While Game of Thrones' ending is a controversial one, folks have returned to Westeros thanks to its spinoffs (which are streaming with an HBO Max subscription). While we're currently in the midst of House of the Dragon Season 3, fans are also looking forward to the second season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. However, the showrunner explained why filming its sophomore season has been brutal. And after hearing his recollection, I totally get that description.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms trolled the fans with its first few episodes, and its comedic tone set it apart from the rest of the GOT franchise. Eventually, the drama came with Duncan's trial, and I can't wait to see what happens in Season 2 of the book-to-screen adaptation. In a conversation with THR, creator/ showrunner Ira Parker spoke about how challenging it's been filming the second time around, offering:

Yikes. While one might have thought that the HBO show's scale and epic medieval battles made filming difficult, but for Season 2 it was mostly about the weather. Indeed, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms had to stop filming Season 2 due to historic rains that flooded the set in Gran Canaria, Spain. One can only imagine what a logistical nightmare that created for the cast and crew, as well as how it affected the shooting schedule as a whole.

Later in the same interview, Parker went on to share more about the chaos that happened when the drought set surprisingly flooded in the middle of principal photography. In his words:

My mind is spinning, and I'm not actually involved in A Knight of the Seen Kingdoms. While one might assume that the hardest part of filming its sophomore season would be meeting fan expectations after Season 1, but that wasn't the case. Instead, they dealt with an unprecedented situation that must have been a headache to figure out. And production is still happening as a result of the weather that complicated things back in April.

It's not all bad, though. Ira Parker also praised his cast's work during the ups and downs of bringing Season 2 to life. In his words:

While the weather has brought new challenges to AKotSK, at least Parker could rely on his cast. Specifically, it's two leading actors who play Dunk and Egg, respectively. And at least the first season racked up a bunch of 2026 Emmy nominations.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is currently expected to return for Season 2 sometime in early 2027. For now, new episodes of House of the Dragon air Sundays on HBO as part of the 2026 TV schedule.

There be dragons in House of the Dragon, and while we'll see them gobble down the occasional sheep or person in the Game of Thrones spinoff, the show doesn't get too heavy into their eating habits. While that could still happen as Season 3 continues its run through the 2026 TV schedule, we have someone who did the math and thinks they have a solid idea of how much the gargantuan beasts eat.

As we wait for the next episode to arrive on HBO (or streaming via HBO Max subscription), Reddit is on the case and figuring out how much a dragon in this universe would need to survive. The numbers, as one might expect, are staggering and have me questioning if the Game of Thrones universe will have to address this at some point.

The Dragons May Consume Tens Of Millions Of Calories A Day

Credit to /u/SupSeal for doing the math, who estimated that a dragon in House of the Dragon would need about 23,333,333 calories daily to survive. They arrived at that number using the caloric intakes of blue whales, the largest creatures on Earth, as a reference, and then divided that number by the low end of five, to account for dragons being reptiles and needing fewer calories than mammals. Read about it more below:

The numbers vary depending on who you ask, but the dragons would require a few hundred sheep a day on average to survive. They could also supplement with a few humans, as we know dragons eat them too. It's no wonder Sheepstealer got that name if he was picking off that many people's livestock on the daily!

Why House Of The Dragon Likely Focuses Less On Dragon Eating Habits

I wouldn't imagine that House of the Dragon Season 3 is going to focus on the eating habits of its dragons, as the crown is already short enough on funds as it is. With the Greens burning through the royal funds, Rhaenyra inherited a throne that is not only incredibly chaotic, but heavily in debt.

It's left the kingdom unable to pay its soldiers, and in a vulnerable position as Lord Ormund Hightower continues to gain ground with his forces. Obviously, Rhaenyra still has a healthy amount of dragons and plot armor that prevents them from needing to feast most of the time they're on camera. Who knows, maybe the dragons of this universe have incredibly slow metabolisms, and can thrive off only eating just a few sheep a day?

Now that people are making theories, I would love to hear George R.R. Martin's take on the matter. For someone so critical of the size of dragon wings, and how they're portrayed in the spinoff, you'd think he'd have a lot to say about this as well.

House Of The Dragon continues on HBO on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. ET. This season is getting so tense with a stomach-churning ending to the latest episode, I can't wait to see where it all ends up!

Spoilers for Season 3 of House of the Dragon are ahead! You can stream the series with an HBO Max subscription, and catch new episodes every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on the streamer and HBO.

There are conspiracy theories surrounding House of the Dragon that are both thought-provoking and hilarious. To me, one of the best examples is the recently developed one about Ormund Hightower and his skills as a hairstylist. That’s right, after he bleached a kid’s hair and pulled a switcheroo on Rhaenyra to hide the real Daeron Targaryen, people are wondering if the actual Daeron’s hair is also dyed. Thankfully, someone asked the actor who plays the Hightower about it.

As HOTD continues to air on the 2026 TV schedule, we’ve been learning more and more about the relationship between Ormund and Alicent’s youngest son, Daeron. In Episode 4 of Season 3, we got our best look yet, as the lord manipulated the prince and made him kill a man at the end of the episode. We also got to hear all about how much Ormund hates the Targaryens, and how he wants Daeron to be a Hightower. So, it’s not far-fetched to believe he’s dyeing the kid’s hair a reddish-brown color so he looks more like a Hightower than a Targaryen.

Commenting on the discourse surrounding the dye, James Norton, who plays Ormund, told TV Guide:

While Norton didn’t confirm if Daeron is a natural redhead or not, he did dive into the psychology that could play into a choice to intentionally dye his hair.

We know that Ormund hates the Targaryens, and I’d buy it if he wanted the prince he watches over to look nothing like them. Right now, you wouldn’t really know Daeron was related to Aemond, Aegon and Helaena unless you saw that his last name was Targaryen. That’s because of his hair; while his siblings all have white hair, his is Hightower red, like his mother. So, if that was an intentional disguise on Ormund’s part, and not just his natural hair color, it’d be a clever yet extra move. Speaking to that point, the actor said:

Overall, James Norton finds this whole theory fascinating. However, he also noted that it’s not addressed in Season 3 of House of the Dragon. Just because it’s not directly addressed, though, doesn’t mean it's totally invalid, as the man who plays Ormund said:

Again, considering the lengths Ormund went to to dye the other kid’s hair bleach blonde earlier in the show, this theory makes sense to me. Plus, the Hightower seems driven enough to do something wild like this to his own family too.

So, while we won’t find out if Ormund is dyeing Daeron’s hair red to hide the Targaryen blonde, it’s nice to know that James Norton has put some thought into this theory.

Spoilers ahead for the most recent episode of House of the Dragon, titled "Tumbleton".

Game of Thrones' finale might still be controversial, but fans have jumped back into Weteros thanks to its spinoffs. While A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms got some Emmy nominations, we're currently watching a new season of House of the Dragon on HBO (and streaming with a HBO Max subscription). The fourth episode revealed that Helaena Targaryen was secretly pregnant, and Olivia Cooke spoke to CinemaBlend about where Alicent's relationship with her daughter stands.

House of the Dragon Season 3 has been a doozy so far, with epic battles, major character deaths, and plenty of twists. Chief among them is the reveal that Helaena was with child, which further complicates the ongoing Dance of the Dragons. Cooke spoke to me and other journalists ahead of the Season 3 premiere, where I asked about Alicent and her daughter. She started by gushing about actress Phia Saban, saying:

While Alicent's children are spread across Westeros, the one she's closest to both physically and emotionally seems to be her daughter Helaena. Clearly Cooke and and Saban get along on set, and it should be fascinating to see the way their characters' relationship changes as we get deeper into this season of HOTD.

Fans are keeping track of which House the Dragon belongs to who, but it's also important to pay attention to the ever changing interpersonal dynamics of the show. Cooke went on to share more about what's going on with Alicent and Helaena, telling me:

Helaena has had a unique role in HOTD so far. Despite being the rider of the dragon Dreamfyre and having prophetic visions, she's often ignore by the rest of her family. But it sounds like Alicent is going to see her daughter as a much more powerful figure moving forward. Is it Sunday yet?

Olivia Cooke spoke more about what's going on in Alicent's head in the official Inside the Episode video for Episode 4. She spoke more about how Helaena’s pregnancy has raised the stakes, offering:

Of course, getting out is easier said than done. After Rhaenyra took King's Landing and The Iron Throne, Alicent and her daughter officially became Team Black's prisoners. It sounds like Olivia Cooke's character might once again be shifting her alliance in order to ensure the survival of both Helaena and her unborn grandchild. We'll just have to wait and see if/how she manages to escape King's Landing in order to keep them both safe.

New episodes of House of the Dragon air Sundays as part of the 2026 TV schedule. The season is really heating up, and it seems like no one is safe with the ongoing Targaryen civil war.

The 2026 Emmy nominations are out, and the HBO fantasy series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms scored an incredible nine noms ahead of the big award show on the 2026 TV schedule. Getting a nod for Outstanding Drama Series is a major milestone for any freshman TV series, and Dexter Sol Ansell couldn’t contain his excitement over the honor for the Game of Thrones prequel.

As the nominations were announced, someone was filming the 11-year-old (who won over viewers as Egg) as he watched from his phone. The instant A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was called out, Dexter Sol Ansell’s reaction consisted of screaming and jumping up and down. It’s an absolute delight to see him let loose in such a way, and you can see his reaction below:

Watching Ansell surrounded by friends his age that share his excitement is a good reminder of how young the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms co-lead really is. When I was his age, I was concerned with getting class assignments done on time and passing tests. Being on an Emmy-nominated TV series, especially one tied to the ever-expanding world of Game of Thrones, is hands-down way more exciting.

The first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms introduced us to Ser Duncan the Tall and Prince Aegon Targaryen, played by Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell respectively. The odd pairing of Dunk and Egg, and the chemistry between the two actors, is truly the best part of the series. From their height difference to their appearance and very noticeable age gap, every time they share the screen together is compelling. I’m actually surprised Ansell didn’t get his own nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and that Claffey didn’t make it into the Lead Actor category because their performances are so strong.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a very accessible fantasy series, even for those not previously fans of Game of Thrones. There are still bloody battle sequences, and the family drama runs deep, but with more levity and humor and the shorter length of its episodes, you can easily tune in to watch it on its own. But with Season 2 on the horizon, and the possibility the series could go beyond the books, hopefully more award nominations are in its future.

Clearly, the young Egg actor plans to attend the Emmy Awards ceremony, as his response to learning about the nominations for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was to declare, “I’m meeting Zendaya.” An off-camera friend even asks, “Can you kiss her from me?”

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 1 is available to stream with an HBO Max subscription. We'll see if the series ends up winning any accolades, and whether Dexter Sol Ansell actually gets to meet Zendaya, when the Emmys air live on NBC on September 14^th.

Spoilers ahead for Episode 3 of House of the Dragon Season 3.

While Game of Thrones' ending remains controversial years later, the fandom is once again back in Westeros thanks to its spinoffs. While A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms recently earned a bunch of Emmy nominations, Season 3 of House of the Dragon is currently airing on HBO (and streaming with an HBO Max subscription). And the most recent episode did something I wish that GOT tried during its time on the air.

House of the Dragon Season 3 has been a doozy so far, with the book-to-screen adaptation showing the ongoing Dance of the Dragons. Episode 3, "Rhaenyra Triumphant," did something unique in that it was told pretty much entirely through Emma D'Arcy's character's POV. And having read a number of the Song of Ice and Fire books, I wish that this was something that Game of Thrones experimented with throughout its time on the air.

"Rhaenyra Triumphant" Focused Almost Entirely On Emma D'Arcy's Character

While Game of Thrones is an ensemble project that followed a massive cast of characters, George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire books are actually told through the first-person perspective. In each chapter, we follow a different character's story, with only a handful of characters being narrators, such as Jon Snow, Arya, Cersei, and others. This allows readers to really get to know those characters, although it also results in other non-POV characters being more mysterious, like Margaery Tyrell.

Game of Thrones abandoning the first-person narration helped to flesh out the other characters, but I thought that being with Rhaenyra throughout the most recent of HOTD showed that the flagship series should have tried this for at least an episode or two during its eight seasons on the air. It certainly would have pleased longtime fans of the novels like me.

Episode 3 of HOTD Season 3 was telling a very specific story, with Rhaenyra struggling to actually rule now that she's claimed the Iron Throne. It felt almost like a bottle episode, since we were with her almost the entire time, rather than jumping around to various characters. This showed off just how incredible Emma D'Arcy is as an actor, and allowed Rhaenyra's perspective and rising frustrations to take center stage. That includes towards the end of the episode when Corlys clapped back and called her late sons bastards. Yikes.

Bottle episodes are often very memorable when they happen in TV shows. I'm thinking of Girls' "The Panic in Central Park" or Breaking Bad's "Fly." And now that we've seen how successful this was in House of the Dragon, I think Game of Thrones really fumbled the chance to do something exciting when it was airing.

House of the Dragon airs new episodes Sundays as part of the 2026 TV schedule. We'll just have to see if any more POV episodes happen before its fourth and final season completes the story.

The 2026 Emmy nominations are here, and as usual, there are some surprises and snubs. It feels weird to say either applies to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, given it scored nine nominations ahead of the big award show on the 2026 TV schedule. However, I can't help but be shocked that Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell were left out of Outstanding Actor and Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

Ser Duncan and Prince Aegon, or "Egg," made for an odd pairing in the latest Game of Thrones series, but it's Claffey and Ansell's chemistry that made the series so amazing. As such, I'm shocked they didn't even get a nomination in either category, despite Claffey getting a push for Lead Actor and Ansell for Supporting.

Dexter Sol Ansell Could've Won Best Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

Dexter Sol Ansell is one of the best parts of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and I feel pretty confident he'll win at some point. I have to believe that any kid who is passionate enough about their character that they'll dress up as them for school will put everything into their performances and get that nod eventually. Plus, if I'm an Emmy voter, I would vote for this kid over any adult, because he's that good.

In fairness, no child actor on Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon has won an Emmy to date. In fact, the only actor to ever win an Emmy for the show was Peter Dinklage, who won Best Supporting Actor four times. Ansell will have to step up his game to beat that record, but HBO campaigning for him in that category is a good start.

Peter Claffey Probably Wouldn't Have Won Best Actor In A Drama Series, But He Deserved A Nomination

I love Peter Claffey and all he's brought to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms so far as Ser Duncan, but it'd be disingenuous for me to say I think he'd win Best Actor In A Drama Series this year.

Paradise's Sterling K. Brown, The Pitt's Noah Wyle, and Task's Mark Ruffalo are all former Emmy winners, with Wyle being the most recent winner in this category for Season 1 of The Pitt. And then there are The Diplomat's Rufus Sewell, who has been nominated once before, and three-time nominee Gary Oldman, who was nominated again for Slow Horses. That category is going to be a dogfight, and I'm genuinely unsure who is going to win.

Maybe the actors got the short end of the stick in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms because of its shorter length, which gives them less time than others to really sell the gravitas of their scenes. It's also possible the fact that the series features more levity and humor than the usual Game of Thrones show, or any drama for that matter, could've impacted nominations for this category as well.

Fortunately, it seems the show will have plenty more opportunities for both actors to get nominated. It's even being suggested A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms could go beyond the books, so maybe we'll see both of them capture individual Emmy accolades as the years pass.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 1 is available to stream with an HBO Max subscription. We'll see if it ends up winning any accolades at the Emmys, which will air live on NBC on September 14th.

After Game of Thrones' controversial finale aired, there were a number of spinoffs in active development. Eventually fans returned to Westeros in House of the Dragon (streaming with a HBO Max subscription), as well as this year's A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Ryan Condal created HOTD, and recently explained why so many other Westerosi stories have failed over the years.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is here, but there were a number of Game of Thrones projects that never saw the light of day. There was the scrapped show starring Naomi Campbell, the Jon Snow spinoff, and more. During an interview with Syfy, Condal mused about why so many of these shows failed, offering:

Honestly, he's not wrong. The pressure was on for House of the Dragon to deliver, especially for the fans who didn't love how GOT ended. Luckily Condal and company were able to find the secret sauce, and his spinoff felt like the early days of the flagship series. Plus, who doesn't love seeing all of HOTD's dragons?

House of the Dragon has already been renewed for Season 4, which is expected to be the final chapter in the Dance of the Dragons. So perhaps more spinoffs will end up being green lit after that show wraps up. Later in the same interview, Condal spoke about how his show miraculously succeeded, offering:

More points were made. There was some luck involved but House of the Dragon proved audiences were still invested in the Game of Thrones world. It opened the door for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which is far more comedic and pokes fun at the seriousness of its predecessors.

It should be interesting to see what other GOT spinoffs end up coming to HBO as years go by. While the Jon Snow spinoff seems dead for good, and perhaps it's best to follow new stories rather than ones connected to the original series' controversial final season. Clearly the fans are passionate about the stories of Westeros, although Ryan Condal maintains it needs to be the right project given their high expectations.

House of the Dragon airs new episodes Sundays on HBO as part of the 2026 TV schedule. We'll just have to see how the Game of Thrones franchise continues expanding.

Spoilers ahead for Episode 3 of House of the Dragon Season 3.

Despite Game of Thrones' finale being controversial, the fandom is once again invested in Weteros thanks to its spinoffs A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and House of the Dragon (streaming with a HBO Max subscription). The latter has returned for its third season on the air, and the first three episodes have been a doozy. The third episode "Rhaenyra Triumphant" saw Corlys give the new queen a serious clap back, and actor Steve Toussaint explained to me why his sons are so important to the Velaryon patriarch.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is here, and we've already seen a number of major character deaths. There might be more after the last episode, because Corlys got mad when Rhaenyra refused to legitimize Addam and Alan, resulting in him calling her own (dead) children bastards. I spoke with the House of the Dragon cast ahead of Season 3's premiere, where Toussaint spoke to me and other journalists about why his character is suddenly feeling so attached to his sons. In the actor's words:

Honestly, this does track. The death of Rhaenys (and her dragon Meleys) in Season 2 is still being felt in-universe, especially for her widower Corlys. And with his beloved granddaughter Baela not interested in becoming his heir, instead his focus has been put on the two bastards he ignored for most of their lives: Addam and Alyn of Hull. So when Rhaenyra snubbed his family, even after all he's sacrificed, Toussaint's character snapped.

The fact that Corlys called the Queen's kids bastards, especially so soon after Jace's death in Episode 1, is truly wild. I have to assume that there will be consequences, although Rhaenyra does need Addam and Seasmoke for the ongoing war. Later in the same interview, the 61 year-old actor spoke more about Corlys' need for family and connection this season. In his words:

This makes sense, and offers some context as to why Corlys would say something so crazy to Rhaenyra that could get him and his sons killed. Only time will tell how she reacts to this disrespect. But if there's dissension among Team Black, then it could spell disaster for the ongoing Dance of the Dragons.

New episodes of House of the Dragon air Sundays on HBO as part of the 2026 TV schedule. The book to screen adaptation has been especially spicy this year, and it feels like just about anything could happen.

Game of Thrones was a HBO show that got the world talking, and fans have been brought back to Westeros with its spinoffs like House of the Dragon (streaming with a HBO Max subscription). The Season 3 premiere saw Henry Collett's Jace die at the Battle of the Gullet, and the second episode featured Rhaenyra's reaction to this devastating loss. And actor Emma D'Arcy explained to CinemaBlend and other outlets about why they "dreaded" filming the scene where Rhaenyra said goodbye to her son.

House of the Dragon Season 3 has already had a number of major character deaths, and smart money says the loss of Jacaerys is going to influence the season as a whole. While speaking to myself and other journalists in a round table interview, D'Arcy got real about why they were dreading filming Rhaenyra's reaction to Jace's dead body. In their words:

This really tracks. Because while we're only in the third season of the GOT spinoff, the House of the Dragon cast has been working together since back in 2021. And while character deaths have repercussions in the narrative of the series, it also means that actors who played those roles are also leaving the set. And that added extra emotional weight to Emma D'Arcy's final scene with Harry Collett's Jace.

While folks like to keep up with which HOTD dragon belongs to who, it's also fascinating hearing how the sausage gets made on set. And after speaking to my roundtable about why they dreaded the Jace goodbye scene, Emma D'Arcy spoke to how it'll affect their signature character throughout the rest of Season 3. In the actor's words:

Is it Sunday yet? Because with Rhaenyra now on the Iron Throne and seemingly leaning into nihilism, I can't wait to see what comes next for Emma D'Arcy in House of the Dragon Season 3. While Team Black was able to take King's Landing with minimal bloodshed, I'm sure the challenges are still coming. And after losing two songs (including her heir), I'm curious about how brutal Rhaenyra might end up becoming.

New episodes of House of the Dragon air Sundays on HBO as part of the 2026 TV schedule. The Dance of the Dragons is far from over, so I'm preparing for more character deaths-- both human and dragon.

Spoilers ahead for House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 2.

Years after Game of Thrones' finale, audiences continue to be treated to new stories in Westeros thanks to spinoffs like House of the Dragon. Those with a HBO Max subscription were recently tread to Season 3's first two episodes, both of which ended in major character deaths. And actress Olivia Cooke spoke to CinemaBlend about what Alicent is thinking after seeing Rhaenyra on the Iron Throne... and her father Otto dead on the floor next to it.

House of the Dragon Season 3 has been a doozy so far, especially tragic moments like Jace's death in Episode 1. I had the chance to do some round table interviews with the the HOTD cast ahead of the season's premiere, where Cooke was asked what Alicent is thinking after seeing her father's dead body in the Throne Room. As she told me and other journalists:

Well, suddenly I am in dire need of Episode 3 to drop. Because while Alicent spent much of the first two episodes of Season 3 helping to make it easier for Rhaenerya and The Blacks to fly into King's Landing, the fact that her former best friend has now killed her father Otto Hightower is going to complicate things. Not only because of his death, but because of how much Alicent doesn't know about how/why he ended up imprisoned and decapitated.

While Rhaenerya and Alicent worked together to try and end their conflict with minimal bloodshed, that was before Otto was so brutally killed. There are clearly a ton of thoughts and questions going through the head of Cooke's character, and it should be fascinating to see if things go from bad to worse now that Alicent's father has been executed.

Alicent has really been going through it in Season 3 so far, starting from her wild kiss with Aemond and now walking into the Throne Room to see Otto's dead body. I have to assume that her uneasy alliance with Rhaenerya is officially over, especially since she's the one who beheaded her father. We'll just have to wait and see how Olivia Cooke's character is treated now that she's (presumably) a prisoner of Team Black.

New episodes of House of the Dragon air Sundays on HBO as part of the 2026 TV schedule. I was only given the first two in advance for my interviews, so I'm ready to tune in like every other fan and see how things shake out in the ongoing war.

Spoilers ahead for the Season 3 premiere of House of the Dragon.

While folks are still debating the controversial series finale of Game of Thrones, audiences are invested in the spinoffs like House of the Dragon. Season 3 of that show just began for those with a HBO Max subscription, and the premiere was full of action and the death of Jacaerys Velaryon. Actor Harry Collett recently revealed a line he improvised on set, and I'm so glad he did.

House of the Dragon Season 3 started off with a bang with The Battle of the Gullet, which had action on the seas as well as in the air courtesy of HOTD's Dragons. While Jace perished, Collett revealed to TV Line that he actually improvised one of the most iconic lines in Westerosi history. Namely "Dracarys", which is used to prompt drgons to breathe fire. As he told the outlet:

Since Harry Collett always knew that his character would die in The Battle of The Gullet, the 22 year-old actor knew that the Season 3 premiere was the final chance to call out "dracarys" on camera. That's exactly what he did, and he was delighted to see that it ended up in the final cut of the explosive premiere episode. That's why sometimes you have to take a chance on set.

During this same interview, Baela Targaryen actress Bethany Antonia asked if her co-star had permission to throw in that extra line, to which Collett said:

Sometimes its better to ask for forgiveness instead of permission. And considering how much editing goes into editing sequences like The Battle of the Gullet, there was ample opportunity to cut Jace's "dracarys" if they wanted to. Luckily for Harry Collett, it made it into the theatrical cut.

Unfortunately Jacaerys' death means that we won't be able to see Collett utter that command to his dragon Vermax on screen again. We'll just have to wait and see if he ends up returning via a flashback or dream sequence.

House of the Dragon airs new episodes Sundays on HBO as part of the 2026 TV schedule.

Shrek 5 is on the way, but if there's ever a live-action movie, I think we all know who should be asked to play Fiona. And that's House of the Dragon's Olivia Cooke. Thankfully, she's aware of the similarities, too, as she addressed this funny fan conspiracy involving her HOTD character Alicent and Shrek's princess in an interview.

As new episodes of HOTD hit the 2026 TV schedule, Cooke had to spend time addressing the fan conspiracies that her character looks like pre-Ogre Princess Fiona. During a conversation with ET, her co-star Fabien Frankel brought the topic up, too, which led to the following back-and-forth:

• Fabien Frankel: I always think she looks like Fiona in Shrek.
• Olivia Cooke: Thanks.
• Fabien Frankel: That's a compliment! The same color scheme. The dress, the red hair, you know what I mean?
• Olivia Cooke: When she's ogre-fied?
• Fabien Frankel: No! No...When she's Fiona the princess. I feel like there is a similarity in terms of the color scheme and sort of a fantastical world?
• Olivia Cooke: Thank you.
• Fabien Frankel: Who would be Shrek in our world?
• Olivia Cooke: You.

I've always noticed the resemblance between Fiona and Alicent too, so I'm happy we're finally talking about it.

Also, the Ser Criston Cole actor would be a great pick for human Shrek if the hypothetical live-action had a sequel, and I'm slowly talking myself into wanting to see this happen. While recent live-action adaptations have made me rethink the idea of adapting animated movies to real life, I think seeing these two House of the Dragon stars lead a Shrek movie sounds like a dream come true.

Until that day comes, I can just pretend they're in an ultra-violent remake when streaming episodes of House of the Dragon with my HBO Max subscription. We haven't seen much of Cole and Alicent together in Season 3 thus far, which makes me appreciate this playful exchange between the two actors even more:

It's such a shame that I've grown to hate both of their characters, but honestly, I'm at a point where I'm not sure anyone battling for the Iron Throne is the right person to lead Westeros. I guess Alicent and her attempt to try and reduce bloodshed was admirable, though she is also largely responsible for why this war started in the first place.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is off to a rocking start, with a major death that's bound to have some big ripple effects. As someone who hasn't read the books, I can't imagine how Rhaenyra is going to react to the news, as well as other major players in this ongoing conflict.

As for what's happening in the world of Shrek, a fifth movie is on the way, and there's even talk of Donkey getting a spinoff. While we haven't heard news of a live-action adaptation, it feels like Dreamworks is investing in the franchise again in a way we haven't seen in a while. That isn't to say it's a lock to happen, but maybe by the time this series wraps, Olivia Cooke will be in talks to star as Fiona!

Until then, new episodes of House of the Dragon are on HBO on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. ET. I don't expect these dragons to fall in love with a donkey, but I am expecting some monstrous fallout after that wild start to the season.

Spoilers ahead for the Season 3 premiere of House of the Dragon.

House of the Dragon is the first spinoff for Game of Thrones, following its controversial finale. Folks with an HBO Max subscription were recently treated to the premiere of Season 3, which started off with a bang with the epic Battle of the Gullet. The epic scene saw the death of both Jace and his dragon Vermax, although actor Harry Collett explained why he wasn't upset about his time on the show ending.

After a long wait, House of the Dragon Season 3 has finally begun. The book to screen adaptation has taken some liberties from the source material, including the details about how Jacaerys died. I had the chance to speak with the cast in round table interviews ahead of its premiere, where Collett shared his POV on his character perishing in the season premiere. In his words:

While HOTD fans who didn't read the book were shocked by Jace's death in the Battle of the Gullett, the same cannot be said for the actor who brought Rhaenyra's son to life on the small screen. He's been emotionally preparing for his time on the show to end, and just seems happy that he was able to join the House of the Dragon cast at all. And smart money says this twist is going to have major implication for the rest of the season.

It's fitting that Collett did all of his dead scenes at the end of his tenure filming House of the Dragon, and one can only imagine how emotional it was on set. Later in the same interview, the 22 year-old actor gushed about his character's ending on the show, saying:

There you have it. Some fans might be bummed about Jace's fate, but that seemingly isn't the case for Harry Collett. He loved how it all turned out, including his character and the dragon Vermax being tragically killed by the Triarchy's forces. We'll just have to wait and see if the actor returns at any point; we'e seen visions/dreams bring back former characters already on the series.

House of the Dragon airs new episodes Sundays on HBO as part of the 2026 TV schedule. Smart money says that Jace won't be the only major character death to come this season.

Spoilers ahead for the Season 3 premiere of House of the Dragon.

Despite Game of Thrones' controversial finale, Westeros is so back for those with a HBO Max subscription. Following the first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, House of the Dragon Season 3 has officially begun, with more major characters already kicking the bucket. The premiere also featured another wild incest plot, and Olivia Cooke spoke to CinemaBlend and other outlets about what was on in Alicent's head when her son Aemond kissed her.

HOTD has had tons of incest in the first two seasons, as House Targaryen isn't hung up by relatives getting together. We've seen both siblings and cousins get married, but the Season 3 premiere shocked fans when Aemond kissed his mother Alicent out of nowhere. CinemaBlend did a roundtable interview with the cast about the first two episodes, where Cooke revealed what he character is thinking during this already-viral moment. As she put it:

While House of the Dragon fans need to keep up with which dragon belongs to who, the interpersonal relationships between its cast can also be mystifying. Case in point: Aemond kissing Alicent, who seems as shocked as the audience was. And Olivia Cooke's comments offer some much-needed context, revealing how few options her signature character has when dealing with this incestuous connection.

Despite being a Targaryen by marriage, Alicent is a Hightower at heart who deeply worships The Faith of the Seven. You can see the confusion and fear in her face when her son kisses her, but she ultimately hides that in order to get Aemond on her side and out of King's Landing. She succeeds in this, and it should be fascinating to see how the two characters' relationship changes moving forward.

Olivia Cooke also addressed this wild scene during the Inside The Episode video for HOTD's Season 3 premiere. The actress offered:

Honestly, same. But Aemond is one of the most volatile characters in House of the Dragon, and has arguably the most powerful dragon of them all in Vhagar. And this is yet another reason to fear what he'll do in the ongoing war against The Blacks.

House of the Dragon airs new episodes Sundays on HBO as part of the 2026 TV schedule. And it seems like no character is safe from the Dance of the Dragons.

Spoilers ahead for the Season 3 premiere of House of the Dragon.

Despite Game of Thrones' controversial finale, fans have returned to Westeros thanks to the spinoffs A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and House of the Dragon. The latter is finally back for Season 3, and the book to screen adaptation started off with an epic battle for those with a HBO Max subscription. The Battle of the Gullet was awesome, and the way it was shot is truly blowing my mind.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is here, and the showrunner had been teasing The Battle of the Gullet for a while now. The event was largely a naval fight, although a few of HOTD's Dragons got involved in the air as well. I had the chance to speak with the show's cast in round table interviews, where Baela Targaryen actress Bethany Antonia revealed how the dragon riders were kept in the loop. As she put it:

Talk about attention to detail. While it would have been easy to ask the actors who were riding on dragon back to simply imagine what's happening below them when filming, that's not what House of the Dragon did. Instead, they were given the full scope of the sequence, allowing them to visualize the crazy Battle of the Gullet and act appropriately to bring their part of it to life.

Later in that same conversation, Antonia shared more about just how much work went into the dragon rider's POV for House of the Dragon's Season 3 premiere battle. In her words:

"Dragons gone wrong" would also work as an alternate title for House of the Dragon, and especially that first episode of Season 3. Because in the midst of the naval conflict Baela arrived on Moondancer, Jace showed up with Vermax and then (in a plot twist) Rhaena flew in on Sheepstealer. Unfortunately the latter's decision was a huge misstep, because the wild dragon didn't obey her commands. And the episode ended with yet another major character death.

House of the Dragon airs new episodes Sundays on HBO as part of the 2026 TV schedule. We'll have to see how many more epic battles and dragon fights happen throughout the following episodes.

Emilia Clarke became one of the most recognizable TV stars in the world thanks to her beloved role on Game of Thrones. However, that kind of instant global fame apparently left her very little room to steer. Looking back now, 10 years after that, the actress says the first stretch of her career was defined less by choice than by readiness. According to her, when she began on GoT and was asked to do something, she answered with six simple words.

In a new interview with Hunger Magazine, Clarke reflected on the years after she broke out as Daenerys Targaryen and how her relationship to work has changed since then. The actress is moving into a more deliberate phase, with projects such as the 2026 TV schedule release Ponies, Next Life and the upcoming horror title When Darkness Loves Us pushing her in different directions. She discussed this in her life and the words she'd share on the Thrones set:

Those six words say a lot. “Yes, what time do I start?” sounds professional and eager, but also a little dizzying when you remember the scale of what she was saying yes to. Clarke was not just joining another TV show. She was becoming the Mother of Dragons, one of the faces of a series that swallowed pop culture whole. And despite its eighth and final controversial season, it's a series fans still return to time and again with an HBO Max subscription.

Clarke Is Choosing More Deliberately Now

That change is clear in how the Secret Invasion star talks about her recent work. She described Ponies as a project she initially thought would be light and fun, only to discover it was one of the most demanding jobs of her career. The series involved six months of filming, learning Russian and producing on the ground. Still, what stood out to her was being treated as a collaborator.

According to the actress, her new Peacock show was the first time she felt genuinely listened to, with her opinions not only heard but acted on. That is a big shift for someone who spent years inside massive franchise machinery.

Her film, Next Life, seems to represent a different kind of freedom. Clarke described the production as chaotic, with financing problems, casting changes and a compressed schedule. But she also called it “heaven” and said the improvisational process gave her a “spiritual awakening.” She even tattooed her character’s name, Ivy, on her forearm. That is not exactly casual workplace feedback.

The larger point is that the post-Thrones chapter for the Daenerys performer is not about chasing the biggest possible thing. It is about following instinct, even when the path is messy. As she explained:

That feels like the right move for someone who is known for such a massive pop culture role. You're never guaranteed tomorrows work, so, you might as well take on things that "speak to you" as a creative.

Fear Is No Longer Running The Show

One of the most interesting parts of the interview is how the Me Before You lead talks about fear. She said she is now drawn to things that terrify her, including When Darkness Loves Us, which marks her first step into horror. At first, she was scared of the material. Then she found the fear exciting.

That is a very different mindset from the one she described earlier in her career. It's a shift feels even more meaningful given what she has been through. Clarke survived two life-threatening brain aneurysms in her twenties, the first after filming the first season of Game of Thrones. She also lost her father to cancer. In the interview, she said she has only recently felt far enough away from those experiences to fully understand what they meant then and what they mean now.

Emilia Clarke says she no longer believes art only matters if it hurts. That may be the clearest sign of where she is now. The work can be challenging without being punishing. It can be serious without crushing her. Ten years ago, she was saying yes and asking when to show up. Now, she is choosing the jobs that unsettle, excite and move her.

15 years ago, HBO gave audiences what would become one of the greatest TV shows of all time when Game of Thrones premiered. Its incredible cast was composed of seasoned actors, like Peter Dinklage as well as Kit Harington and other up-and-comers, and they helped shape the series into the ratings monster and Emmy winner it was for eight seasons. In some ways, it's hard to believe so much time has passed since the show first hit the airwaves. But, if you really want to feel old, Harington shared with Dinklage a fact from the series that may or may not have someone in their feels.

In terms of how old the cast of Game of Thrones was when the show first started, stars like Emilia Clarke were in their early 20s, and Maisie Williams was a child star back then. Now, everyone is all grown up since shedding their cloaks from their Winterfell days. But, when Kit Harington and Peter Dinklage had a little reunion chat on Variety’s Actors on Actors, the British actor revealed to his longtime co-star a mind-blowing, age-related stat that threw Dinklage for a loop:

• Harington: I am now the age —
• Dinklage: Oh, fuck, I hate this.
• Harington: — that you were when I first met you. My first-ever scene on camera was with you, and I remember thinking, ‘I’ve just got to be really still. That’s acting for cameras. To be as still as I possibly can be, then say my lines, then go back to stillness.’ And in my head I’m like, ‘Why is that guy moving so much?’
• Dinklage: Overacting. Bad acting. Being a ham.
• Harington: And then I realized, no, you were just so much more experienced. I was like, ‘Just freeze. If you freeze, nothing can go wrong.’

Well, way to make me feel ancient. That feeling of my mortality aside, though I love the two actors’ hilarious exchange, including Dinklage calling himself a “ham” for “overacting.” And, of course, the irony of Harington feeling he had to make himself stiff to be a good actor is great as well.

By that point, Peter Dinklage already had notable movies as part of a solid filmography, like The Station Agent and Elf, before landing the role of Tyrion Lannister on Game of Thrones and winning four Emmys for his portrayal. With that I can understand Harington having those feelings upon working with Dinklage for the first time. Of course, it's clear that they're good buddies now, which may be something that's comforting to fans.

As for that age-centric factoid, the Industry actor is indeed around the age Dinklage was. Dinklage was about 41 during production on Season 1 of Thrones, and Harington is 39 now and will turn 40 later this year. When Harington made his career breakthrough as Jon Snow, he was fresh in his early twenties, signing up for what would be an HBO show that would get the world talking. Harington's been quite reflective as of late, and he recently spoke about how a fan made him “feel old” after revealing he was three when Game of Thrones premiered.

With Kit Harington in his late 30s and Peter Dinklage in his late 50s now, both have long since stepped out of their medieval fantasy series and into new chapters of their lives. Harington has since married his GoT co-star, Rose Leslie, is a father of two kids with her and is set to star in the limited series Count My Lies.

As for Dinklage, he’s also a married man with two kids and has an upcoming role in the William Shakespeare-adapted flick, Lear Rex. From fighting off White Walkers to soaking in domestic life and acting projects, these two co-stars continue to live their best lives beyond the HBO series that turned them into household names.

It's honestly staggering just how quickly time flies, and Kit Harington and Peter Dinklage's recent conversation is a stark (no pun intended) reminder of that. While their ages have obviously changed since they began playing the Westeros-based characters, something that clearly hasn't is the camaraderie between them, and I love to see it. Fans can also see their work on Game of Thrones by streaming all eight seasons with an HBO Max subscription.

Game of Thrones' finale might be controversial, but there's no denying just how popular the Emmy-winning series was during its run on TV (and streaming with a HBO Max subscription). Fans have returned to Westeros with its spinoffs, the first of which was House of the Dragon. The show's about to return for its third season, and creator/showrunner Ryan Condal recently teased the "crazy" opening battle that'll kick things off.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is nearly here, and all-out war between the Targaryens is about to begin. There are tons of dragons in play, and fans are eager to see what Westerosi warfare looks like with the giant creatures. During a conversation with Deadline, Condal spoke about how hard it was bringing the Battle of the Gullet to life, and all the practical effects in play. As he put it:

Is it June 21st yet? It sounds like Season 3 of HOTD is going to start off with a bang, with fans being brought back to the story with an epic and bloody medieval battle. And rather than bringing it to life primarily through visual effects, it seems like there was a ton of practical work done.

Shortly after its premiere, House of the Dragon joined the ranks of HBO shows that got the world talking. The show can be brutal at times, with even young children being targeted and killed during the conflict between the Targaryens. The Battle of the Gullet seems like it'll be thrilling, and I can't wait to see how it all shakes out. Later in the same interview, Ryan Condal spoke more about that forthcoming action sequence, offering:

This really makes the Season 3 premiere of HOTD sound epic, and luckily the wait is nearly over for its arrival. The trailer for Season 3 definitely teased that it was going to a bloody affair, and I can only imagine how much death will be at the Battle of the Gullet and beyond.

All will be revealed when House of the Dragon returns for Season 3 on June 21st as part of the 2026 TV schedule. And it sounds like we're going to be treated to be a wild and violent start to the season.

Despite Game of Thrones' controversial series finale, TV audiences are still invested in George R.R. Martin's fantasy world. We were able to return to Westeros with some spinoffs, the first of which is House of the Dragon (which is streaming with an HBO Max subscription). The show's creator Ryan Condal recently compared one upcoming battle to Lord of the Rings' Helm's Deep, and now the stakes feel so much higher.

What we know about House of the Dragon Season 3 has been limited, but since its a book-to-screen adaptation, there are some fans who know what to expect. During an interview with EW about the forthcoming batch of episodes, Condal confirmed that the Battle of the Gullet was coming, referencing The Two Towers in the process. In his words:

Well, I'm invested. While I don't know what goes down in the Battle of the Gullet, it sounds like the stakes are going to be extremely high whenever that episode drops in Season 3. The Battle of Helm's Deep is arguably the most iconic fight scene in the Lord of the Rings franchise, so it sounds like it's going to be a truly epic moment in television. We'll just have to wait and see how all the medieval warfare and dragon battles shake out.

Aside from which HOTD dragon belongs to who, GOT fans who haven't read the books are curious to see how the war between the Targaryens will shake out on the small screen. The conflict between the Greens and Blacks seemingly ends House Targaryen's power forever, so smart money says we'll see lots of humans and dragons killed off throughout the final two seasons of the spinoff. But luckily, it sounds like we're going to be treated to an epic battle akin to Helm's Deep. Take my money, already!

This news about the Battle of the Gullet should please hardcore House of the Dragon fans who read the books. The show famously didn't show The Battle of the Burning Mill in Season 2, instead cutting to the bloody aftermath of the skirmish. Luckily, that's not going to happen with Season 3, and I'm so invested in what happens when the Dance of the Dragons continues.

All will be revealed when House of the Dragon returns for Season 3 on June 21st as part of the 2026 TV schedule. We'll just have to wait and see when the Battle of the Gullet goes down.

It’s been about two years since Season 2 of House of the Dragon ended, and yes, I’m still not thrilled about how underwhelming the finale was. However, I haven’t given up on the show, and I am very excited for Season 3. My excitement also just increased tenfold, as two stars teased what’s to come and confirmed that my biggest complaint about that sophomore season will be fixed immediately.

The problem with Season 2 of House of the Dragon is that it felt like it spent the entire season building up to a battle that didn’t happen. They just started walking toward it by the time the final seconds of the installment aired. It felt like we were building up to Season 3 of HOTD, not witnessing the climax of Season 2. However, when this junior season starts on the 2026 TV schedule, we’ll be getting right into the battle we’ve been waiting for, as Ewan Mitchell, who plays Aemond, told EW:

Now, that’s what I’m talking about. We’ve been building up to the Targaryen family’s big battle for two full seasons, so it’s about time for a “blitz straight out of the gate.”

We knew that The Battle of the Gullet was coming; however, this new report confirmed that it will happen in the Season 3 premiere. That means, this installment will kick off with one of the “most violent sea battles in the history of” Westeros. Talk about a way to start!

On top of that, it’s also an immediate remedy to the issue I had with Season 2. This is the battle I’ve been waiting for, the one we’ve been building toward, and according to Emma D’Arcy, who plays Rhaenyra, it will be just as intense as I want it to be, as they said:

As D’Arcy said, we’re “finally watching a war that has been building for two seasons.” These last two installments of House of the Dragon have been exposition for the battle that’s been brewing. And while I’m all about Targaryen family history, at some point, we need to stop talking about an impending battle and actually have one.

Boy, are we getting one, too. Co-creator and showrunner Ryan Condal said this episode is “arguably the craziest episode of television ever made.” So, it really sounds like whatever they’re cooking is epic and will more than make up for any apprehension I was feeling at the end of Season 2.

Thankfully, we don’t have to wait long to see this either. Season 3 of House of the Dragon will premiere on June 21 at 9 p.m. ET, and you can watch it on HBO or with an HBO Max subscription.

Soon after its debut, Game of Thrones became a HBO show that got the world talking, and was quintessential water cooler talk for years. While a number of spinoffs have arrived on the network (and streaming with a HBO Max subscription) there are many fans who are still hung up on Game of Thrones' series finale. And Jon Snow actor Kit Harington recently shared why he's still "protective" about the show's controversial 8th and final season on the air.

The Westerosi spinoffs have provided new questions like which dragon belongs to who in HOTD, there's still plenty of discourse about GOT Season 8. In a recent appearance at Motor City Comic Con (via Twitter) Harington spoke about why he still doesn't love the hate the show's final season got. In the actor's words:

Honestly, this makes a ton of sense. Game of Thrones aired for eight years, so Harington got to know the cast, crew, department heads, and others extremely well during that time. He saw firsthand how much care when into the show, even if fans weren't necessarily happy with finale or the changes that came during its final 6 episodes on the air. So hearing folks talk smack about those individuals who worked so hard seemingly doesn't sit right with the 39 year-old actor.

While GOT was an Emmy-winning global success, the eighth season was the subject of a number of criticisms. Fans took umbrage with the shorter episode count, the way travel across Westeros seemed much quicker, as well as the ending of Daenerys Targaryen's story. Later in the same appearance, Harington went on to share more about his POV as someone who worked on the book to screen adaptation. He said:

That's another fair point. Despite petitions to have GOT Season 8 reshot, Kit Harington maintains that the duo of David Benioff and D.B. Weiss were still the right people to wrap up the story they had dedicated years of their life to. While it might not have been a perfect season, it sounds like Harington doesn't want his co-workers to be maligned by fans who loved the show they brought to life.

Game of Thrones is streaming in its entirety over on HBO Max. The spinoff House of the Dragon will return for its third season on June 21st, as part of the 2026 TV schedule.

Whenever another one of Warner Bros’ upcoming DC movies comes out, you know that the fandom is going to have thoughts about it. So, I totally get why Milly Alcock found herself “utterly terrified” when she first landed the role of Supergirl. But, now that the movie is just a month away, I think the 26-year-old has the right attitude about the whole thing.

Lucky for her, this isn’t her first rodeo given she was previously cast in House of the Dragon as young Princess Rhaenyra, which has a fandom that’s similarly quite opinionated. While talking to Variety, Alcock recalled how she was pitted against Emma D’Arcy, the actor who plays older Rhaenyra, online, saying it “broke [her] heart”. But, it sounds like the experience is helping her implement healthier boundaries around toxic fandom. As she shared:

These days anyone can say what they want without consequences because anonymous comments, or from someone without any ties to their actual identity can say hurtful things to anyone. But when it comes to a public facing actor like Alcock, the chance of this grows exponentially and can be very damaging. This is proved by the many examples of women specifically who star in big franchises who have quit social media (such as Daisy Ridley at one point) following getting famous for their roles.

While we don’t know yet how Milly Alcock’s Supergirl will be received by fans, Alcock is already implementing positive ways to get offline rather than giving in to whatever “discourse” may crop up. In her words:

Supergirl is the second movie from James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Studios redesign that is a reboot of the comic book universe with last year’s release of Superman. So far, we know Milly Alcock’s version of Kara Zor-El will be a bit “messy” as the movie explores the character’s trauma associated with watching her whole planet get destroyed. Even though Alcock has learned a lot about dealing with the toxic side of fandom, she also got real about how difficult it can be to totally unplug, saying this:

While Alcock may look invincible in Supergirl, let’s remember every one we see on our big and small screens are human too, OK? Supergirl is set to hit theaters on June 26, nearly a year after she made her debut with a cameo at the end of Superman last summer.

Kit Harington spent nearly a decade as one of the faces of Game of Thrones but, apparently, nothing makes time feel quite as unforgivable as a fan encounter in the wild. The actor, forever tied to Jon Snow no matter how many other roles he takes on, recently shared a funny story about meeting a young viewer. And, while that run-in was pleasant, it ended with Harington really feeling his age.

This week, Harington appeared at the Disney Upfront, where he spoke to Entertainment Tonight. As seen in a clip posted to the outlet's X account, the British actor talked about how strange and touching it is to realize that Game of Thrones had still been finding new fans. The show premiered on HBO in 2011 and ended in 2019, though it's still available to stream in its entirety with an HBO Max subscription. The world of Westeros has not stopped attracting new viewers. Harington recalled a recent interaction that left him feeling the years a bit more sharply:

Harington was only in his mid-20s when Game of Thrones began airing, and Jon Snow became one of the show’s central figures almost immediately. For longtime viewers, it might still feel like the series is a relatively recent obsession. Then an 18-year-old fan shows up and casually reveals that they were barely out of toddlerhood when Ned Stark first brought his solemn, secretive son to Winterfell.

It's also a reminder of how enormous Game of Thrones remains, despite the noise that followed its final season. The ending became one of the most debated TV finales of the modern era, and the Beast Within actor himself has since addressed the backlash, including the petition calling for the last season to be remade. In a January interview, he said that the reaction “genuinely angered” him because he knew how hard the cast and creative team had worked on the series.

Still, the shop encounter shows the other side of that legacy. People may argue about where the show landed, but they are still watching it, still recommending it and still recognizing Harington from a role he started playing 15 years ago. That is a strange kind of immortality for an actor. You get to move on, but the character keeps circling back in someone else’s living room.

Harington has also been candid about needing distance from Westeros. He previously said he could not bring himself to watch House of the Dragon, now moving into its third season, and would need several years before revisiting Game of Thrones itself. He also confirmed that the once-discussed Jon Snow spinoff was no longer moving forward because the team could not find the right story.

Fans clearly have not left Jon Snow behind. If anything, younger viewers are now discovering the show without the week-to-week chaos, Reddit theories and Sunday night dread that defined its original run. They get the whole saga at once. Harington gets to be told by an 18-year-old that they love the show, then do the horrifying arithmetic.

For the rest of us, it is a funny little reminder that Game of Thrones is no longer just a massive TV hit from the 2010s. It is becoming a generational handoff. Jon Snow may know nothing, but the actor behind the glum, brooding looks now knows exactly how fast 15 years can sneak up on a person.

While Kit Harington has moved on to other projects since the series finale of Game of Thrones seven years ago, he’ll forever be remembered for his role as Jon Snow. The underdog journey of the character’s season one reputation as a “bastard” in the Stark family to eventually being declared King of the North is bound to draw in GOT fans. However, Harington reshared a hilarious story of the time he mistakenly thought fans of the HBO series wanted a photo with him, and his friends were “howling.”

You’d think being a major character in the cast of Game of Thrones should mean everyone would want to take a photo when recognized in public. However, Kit Harington got real on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon about the embarrassing moment that got his friends “howling” after thinking fans wanted a photo with him. Here’s the hilarious tale below:

Oh, I can only imagine how cringeworthy that moment was for bystanders to choose a clock tower over a major Game of Thrones star, as much of a landmark as it is. While Harington may have described this fan encounter moment as “excruciatingly embarrassing” before, these new details about the miscommunication being a language barrier issue and that it sent his friends “howling” is enough to crack me up!

As much as this was a face-palm moment for Kit Harington, he wouldn’t be the first celebrity to go through this. While telling the story to Jimmy Fallon, the host got real with the British actor about fans mistaking him for Jimmy Kimmel when asked for a photo with him.

Even The Sixth Sense filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan questioned his fame when he saw a big crowd across the street, thinking they were all there to meet him, only to discover it was because they were all waiting for a bus. It shows even the biggest names in Hollywood can experience dumbfounded moments. But hey, they all laugh about it eventually.

Kit Harington’s Jon Snow spin-off may have been scrapped, but he still has other upcoming projects to increase his fandom with. He’s got some major 2026 TV releases, like the main role in A Tale of Two Cities coming to MGM+ and Count My Lies coming to your Hulu subscription. Harington also reunited with former GOT co-star Sophie Turner in the horror movie The Dreadful (which is streaming on your Amazon Prime subscription). With numerous, exciting projects like these, I’m sure those photo requests from fans will be nonstop in no time.

There’s nothing like competing against Big Ben to get your pals “howling” at the miscommunication. But, there’s no denying that Kit Harington’s got a better smile for photos than a clock tower does. You can recharge your fan frenzy by revisiting his role in Game of Thrones, streaming now on your HBO Max subscription.

There’s always something slightly unpredictable about filming a fantasy series on location, especially one tied to the ever-expanding world of Game of Thrones. You can build the sets and plan meticulously, but at a certain point, everyone is still at the mercy of the real world. For A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 2, that reality just hit in a pretty dramatic way as the second season has been brought to a halt due to historic flooding.

According to a report from WinterIsComing.net, production on the upcoming season 2 has been forced to halt and relocate after a mass amoung of rainfall hit Gran Canaria, Spain, flooding parts of the set. The area reportedly saw water levels not reached in roughly 15 years, with key filming structures left partially underwater, making it impossible to continue shooting there.

What makes this situation especially wild is the story's context. Season 2 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set to adapt events that take place during a brutal drought in the Reach. That’s part of why production moved from Belfast to Spain in the first place, specifically to capture those dry, barren visuals that help sell the story.

Instead of drought-ruined terrain, the production arrived to find the opposite. Heavy rainfall totally transformed the area, including the reservoir Presa de las Niñas, which reportedly reached levels not seen in over a decade. As such, sets designed to depict moisture-sapped conditions were suddenly engulfed in water.

The good news is that the shutdown doesn’t sound like a long-term disaster, at least for now. Rather than waiting out the conditions, production has already shifted to a different location on mainland Spain, where the climate is more in line with what the show actually needs. Filming in the region was originally scheduled to continue through mid-May, though it’s still unclear how much of a delay this unexpected move might cause.

Even with this setback, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms remains one of the more interesting expansions of the Thrones universe. With its lighter tone than its predecessor series, it feels like the perfect on-ramp for audiences to dip their toes into the world of Westeros.

Set well before the events of Game of Thrones, the series follows Ser Duncan the Tall and his young squire Egg. The first season offered a more grounded, character-driven story compared to the larger political chaos of the main series and House of the Dragon. It’s a different kind of entry, one that leans more on personal conflict than massive battles.

Season 2, in particular, is expected to ramp up those tensions. The story is set to follow Dunk as he takes on work for the aging Ser Eustace Osgrey, played by Peter Mullan, in a version of the Reach that’s been absolutely cooked by drought. What starts as a simple job quickly pulls him into a simmering land dispute with Lady Rohanne Webber (Lucy Boynton), and things only get more tense from there. The environment itself plays a big role, too, with dried-out fields and dying crops setting the tone. For now, though, the focus is simply on getting production back on track.

The series is still expected to arrive sometime in 2027, and Season 1 is currently streaming for anyone with an HBO Max subscription. In the meantime, the next stop in Westeros is House of the Dragon Season 3, which is set to premiere this summer.

As for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, it looks like the biggest challenge right now isn’t the politics of Westeros but Mother Nature.

Many of us were first introduced to Milly Alcock as Princess Rhaenyra in the Game of Thrones spin-off series, House of the Dragon. But this summer, she takes flight in the upcoming Supergirl, which is bound to launch her into a whole other stratosphere of fame. Of course, when her casting as the second-most famous Kryptonian was announced, there was online backlash, which the actress says she learned to deal with thanks to her time on HotD.

Ahead of the 2026 calendar release of one of the most anticipated new superhero movies, Milly Alcock sat down with Vanity Fair for a wide-ranging interview, touching on how her time in the world of Westeros made her swear off big franchises. However, after a year without work, she became nervous that her career was stalling, and then Supergirl was offered to her. But is she primed for the inevitable backlash that comes with such a major project? She explains how GoT taught her what to expect:

For the Sirens star, moving from House of the Dragon, a role she's famously spoken about her struggles with starring in, to taking on a major new DC movie as the headlining superhero has brought a ton of anxiety. According to her, she has been having “crazy dreams,” imagining herself at the “foot of a tsunami,” as her first major motion picture appearance as Kara Zor-El gets closer to release. Of course, she wants the movie to be well received, but she is preparing herself for the title wave of outspoken members of the fandom who aren’t so keen on her or her take on the character.​

Alcock’s take on how entertainment audiences feel emboldened to speak about women’s bodies is very similar to Sydney Sweeney's description of how she dealt with people feeling comfortable talking about her body a few years ago. And much like the Upright actress, Sweeney explained the odd feeling of having no control over how viewers perceive or respond to her. The only thing she can control is her choices in work.

Like Sweeney, the Australian-born star is focusing on her next career moves and approaching each project with intent. Beyond Supergirl, she has an amazingly diverse slate of projects on the horizon. These include Thumb, a comedy about a severed (you guessed it) thumb, featuring Sofía Vergara and Kate McKinnon. Plus there's Hot Mother, which tells the story of a mother (Toni Collette) and daughter (Alcock) trapped in a sauna at a remote wellness spa. With these projects lined up after her superhero debut, she already has her sights set on where she’d like to go next:

The Game of Thrones franchise is world-famous, and its first major spinoff made Milly Alcock a familiar face to anyone with an HBO Max subscription. But, with Supergirl soon to hit theaters, she’s preparing to take on the spotlight in a way she didn't set out looking for. Luckily, it seems she has a solid head on her shoulders and is prepared to face that online backlash, no matter how undeserved it may be, head-on.

Supergirl lands in theaters on June 26, 2026. As expectation builds, all eyes are on Milly Alcock and how she will bring this iconic character to life in her biggest role yet.

The Game of Thrones franchise remains super popular, with its spinoff House of the Dragons joining the ranks of HBO shows that got the world talking. But those with an HBO Max subscription know that we can't expect new seasons to arrive every single year like other TV shows. And the network's chief Casey Bloys recently explained the thought process behind the show's scheduling.

Fans are patiently waiting for Season 3 of HOTD, which will begin airing this summer. On top of wondering which dragons belong to which Targaryen, fans have questions about how the book to screen adaptation is released. During a conversation with THR, Bloys spoke about the specific balance that's needed in HBO's programming. As he put it:

Points were made. Because while certain network TV shows consistently air new seasons every year shows like House of the Dragon, The Last Of Us, or the upcoming Harry Potter TV show have a much larger scale. The production itself is huge, and there's also a ton of visual effects work that needs to be done once cameras go down. So it's simply not realistic to expect new seasons to be shot, edited, go through the post-production process every calendar year.

Despite Game of Thrones' controversial ending both HOTD and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms have helped to restore interest in future Westerosi stories. But fans have high expectations for its production value, requiring more time before each new installment is released. In the same interview Casey Bloys compared those big titles to shows like The Pitt, which can more easily be shot and released in quick succession. In his words:

Honestly, this does make a great deal of sense. And while I'd rather have more episodes of House of the Dragon sooner rather than later, that's simply not realistic. Fans will recall how Game of Thrones also took long breaks between seasons, thanks to being shot across multiple countries and its massive scale. Luckily the shows with less CGI are able to come back more consistently, such as The Pitt and Industry.

Season 3 of House of the Dragon is expected to arrive sometime in June of this year as part of the 2026 TV schedule. While we wait for more information, the first two seasons, as well as all things GOT, are streaming over on HBO Max.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 1 is one of the best shows I've seen during the 2026 TV schedule thus far. So it's a shame it's over, and fans now have to wait for Season 2. The good news is that the cast is active on social media in the meantime. With that, series co-leads Dexter Sol Ansell and Peter Claffey's just had a great exchange on social media that was sparked by a throwback photo the former shared.

Weeks after wearing his Egg outfit to school for World Book Day, Ansell shared another wild photo to Instagram. The young actor showed a throwback picture that his mother took of him sitting on a street display of Game of Thrones' Iron Throne. This was years before he would be cast in AKOTSK, so the young actor couldn't help but flex how cool it was that they had this photo. Take a look:

Dexter Sol Ansell claimed neither he nor his mother knew what the throne was. I would believe that, considering a child his age shouldn't be streaming Game of Thrones with an HBO Max subscription. What's even more wild, though, that he'd have this picture, only to go on and play a character who was named after the first Aegon who had it made.

And, while Game of Thrones history tells us young Aegon will eventually rule the "Nine" Kingdoms, Season 1 shows him only just taking on the role of a squire alongside Ser Duncan. It's fitting then that co-star Peter Claffey popped up in the comments, perhaps to remind his young co-star he's not a king yet:

For those used to the 21st century slang definition of clout, that's not what Claffey is talking about here. He's talking about clapping Dexter Sol Ansell alongside the head near his ear, similar to how Ser Arlan of Pennytree did Ser Duncan when he was young.

Of course, Peter Claffey is being facetious here and doesn't intend to actually hit Dexter Sol Ansell next time he sees him. The duo certainly likes to lean on the humor that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms thrives on (fortunately, not so much the poop humor).

It's a small exchange between them, but it already has me hungry for more episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Hopefully, the milestone-setting Thrones spinoff won't be on hiatus too long and fans can check out the continuing adventures of Dunk and Egg.

Until then, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is available to binge on HBO Max (and could honestly be done in a single evening). A rewatch may be a solid way to bide time before House of the Dragon Season 3 arrives this June, which I'm also excited for.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms and House Of The Dragon have properly reignited the Game of Thrones fandom, to the point that we have people watching the original series during the 2026 TV schedule. This has led to a sneaky moment from the show going viral, and while some spotted it way back when, this is my first time seeing this awesome detail.

Joffrey Baratheon's death was one of the most brutal killings in GOT, which I'm fine with. Joffrey sucked, but I guess I was so satisfied in watching his death that I completely missed this moment that's now getting attention years after it aired.

A Fan Noticed A Subtle Moment From Game Of Thrones I Completely Missed

While I'm still mulling over my thoughts and feelings about A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms' post-credit scene, the viewers @effxzzzyy spotted the exact sneaky moment when Lady Olenna Tyrell obtained the poison from Sansa's necklace, which she later used to kill Joffrey. Of course, Olenna's involvement was alluded to a couple of episodes later, but she never admitted to it in full until Season 7, just before being made to drink poison by Jamie Lannister. To do that right after being guaranteed a painless death was such a great knife twist.

Now I Want To Revisit The Series And See If I Can Spot Other Moments Like This

Seeing stuff like this makes me want to rewatch that scene with my HBO Max subscription, which I did, and now I wonder what other underscored moments would be more obvious in retrospect. Now that I think about it, the only real subtle Game of Thrones moment I clocked when it first happened, so to speak, was the infamous Starbucks cup appearance, which has since been removed.

There are a lot of moments in Game of Thrones that can hit differently upon rewatch. From what I can gather, a lot of it is in the dialogue, in which events are playfully foreshadowed, such as Tyrion talking about various forms of murder and ending with "patricide." He would, of course, go on to kill his father. In fairness, he did Tyrion dirty and was a terrible dad, so I don't think any tears were shed on his behalf from fans.

Mainly, I'm just glad I got this reminder, so now I know to keep a closer eye on things as House Of The Dragon prepares its return for Season 3. Frankly, I feel like I need a refresher on the story, because there's so much GOT content out I feel as though I'm mixing up stories.

Fortunately, House Of The Dragon, Game of Thrones, and A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms are all available to stream right now on HBO Max. One could make a whole weekend of watching it all at this point, and I think this recent viral clip has inspired me to do that.

I'm sad A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms' run on the 2026 TV schedule is already over, but I'm happy that we're already getting updates on the cast as we wait for Season 2. Dexter Sol Ansell, for example, is at school and celebrating World Book Day in the best way.

World Book Day in the UK is a holiday for children who are in school, who receive a voucher which can be spent on books. It seems Sol Ansell's school is celebrating by dressing as their favorite book characters, so obviously, he had to go as Egg. Check out the photos from his Instagram Stories posts below:

I mean, if you have the costume and shaved head, why wouldn't you go as Egg? Apologies to any other child who rocked a character outfit on a school day, but I fear no one is topping Dexter Sol Ansell this year.

I think what I love the most about this is that the young actor seems to thoroughly enjoy playing Egg, to the point he's comfortable representing the character at school. Not every child actor gets that experience, as we've heard stories from actors in similar positions, like Star Wars' Jake Lloyd, who experienced bullying by children. Jealousy can impact anyone, but, unfortunately, kids can have a once-in-a-lifetime experience sullied by stuff like that.

Dexter Sol Ansell seems like a happy 11-year-old in general, and celebrated his casting in A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms by eating scrambled eggs. It feels as though the young actor has a promising future in Hollywood, especially as his performance as Egg continues to get approval from everyone, from fans to George R.R. Martin.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms isn't wasting time and is already filming Season 2, so it's possible it only helps that Dexter Sol Ansell dressed up as Egg for his school day. This only ensures he'll be ready for any scenes he has to film afterward, though I say that mainly as tongue-in-cheek. I have no idea if he's currently filming on the set or if he's between scenes, considering production began back in December. In any case, I'm hoping he's able to have a great school and work balance, and is having a blast while still enjoying being a kid.

While we wait for Season 2, A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms is available to stream with an HBO Max subscription. As someone who loved Season 1, I do hope the series maintains its positive tone and gives us a version of a hero in Westeros I've hoped for since the original Game of Thrones.

The World of Westeros keeps expanding and, this time, it’s heading to the big screen. A new report says a Game of Thrones movie is in the works, written by Andor scribe Beau Willimon. That’s exciting news on its own, but there’s one particular star from that Star Wars TV series I’m already campaigning to see cast in the film. And, if it happens, I’ll be over the double moons of Tatooine with excitement.

What We Know About The Game Of Thrones Movie So Far

According to Variety, Willimon, best known for his work on Andor and as the showrunner of House of Cards, has submitted a screenplay draft. A director has not yet been announced, and no casting decisions have been revealed. However, we do know a bit about what the movie may be about. Allegedly, the film will center on Aegon I Targaryen and his conquest of Westeros. If true, then fans are going to witness one of the most pivotal chapters in franchise history.

Aegon I Targaryen was the founder of the Targaryen family dynasty, the architect of the Iron Throne, and the subject of a story fans have only heard in whispers, history lessons, and dragonfire-laced flashbacks: his conquest of Westeros. If the upcoming movie indeed tackles Aegon’s rise, that means we’re not just getting one central royal figure. We’re getting three.

Aegon did not conquer Westeros alone. He ruled alongside his two sister-wives, Visenya Targaryen and Rhaenys Targaryen, dragonriders who helped reshape the political map of the continent.

Of course, there’s still a corporate cloud hanging over development, with Warner Bros.’ ongoing merger discussions potentially reshuffling projects. But let’s be real: Game of Thrones remains one of the studio’s crown jewels. Between the original GoT series and House of the Dragon, the appetite for Targaryen drama clearly hasn’t burned out. If this movie moves forward, casting Visenya and Rhaenys will be critical, which brings me to Andor star Adria Arjona.

Adria Arjona Would Be A Perfect Queen Visenya Targaryen

Adria Arjona made a major impact in Andor as Bix Caleen, a salvage dealer whose arc evolved into one of the show’s most emotionally raw and resilient storylines. Over two seasons, Bix transformed from a pragmatic operator into a survivor of Imperial brutality, carrying trauma without losing her strength.

That balance is exactly why Arjona would be a phenomenal Visenya Targaryen. In Targaryen lore, Visenya isn’t the soft-spoken consort, but a warrior queen, dragonrider, and strategist—the rumored architect of darker political maneuvers during Aegon’s reign. Where Rhaenys is often remembered as charismatic and beloved, Visenya is sharp-edged steel.

Arjona has already shown she can play loyalty layered with guarded intensity. As Bix, she carried toughness on the surface, compassion underneath, and an emotional gravity that lingered long after scenes ended. Visenya would require that same internal fire. There’s also a physical presence Arjona brings to roles, which is probably why shes rumored to be in the running for Wonder Woman. She doesn’t just occupy the frame, but commands it. In a story about conquest and consolidation of power, Visenya cannot fade into the background. She has to feel formidable, even next to a dragon.

If Warner Bros. truly wants this film to feel epic yet character-driven, casting actors who can embody resilience and complexity will matter more than spectacle alone. And, if an Andor writer is shaping Westeros’ next chapter, bringing one of that show’s most compelling performers along for the ride feels less like stunt casting and more like destiny.

While fans wait for more info on the Game of Thrones movie, you can catch up with it and its two spin-off series, House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, streaming with an HBO Max subscription. Also, check out the talented Adria Arjona in Andor by streaming the show with a Disney+ subscription.

For 13 years, Breaking Bad’s epic final season episode “Ozymandias” was the highest-rated episode of any television series ever on IMDb. Of course, some critically acclaimed episodes of other shows have come close, but none have been able to take down “Ozymandias." That is, until Game of Thrones fans decided to review bomb it by giving it one-star ratings following the release of A Knight of Seven Kingdoms’ “In the Name of a Mother” on the 2026 TV schedule. Naturally, HBO shared a sassy video response that is truly A+.

Like some brand accounts on social media, HBO Max Nordic on TikTok is known for posting some pretty hilarious edits with some sassy and sarcastic remarks, as their bio is even “Maester of Memes and Edits.” In one video, “I Need a Hero” is playing in the background while a fight scene from Game of Thrones plays, while Breaking Bad and GoT fans fight each other, and their respective IMDb ratings are going down and up.

As much as I dislike review bombing, HBO Max Nordic’s video is pretty hilarious. And it’s also pretty on-brand not only for them but for Game of Thrones. Plus, after all of this fighting and review bombing, it was only a matter of time before an official account addressed it. HBO Max Nordic just happened to be the first and was more than happy to take part in it.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, an adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg series of novellas, only premiered on HBO and with an HBO Max subscription on January 18. “In the Name of the Mother,” the episode that fans are rating extremely high, was released on February 15 as the fifth episode in the six-episode season. As of the time of this writing, both “In the Name of the Mother” and “Ozymandias” have a 9.5 rating on IMDb. ANOFTSK has 130,000 10-star ratings, while Breaking Bad has 331,000 for their episodes.

Whether or not either episode will get that 10-star perfect rating is unknown. But it can be assumed that if A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms achieves it, you best believe HBO Max Nordic will be among the first to post about it... especially if it means once again trolling the Breaking Bad fandom. So fans will just have to wait and see if that ever does happen.

Meanwhile, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ first season is officially done, having aired the finale on Sunday. However, the series has already been picked up for a second season, so perhaps fans will be able to have a little more luck when it comes to IMDb ratings by then. If anything, it seems like this is one Game of Thrones spinoff that will stick around for a while, and fans are more than willing to do whatever it takes to see it through.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Season 1 finale "The Morrow." Stream the episode with an HBO Max subscription, and read at your own risk!

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms got super heavy in the penultimate, but the comedy returned in time for the Season 1 finale. This included an end card that seemingly changed the show's title to "A Knight Of The Nine Kingdoms," but will the HBO series stick with that name ahead of Season 2?

Co-creator and showrunner Ira Parker spoke to Variety about the Season 1 finale, and specifically, about Egg's revelation that there are actually "nine" kingdoms in Westeros to a bewildered Dunk. When asked to clarify what the end card, seemingly renaming the show, meant, he said this:

It feels like Parker was mostly making another joke, rather than having plans to change the show's name after its first season. It's an interesting situation because, as Egg explained after running down the various Kingdoms, the title of the show is incorrect. That said, will people who tuned in to the critically acclaimed series be confused if the show has a new name after just six episodes? Name recognition can be a real concern for branding, so I'm sure some people at HBO are wondering if it's wise to go with the new show title.

As for what George R.R. Martin thought about the title, he only had one request. Ira Parker recalled his conversation with the writer, who made the books with a special goal in mind, and talked about the one title the creator wouldn't sign off on under any circumstances:

I have to applaud Ira Parker for the decision A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms ultimately landed on, because it completely blindsided me with its unexpected optimism and mix of humor. I think, if the series were called "Dunk & Egg," I would've seen the comedy coming for sure.

I do wonder just how long A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms can stave off the darkness from Westeros, given all the dark events that will eventually lead to Aegon becoming the king. A lot of Targaryens will have to die for him to ascend to the throne, and yet, we already know it's going to happen because of Game of Thrones. I'm curious to see how the show will handle that, especially since it's gotten so much acclaim for how it's stood apart from the flagship series and House of the Dragon.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms was already confirmed to be returning for Season 2, so be ready for more Dunk and Egg going forward! Now, it's time to get amped for House of the Dragon Season 3, and after that wild trailer, I know I need to get my head right for a lot of violence.

Spoilers ahead for "In the Name of the Mother".

Despite Game of Thrones' controversial finale, fans have returned to Westeros thanks to various spinoffs that are available on HBO (and streaming with an HBO Max subscription). The latest of these is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which has been trolling fans and subverting their expectations thanks to its irreverent tone and scatological humor. The penultimate episode featured an epic Trial of the Seven, but it was missing one key element to the series.

Immediately after its premiere, AKotSK joined the ranks of HBO shows that got the world talking, largely thanks to how different it was from its predecessors. The Game of Thrones universe was used to hilarious results, and the show has had plenty of poop jokes and wild nudity so far. Unfortunately for me, that was what was missing in Episode 5.

"In the Name of the Mother" Was Thrilling, But Dropped The Show's Comedic Tone

The drama of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was building to "In the Name of the Mother," where Duncan and his motley crew of Knights got involved in a dangerous Trial of the Seven. The episode split its time between brutal medieval combat and flashbacks to Dunk's childhood in Flea Bottom. It was an absolutely epic episode of television, but I wish that it could have had just a few moments of comedy to include the show's signature irreverence.

Obviously, this is easier said than done. But maybe this could have been done in the flashback sequences. This would have let the Trial stay high stakes, while also helping the show have that same consistency. I mean, I'm sure I'm not the only fan who fell in love with the prequel for this reason.

I'm interested to see what type of tone the upcoming A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season finale will have. The stakes continue to be high for Dunk, who now is at least partly responsible for the death of Baelor Targaryen. Will there be room for the final episode in Season 1 to have comedy and poop jokes like the majority of the series, or will the show begin to resemble Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon? I certainly know what I'd prefer.

At the time of writing this story, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms hasn't been renewed for another season just yet. But showrunner Ira Parker wants to continue Dunk and Egg's story till the end of those characters' lives. The trick will be staying true to the first season's humor, while also allowing the larger story to play out. Fingers crossed we get news about another season sooner rather than later.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms airs new episodes Sundays on HBO as part of the 2026 TV schedule. Luckily for fans of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon will begin airing its third season this June. Long live Westeros!

Despite Game of Thrones' controversial ending, fans with an HBO Max subscription have been brought back to Westeros with a number of spinoffs. The first of which was The House of the Dragon, which instantly became a HBO show that got the world talking. The trailer for Season 3 just dropped, and it teased a ton of violence in the war to come. Although I also have a question about one dragon in particular.

While watching HOTD, part of the challenge is keeping track of which Targaryen has which dragon. The above trailer for Season 3 showed how much destruction will come with the Dance of the Dragons, with soldiers being burned alive. But there was also a quick shot of what looks like Meleys. This is confusing because both she and Rhaenys perished last season. Here's the shot in question:

So what's going on here? One possibility is that we'll get a flashback, where both Meleys and Princess Rhaenys are still with us. I'd love if that happened, because she was probably my favorite character in House of the Dragon. Alternatively, this could simply be one of the other dragons that are still alive at the top of Season 3. Only time will tell, but this mystery has me even more invested in what's coming.

The trailer for HOTD's new season picks up immediately after the Season 2 finale. The Greens and The Black are gearing up for all-out war, and with their dragons involved the stakes are super high. This is especially true with Alicent Hightower seemingly preparing a mutiny. We'll just have to see if she actually has the courage to do it, especially with her son Aemond seemingly on to her, and taking The Iron Throne himself.

A number of dragons are featured throughout this trailer, with Vhagar shown burning soldiers alive and our best look at Tessarion aka the Blue Queen. But a number of the winged creatures are noticeably missing. For instance, it's unclear if Rhaena Targaryen was able to successfully claim the wild dragon Sheepstealer. Either way, Alicent seems concerned about just how many dragons Rhaenyra has at her disposal.

Aside from the dragon violence shown, we also see the brutal nature of medieval combat. That includes Daemon bringing down his sword in the battlefield, as well as what looks like Aemond taking a knife to a soldier's abdomen. There are charred bodies, arrows flying, and more. So we should probably gear up for the brutal nature of war in Westeros.

There are countless questions about what will go down in Season 3, but fans are going to have to wait a few more months for some answers. We'll get more information when House of the Dragon Season 3 premiers sometime in June as part of the 2026 TV schedule.

Game of Thrones was definitely a HBO show that got the world talking, and in recent years the franchise has grown thanks to two new spinoffs. While the GoT finale is still controversial, fans are invested in Westeros again. The latest is a Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (streaming with a HBO Max subscription), but could the show run after it runs out of material from the books? Creator/showrunner Ira Parker has weighed in on that possibility.

Folks who watched the flagship series will remember how Game of Thrones surpassed George R.R. Martin's novels (which still haven't been released to this day). It's still unclear how the books will end, and if they'll be different than what we saw in the book to screen adaptation. In an interview from MovieZine's TikTok, Parker addressed how long the new spinoff might run, saying:

Honestly, sign me up. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms trolled Game of Thrones fans from the start, establishing its own unique, comedic tone in the process. I'd love to see how that continues to be explored in future seasons, going to the of the protagonists' lives. We'll just have to wait and see if the network officially green lights more episodes after its first season.

If A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms ends up having long legs, it could very well pass over author George R.R. Martin's novellas about Dunk and Egg. Luckily it sounds like there's a plan in place for if/when that occurs. In the same interview, Parker said:

Martin has been working closely on AKOTSK, and it seems like that's going to continue if the spinoff ends up having a long life on the small screen. Some fans even like it more than House of the Dragon, partly thanks to its more contained story and irreverent tone. The two prequels couldn't be more different, despite being set in Westeros and featuring Targaryens.

The most recent episode "In the Name of the Mother", the drama of the prequel reached a boiling point, with Duncan going through an epic trial of seven, with major consequences.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms airs new episodes Sundays on HBO as part of the 2026 TV schedule. Only time will tell how many seasons are in our future.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms' episode "Seven." Stream the episode with an HBO Max subscription and read at your own risk!

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms is one of the best shows on the 2026 TV schedule, bringing a bit of optimism and humor to the typically dark HBO fantasy series. I'm as obsessed as everyone else with Ser Duncan the Tall, and deeply invested in the idea that the show might've slyly answered a massive mystery surrounding the character.

Since the series' beginning, there's been a massive question surrounding the legitimacy of Ser Duncan's knighthood. He claims Ser Arlan of Pennytree knighted him, and yet there were no witnesses, and most flashbacks we've seen of Arlan and his squire don't make it seem as though he'd actually do that. While the verdict may be out for some, I think the latest episode, "Seven," dropped a sly answer suggesting the truth.

The Possible Real Reason Duncan Didn't Knight Raymun Fossoway

Duncan had to rally six fighters by his side thanks to Aerion invoking the Trial of Seven for his right to combat. Aegon was able to rally a handful of men to fight alongside him, but it seemed it was all for naught when Ser Steffon Fossoway switched to Aerion's side after previously pledging allegiance to Dunk.

His cousin, Raymun, desperately tries to make amends with Duncan by offering to fight in his cousin's place. All he needs is to be officially knighted, and he reminds Duncan he has the power to do it. Dunk hesitates for quite a while, until Lord Lyonel Baratheon decides to knight him, and Duncan walks off.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms really held on that scene of Duncan deliberating, while it's possible he felt bad about potentially putting an inexperienced fighter's life in jeopardy, there's another explanation. Duncan didn't knight Raymun because any knight can make a knight, and he is not truly a knight as he claims.

I'm More Confident Than Not That Duncan Is Not A Knight, Though I'm Hung Up On One Key Detail

I think A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms has done a good job thus far, showing that Duncan's vision of what a knight should be doesn't match the reality of many he's met thus far. As such, it would be a much more powerful message if he had lied about his knighthood and still adhered to the code of honor in a way those men haven't.

At the same time, is it honorable for a man to lie about his knighthood? For all of Duncan's nobility and courage to do what is right even in the face of death, it doesn't make sense that he would lie about being knighted.

At the same time, the Game of Thrones universe has thrived on showing that almost all of its characters are imperfect. Terrible characters can become good, and even those with the best intentions can be led astray. Duncan isn't some messianic figure who never did anything wrong in his life, so perhaps it's foolish to assume he would be above lying about being knighted.

Would knowing whether Duncan was knighted or not massively impact my enjoyment of the series? No, I'd still love the fun of this series and how it mixes poop and nudity jokes with serious drama. I would love a definitive answer, eventually, if only because I think it creates an interesting arc for the series to explore as it continues. Wouldn't it be hilarious if the guy who was never really a knight ended up being regarded as one of the greatest of all time?

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms airs new episodes on HBO and HBO Max on Sundays at 10:00 p.m. ET. I can't wait to see how the Trial of Seven goes, and who will be left standing by the time that it ends.

Spoilers ahead for the most recent episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

Despite the controversial Game of Thrones finale, Westeros has returned to HBO (and for those with a HBO Max subscription) courtesy of two recent spinoffs. The latest of these is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which instantly became a HBO show that got the world talking. The series has an irreverent tone unique from its predecessors, and I'm really hoping it keeps the poop jokes coming after Episode 3's big Egg twist.

From its first episode, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms trolled GoT fans, including its use of scatological humor. The poop jokes just keep coming, although I'm worried that the reveal of Egg's true identity might pump the breaks. Let's break it all down.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdom's Tone Is Irreverent So Far, And I Hope It Stays That Way

At the end of Episode 3 "The Squire", Dexter Sol Ansell's Egg revealed himself to actually be Aegon Targaryen. While folks familiar with the book to screen adaptation saw this coming, fans who strictly watch the show were shocked when he was able to save Duncan's life from his older, murderous brother. While the show has been mostly told from the perspective of the Smallfolk, this twist offers an intense connection to the Targaryen Dynasty, and those ruling over Westeros.

I'm excited to see where this story goes, but I'm hoping this doesn't mean that the show's irreverent tone will be ending. I never expected A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms to be so funny, and every poop joke and shocking nude scene sets it apart from both GoT and House of the Dragon.

The trailer for Episode 4 "Seven" showed Egg in full Targaryen regalia, while poor Duncan is seemingly in a dungeon due to his assault on Aerion. It's a big change to this character, and the power dynamics between the show's two protagonists. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the spinoff doesn't end up going full Game of Thrones as a result of his royal lineage.

A big reason why I instantly fell in love with this series was because of how different it felt than the previous two shows set within George R.R. Martin's universe. I mean, the first episode started playing the Game of Thrones theme before cutting to Duncan The Tall emptying his bowels on the mountainside. We'll just have to see if things change now that we know that Egg is a Targaryen; the fortune teller who spoke to him in Episode 3 seemed to tease an epic and tragic story to come.

New episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdom air Sundays on HBO as part o the 2026 TV schedule. We'll just have to wait and see how the spinoff's story plays out.

After just a few episodes A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has joined the ranks of HBO shows that got the world talking. Those with a HBO Max subscription have seen the way the Game of Thrones spinoff has trolled the fans, including a number of poop jokes. Although showrunner Ira Parker revealed there's another one of these jokes that went too far, and was promptly cut. Let's break it all down.

While some folks figure out how to watch A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, hardcore fans are tuned in to HBO every Sunday to see what's next for Duncan and Egg. This latest spinoff has a much more irreverent tone than its predecessors, and in a TikTok from Polygon, Parker addressed the various poop jokes in the first season. In his words:

Clearly A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms isn't afraid to use scatological humor, as was shown in the very first sequence of the show. Because as Peter Claffey's was shown in Episode 1 and the Game of Thrones theme song began to play, it suddenly cut to a shot of him having explosive diarrhea. This immediately told the audience this was going to be a very different GoT show, and it wasn't the only time poop would be used for comedic purposes.

While the Game of Thrones finale is still controversial, its spinoffs have renewed interest in Westeros. Later in the same interview, Ira Parker shared more about the poop joke that as "too much" for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. As he put it:

There you have it. While I think this bit would have been funny, it might have been too nauseating for certain fans tuning into the GoT prequel. Still, AKotSK has a unique tone, one that I'm hoping stays even after Egg's big twist from Episode 3.

I'm personally loving this new series, and I'm hoping that more filmmakers are inspired to create projects set in Westeros that don't take themselves too seriously. Fingers crossed.

New episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms air Sundays on HBO as part of the 2026 TV schedule. Between the poop jokes and that wild nude scene, there's not telling what comedic bits the show will take in its final three entries of the season.

Chatter is picking up around a possible Arya Stark return in a spinoff series amid the ever-present curiosity surrounding what’s next in the world of Westeros. With that in mind, it’s easy to understand why some fans feel like the Game of Thrones universe might be on the verge of an explosion of spinoffs. According to HBO boss Casey Bloys, the reality behind the scenes is far more restrained than fans might think, though.

Bloys addressed the rising chatter (including past teases from George R. R. Martin about potentially working with Maisie Williams again) during a wide-ranging interview with Deadline. Amid that chat, the exec discussed everything from HBO’s recent ratings wins to the future of its biggest franchises. When the conversation turned to Game of Thrones offshoots, Bloys made it clear that excitement around development has been mistaken for actual production. He explained:

That misunderstanding, the exec suggested, has helped fuel the belief that HBO has a long assembly line of Westeros series ready to roll. In reality, the network has been far more selective than the rumors imply. He added:

The distinction is an important one, especially as online speculation often treats internal development conversations as unofficial announcements. Bloys emphasized that the prestige television juggernaut’s process is intentionally cautious, even when working within one of television’s most popular fictional worlds. Finally, he added:

That is a very telling comparison. Shared universes elsewhere may once have thrived on volume, with a steady stream of upcoming Marvel movies on the calendar, but HBO appears committed to keeping Game of Thrones output tightly controlled. If you remember back, there have been a few spin-off projects that filmed pilots only to be scrapped after failing to meet quality standards or the Jon Snow series that was killed before it ever really got off the ground.

So far, that strategy has meant only two true spinoffs making it to air. There's House of the Dragon, which is heading into its third season premiering sometime on the 2026 TV schedule and is already renewed for a planned fourth and final season. Meanwhile, this past January marked the premiere of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a smaller-scale prequel that has already proven there’s appetite for more intimate stories set in Westeros.

Bloys also noted that the success of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has been instructive, showing that audiences are just as willing to embrace character-driven tales as they are dragon-filled spectacles. Still, he stressed that creative fit comes first, not an attempt to shrink or expand ideas to meet a quota.

That perspective also puts an Arya Stark–centered spinoff firmly in the “maybe” category. It’s a good reminder that Westeros isn’t on the verge of becoming a content factory. And that kind of restraint may be exactly what keeps the franchise feeling special and worth re-upping your HBO Max subscription for.

Only two episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms have aired so far on HBO in the 2026 TV schedule, but the newest Game of Thrones spinoff didn’t even need more than the first five minutes to prove how different it is from House of the Dragon. One show is almost entirely populated by Targaryens and their relatives; Targaryens are few and far between on the other. Several generations have passed between the timeline of House of the Dragon, so the series really could be taken pretty separately.

That said, there’s one element of Knight of the Seven Kingdoms that I believe vindicates Rhaenyra in the TV version of Westeros. It feels more accurate to George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood than the show actually based on that fictional history book. For that, though, we do have to start out with a branch of the Targaryen family tree that has barely been explored just yet.

Note for spoiler-phobes: there are no spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 3 or A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms beyond Episode 2, but I will touch on George R.R. Martin’s Targaryen lore from Fire & Blood.

The Targaryens Of A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms So Far

The Targaryens rode into the tourney in the second episode, with the immediate joke of Baelor being announced as “Firstborn son of King Daeron the Good, Prince of Dragonstone, Hand of the King, and Heir to the Iron Throne,” followed anticlimactically with “...and his brother, Maekar." By the end of the episode, we had these updates on the Targaryens in the show:

King Daeron's Sons

• Crown Prince Baelor, first in line to the Iron Throne
• Prince Maekar

Baelor's Son

• Prince Valarr, second in line to the Iron Throne

Maekar's Sons

• Prince Daeron (officially missing)
• Prince Aerion
• Prince Aegon (officially missing)

While we’re certain to learn more about these Targaryens in the coming weeks of Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, there are already some things clear. For one, Baelor appears to be the responsible and respectable heir to the throne, whereas Maekar gets to be snarky and sulky as a younger son. Baelor has dark hair and a mostly dark beard, while Maekar has hair as white as any we’ve seen on House of the Dragon.

Prince Valarr hasn’t been featured much, but what we have seen of him indicates that he’s 1) brave in a joust, 2) capable on a horse, 3) less grating than his cousin, and 4) seemingly dark-haired.

Aerion is the only one of Maekar's sons openly presenting himself as such so far, with the other two MIA and – to paraphrase Dunk – hopefully not dead. He too has hair so white that it’s worthy of Daemon Targaryen on House of the Dragon. (His attitude is also reminiscent of Daemon on HOTD.)

Bear With Me: Genetics, Targaryen-Style

There’s been no indication in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms that Baelor and Maekar are anything other than full-blooded siblings with the same mother and father, with George R.R. Martin’s lore telling us that those parents are Daeron II Targaryen and Myriah Martell of Dorne.

One brother and his son have the white hair that fans have come to associate with Targaryens as far back as the pilot of Game of Thrones; the other brother and his son have dark hair they would have inherited from their Dornish mother and grandmother.

We don’t have data points for any of Daeron and Myriah’s other children to say which parent they take after, but Baelor and Maekar are enough to prove that multiple Targaryens can be born to the same parents and turn out to have either dark hair or the traditional white. Both brothers have the same amount of Targaryen blood from their father, and Baelor seems quite popular as next in line for the throne.

So where was this acceptance from the realm when Rhaenyra was the heir and had three dark-haired sons?!

Rhaenyra’s Eldest Sons Could Have Been Laenor's (In Theory)

Look, I know and you know and anybody who has watched House of the Dragon knows that Rhaenyra’s oldest three sons are actually the children of Ser Harwin Strong rather than her first husband, Laenor Velaryon. But Jace, Luke, and Joffrey were all physically born of Rhaenyra’s body, so there was no denying that they had as much Targaryen blood as any member of the family who married a non-relative, and having dark hair shouldn’t have been enough for the realm to declare them bastards.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ dark-haired heir to the throne with a white-haired younger brother is seen as perfectly valid by the time of the spinoff; the same should have been true for Rhaenyra at the time of the Dance of the Dragons. Nobody had any actual proof that Jace, Luke, and Joff were Harwin’s sons, as they were claimed as sons by Laenor and accepted as grandsons by King Viserys. Legally, they weren’t bastards, and blaming their looks wasn’t valid.

What House Of The Dragon Could Have Done Better For Rhaenyra

After his descriptions of his “abysmal” relationship with showrunner Ryan Condal (and HBO’s CEO acknowledging the “dysfunction”), I have no doubt that George R.R. Martin would agree with me that House of the Dragon could have done some things much better in translating Fire & Blood to the small screen. As far as I'm concerned, the show sabotaged Rhaenyra from the jump by not matching Rhaenys’ appearance to the book.

Because in Fire & Blood, we learn that as the daughter of Prince Aemon Targaryen and Lady Jocelyn Baratheon, Rhaenys had dark hair. That should have been true in Fire & Blood as well to match with the Game of Thrones canon about dark-haired, blue-eyed Baratheons that helped Ned connect the dots about Jaime and Cersei.

Book Laenor still had the traditional pale Targaryen hair, but if Rhaenys had been given her dark hair in the show, Rhaenyra could have gotten away with claiming that her three kids got their dark hair from their grandmother. Show Rhaenyra having an affair with Harwin Strong, and seeing from Jace that their children would likely take after their father, seems ludicrous.

House of the Dragon has done many characters dirty, but the color of Eve Best’s wig managed to sabotage Rhaenyra as an adult. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms isn’t afraid of Targaryens with dark hair (who aren't red herrings in human form like Jon Snow), and more room for doubt about Rhaenyra’s kids would have made the conflict between the Greens and the Blacks more compelling.

So, I’m going to take Baelor and Valarr’s hair from their Dornish mother as vindication for Rhaenyra, whose dark-haired sons should have been accepted as legitimate by the realm. (Also, it’s possible that the long wait for HOTD Season 3 is getting to me.)

See more of how A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms handles Targaryens with new episodes on Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on HBO and/or streaming with an HBO Max subscription.

The main conflict of House of the Dragon was once between the Greens and the Blacks, but the shots fired over the post-Season 2 hiatus have mostly come from George R.R. Martin over the show taking significant liberties with his source material. Ahead of Season 3's arrival in the 2026 TV schedule, HBO CEO Casey Bloys opened up about the conflict between Martin and showrunner Ryan Condal, which recently heated up.

Shortly before the premiere of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms as a fresh take on the Game of Thrones franchise, George R.R Martin described his relationship with Ryan Condal as "abysmal" and "worse than rocky." It didn't come as a huge shock after he aired his grievances about House of the Dragon Season 2, but Casey Bloys didn't waste any time in responding to the most recent comments. He told Deadline:

Bloys acknowledged the existence of "dysfunction" when it comes to George R.R. Martin, Ryan Condal, and House of the Dragon, and notably didn't address the problems that the A Song of Ice and Fire author had with Condal's adaptation of Fire & Blood. (Both seasons so far are available streaming with an HBO Max subscription now.)

In 2024, Martin's dramatic blog post (which has since been deleted) called out the show's version of Blood and Cheese, the infamous portion of his book that sets a lot of changes in motion and is arguably the worst thing that Daemon ever did. There were enough changes to the source material that it wasn't hard to compile a full list.

But what about George R.R. Martin's future at HBO, when he was reportedly pleased with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms? Casey Bloys went on to confirm that there's still a deal between the network and the author:

The CEO did then confirm that Martin "definitely took a step back" in his involvement with House of the Dragon for Season 3, with more focus on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Bloys also noted that "the Rotten Tomato scores of the first two seasons" have House of the Dragon at 87%, saying that Ryan Condal has been "a great collaborator with us" in making the first Game of Thrones spinoff successful. At the time of writing, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Casey Bloys' comments now aren't too different from when he initially addressed George R.R. Martin's grievances in late 2024 by comparing the working relationship to a "marriage" that can get "rocky." Ryan Condal was less diplomatic last year, claiming that Martin "just became unwilling to acknowledge the practical issues at hand in a reasonable way."

For now, it's just a matter of waiting to find out how much Season 3 of House of the Dragon departs from how Martin told the history of the Targaryen dynasty in Fire & Blood. Having read the book myself, I will say that some big changes would have to happen early in the third season for HOTD to get on track with the publication, but I'm confident at least the biggest battles will be included. While a premiere date has yet to be announced, the new season is expected to arrive in the summer.

Warning: spoilers are ahead for Episode 2 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in the 2026 TV schedule, called “Hard Salt Beef” and available streaming now with an HBO Max subscription.

The world of Westeros has delivered all manner of nude scenes going back to the very first episode of Game of Thrones, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms opened its second episode by showing a whole new side of Ser Arlan. To be specific, his fully frontal side. Showrunner Ira Parker, who previously explained the appeal of “fart jokes” for this series, opened up about why Ser Arlan was the center of a nude scene so early in the episode.

Unlike the nudity of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ sequence was clearly played for laughs in showing vs. telling. Dunk’s flashbacks to his past with Ser Arlan continue to be less than glamorous, while he speaks glowingly of his mentor in the present.

In this particular flashback, Arlan stumbled out of a brothel without a stitch of clothing, no sign of any self-consciousness, and no creative filming tricks to avoid showing everything he has to offer. Speaking with EW, Ira Parker explained the origin of the fully nude scene, and the explanation is pretty fitting for the unfortunate Ser Arlan. He shared:

I can’t say that I thought of one of the best movies of the 1990s or even its great opening scene to set the tone when I watched this episode of AKOTSK, but this show is much more fitting to a Boogie Nights homage than Game of Thrones and/or House of the Dragon have ever been. It’s also easy to feel bad for Ser Arlan from the perspective of what he was for Dunk for so many years, other than the clouts to the ear.

This didn’t feel like a troll quite like the gag of the Game of Thrones opening theme, and I can’t help but wonder what George R.R. Martin thinks of it based on his involvement in the series. The showrunner couldn’t confirm whether or not “a prosthetic” was used for actor Danny Webb in Ser Arlan’s showcase, but he did go on to say this about the scene overall:

Alas for Ser Arlan, that “certain energy” wasn’t enough to sustain him into the main story of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and we'll presumably only see him via flashback. Then again, the man seemed to have been determined to hold off on knighting Dunk until the very end of his life, so perhaps the main story couldn’t have taken off at all without his demise. I can’t help but think that Ser Arlan wouldn’t be as fun to watch opposite the – to quote actor Daniel Ings – ”chaos” of Lyonel Baratheon, at the very least.

Suffice it to say that Ira Parker’s series hasn’t just been using the freedom of HBO for gratuitous sex scenes galore, which wasn’t always the case for Game of Thrones or its first spinoff. Find out if that approach continues with new episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms on Sundays at 10 p.m. ET, or stream via a subscription to HBO Max.

Since starring in the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones, Sophie Turner has made a name for herself and not just for her role as Sansa Stark. The actress has gone on to star in the X-Men film series as well as movies like Do Revenge and Trust and TV shows such as The Prince, The Staircase and Joan. Turner has more recently been promoting Steal, a newly launched Prime Video series. Needless to say, Turner's been booked as of late but, shortly after Thrones' finale aired in 2019, she turned down certain gigs for a good reason.

Turner recently chatted with the Los Angeles Times, during which she looked back at her career. Of course, Game of Thrones was her big break and, while the show still seems to hold a big place in her heart, it sounds like she would rather not do similar shows. However, it’s not for the reason you’d think, as Turner, who is set to lead Prime Video’s upcoming Tomb Raider series, admitted:

I can definitely understand why it would be tough to star in a period piece. Between intricate sets, rough locations and eclectic costumes, there can be pain points for an actor. Sure, I can see how some stars would relish the chance to play a character who exists in a time period far different from there own. Nevertheless, I definitely get where Turner is coming from.

As with any kind of shoot, the weather can be unpredictable while filming a period piece. It can also be challenging to film outside in the cold in an outfit that may not be all that comfortable or conducive to the terrain. For Turner, there's one very particular reason she doesn't like doing period pieces:

I have seen a number of period dramas, and I'd be lying if I said that as I watched, I thought heavily about the actors having to deal with mud and other hazards. Needless to say, it sounds like it’s not that fan. If anything, what Sophie Turner can say is that after starring on a show like Game of Thrones -- which was shot in the UK, Spain, Canada, Malta and more -- for so long, she's truly battle tested when it comes to rough conditions.

Whether or not Turner's opinion will ever change about period pieces is unclear. However, thanks to the way she's rebuilt her career, she doesn't have to rely on them for work.

Still, there's been a question as to whether Turner would ever return to the GoT universe. The franchise is, after all, alive and well via spinoffs, and Turner's recent four-word response to the notion of reprising Sansa proves she's not totally opposed to the idea.

Of course, Sophie Turner is pretty busy these days and, as of late, she's been doing a lot of training for the upcoming Tomb Raider series, in which she'll play Lara Croft. Nevertheless, here's hoping that if Turner ever does take on another period piece, the experience will be smooth. For now, fans can see her in action as Stark by streaming all seasons of Thrones with an HBO Max subscription.

Spoilers are ahead for the first two episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in the 2026 TV schedule, available streaming now with an HBO Max subscription.

The newest Game of Thrones spinoff wasted no time in establishing that it's taking a much funnier approach to Westeros than House of the Dragon, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms continued that with Episode 2. While the duo of Dunk and Egg are supplying a lot of the lightheartedness, the biggest scene-stealer of the show at this point might be Lyonel Baratheon, a.k.a. the Laughing Storm. Before even becoming the fan-favorite he is now, Daniel Ings opened up about the "chaos" he wanted to bring as the future lord of Storm's End at the Ashford Tourney.

Lyonel bonded with Dunk on his first night at Ashford, and I knew I'd love them as scene partners as soon as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms cut over to them having a drunken heart-to-heart with Dunk wearing Lyonel's antlers. The Baratheon heir went even further in winning me over in Episode 2, when he recruited Dunk (and the less helpful Egg) to a tug of war contest, complete with some extremely creative insults. And as it turned out, none of the morning's revelries stopped him from putting up a good showing in the joust! What's not to love?

The former The Gold cast member spoke with CinemaBlend and other outlets ahead of AKOTSK's premiere about making Lyonel his own while still honoring the character penned by George R.R Martin. Ings shared:

"Fun and just generally a good time" seems to be Lyonel's #1 goal in the series so far, and Dunk – deliberately or not – has been providing just that at Ashford. Daniel Ings only had good things to say about working with Peter Claffey as Dunk, and it remains to be seen if he'll share many scenes with young Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg. The squire has been Dunk's shadow since he agreed to let him stay, and the hedge knight seems destined to be roped into any of Lyonel's shenanigans whenever the noble spots him.

That's not a bad thing for any fans who were immediately won over by the character, and Ings when on to share his approach to a character known as "the Laughing Storm" in the source material. He said:

In a beat that seems accurate to House of the Dragon, AKOTSK showed the smallfolk almost immediately having less fun once the Targaryens rode into the tourney. (That at least appears to be true for Aerion, who thus far is the closest the new show has delivered to a Daemon Targaryen.) Lyonel still seemed to be having a pretty grand time at the tourney, however. Should we expect any different from a knight who loves "anarchic fun" at an event?

Daniel Ings' comment about ad libbing does make me wonder how many of Lyonel's comments during the tug of war were improvised, because I watched that scene twice: first for the visual of what was actually happening (complete with little Egg holding on for dear life), and second to hear all of the Laughing Storm's drunken commentary.

I'm also certainly not the only one who has already become a fan. Check out just a sampling of what AKOTSK viewers are saying about Lyonel Baratheon on X (edited for clarity):

• "Found family in that Lyonel found them and decided they're his family now." - @binarysvnrise
• "Lyonel Baratheon, it seems I've grown quite fond of you." - @Mayham_H
• "Lyonel Baratheon, you’ve charmed me." - @rhaenyrism
• "Credit to Daniel Ings for playing Lyonel Baratheon as charismatically as he's meant to be. I absolutely love this house." - @Argel899
• "I can’t believe I'm about to say this but Lyonel Baratheon… you have my heart." - @livieprqts
• "Lyonel Baratheon single handedly restoring Baratheon PR." - @nedstcnnis

Honestly, after Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon so far, I'd say that the Baratheons need some good PR! It's at least fun to imagine what GOT's Stannis and AKOTSK's Lyonel would make of each other. Check out the preview for the upcoming third episode, which proves that Lyonel hasn't run out of his chaos just yet:

New episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms air on Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on HBO and stream on HBO Max. While a six-episode run means that the season is nearly half over, fans can rest easy on at least one count: a second season is already on the way. The funniest show in the world of Westeros was renewed for Season 2 months before it even premiered to show critics the fresh new take on the Game of Thrones franchise.

Shortly after its premiere, Game of Thrones joined the ranks of HBO shows that got the world talking. It became quintessential water cooler talk and remains popular despite the controversial GoT finale. In recent years, the world of Westeros expanded thanks to two new prequel spinoffs on HBO and streaming with an HBO Max subscription. The latest of these is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and its premiere episode totally trolled the audience. And to be honest, it sold me on the new series.

Both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon are serious dramas, one with high stakes, epic battles, and lots of violence. They're not shows known for their comedic sensibilities, which is why Episode 1 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms made such a big impression. And I love the way that it crapped on expectations from the fans... literally.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms's Premiere Crapped Over Our GOT Expectations... Literally

As casual fans are figuring out how to watch A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, I was ready and waiting for its series premiere last Sunday. And while we have to keep track of who has which dragons in House of the Dragon, this new prequel tells a much more encapsulated story. What's more, it's got a comedic tone that totally took the piss out of the usual tone of the franchise.

The most obvious example of this came with its first scene. As Dunk decides to become a Knight himself, we hear the iconic Game of Thrones theme song begin to play. And as the music swells, it cuts to a shot of Peter Claffey's title character having explosive diarrhea. That was the first (and most outrageous) sign that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was going to have a vastly different tone than its predecessors.

The surprises didn't end there, though. Throughout the first episode, "The Hedge Knight," there were also a number of funny cutaway flashbacks that show Dunk's life as a young squire. This was an editing choice that is wholly unique to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and feels like it was ripped straight out of comedies like Family Guy. The folks behind the new series are clearly happy to take risks, and surprise fans who thought they knew everything the Game of Thrones franchise was capable of.

Yet another way that the first episode of AKotSK took the piss out of the flagship GoT series came as Duncan was practicing what he might do as a Knight. He holds up his master's sword and tells an imaginary person, "Stop raping, Ser", a surprisingly funny way of referencing how Game of Thrones infamously featured a number of sexual assaults through its run on HBO. Those scenes, and the threat of rape that is present throughout sacking scenes, are a controversial part of the original show's legacy. So having Dunk say this line felt like another way the new series trolled the OG.

Overall, I was completely sold on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and I can't wait to see its absurdist and comedic tone play out throughout the next five episodes. While I'll be happy to see the serious nature of House of the Dragon whenever it returns, this is a welcome change to the franchise's usual style.

New episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms air Sundays on HBO as part of the 2026 TV schedule. And since I haven't read the corresponding novels by George R.R. Martin, the book-to-screen adaptation has the potential to deliver plenty more surprises.

I know I was late to the party when it came to watching Game of Thrones with an HBO Max subscription. In fact, I binge-watched it all a couple of years after it ended. So, I understand that not everyone has seen the hit fantasy series. However, I was shocked to learn that Emilia Clarke’s Ponies co-star Haley Lu Richardson had only seen one season of the show. Clarke was shocked to learn this, too, especially after realizing that while her fellow actor hadn’t seen much of GOT, she had seen its spinoff, House of the Dragon.

While Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson were promoting their new series on the 2026 TV schedule, Game of Thrones came up. That’s when The White Lotus actress admitted she’s only seen one season of it, while also opening up about the fact that she does watch House of the Dragon. The Daenerys actress truly had a priceless reaction in response, as you can see in the following back and forth they had during an interview with ET:

• Haley Lu Richardson: I only watched the first season of Game of Thrones. You know what, I have watched the spinoff.
• Emilia Clarke: You watched House of the Dragon, you’ve not seen Game of Thrones? Motherfucker! What? Can you believe that?
• Haley Lu Richardson: I know, this is actually mean of me.
• Emilia Clarke: What?!?
• Haley Lu Richardson: But the thing is…
• Emilia Clarke: I’m gonna bypass the one my friend is in?
• Haley Lu Richardson: I’m so sorry.
• Emilia Clarke: I’m joking, I’m joking.

Truly, it’s kind of wild to think that someone would watch House of the Dragon (which will return for Season 3 this year) without having seen Game of Thrones. However, it is a prequel, so it’s not like it’s illogical to watch it first.

Anyway, after that hilarious reaction from Clarke, Richardson said she should really go back and rewatch the HBO show that got the world talking. However, her co-star swiftly assured her that there’s no need to do that, explaining:

The Game of Thrones cast member is right, it is a commitment. However, despite its ending, I’d say it’s worth it. Plus, if Richardson likes House of the Dragon, she’ll likely enjoy its predecessor too.

Now, when Richardson asked if her co-star was mad about this, Clarke passionately said, “No!” So, there’s absolutely no bad blood. Truly, we went through a whole range of joking emotions here, and it’s utterly entertaining, as you can see in the video below:

Well, these two are a hoot! And now, while I hope Haley Lu Richardson is catching up on Game of Thrones, I’ll be checking out their new show with my Peacock subscription.

So far, Ponies’ reviews have been good, and people are calling this spy thriller “crazier than fiction.” For those who don’t know, this new series follows Clarke’s Bea and Richardson’s Twila, who take over their CIA husbands' jobs because they are Persons of No Interest (PONIs). Clearly, it’s nothing like Game of Thrones; however, it does seem like it’ll show off the actress's range much like the fantasy series did for Clarke.

Now, if you want to watch Ponies, the entire first season is available on Peacock. Meanwhile, if you are like Richardson and need to get caught up on Game of Thrones, you can stream it, House of the Dragon and the franchise’s newest spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, on HBO Max.

Most actors don’t have an entire eight-season run of a popular TV show under their belt by the age of 23, but that describes what happened to Sophie Turner in May 2019. So, it’s understandable the actor has been a little bit MIA in recent years. That all changes on the 2026 TV schedule between her new Prime Video series Steal and the first look of her Tomb Raider. In a new interview, Turner opened up about her extended time away from Hollywood before coming back.

While speaking to The Guardian, the 29-year-old spoke to what it was like to find herself outside of Sansa Stark in the industry following the Game of Thrones finale. In her words:

Turner started dating Joe Jonas back in 2016 when she was twenty and the famed singer was 27. The couple got engaged one year later and tied the knot in 2019 before having two daughters together, Willa and Delphine, who were born in 2020 and 2022. The couple ended up separating in late 2023 and reaching a divorce settlement one year later.

The Game of Thrones star wasn’t completely off the grid following the series finale, given she was notably in HBO’s The Staircase, Joan for ITV and The CW, and briefly in Do Revenge, but this year marks a serious uptick in roles for her. Here’s what she said about slowing down on her acting career after Game Of Thrones:

Sophie Turner definitely had her hands full raising two daughters in the past few years, but now that they are turning six and four this year, it seems like she’s ready to emerge back into the public sphere with her latest projects. The Amazon Prime series Steal is already set to premiere on the streaming service on January 21. It follows an office worker who gets caught up in a big heist.

And then of course there’s her Tomb Raider series, where Turner will play the leading role of Lara Croft. The series will also star Sigourney Weaver and Jason Isaacs. Turner has been training hard to portray the video game character since last February, and she’s looking completely ripped. The series, which has Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge, is currently in production.

Other than that, Turner has reunited with Kit Harington to play lovers for the gothic horror movie, The Dreadful, which is coming out on February 20. While Turner’s comeback has been a long time coming, it sounds like her time away from acting really benefitted her life, and she’s clearly coming back now in full force.

Shortly after its premiere, Game of Thrones became a HBO show that got the world talking. The popular book to screen adaptation was quintessential water cooler talk, and many fans re-watch its seven seasons with their HBO Max subscription. Members of the Game of Thrones cast remain synonymous with their roles years later, including both Emilia Clarke and Jason Momoa. The two of them recently reunited, and fans are absolutely freaking out in the comments section.

While Game of Thrones' finale was controversial, there's still a ton of love for the show... especially the early seasons. Case in point: Clarke and Momoa reuniting backstage at The Kelly Clarkson Show (which is streaming with a Peacock subscription) and posting a photo on Instagram, quickly going viral in the process. You can check out the image of the two stars below:

How sweet is that? Despite how many years have passed since they starred in the first season of Game of Thrones together, it looks like Emilia Clarke and Jason Momoa still have a ton of love for each other. And the adorable photo of the two stars has turned the heads of fans who loved seeing Dany and Khal Drogo back together via social media.

This post quickly started making the rounds online, leading to lots of enthusiastic responses in the comments section. Momoa himself led the call with his own sweet message, followed by plenty of Game of Thrones fans. You can read some popular responses below:

• Love u Khalessi ❤️❤️❤️❤️ miss u - prideofgypsies
• moon of my life🥹 - sofiadonosol
• Moon of my life 🌙 My sun & stars ☀️✨ *swoooooooons* - raiseherwild
• Crying in Dothraki - isachandra
• If she’s not calling you #MyDragonDaddy you’re not the one 😭😭😭😭 - nowayjose1689

Clearly GoT fans are pleased about seeing Khal Drogo and Khaleesi back together, even if its while promoting their various projects on The Kelly Clarkson Show. That's why the comments section is filled with folks repeating the couple's phrases like "moon of my life."

While Game of Thrones ended back in 2019, fans have recently been able to return to Westeros through a variety of spinoffs. First came House of the Dragon, which features the Targaryens warring with each other at the height of their power. And while some folks are keeping track of who has which dragon on that show, we'll soon be treated to another prequel: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Luckily our wait for that show is nearly over.

Game of Thrones is available to re-watch over on HBO Max and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will premiere January 18th as part of the 2026 TV schedule. Hopefully we get more sweet reunions from Emilia Clarke and Jason Momoa soon.