Rise, dragon queen

Game Of Thrones prequel series House Of The Dragon puts young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen on the Iron Throne and seven kingdoms' worth of enemies baying for her blood.

- CRAIG FALCK

House Of The Dragon

Season 1 Mondays (from 22 August)

M-Net (*101) 03:00 & 21:30

Fantasy series Game Of Thrones (GOT) ended on a low, with fans angry at how the story was altered from author George RR Martin's novels (which he hasn't finished writing but did tell the show bosses what he'd planned). Now George has more control over his creations with much-hyped prequel series House Of The Dragon, which is set 200 years before Game Of Thrones and focuses on the blond-haired warmongering Targaryen bloodline. You know, the family that ride dragons and unleash fiery fury on their enemies! "We're only talking about the Targaryens this time but obviously there are the other names that we know from GOT," says producer Ryan J Condal. "And what we're doing is looking at their inner strife and fighting over the Iron Throne." It all starts with the most unassuming of characters... young Rhaenyra Targaryen, played by Milly Alcock (Meg in drama series Upright) and Emma D'Arcy (Sonia in action series Hanna) as the older version.

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