In the time before the events of Game of Thrones, the Targaryens had been hit by several great tragedies. The Doom of Valyria was an extraordinary cataclysm that wiped out Valyria, as well as countless people and numerous dragons. The next tragedy that would hit this great family was the Dance of the Dragons, which the new series House of the Dragon is building towards.
The Dance of the Dragons was a civil war that brew internally within the Targaryen rule. It stemmed from the decisions made by King Viserys I, especially regarding his successor. The first episode of House of the Dragon has multiple scenes and moments that foreshadow this impending war, from the subtle to the blatantly obvious.
Spoilers ahead for the first episode of House of the Dragon.
10 King Jaehaerys' Words Set The Precedent For The Show
The introduction to the premiere of House of the Dragon does an exceptional job of bringing the audience back into the world of Game of Thrones. The first scene shows the elderly King Jaehaerys Targaryen as he announces his successor, choosing between Viserys and Rhaenys.
The final words of the opening scene set the precedent for the series, as Jaehaerys knew, "the only thing that could tear down the house of the dragon was itself." Jaehaerys did his best to avoid a war breaking out by calling the lords to name the new successor. However, those words are clear foreshadowing that Viserys won't necessarily do the same.
9 Viserys Breaks Tradition And Names Rhaenyra As His Heir
As the opening scene shows, the council was reluctant to choose a woman as Jaehaerys' heir, instead choosing Viserys over Rhaenys. It shows the fear and outrage that came with putting a woman in power during that time. The blatant sexism is also there throughout Game of Thrones, although there are numerous strong female characters actively seeking progression.
However, Viserys chooses his daughter Rhaenyra as his heir, which opens up that fear and outrage once again. It angers all the male claimants for the succession and will be one spark of many to ignite the coming conflicts.
8 Viserys Does Nothing To Hide His Desires To Have A Son
Viserys doesn't hide his desire for a baby boy with his wife Aemma Arryn. Sadly, she had multiple failed births ever since providing Viserys with a healthy daughter, Rhaenyra. Aemma even dies while giving birth to a baby boy during the first episode, but the child also dies. Through his grief, Viserys makes Rhaenyra his heir.
Yet the idea lingers that Viserys could easily choose another woman to bring him a son. This son could even hold his preference over Rhaenyra, due to tradition and his longtime ambitions. The first episode is blatant in its showing of Viserys' need to have a son.
7 The Remains Of Balerion Are A Reminder That Dragons Are Not Untouchable
When Viserys meets with Rhaenyra to discuss her becoming his heir, he calls her to the skeleton of his old dragon, Balerion. Viserys rode Balerion until the dragon eventually died of old age. Viserys never bonded with another dragon after that.
A dragon dying of old age seems surprising and unlikely, especially given everything that happens to the dragons in Game of Thrones. Yet the concept of a dead dragon is a reminder that they do not guarantee victory and immortality. Dragons can die in a multitude of ways, the same as human beings.
6 There Are Hints That Otto Hightower May Not Be The Honorable Hand He Claims To Be
Otto Hightower is introduced as a faithful Hand of the King to Viserys Targaryen, but as the first episode moves along, glimpses into his true desires are teased. He clashes with Viserys' brother Daemon in front of the king, which is a feud that will certainly be revisited down the line.
However, when Viserys is grieving over the deaths of his wife and child, Otto sends his daughter Alicent to go and look after the king. This could appear as a nice and thoughtful gesture, but asking Alicent to wear her mother's nicest dress immediately implies an ulterior motive. These motives could well be rooted in strategy and malicious intent, not too dissimilar to the clever Petyr Baelish in Game of Thrones.
5 The Council Descends On Succession Talks In The Immediate Aftermath Of Aemma And Baelon's Deaths
In the aftermath of the deaths of Viserys' wife and newborn son, Otto Hightower swiftly leads the small council to discuss who should be the next heir to the Iron Throne. It quickly becomes a free-for-all, with mentions of Rhaenyra, Rhaenys, and Daemon all mentioned while a grieving Viserys sits there, visibly growing in anger.
The king eventually erupts, shouting at the small council about the deaths of his family, "I will not suffer crows that come to feast on their corpses." This is foreshadowing the squabbles and war that will likely happen when he dies, which is when his successor will have to be named.
4 Viserys' Mystery Illness Foreshadows His Impending Demise
During the opening episode, Viserys is shown to have a mysterious wound on his back that the maesters are unsure about. It is a short scene, but it wouldn't be surprising for the affliction to resurface again in a future episode.
The mystery surrounding this potential threat to the king's wellbeing foreshadows that it could get worse before more is discovered about it. The king's succession causes enough stress as it is, but for the king to die so soon would send all those vying for the crown into a frenzy, sparking the civil war.
3 Rhaenys And Corlys Still Hold An Obvious Grudge Against Viserys' Rule
Rhaenys is known as "The Queen Who Never Was" due to her being cast aside in favor of Viserys to become Jaehaerys Targaryen's successor. Both Rhaenys and her husband Corlys Velaryon hold an obvious resentment for this decision. Yet for the most part, they still remain loyal servants to Viserys during his reign, albeit with a cold and sometimes reluctant delivery.
The premiere doesn't show much more than glimpses into this hostility, but the tension has the potential to boil over. The talk of Viserys' heir following the death of his newborn son has Corlys perk up and quickly throw his wife's name back into the ring. This is quick proof that should a civil war break out, they would be raring to go.
2 Daemon Shows His Ruthless Streak
Prince Daemon quickly announces himself as an unpredictable threat. His performance proves that he isn't unbeatable. If anything, though, this makes him more dangerous, as he isn't afraid to play dirty. Daemon leads the City Watch to storm King's Landing, beating and killing as many criminals as they can find.
This showing of brutal justice is just a taste of what could be to come in a war. Add this to the fact that Daemon is later renounced as Viserys' heir to the iron throne, and this does not bode well for anyone who gets in his way.
1 Viserys And Daemon's Strained Relationship Sets Things In Motion
Beyond their arguments and outbursts, the brothers Viserys and Daemon Targaryen do love each other. Yet Viserys always has to support and cover for Daemon as he gets into trouble and does whatever he wants. However, when a grieving Viserys strips Daemon of being his heir to the Iron Throne, this familial bond shows that its cracks can have potentially catastrophic consequences.
The Dance of the Dragons is known as a Targaryen civil war, as family members begin fighting among themselves. A part of the foundations for the conflict is laid in this scene. The ultimate conflict may not be as simple as Rhaenyra versus Daemon for the immediate succession, but it shows a fracture in the Targaryen family all the same.