The spin-off had considerable competition when it came to the intro, asGame of Thrones’opening was unforgettable.
YetSeason 1’s title sequencedidn’t disappoint.
Fittingly, that is what the image is focused on.
Image by Jefferson Chacon
Among them were the ancient Targaryen ancestors, acquiring the power that defined the house for ages to come.
Though the bond is mysterious, it is what makes the Targaryens special.
Instead, it focuses on the next event that directly leads to the Targaryens ruling Westeros, the Doom.
The reign of House Targaryen begins with this prequel to the popular HBO seriesGame of Thrones.Based on George R.R. Martin’sFire & Blood,House of the Dragonis set nearly 200 years beforeGame of Thrones, telling the story of the Targaryen civil war with King Viserys.
Like the original bond, the cataclysmic event is largely unknown because no one who witnessed it survived.
An image of a woman holding a dying man set the tone for the Doom of Valyria.
It was then that the Targaryens established their home on Dragonstone, where they remained for several generations.
Their war kills many in Westeros, as shown on the tapestry with fallen bodies soaked in blood.
This image showsBalerion and Vhagar’s mouths open as they consume a bloody castleand those who protected it.
Aenys' rule was relatively uneventful, but Targaryens never stay at peace for long.
Though Jaehaerys and Alysanne had 13 children, Jaehaerys outlived all of them.
On either side of the king are the claimants with their spouses.
Next,Aegon and Rhaenyra appear on dueling thrones.
Image via HBO
This act pushed Rhaenyra to declare war rather than search for a peaceful solution.
The next image shows part of Aegon’s reaction to his son’s death.
The Battle of Rook’s Rest
Season 2, Episode 6 includes a new image.
Image via HBO
The Battle of Rook’s Rest was not the first battle in the Dance of the Dragons.
That distinction goes to the Battle of the Burning Mills, which is left out of the tapestry.
However,this is the first battle with a Targaryen presence and, more importantly, dragons.
Image via HBO
The soldiers burn, dying horrifically in dragonfire, just as they did in the episode.
However, Meleys is not the only dragon to participate in the battle.
After luring the Black’s largest dragon, the Greens fight back with two of their own.
Image via HBO
Above the army, the two dragons claw and breathe fire at each other.
Represented in the image by a dragon flying above is Vhagar, the third dragon on the scene.
Then Vhagar fights Meleys, killing the dragon and her rider.
Image via HBO
The fallout from the battle is long-lasting and directly contributes to the next major event.
The Red Sowing
The Season 2 finale completes the tapestry, at least for now.
The newest image reflects the end of the penultimate episode by showing the shift in dragon power.
Image via HBO
As the picture slowly forms, it depictsVhagar blocked by Rhaenyra’s Syrax with six more dragonsbacking her up.
The addition of Vermithor, Seasmoke, and Silverwing shows theSowing of the Seeds, if not directly.
These three are claimed in Rhaenyra’s search for more dragonriders, but not by officially Targaryens.
Image via HBO
The tapestry’s image is somewhat different, as not all Rhaenyra’s dragons were there.
Most notably, Caraxes was in the Riverlands with Daemon during this event.
However, it does bring the image of Rhaenyra in front of her dragons to mind.
Image via HBO
The additional dragons have many implications, but most importantly, they change the tides of war.
Before this moment, there was nothing Aemond and Vhagar needed to fear.
The giant dragon could likely have taken on most (if not all) of Rhaenyra’s dragons simultaneously.
Image via HBO
But that is no longer the case.
Though it doesn’t show a battle, this image illustratesthe Greens' disadvantage.
And, all the while, the iconic song gets the audience in the mood.
Image via HBO
House of the Dragonis available to stream on Max in the U.S. with new episodes on Sundays.
Image via HBO
Image via HBO
Image via HBO
Image via HBO
Image via HBO
