Should you watch House of the Dragon or Game of Thrones first? Here's what to know

So, you've decided to explore HBO's adaptation of the maddening history of Westeros, but can't figure out which epic to start with: House of the Dragon or Game of Thrones? Don't worry, we have got you covered.

So, what do you start with? Game of Thrones, the OG epic that made everyone learn the theme song on every possible instrument out there, and had everyone naming their daughters Khaleesi, and their dogs Drogon? Or House of the Dragon, the illustrious prequel with extra dragons and extra silver hair?

Let us put it this way: Game of Thrones is like the main course, and House of the Dragon is like dessert, and it simply depends on what type of person is sitting at the table. Some like to follow the rules and eat the main course first, while some with the YOLO-attitude finish the most delicious part first. So, technically, when it comes to House of the Dragon or Game of Thrones first, there is no one correct answer as to which one you should go for first.

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House of the Dragon or Game of Thrones: What to watch first?

There is no debate when it comes to House of the Dragon or Game of Thrones; the former is not a direct prequel to the latter, and you won't be constantly asking What, Who, or How questions while watching the show. Here is everything you need to know.

1) House of the Dragon or Game of Thrones: Chronology and release

HBO's Game of Thrones was released in 2011 and ended in 2019. It is based on George R.R. Martin's novel A Song of Ice and Fire, and was the TV show that started it all. In contrast, House of the Dragon premiered in 2022 and is based on Martin's novel Fire & Blood. It is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones.

So, if you want to go chronologically, then you should watch House of the Dragon first. However, if you want to respect the release hierarchy, then Game of Thrones should be on your list first. It's not a Sophie's Choice level hard decision, more like a Star Wars decision. You need to decide whether you want to watch the original ones first or follow the chronology to watch the magnificent events unfold one by one.

2) House of the Dragon or Game of Thrones: Pros vs. Cons

If you are having a hard time deciding whether to watch House of the Dragon or Game of Thrones first, then you need to know the pros and cons of each choice.

Game of Thrones (Pros)

1. All the shocks are already absorbed: Everything bad that was supposed to happen in the novel happens in Game of Thrones. Ned Stark's end, The Red Wedding, Hodor, Dany's farewell, every gut-wrenching shock is waiting for you here. So, if you decide to watch it first, then you will be done with all the heartbreak here and can enjoy House of the Dragon peacefully.
2. You are ahead of the timeline: House of the Dragon teases a lot of future events, so if you have already watched Game of Thrones, then you will already know which future event is being mentioned.
3. Characters are familiar: Many terms that you have already heard in Game of Thrones, like Valyria, The Dance of the Dragons, are mentioned in House of the Dragon. Watching Game of Thrones first helps you familiarize yourself with these characters and terms.

Game of Thrones (Cons)

1. The End: When you read a series of books or follow an entire series of films for years, you expect it to end on a satisfying note. Watching Harry kill Voldemort in The Deathly Hallows Part 2 was the perfect end to the perfect series. It made the ten-year wait worthwhile. But nothing like that happens with this franchise. The pathetic end ruins all the time and emotions you will put in, and makes you regret being born.
2. Old production: Watching Game of Thrones after House of the Dragon will make it seem old.

House of the Dragon (Pros)

1. Targaryen Glory Days: In Game of Thrones, the Targaryens are a lost dynasty with nothing in their name in Westeros. But House of the Dragons will show you the Targaryen glory days. It will show you a world where they ruled with an iron fist and a fire breath, before it all turned to ashes.
2. Shorter: House of the Dragon is a shorter series, as of now, with only two seasons and 18 episodes. So, it is a more manageable start to the series. Game of Thrones, on the other hand, has 9,743 characters and 87 kingdoms. That's a lot of faces to remember.

House of the Dragon (Cons)

1. Spoiler Alert: If you watch House of the Dragon first, then you will see the Targaryens at the top of their game. Watching Game of Thrones next to see their dynasty ruined and exiled from Westeros won't be an easy pill to swallow. Plus, there is a tiny House of the Dragon spoiler in Game of Thrones.
2. No 'Aha!' moments: Anytime a Game of Thrones reference is made, you won't get excited.

3) House of the Dragon or Game of Thrones: Storytelling experience

When deciding whether to watch House of the Dragon or Game of Thrones first, you need to know how much of a story lover you are. If you begin with Game of Thrones, then you enter the crucial era of Westeros immediately and see how its trajectory changes within a few years.

Following this, watching House of the Dragon will make you want to see how things were before there was so much betrayal and blood among the houses of Westeros. But, doing the reverse is like watching The Hobbit before The Lord of the Rings. You will see events unfold and prophecies being foretold, but you won't understand the significance Game of Thrones has given to them.

4) House of the Dragon or Game of Thrones: The Dragons

If you only want to watch either of the shows, then don't feel ashamed, you are among the 99% of the fanbase. Please don't ask what the rest of the 1% fans watch it for. The dragons are one of the major USPs of both shows and can be a decider when choosing whether to watch House of the Dragon or Game of Thrones first.

House of the Dragon has so many dragons that it feels like HBO must have had a separate budget for CGI. If you like hearing the word Dracarys and want to see more than three dragons, with some of them being three times the size of Drogon, then watch the prequel first.

Although the resurrection of the dragons by Daenerys and their contribution in the wars was portrayed beautifully on Game of Thrones, watching the beasts in their glory days is an experience of another level.

House of the Dragon or Game of Thrones: Verdict

So, which one should you go for first? House of the Dragon or Game of Thrones? If you want to follow the traditional path of first in, first out, then watch Game of Thrones first. You will know what happened and how it ended, and it will be fun to discover how it all began later. The Targaryens were hyped so much on Game of Thrones that it will be fun to watch them in their prime.

But if you like the ascending order, then you must watch House of the Dragon first. You will see the glory of the Targaryen empire and observe their personalities, dynamics, and way of living to understand what was the beginning of the end. Also, it won't hurt to delay watching the end of Game of Thrones.

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So, watching House of the Dragon or Game of Thrones first is not a hard choice because neither of them has any overlapping stories. Both of them occur at different times, with different characters and a completely different Westeros.

So, whether to start with a crumbling Westeros or with the one where the dragons grace the skies, you will see royal messes, shocking betrayals, lots of attitude, and too many Aegons.