The reign of House Targaryen begins: House of the Dragon, the prequel to Game of Thrones, is here. Based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood,” the series, which is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, tells the story of House Targaryen.
House of the Dragon stars Paddy Considine (HBO’s The Third Day and The Outsider), Matt Smith (Doctor Who), Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, Steve Toussaint (It’s a Sin, Doctor Who), Eve Best, Sonoya Mizuno, Fabien Frankel, and Rhys Ifans. Additional cast members include Milly Alcock, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Emily Carey, Harry Collett, Ryan Corr, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jefferson Hall, David Horovitch, Wil Johnson, John Macmillan, Graham McTavish, Ewan Mitchell, Theo Nate, Matthew Needham, Bill Paterson, Phia Saban, Gavin Spokes, and Savannah Steyn.
For in-depth thoughts on House Of The Dragon: The Complete First Season, please see my colleague Chipznstix’s reviews from its original television debut:
- Episode One – The Heirs Of The Dragon
- Episode Two – The Rogue Prince
- Episode Three – Second Of His Name
- Episode Four – King Of The Narrow Sea
- Episode Five – We Light The Way
- Episode Six – The Princess and The Queen
- Episode Seven – Driftmark
- Episode Eight – The Lord Of The Tides
- Episode Nine – The Green Council
- Episode Ten – The Black Queen
Video Quality
House Of The Dragon follows in the footsteps of Game Of Thrones as it takes an already stunning Blu-Ray presentation and makes it even more jaw-dropping with a gorgeous 4K UHD Blu-Ray upgrade in 2.00:1. The Dolby Vision/HDR is unbelievable from the more nuanced and balanced colors to vivid highlights in specific settings. The dazzling landscapes remain stable and do not suffer from banding or blooming no matter how hard they are pushed with swift changes. This series is one that benefits immensely from 4K UHD with improvements to image stability and deeper black levels that improve shadow detail notably. Everything appears precise from the skin tones to the colors of the clothing and the landscapes. There are hues on display that appear more accurate than any other presentation could handle.
The clarity and detail present in nearly every shot is simply astounding, exposing nuances otherwise imperceptible due to the limitations of the format. We visit so many different environments this season, and each space feels like a new opportunity to dive deep into a new world. A pleasing amount of depth is gained with this transfer, both in close-up and long shots. Subtle details in the production design that might blend in with the background are incredibly clear and well defined, which makes you appreciate the care put into the crafting of this show even more. Many elements have a greater sense of texture in this format. This 4K UHD transfer is the way to harness the full visual majesty of this series.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray set offers a substantial upgrade in the form of a completely immersive Dolby Atmos presentation that brings this world to life in a palpable manner. The Atmos presentation takes full advantage of the expanded channel allotment. When you have a series so focused on dragons, it is not surprising that you get some thrilling moments of height immersion from overhead channels. Sounds of flying up above may be expected, but it gives the action such a more visceral quality. Environmental effects also create a surprising sonic experience no matter if the location is more bustling or subdued.
This track goes beyond just being loud and busy, as the sound design has been crafted with an eye for nuance. Directionality of sound is pinpoint accurate, and dialogue is reproduced with supreme clarity. The track handles the immersion into the various lands with precision so that even the most subtle elements are represented. All of the sounds are balanced well during action sequences that are not uncommon throughout the season. This show always takes the opportunity to dig deep in the low end. Speakers remain thoroughly engaged throughout the season no matter the environment. The audio presentation is a flawless experience from start to finish. There are optional English SDH, French, German, Danish and Spanish subtitles provided.
Special Features
- Welcome To Westeros: A six-minute piece which introduces you to this next chapter in the Game of Thrones universe with a broad overview of the story, the main players, the world that is inhabited and more.
- A New Reign: A three-minute featurette with the creative team in which they discuss the transition away from Game of Thrones into a new story inspired by the ideas of George R.R. Martin.
- Returning To Westeros: A nearly five-minute examination of the challenges and pressures faced by those trying to follow in the footsteps of Game Of Thrones.
- Before The Dance – An Illustrated History with George R.R. Martin: A nearly six-minute piece with Martin which further fills in some details into the complex history of this story complete with help from illustrations and clips.
- Height Of An Empire: A four-minute look at how this series focuses on the previously unknown history of the house of Targaryen and what this series has allowed the creative team to really explore.
- Noble Houses: A helpful four-minute look at some of the royal families depicted in the show and how they factor into the story.
- Familiar Places: A nearly four-minute look at how going back into this period of time required the entire creative team to step up their game to create something unique to this world.
- Return To The Seven Kingdoms: A more substantial 25-minute piece which takes a look at the decision to keep the Game of Thrones world going, what the cast and crew wanted to accomplish with the series, the casting of key characters, the place of dragons in this world, the shooting spaces and more.
- Introducing the Characters: A 15-minute collection of basic character overviews from the creative team and the performers who inhabit them.
- Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen
- Prince Daemon Targaryen
- King Viserys I Targaryen
- Otto Hightower
- Rhaenyra & Alicent
- Lord Coryls Velaryon, “The Sea Snake”
- Princess Rhaenys Targaryen
- Ser Criston Cole
- Mysaria
Final Thoughts
The debut season of House Of The Dragon finds the show deliberately trying to forge its own path separate from the glory that was Game of Thrones. In just ten episodes, the show has accomplished what it set out to do as you become fully invested in the tangled web of a narrative which keeps your pulse racing at every turn. There is not a false note among the sprawling ensemble, and the care put into the crafts reminds you that this is one of the most impeccably formed shows in modern television. With only one season in the books, the show has already established itself as a classic in the making. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and HBO have delivered a 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a flawless A/V presentation and some worthwhile special features. Fans of the series will be delighted to add this one to their collection. Highly Recommended
House Of The Dragon: The Complete First Season is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and HBO have supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.

Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.