1. "House of the Dragon" is an American fantasy drama television series, created by George R. R. Martin and Ryan Condal for HBO. It is a prequel to the popular series "Game of Thrones" (2011-2019). 2. The show is part of Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire franchise, with Condal and Miguel Sapochnik serving as showrunners for the first season. 3. Set approximately 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen, the series is based on parts of Martin's 2018 book "Fire & Blood". 4. The series portrays events leading up to the decline of House Targaryen and the devastating war of succession known as the "Dance of the Dragons". 5. The series received a straight-to-series order in October 2019, with casting beginning in July 2020 and principal photography starting in April 2021 in the United Kingdom. 6. The series premiered on August 21, 2022, with the first season consisting of ten episodes. It was renewed for a second season five days after its premiere. 7. Sapochnik departed as showrunner after the first season, with Condal serving as the sole showrunner for the second season. The second season premiered on June 16, 2024, with eight episodes. 8. In June 2024, ahead of the second-season premiere, the series was renewed for a third season. 9. The series has received positive reviews, with praise for its character development, visual effects, writing, score, and performances, particularly from actors Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy, and Olivia Cooke. 10. The series premiere was watched by over 10 million viewers across linear channels and HBO Max on the first day, breaking HBO's viewership record. 11. For its first season, "House of the Dragon" won a Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama, with Emma D'Arcy earning a nomination for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama. It earned nine Emmy Award nominations and won three British Academy Television Craft Awards. 12. D'Arcy received another Golden Globe Award nomination for their performance in the second season.