The much-vaunted Game of Thrones prequel has just teased us with a first look at official pictures and just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.

You remember THAT Game of Thrones finale, don’t you? The absolute train wreck which, depending on who you ask, almost certainly ruined the entire series? Well let House of the Dragon, the upcoming prequel help you forget those bad memories. I’m ready to be hurt again.

Given how successful GoT was, spinoffs were a given – bad finale or no bad finale. It was reported only last month that three possible spinoffs were in development at HBO, including one solely focusing on the filthily-named Flea Bottom, the poorest slum in King’s Landing.

First though, we have House of the Dragon, and the first official pictures were dropped this week by HBO on social media.

The series takes place 300 years before the events of GoT and focuses the story on House Targaryen and the civil war called the “Dance of the Dragon.” Surely that means a lot more dragons then.

One of the first snaps shows us Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and Prince Daemon Targaryen (played by former Doctor Who, Matt Smith). Both sport flowing and luscious platinum blonde hair, naturally.

Another photo features Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) beside Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans, seriously the casting is on point for the show so far). A picture of a character called the Sea Snake (Steve Toussaint) is perhaps most striking of all.

Cast members undergoing what looks like a table read are also shown, including Paddy Considine who plays King Viserys Targaryen.

In an accompanying statement, HBO described the characters in more detail. Rhaenyra Targaryen is “the king’s first-born child, she is of pure Valyrian blood, and she is a dragonrider. Many would say that Rhaenyra was born with everything … but she was not born a man.”

Daemon Targaryen is “the younger brother to King Viserys and heir to the throne. A peerless warrior and a dragonrider, Daemon possesses the true blood of the dragon. But it is said that whenever a Targaryen is born, the gods toss a coin in the air.”

Otti Hightower, meanwhile, is the Hand of the King to King Visery Targaryen, and Alicent is his daughter. The former sees “the greatest threat to the realm is the king’s brother, Deamon, and his position as heir to the throne.” The latter is described as “the most comely woman in the Seven Kingdoms.”

And the Sea Snake is revealed to be the most famed nautical adventurer in the history of Westeros, otherwise known as Lord Corlys of House Velaryon.

HBo also revealed that production on House of the Dragon has just begun and it will be available to stream on HBO Max in 2022. And no matter how the series ends up turning out, it at least won’t cost as much as Amazon’s new Lord of the Rings TV series.

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