Speaking of dragons, how do they steer these things? There is no bridle, no reins, the riders don't wear spurs, they don't even say "turn left, turn right, go up, go down" or anything. How do these dragons know what to do?
It has to do with the Dragon bonding with the rider. The dragon's do have somewhat of an empathic link when they bond with them. Even in the original Game of Thrones, Dany was pretty much able to telepathically summon Drogon in the gladiator pit.
Completely forgot this released a week ago, but just ordered my copy on Amazon to add to my other A Song of Fire and Ice expanded universe source books.
The Rise of the Dragon: An Illustrated History of House Targaryen Volume 1
Ryan Condal posted today the very first concept artwork produced for HOTD, by Gary Gianni. Speaking on his podcast:
"When I was pitching HOTD, I actually hired him to do a scene from my pilot as a pen and ink drawing to show to HBO as a sort of a proof of concept - bring the thing to life. [...] He did the funeral from the pilot where Rhaenyra's mother is burned by the dragon after the baby dies and she dies. [...] When I initially developed the pilot, Rhaenyra was much younger, so it's a much younger version of Rhaenyra."
Having not read Fire and Blood, I had been going into this show without knowing what was going to happen.
However, in advance of the new season, I went back and watched the first four seasons of GoT, and unfortunately there is a casual comment that's actually a massive spoiler for HoD midway through series 3 (I assume its a spoiler given the names of the characters) which kind of led me to lose a bit of interest. In hindsight, maybe they should edit that line out on streaming services!
Still will be watching along. Shame the season is only eight episodes.
I've watched GOT around 3 times and I don't remember any of the lore regarding Targs. They always had the same name or something so close I couldn't tell the difference.
There is a throwaway scene where Joffrey is showing Margaery around the Sept of Baelor and pointing out various dead Targaryens and how they met their end. As you say, without reading up on it, it could be just a different character who happens to have the same name, but seems like too much of a coincidence to me given the what is described.
Anyway here's that scene for anyone interested (right at the start of the video - you have been warned!), or if anyone who has read Fire and Blood would like to confirm (obviously under spoiler tags):
EDIT: From the YouTube comments I see that it is confirmed as a spoiler. Dammit Joffrey!
There is a throwaway scene where Joffrey is showing Margaery around the Sept of Baelor and pointing out various dead Targaryens and how they met their end. As you say, without reading up on it, it could be just a different character who happens to have the same name, but seems like too much of a coincidence to me given the what is described.
Anyway here's that scene for anyone interested (right at the start of the video - you have been warned!), or if anyone who has read Fire and Blood would like to confirm (obviously under spoiler tags):
EDIT: From the YouTube comments I see that it is confirmed as a spoiler. Dammit Joffrey!
I mean... I feel like this is a 'your mileage may vary' situation. If you're actively watching a prequel series and go back and watch an earlier show that is set canonically later than the show you're currently watching, it's kind of on you if you get spoiled on the history of the realm that's playing out in the current show.
I haven't read the book that HotD is based on either, but I've read the hell out of the Wiki of Ice and Fire to co-GM a game of thrones based game with my husband years ago. Despite knowing how the Dance of Dragons plays out, I'm still enjoying HotD immensely. There's a BIG difference, IMO, between knowing something from someone in another show talking about it, or reading it on a website and "experiencing" it with a well-produced, well-written, and well-acted show.
