MOVIE NEWS – After a huge success, House of the Dragon was renewed for the 3rd season and became HBO’s hit series with a record-breaking premiere audience!

House of the Dragon was an overwhelming success for HBO when it debuted in 2022. The first season averaged 29 million viewers per episode between the channel and its streaming platform Max. Now, ahead of the premiere of the second season of the series based on the book “Fire and Blood” by author George R.R. Martin, HBO has officially renewed the series for a third season.

Set 172 years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon tells one of the most devastating chapters in Targaryen history, in the form of a feud for the throne that affected the future of all of Westeros.

The popular HBO spinoff series first starred Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower, respectively, before being replaced by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke, who play older versions of the characters. The series also stars Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra’s father, King Viserys Targaryen.

According to Variety, the renewal of House of the Dragon follows the success of the first season. After all, the debut episode achieved the highest viewership of the channel’s premiere so far, both among linear viewers and Maxon streamers. HBO’s head of programming and drama series, Francesca Orsi, wrote in a statement that the channel was so “swooned” by showrunner Ryan Condal’s second season of House of the Dragon that it was an easy decision to renew for a third season.

“George, Ryan, and the rest of our incredible executive producers, cast, and crew, have reached new heights with the phenomenal second season.”

“We are in awe of the dragon-sized effort the entire team has put into the creation of a spectacular season two, with a scope and scale that is only rivaled by its heart. We could not be more thrilled to continue the story of House Targaryen and watch this team burn bright again for season three.”

The news about the order for the 3rd season of House of the Dragon comes on the heels of the fact that the series received strong reviews even before the second season. In fact, even we loved it: you can find our review here. It was rated fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with an 88% rating.

This is slightly below the first season, which has a score of 93%. However, season two’s ratings could still rise, as it has only received a few dozen reviews so far, compared to its predecessor’s 869 reviews. According to the first critics of the second season of the House of the Dragon, “A brutal return for the fantasy epic that sets up a tantalizing conflict where no one is safe” (Total Film), while others say the series “has seemingly reached its cruising altitude, while continuing to take big creative swings” (CNN).

What can fans expect from House of the Dragon Season 2?

While the first season of House of the Dragon was filled with political intrigue, murder, and, of course, dragons, Season 2 looks to continue that trend. This time, giving fans an even wider insight into the history of House Targaryen. Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen), Emma D’Arcy (Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen), Olivia Cooke (Queen Alicent Hightower) and Eve Best (Princess Rhaenys Targaryen) will return in the second season. The range is expanded with new actors: Gayle Rankin (Alys Rivers), Simon Russell Beale (Ser Simon Strong), Freddie Fox (Ser Gwayne Hightower) and Abubakar Salim (Alyn of Hull).

Season 2 of House of the Dragon also ups the ante in terms of terror, especially with the subplot known as “Blood and Cheese” among fans.

This is said to rival the “Red Wedding” seen in the episode “Reign of Castamere” towards the end of the third season of Game of Thrones. Showrunner Ryan Condal has already aired the moment and called it “pretty horrific”.

Source: Variety