replaced Jolean Wejbe as Teenie? Either way, Bella said, “When I met with producers on the role, they told me to just make the character my own and not to try and match the other actress.”

Before Brooke Shields stepped into the role, Jackie’s mom, Pamela, was played by Eve Plumb, and as you can see, the vibe was all kinds of different.

Finally, Game of Thrones replaced Tommen Baratheon actor Callum Wharry with Dean-Charles Chapman when the role became more demanding. Dean ruled (quite literally), so I guess this was a solid choice.

•••

For more celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

subscribe here

The people behind Game of Thrones have succeeded in creating more than just a show. They've created an immersive world. It's easy to get lost in the series and feel that Westeros is a real place—but it's not. And the cast aren't afraid to remind us of that via loads and loads of illusion-shattering, behind-the-scenes pictures.

In honor of the show's eighth and final season, which is airing Sundays on HBO, here are 93 of the most magic-ruining BTS shots the cast have ever shared. Sorry.

1. Emilia Clarke, revealing what the dragons look like IRL

2. Sophie Turner, taking a nap between scenes as Sansa Stark

3. Carice van Houten, throwing it back with an oldie that it might still be too soon for

4. A Melisandre/Brienne of Tarth Face Swap, to make you wish they had Snapchat in Westeros

5. Carice van Houten, capturing Liam Cunningham in an out-of-character moment

6. The Red Woman, chilling on a coffee break

7. In which Lena Headey shares the single greatest BTS 'Game of Thrones' video ever

8. Lena Headey and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, proving that they have a way healthier real-life relationship than Cersei and Jaime

9. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, using his 'GOT' cred to promote Johnnie Walker

10. Kristofer Hivju, showing off his Tormund action figure

11. Carice van Houten, giving a total "I knew he wasn't REALLY dead" look

12. Carice van Houten, giving the world a Red Woman glare in a pink hair net

13. The Lannister sibs, getting along way better IRL than on TV

14. Gemma Whelan forcing every 'GOT' fan in the world to max out their zoom capacity looking for clues in this picture

15. Emilia Clarke and John Bradley geeking out over Oasis during a night off

16. Onscreen OTP Gwendoline Christie and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, wearing matching My Little Pony shirts

17. Oh, look, it's Khaleesi and Missandei, wearing pants and making silly faces

18. Emilia Clarke and her onscreen husband, Jason Momoa, posing in front of an Iron Throne (if not THE Iron Throne)

19. Emilia Clarke, reminding us all that her dog hangs out on the GOT set and none of us do

20. Lena Headey, giving the finger to Conleth Hill, aka Varys, who took this picture, apparently

21. Emilia Clarke, doing a promotional video on a couch, wearing one of her most iconic costumes

22. Emilia Clarke, in the makeup trailer, transforming into Daenerys

23. Emilia Clarke, shattering the illusion for a good cause

24. Gemma Whelan, reminding you that almost nothing you see on TV is actually real

25. Carice van Houten, casually in character and also in a hair scarf and clips

26. Carice van Houten, kicking 2018 off right with a GOT throwback 

27. Maisie Williams showing off this cool (er, not) font

28. Jack Gleeson and Carice van Houten chilling on the iron throne

29. Carice van Houten braving the elements

30. Kristofer Hivju being iconic

31. Kit Harington attempting to fly

32. Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams striking a pose

33. Ben Crompton, Gwendoline Christie, Sophie Turner, Kristofer Hivju, Liam Cunningham, Carice van Houten, and Kit Harington being candid

34. Carice van Houten clutching a hot water bottle

35. Carice van Houten wearing this amazing hair protector

36. Carice van Houten backstage during Season 5

37. Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke being lovable nerds

38. Emilia Clarke protecting her set

39. Gemma Whelan showing off some truly amazing makeup

40. Kristofer Hivju holding a delightful umbrella

41. Iain Glen and Kristofer Hivju taking a selfie like the youths

42. Maisie Williams snacking BTS

43. Carice van Houten aged up

44. Another view of Carice

45. Emilia Clarke about to wrap Season 7

46. Emilia Clarke on set back in January 2017

47. Honestly, we'd love to see Dany in this look

48. Emilia Clarke with her new costars

49. This headgear seems popular on set

50. Emilia Clarke braving the wind

51. Ben Crompton, Gwendoline Christie, Sophie Turner, Liam Cunningham, and Carice van Houten chilling back in 2015

52. Kristofer Hivju and Bella Ramsey bonding

53. Jonathan Pryce, Hannah Waddingham, and Dean-Charles Chapman playing Heads Up

54. Literally too cute

55. Emilia Clarke using the toilet

56. Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson being badass

57. Gemma Whelan doing some training

58. Kristofer Hivju BTS of Battle of the Bastards

59. What Dany's squad does during down time

60. So that's where the camera goes

61. Wait this is incredible

62. Kristofer Hivju celebrating Liam Cunningham's birthday

63. Sophie Turner and Alfie Allen wearing some cool shades

64. Alfie Allen and Gemma Whelan wearing some more cool shades

65. Emilia Clarke showing us how dangerous the set can be

66. Emilia Clarke's new co-star: cut-out Ryan Gosling

67. Isaac Hempstead Wright and Kristian Nairn, a.k.a. Hodor, a.k.a. Everything

68. Emilia Clarke getting her signature Dany wig put on

69. Emilia Clarke being a boss

70. Emilia Clarke showing off the work of the GOT costuming team

71. Emilia Clarke with a well-deserved Emmy and tiny hands

72. Emilia Clarke doing her best Dany

73. Dean-Charles Chapman and squad

74. Nathalie Emmanuel and Emilia Clarke at the airport on their way to a read through

75. These two!

76. Carice van Houten and Tara Fitzgerald being very sweet

77. Carice van Houten taking a "meliselfie" 

78. Carice van Houten doing voice-over work

79. Carice van Houten making massive fabric clips fashionable

80. Dean-Charles Chapman in the iron throne room

81. Carice van Houten ready to film

82. Carice van Houten wandering around Westeros with an umbrella

83. Carice van Houten's BTS beauty routine

84. Dean-Charles Chapman's first day on Season 5

85. Dean-Charles Chapman owning the throne

86. Sibel Kekilli and Jack Gleeson doing their best 'Twilight'

87. Gwendoline Christie, Finn Jones, Pedro Pascal, Indira Varma, and Lena Headey hit the beach

88. Pedro Pascal, Lena Headey, and Indira Varma soak up the sun

89. Lena Headey and Charles Dance hard at work

90. Pedro Pascal, Natalie Dormer, and Sophie Turner circa 2013

91. Lena Headey getting GOT ready

92. Maisie Williams, Carice van Houten, and Liam Cunningham take what should be theirs

93. Carice van Houten and Liam Cunningham practice archery

• In Instagram Story posts shared while they're quarantining together, Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas gave fans a peek inside their home.
• In the background of one video, there appears to be a castle—begging the question: Do Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas have a Game of Thrones castle in their house as a tribute to Sophie's hit HBO series? 
• Here, we do a deep dive to answer that question.

As people around the world self-isolate to do their part to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, celebrities have been sharing more and more videos—both on social media and via more traditional media outlets like talk shows and late night shows—that give fans a glimpse inside the spaces they call home.

Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas have never been shy about letting fans into their private world, but we're getting even more looks their home life than ever now that they're quarantining together. In one recent TikTok video shared by Joe, fans couldn't help but notice a castle in the background, casually chilling in the couple's home.

Take a look for yourself, in case you missed the video (or just the hidden background castle):

Let's zoom in a bit, for a better look:

So, is this castle a nod to Sophie's HBO hit, Game of Thrones? Let's investigate by comparing Sophie and Joe's castle to the most iconic castles from the series.

Is Sophie and Joe's castle Dragonstone?

No, it's not:

Is Sophie and Joe's castle Winterfell?

Definitely not:

Is Sophie and Joe's castle Castle Black?

That'd be a "hell no":

Is Sophie and Joe's castle The Red Keep?

Nope, sure isn't:

Is Sophie and Joe's castle The Eyrie?

Not even close:

So what IS Sophie and Joe's castle?

Our best guess, after a bit of internet sleuthing: Sophie and Joe's castle is not Game of Thrones-related at all. In fact, it's tied to a completely different magical, British fandom: Harry Potter.

The castle visible in the background of Joe and Sophie's video appears to be a LEGO version of Hogwarts castle:

And, if you want to take a cue from Sophie and Joe and beat your quarantine boredom by constructing a LEGO Hogwarts, you can—but it will cost you. The full, 6,020-piece version of the castle is sold out most places and runs for $800 on Walmart's website:

If that's too rich for your blood, smaller version is available at Target for a fraction of the price—$80, to be exact:

We'll consider this case closed unless further evidence is presented.

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

subscribe here

Warning: This show contains content about suicidal ideation and substance abuse. It may be triggering for some viewers.

Sophie Turner is no stranger to playing survivors. In Game of Thrones, Sansa Stark endured years of trauma and loss and assault to come out the other side a literal queen. And in X-Men, Turner's Jean Grey weathers her own darkness, eventually embracing the immense power she has to offer.

But in her latest project, Survive, Turner plays a young adult who decidedly does not want to go on. The film, which released its first few "chapters" on the mobile streaming platform Quibi on April 6, opens with Turner's character, Jane, living in a facility trying to process the grief from her father's suicide. She, too, is struggling with suicidal ideation, planning to go through with the act on her flight home. Before she can, the plane crashes leaving Jane and just one other passenger, Paul (played by Corey Hawkins) stranded in the snowy mountains. The bite-sized episodes then follow the pair as they physically fight to stay alive while Jane wonders if she even wants to.

It's a role Turner admittedly knew was out of her physical comfort zone: "I had no experience with fighting off wolves or surviving in the mountains," Turner told Marie Claire recently. But at the same time, the actress revealed she felt a connection and familiarity with Jane, due to her personal struggles with mental health.

Here, Turner shares more about the character, what she loves about survival movies, and whether she'd rather fight in Game of Thrones' most brutal battle or battle Survive's icy elements.

Marie Claire: What drew you to this character? Had you read the book by Alex Morel that the film is based on?

Sophie Turner: I just loved the accurate depiction of mental illness. I loved the talent of the people that I was going to be working with. I loved the new innovative platform that it would be shown on. And I loved the book!

MC: Was it different filming a Quibi show, knowing the “chapters” are each only about 10 minutes long? Were you prepping like you were filming short “bites” or as if you were still filming a movie?

ST: We shot the show as if it were a movie and then, post shooting, we went back and looked at our work to see what needed to be condensed/elongated in order for a full story to be told in a 1o-minute episode.

MC: Were you already a fan of any other plane crash movies (like Castaway) or TV shows (like Lost)? If so, what did you take from those programs to bring to Survive?

ST: I always loved survival movies, and I always knew I wanted to be a part of one in some way. So I was more than ready to sign onto a project like this. The only thing I took from other survival movies and shows was just the level of commitment that people brought to the projects. So I knew I wanted to do as much as possible in the real locations and throw myself into it.

MC: You’ve been very outspoken about your own mental health, from battling depression to the benefits of therapy. What about your own mental health journey did you bring to Jane’s arc? Or did anything about Jane’s journey in Survive change your understanding of your own mental health?

ST: I just tried to bring as much honesty to Jane's story regarding mental illness as possible. Having gone through a lot of the things that Jane has, I could edit the script as much as I wanted, with our director and writer, to make sure it all felt as honest as possible.

MC: How have you been surviving during this time of social distancing?

ST: I’m an introvert, so I haven’t really been doing much different than normal!

MC: Other than watching Quibis, what’s something you like doing for 5–10 minute spurts?

ST: Meditating, eating, playing with the pups.

MC: Would you rather have to fight in the Battle of the Bastards and flee from dragons à la Game of Thrones or scale icy mountains and deal with avalanches à la Survive?

ST: As Sophie, I would definitely rather scale icy mountains and deal with avalanches. Battle of the Bastards—I wouldn’t stand a chance.

MC: Which Game of Thrones houses would Paul and Jane be in?

ST: Probably Stark. Who else could survive in such freezing conditions?

The final chapter of Survive will drop on Quibi April 17.

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

subscribe here

Update, 10/29/2019: Per a report from Deadline, a pilot episode of the prequel was filmed—but HBO didn't pick it up, meaning that the project is dead in the water. According to Deadline, the cast and crew have been informed that the project will not be moving past the pilot phase. Apparently, it was "not well received."

Original post, 05/14/2019, Game of Thrones has easily been one of the most popular and buzz-worthy shows of the last decade, and sadly the show is coming to a close with its eighth season this spring. Fans won't be leaving Westeros that quickly, though: In early 2018, HBO confirmed that would officially be going ahead with the idea of Game of Thrones prequel series, and thanks to a handful of details released by HBO this month, we've got all the fun details for you.

What's the show going to be about?

According to HBO, the as-of-now untitled new show (initially rumored to be called "The Long Night") will be set thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones, and would chronicle "the world’s descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour. From the horrifying secrets of Westeros’s history to the true origin of the White Walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend, only one thing is for sure: It’s not the story we think we know."

Who's in the cast?

News broke back in October that Oscar-nominee Naomi Watts is set to lead the cast, with exact details of her character are being kept unsurprisingly under wraps (considering the source, and all.) All we know so far is that she’ll play “a charismatic socialite hiding a dark secret, according to Variety.

Per HBO, also joining Watts is Josh Whitehouse (Poldark), Naomi Ackie (Lady Macbeth), Denise Gough (Monday), Jamie Campbell Bower (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street), Sheila Atim (Harlots), Ivanno Jeremiah (Humans), Georgie Henley (The Chronicles of Narnia films), Alex Sharp (How to Talk to Girls at Parties) and Toby Regbo (The Last Kingdom, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald).

Who's working on the series?

Jane Goldman and GoT author George R.R. Martin are listed as creators of this new series, with Goldman serving as the showrunner. They will both also executive produce alongside SJ Clarkson (The Defenders, Jessica Jones), who is also directing the pilot episode; James Farrell, Jim Danger Gray, Vince Gerardis, Daniel Zelman, and co-executive producer Chris Symes.

Is this the only Game of Thrones spin-off?

Naw, man. We're not leaving Westeros any time soon. This series is just one of at least three future Game of Thrones-related projects that will be coming to a screen near you. According to George R.R. Martin himself,"a couple more shows" set within the franchise are "still being scripted", and probably could end up on HBO at some point in the future. At one point, a rumored five GoT spin-offs were rumored to be in development from writers Bryan Cogman, Max Borenstein, Brian Helgeland and Carly Wray. 

What will it be called?

Don’t worry, you won’t just be tuning in to Game of Thrones: The Prequel, or Game of Thrones: The Early Years, or even a retro-inspired Game of Thrones: Rewind. The highly anticipated new show has reportedly been given the working title of Bloodmoon, to make it a completely stand-alone show in its own right. Although it’s thought to just be a temporary title right now, these things often stick, and it definitely suits the supernatural, fantasy element of Westeros.

When does filming begin?

Excitingly, sources are claiming that shooting has officially commenced for Bloodmoon/the Game of Thrones prequel. According to reports by The Sun, principal photography began in Belfast, Ireland, around a fortnight ago (early May 2019). Interestingly, the source also goes on to say that the series, set five thousand years before the original HBO show, will follow the story of early Westeros inhabitants, the Children of the Forest. We’ve met them in Game of Thrones—they’re the mysterious beings who were living in Westeros when the First Men arrived, 12,000 years before Robert Baratheon's rebellion. They also created the White Walkers as a form of protection against the First Men, so we've got a lot to thank 'em for.

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

SUBSCRIBE HERE

• Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner, who's been keeping a low profile aside from a recent sports game, just took to social media with an important cause.
• She made fun of influencer culture by highlighting the harmful things they sell, often to young kids.
• Turner just landed her first role since GoT, and it looks really, really cool.

Turns out it's not just Jameela Jamil who speaks out again harmful influencer trends and products, particularly those that emphasize unhealthy weight loss and are often aimed at teens and young adults (like weight loss tea and lollipops). Turns out Sophie Turner doesn't love it either, and she took to Instagram early this morning to make a hilarious Instagram influencer satire.

Using a filter that gave her rosy red cheeks and mouth, Turner explained in a fake voice, "Hey guys, just kind of going for my influencer look today...Today I just wanted to promote this new powdered stuff that you put in your teeth, and basically it makes you shit your brains out and is totally really really bad for me to be promoting to young women and young people everywhere. But I don't really give a f*ck because I'm getting paid money. Influencer life!!"

One of the things I love about Turner is that she's vocal about issues she cares about (regardless of how she thinks she might be criticized), and she regularly highlights causes around mental health that pair with the work she's had to do since growing up on Game of Thrones. So this is par for the course for her.

The whole video is on her Instagram Stories, but you can see it here:

And here's a still of her "influencer face" (lol):

I love her so much.

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Don't bother asking Kit Harington how the final season of Game of Thrones turned out on screen, or how it felt to watch Jon kill Daenerys. Not because it's a sore point, or because he's tired of talking Game of Thrones—but because he hasn't actually watched it yet. When Entertainment Tonight asked Harington at the Emmys how he tolerated the controversy over the show's final outing, he responded, "I still haven't seen the show," adding, "So that's how I dealt with that controversy. I haven't seen the final season."

He still took the opportunity to defend the season against fan outrage, however. "I know what it took to shoot it," Harington said. "And it was hard and everyone put their love and effort into it. And controversy—I think for us, we knew what we were doing was right, story-wise. And we knew that it was right for the characters because we lived with them for 10 years. So controversy for us didn't really affect us."

Frankly, it's unsurprising that Harington hasn't revisited season eight: Dany's final scene in particular sounded like a harrowing thing to film. Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter in August, the actor explained, "We felt a sense of responsibility over it. We shot the hell out of it. It was essentially a page and a half of dialogue, and we spent three weeks filming it. They wanted to shoot every conceivable angle, every way, to make sure they got it the way they wanted it."

"When you're shooting the same scene for two weeks and it's a page and a half, it becomes a long exercise in concentration," Harington continued. "You have to remember the energy you're bringing in, every day, and making sure it's consistent. With a highly emotionally charged scene like that, it's quite a lot, for everyone—the crew, me and Emilia. It was tiring. It's one of the hardest things we filmed." Kit, if you're ever tempted to revisit that scene, might I recommend you sit yourself down in front of a soothing episode of The Great British Baking Show instead?

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

subscribe here

Big news for Sophie Turner fans (in other words, all of us): She's coming back to the small screen, in her first TV role since Game of Thrones. And the show sounds tailor-made for bingeing. Survive is an adaptation of Alex Morel's novel of the same name, as Variety reports (and Turner's got a lot of experience with literary adaptations), telling the story of a deadly plane crash on a snowy mountain that leaves only two passengers alive. One is Jane, played by Turner, while Corey Hawkins of Straight Outta Compton will play Paul. The show will air on Quibi, an upcoming streaming service.

"I couldn’t be more honored to portray the role of Jane in 'Survive' for Quibi," Turner said in a statement. "She’s a complex character fighting against the odds to not only save her life, but to also find her own source of strength and courage. I only hope this can impact anyone struggling with self-worth to understand they are braver than they know and to seek the support they need."

I'm going to be honest: I have already Googled the book and spoiled the entire show for myself, so I'm just going to recommend you don't do that.

While Turner might be returning to TV, she won't be revisiting her most famous character any time soon, no matter how hard you might be wishing for a Sansa Stark spin-off. "I think it's time to say goodbye to Sansa. I'm ready...ish, to say goodbye to her," she told Sky News in May. "I think my watch has ended."

"It's been 10 years of my life and the best 10 years of my life by far," Turner continued. "I finished in a very happy place with Sansa and it's time to let her go." Revisiting the character, she said, "would just be more trauma." So that's that: The Queen of the North has spoken!

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

subscribe here

Emilia Clarke and Rose Leslie—I totally didn't know they were BFFs as well as costars, and I am delighted to learn that they're so close they just took a little girls' trip to India together. Maybe they were missing each other, post-Game of Thrones? 

In the caption accompanying some sweet photos of the pair and their trip, Emilia wrote, "[T]his is just two gals buzzed off our faces on India, peace, being robbed blind by monkeys, (we hardly put up a fight) the best two books I’ve read in years (#theoverstory should be mandatory reading the world over), yoga, spice, mamma earth and figuring out that all you’re ever looking for can be found within. Corny as hell but my god is it true."

One commenter noted, "Daenerys and Ygritte chilling in the afterlife together be like," which made me laugh pretty hard, won't lie. They're both Jon Snow's exes, so they probably have some notes about how they were treated. After all, (spoiler alert) he's the reason both of them are dead, so, not a great track record there Jon. He straight up murdered one of them!

Not pictured: The actor who plays Jon Snow, Kit Harington, Rose's husband and their costar. Kit's since left the wellness facility he checked into before the GoT series finale, but there hasn't been much word of him since. He just nabbed a Marvel role, though, so he's back to work soon. 

Anyways, it looks like it was a girls trip (no boys allowed!). Here's the original post, so you can see for yourself:

Game of Thrones BFFs forever. 

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

SUBSCRIBE HERE

When streaming giant Hulu announced earlier this summer that it would be bringing a modern day remake of the classic British romantic comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral to its subscribers, fans of the original were skeptical—could the reboot even begin to capture Carrie (played by the vivacious Andie MacDowell) and her devil-may-care attitude or the forever lovesick nature of Charles (Hugh Grant)?

Despite our reservations, we tuned in when the first few episodes of the Mindy Kaling-helmed miniseries premiered in late July, and, to my surprise and delight, it was really good. Unlike that of the 1994 rom-com, the Four Weddings and a Funeral remake's cast is composed of a diverse group of actors from different backgrounds, all as interesting as they are attractive. Nathalie Emmanuel (most widely known for her role as Daenerys' right-hand woman Missandei in the HBO epic Game of Thrones) leads the pack as Maya, and Nikesh Patel is her Romeo, an investment banker named Kash with a secret dream of becoming an actor.

Rebecca Rittenhouse, John Reynolds, Brandon Mychal Smith, and Zoe Boyle make up the rest of the close-knit millennial friend circle balancing their own ups and downs in London. But the show adds one fun callback to the original film: the onscreen introduction of Andie MacDowell as the well-meaning but hovering mother of Ainsley (Rittenhouse). No sighting of Hugh Grant, but it's safe to assume that he's her dad. Also, Dermot Mulroney makes a cameo as a silver-haired billionaire with a strange Southern accent that I can still get behind (because duh, it's Dermot Mulroney!).

In addition to being more intentionally inclusive in its representation, Hulu's Four Weddings and a Funeral works hard to puts its ensemble cast to use; the remake makes more of an effort to explore the complex relationships of the leads' friends. Maya and Kash's connection is complicated by their respective histories with Ainsley (Rittenhouse), Duffy (Reynolds) is desperately in love with Maya but has a weird spark going on with Gemma (Boyle), and Craig...well, Craig just found out that he has a kid. And he's been keeping her existence a secret from everyone, including his girlfriend. So yeah, it's complicated, to say the least.

With all of its twists and turns, does the mini-series hold a candle to the 1994 original? If you ask the critics, it's not even close; The Hollywood Reporter wasn't exactly impressed ("Nobody here is particularly likeable"), and the characters didn't quite stick with Variety ("They're not likely to make a huge impression beyond their inevitably happy endings"). Still, as a lover of complicated lovelines and cheesy rom-com tropes, I *personally* enjoy the series. I like drama, especially the kind that leaves me shouting at the television screen in frustration, and I live to see people of color fall in love onscreen. The 2019 version of Four Weddings and a Funeral checks both of those boxes, setting up a narrative in which a black woman and a brown man are at the forefront of their love story and not at the sidelines as supporting characters to someone else's journey. It's not perfect by any means—Maya and Kash are pretty terrible people, if we're keeping it real—but it's fun. And messy! And you know we love mess over here.

The show has just two more episodes to go before the season finale, and many are wondering if Maya and Kash's story will come to a satisfactory end this season. Charles and Carrie ended up having a baby together after electing not to get married—can we expect a similar happy ending for the limited series? And will there be another season after the final episode airs next month? That, said creator Mindy Kaling during a July Television Critics Association panel, is up to the viewers. Her co-creator Tracey Wigfield was equally vague; though Four Weddings and a Funeral was "[written] as a complete story," a second season could possibly explore the fallout of Maya and Kash's forbidden loveline.

We won't know the fate of the series until after it ends in September, but who knows? It could get the Big Little Lies treatment and bring the gang back together for a whole new adventure. After all, even the original story had a follow-up. 

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Cast aside that Wednesday slump, friends, for I have a gift for you: Sophie Turner and Jonathan Van Ness met backstage at the VMAs, and the video will sustain me for at least three more days. What could be cuter than two extremely lovely people who are equally big fans of each other finally meeting for the first time? NOTHING. The answer is nothing, and you will wholeheartedly agree with me after watching the clip.

As Entertainment Tonight reports, Sophie and Jonathan ran into each other in the hallway, and it's honestly hard to tell who was more excited. In the video, Sophie shrieks, "Jonathan Van Ness!" and accelerates towards him, while Jonathan is so overwhelmed by the physical presence of Sansa Stark that he screams and turns away.

"You don't know my name! I love you so much, oh my god," he says, as the pair share the first of many hugs. "So happy for [Sansa's] ending. Oh my god, I was so relieved." In case you weren't aware, Jonathan is a major fan of Game of Thrones, so much so that he has a whole (Emmy nominated!) web series about the show, titled Gay of Thrones. 

"I'm obsessed with your show. I think you're incredible," Sophie says, proving that she's just as in love with Queer Eye as the rest of us. Jonathan goes on to congratulate the Queen in the North on her wedding to Joe Jonas, telling her, "Congratulations on your gorgeous summer. I think you're incredible." And then Joe is brought into the mix himself, with Sophie declaring, "You have to meet Joe! You haven't met Joe yet." 

Do yourself a favor and bookmark this article, alright? Winter is coming, and it's going to be long and miserable—but Jonathan and Sophie will help.

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

subscribe here

The Game of Thrones cast took the stage in Hall H this weekend for their last San Diego Comic-Con panel for the show, which aired its series finale earlier this year.

Granted, the full Game of Thrones cast wasn't present, but Westeros still sent a solid showing to the annual fan convention. Maisie Williams (Arya Stark), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister), Isaac Hempstead Wright (Bran Stark), John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), Jacob Anderson (Grey Worm), Liam Cunningham (Davos Seaworth), and Conleth Hill (Varys) all spoke on the panel, poking fun at Coffee Cup Gate and answering questions about the final season.

The fans in the audience were not so pleased with their answers, however. The HBO hit's final season was infamously divisive, with many fans taking issue with everything from specific characters' arcs to the pacing of the episodes.

Coster-Waldau drew actual boos from the crowd when he defended his character's death (in the arms of his sister/lover, Cersei), which left a bad taste in many fans' mouths.

He called the scene "great" and "perfect for that character’s ending."

"It made sense to me," the actor said, defending Jaime's demise, as fans in the crowd literally booed.

Other members of the panel defended the final season on a larger scale, with Hill blaming the perceived negative reception on a "media-led hate campaign" and Coster-Waldau ultimately calling on fans for civility.

"It comes to an end, it’s gonna piss you off no matter what because it’s the end," he said of the final season and all its backlash. "If you hated the ending, if you loved the ending, that’s great. Just don’t call people names."

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

subscribe here

Spoilers for all of Game of Thrones. Of allll the remaining questions that season 8 of Game of Thrones, the one that fans are most confused/frustrated about is why. Why did Dany burn down all of King's Landing, when there were plenty of signs she was trying to be a good person? What happened with the sudden break and the (seemingly) rushed conclusion to her narrative? Michael Sapochnik, who directed the pivotal episodes 3 and 5 of the final season of the show, finally gave some more thoughts on Dany's thought process, and it makes a ton of sense—if still being really, really frustrating, in my opinion. 

So, if he had had the chance to direct episode 4, as was originally planned, he wouldn't have given us Dany's reaction to Missandei as soon as she was killed at the end of episode 4—he would have started episode 5 with that shot of her in her chambers, hair tousled and skin pale, clearly losing her mind. “We said, ‘You’ve never been like this,” he told IndieWire. “It was this idea of us trying to piece her back together, but something’s broken.”

For him, that moment was absolutely pivotal to Emilia Clarke's character, and critical to her downturn—it is, in essence, what makes her mad. “She’s not questioning herself anymore, which is the difference between somebody who, I think, has kind of lost their mind.” So there you have it: Dany really did go mad. It's not just that she makes the decision to have revenge on Cersei/everyone on behalf of her family, it's that she has become unbalanced at the loss of her friend as well.

Also, the decision not to show Dany atop the dragon amid the flames was a deliberate choice. “At that point, you don’t need to see her,” he explained. “We decided not to cut back to her. When she makes that decision, she and the dragon become one.”

Oh, and also, in case we were wondering, the Dany/destruction arc was also aimed specifically at the audience to subvert our wishes and expectations.

Which, I guess I get, but still. Way harsh, Tai.

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

SUBSCRIBE HERE

• Game of Thrones co-stars and real-life best friends Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams want to write a movie about their friendship.
• Sophie revealed their planned foray into screenwriting during an interview with Vogue Paris to promote her new movie, Dark Phoenix. 
• The actress revealed details of what the story would be about and the fact that she bought a screenwriting book to start learning the craft.

Have you ever been hanging out with your friends and thought, "This—this crazy bond we share and the weird things we do together—should be a movie"? Well, turns out famous people have the same thought.

Sophie Turner recently revealed that she and her former Game of Thrones costar/real-life BFF Maisie Williams want to write a movie about their friendship. 

"My best friend Maisie, she and I have a very intense friendship, a friendship that I haven’t had with any of my other girlfriends before," Sophie explained during an interview with 

Vogue Paris alongside her Dark Phoenix costar Jessica Chastain. "We felt like we wanted to write a movie about a friendship where it’s kind of like you’re soulmates, but you’re friends and it’s like this beautiful connection but it can also be quite destructive."

Don't get too excited just yet; Sophie and Maisie have not started writing said movie just yet. But Sophie did reveal that she bought a screenwriting book, which is the first step towards this movie becoming a reality.

"I bought a screenplay writing book!" Sophie said. "To teach myself. Because I can’t write well, but I want to. But I’m just not talented enough."

Watch the full exchange below:

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

subscribe here

It's been exactly 20 days since the series finale of the HBO fantasy epic Game of Thrones aired, and fans are still mourning the loss of what many rightfully consider one of the best television shows to ever exist (despite the fact that I'm personally pretending that last season never happened). Throughout its eight year run, Game of Thrones surprised, devastated, delighted, then devastated us again and again. Moving on after almost a decade of watching one show has been hard, for some more than others; a group of disgruntled Thronies formed a petition to remake the last season, provoking the ire of Sansa Stark herself, Sophie Turner.

Despite the fact that there are a number of television series old and new coming to our screens very soon, and a Game of Thrones prequel starring Naomi Watts is in production as we speak, fans are still all in their feelings about the not-so-sudden conclusion. The Jonas Brothers, in particular, have yet to come to terms with that fact that their watch has ended. In a hilarious behind-the-scenes video of their feature photoshoot for this month's cover of Harper's Bazaar, the trio tries to keep it together in spite of their heartache over the loss of their favorite show. But, like Tyrion's pleas to Daenerys not to turn King's Landing into a backyard barbecue, no dice.

Even though he can pretty much live Game of Thrones out at home—he's literally married to Sansa—Joe is especially despondent about the series' end. In the video, you see him staring into the distance dejectedly, likely remembering the fact that Jon Snow got to be reunited with his direwolf Ghost after all. Kevin and Nick try to help get their brother out of his funk, but they're dealing with their own Game of Thrones-related issues; Kevin can't stop randomly quoting lines from the show (literally me), and Nick has taken up sword fighting à la Arya Stark.

Honestly? Relatable. Almost a month has passed since that fateful episode, but I still sometimes find myself sitting in front of my computer on Sunday nights, expecting to swoon over Jon Snow's perfectly tousled curls.

We miss you, Game of Thrones.

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

SUBSCRIBE HERE

• Continuing to be her hilarious self, Sophie Turner dished on that one time Joe Jonas mistook her stunt double/photo double for her and tried to kiss her.
• Megan Parkinson does look a lot like Sophie, as you'll see.
• Sophie just got secret-married to Joe in Vegas, and they're planning a huge bash this summer.

Sophie Turner, out promoting Dark Phoenix and supporting new husband Joe's Jonas Brother documentary Chasing Happiness, has been giving us more tidbits about the often-hilarious shenanigans that took place on the Game of Thrones set. Speaking to Nova's Smallzy's Surgery and reported in the Daily Mail, Sophie explained that her GoT double looked SO much like her that it caused some, uh, confusion on set. 

In case you didn't know, a photo double is someone who looks so much like a particular actor that they're used for long-shots and back-of-the-head shots (as opposed to a stunt double, who does stunts so the actor doesn't get injured). The Daily Mail IDed Meghan as the double Sophie is referring to.

'On Game of Thrones actually I had a photo double that people would do double takes at because she looked so much like me, it was insane," Sophie said. "Even Joe went up to her at one point and tried to give her a kiss and he was like 'Oh, sorry, sorry it's not Sophie, wrong one!'" Um, that is hilarious. Clearly, it's not an issue, considering Sophie can laugh about it.

Luckily, the same thing isn't about to happen for her stunt doubles on Dark Phoenix. "They don't really look like me, first of all, they are much fitter, have much more muscle and just better looking aesthetically in general," she laughed.

Megan also played a small role on the series, Alys Karstark, so if you're a fan of the show you probably recognize her. For reference, this is what she looks like:

And this is her in action:

I totally see it.

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Ever since Game of Thrones finished its last season, making it the most divisive in the show's history, fans have been asking: will the ending be the same in the book series? (And also: Will we ever get the books? But that's a separate issue.) Luckily for us, but less lucky for book author George R.R. Martin, the actor who plays Bran Stark on the show, Isaac Hempstead Wright, might have just spoiled a huge plot point for the books. 

According to an article on HBO, Isaac spoke about his character, delving in directly to what George told the creators about his character and then how the books basically ended. Oh boy. 

George had already indicated that the book ending would be different than the show, yet similar in some ways. He loves to tease his fans, though, so goodness knows what he actually meant by that. Since the show was so condensed, he likely has different pathways for the characters to get to their end-states—but the fact that we now know a big spoiler is a teeny, tiny bit hilarious, in my opinion.

The thing I find MOST hilarious here is that Issac's character, Bran, is all-seeing and all-knowing, so of course the actor who plays him also knows everything about the book endings too. Game of Thrones book fans likely just made many angry YouTube videos in protest of this new spoiler, I'm guessing. (There have been a lot of thoughts, and fans aren't showing any signs of slowing down.) 

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

SUBSCRIBE HERE

• According to multiple outlets, Game of Thrones actor Kit Harington checked into a "wellness facility" to focus on his health.
• Kit is reportedly working to combat stress and has been in the Connecticut facility since before the finale.
• Just about every Game of Thrones actor has indicated how stressful and draining the last season was. 

Last night, Page Six initially reported that Kit Harington had checked into a "luxury rehab for stress and alcohol use" in Connecticut before the Game of Thrones finale in early May, which "really hit him hard." Kit Harington's rep then confirmed the news, saying, "Kit has decided to utilize this break in his schedule as an opportunity to spend some time at a wellness retreat to work on some personal issues."

According to Page Six, Kit has been undergoing "psychological coaching, practicing mindful meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy to combat stress and deal with negative emotions at the facility, which costs over $120,000 a month." A source added, "He’s in the clinic predominantly for stress and exhaustion and also alcohol. His wife Rose is being extremely supportive. Everyone close to him really wanted him to get some rest. Right now, he just needs peace and quiet."

On the HBO Game of Thrones documentary aired last weekend, "The Last Watch," fans spotted his deep emotions around the show ending. When he learned about Jon killing Dany for the first time, he got very upset, weeping and putting his hand over his mouth. In his final scene, he cried, sweetly calling the cast and crew his "family." "It'll always be the greatest thing I'll ever do," he said of the show.

He told Esquire, "My final day of shooting, I felt fine…I felt fine…I felt fine…then I went to do my last shots and started hyperventilating a bit…Then they called ‘wrap’ and I just f—king broke down. It was this onslaught of relief and grief about not being able to do this again."

Kit has been honest about how draining the role has been—and apparently when his character, Jon Snow, died in season 5 (before being resurrected in season 6), he told Variety, "That was a time when I started therapy, and started talking to people." He added, "I had felt very unsafe, and I wasn’t talking to anyone. I had to feel very grateful for what I have, but I felt incredibly concerned about whether I could even f—king act."

It sounds like it's been a long road for the actor, and that he's taking a break from what must have been an intense experience.

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Y'all, we are about to see a lot of Miley Cyrus. She's got an album on the way, and she's already promoting it in sexy, ASMR fashion with fruit (it's even weirder than it sounds). She's in a cool Black Mirror episode, in which she plays, surprise, a mega-popular pop star. And she's starting to get snapped out and about, last night in London. Lo and behold, her Game of Thrones-inspired vest is giving me major Dany, Mother of Dragons vibes. Miley, a secret Daenarys fan??

Ok, so, Thrones nerd that I am, I technically know that the Targaryen sigil is black and red, which we got full view of during this last season. But that curly golden figure at the center of her vest is giving me major dragon vibes. Plus purple and gold featured a lot on the show, as those are the colors of royalty and wealth. The vintage, old-timey buttons also remind me of some of the costumes on the show. (I don't have an ID yet, but will update if I see one.) AND Miley's hair is still Hannah Montana blonde, so she's even got that going on! Dany never had bangs, of course, although wouldn't that have been an interesting look: Mother of Dragons turned hipster. The point is, now all I can think of is that Miley Cyrus is missing GoT just like me. 

Here's Miley's vest:

Oh and here's the back, in case you're curious:

Doesn't that look like a dragon and a house sigil?? Or have I gone Game of Thrones crazy? (Possibly both.)

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Spoilers for Game of Thrones season 8. The HBO documentary "Game of Thrones: The Last Watch" gave us a lot of behind-the-scene tidbits from the show. We got the fun, sweet dynamic between the actors and the absolute joy they have playing these iconic roles. But one of the most hilarious moments was the Jon-Dany kissing scenes from Game of Thrones, while the dragons look on creepily. Turns out that scene was MUCH creepier and weirder than any of us even imagined. And the details are utterly hysterical.

Actors Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke get ready together in the morning (Kit doing fake vocal exercises, Emilia giggling at him) and the two spend a ton of time prepping for their big moments. Turns out, not only were the two actors—who are super-good friends in real life but admit that it's weird snogging a friend that you have absolutely no feelings for—joking around and laughing behind the scenes, but the showrunners were also there for that big kiss. It's the big one, right before the couple starts to fall apart, so it's a pivotal scene.

Yes, that's right, as Jon and Dany make out, D.B. Weiss and David Benioff are juuuuust off-screen discussing the minutiae of the kiss in excruciating, cringeworthy detail. The director (who looks like Miguel Sapochnik, who did the big battle episodes) is also just straight up shouting directions at them as they go through the scenes about what the dragons are doing behind them and how they should move their heads and bodies. So not only is it awkward to kiss, but everyone is shouting and giving directions at the same time, lol.

Also, let's not forget that Emilia's brother works on the camera department...just in case it wasn't weird enough. The fact that they were able to get into character AT ALL is a miracle.

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

SUBSCRIBE HERE