Spoiler Alert: All the things we learnt from the first episode of House of the Dragon

Fact: Games of Thrones (GOT) had the world hooked over eight awesome seasons! It’s absolutely crazy when you consider that it’s been three long years since we last saw the game-changing series by HBO. Thankfully, on August 22, GOT fans once again got the chance to be immersed in the world created by George R.R. Martin, as House of The Dragon had its much-awaited release. Set 172 years before the battle of the thrones, we were completely taken in by each and every frame as the Targaryens took centre stage.  

Here are our biggest takeaways from the first episode of what promises to be quite a ride.

Winter was always coming 

All it took was one episode and one particular scene for total recall. Yes, we’re talking about the prophecy. We see King Viserys tell his daughter Rhaenyra the big Targaryen family secret—the dream that their ancestor Aegon the Conquerer, the unifier of the Seven kingdoms had. 

He says, “Aegon foresaw the end of the world of men. It's to begin with a terrible winter, gusting out of the distant North...When this great winter comes, Rhaenyra, all of Westeros must stand against it. And if the world of men is to survive, a Targaryen must be seated on the Iron Throne. A King or Queen, strong enough to unite the realm against the cold and the dark. Aegon called his dream the Song of Ice and Fire. This secret has been passed from king to heir since Aegon's time. Now you must promise to carry it and protect it. Promise me, dear Rhaenyra. Promise me."  

This is followed by King Viserys talking about how "the burden of this knowledge is larger than the throne." 

So, if you’re wondering who were the first to know about one of the most-compelling narratives in the series, you now know that it was almost 200 years in the making. And the Targaryen’s knew it first.  

The misogyny couldn’t be more clear 

Going by the characters on the show and the conversations that take place, women have one role and one role alone–produce heirs. With that well established, it shouldn’t be surprising to know that the ladies aren’t even in the running when it comes to who could succeed the king. Don’t believe us? One of the very first scenes in the episode has Prince Viserys Targaryen and Princess Rhaenys contest for the throne as Jaehaerys is dying. No prizes for guessing who gets the seat. We also see Viserys’s clear obsession for wanting a male heir. So much so that his pregnant wife ends up telling him that it’s the last time she’ll be doing so. As complications in the pregnancy follow, he is given a tough choice to either kill his wife, or his child. Madness to fulfil one’s legacy breaks Viserys from within as he ends up losing both.  

Rhaenyra and Daenerys could pass of as twins  

We sure love our Targaryen queens. And with Rhaenyra bearing a close resemblance to Daenerys, fans were left pleasantly surprised. Both of them have stunning platinum blonde hair and are of the same height. If that wasn’t enough, that's not where the similarity ends. Along with the two being resistant to fire, both are a mother-like figures for their dragons. While Daenerys unleashed hell riding Drogon in GOT, Rhaenyra, who learnt to ride a dragon at age seven, can be seen riding Syrax. The scene where Rhaenyra utters “Dracarys” made it seem like it was actually Daenerys doing the talking. Absolute chills and thrill! 

We got our first glimpse of blood and gore  

Fans of the franchise who love a well filmed fight with the usual GOT violence were certainly not left disappointed. Cue: An absolutely brutal scene that had Daemon delivering justice in a manner that no one saw coming. Believing that the city has “fallen into squalor” under the king’s rule, he rallies his troops before they head out to beat up the citizens of King’s Landings. Thieves lose their hands, rapists lose their genitals, and killers lose their heads—absolute gore. The fighting continues at a jousting tournament that’s held in honour of Viserys' soon- to-be-born child. The square off between Criston Cole and Daemon is one to remember with there being little to choose between the two. Despite Daemon starting strong, it’s Cole who triumphs in a contest of arms.  

You can’t take your eyes off Daemon Targaryen, the King’s brother 

If first impressions are set to be the best ones, Daemon Targaryen, Viserys' younger brother, sure hit the ground running in his opening scene. Rhaenyra meets Daemon in the empty Great Hall, where she finds him perched on the Iron Throne. Violence and anger are a constant, wherever Daemon’s around. Be it during meetings with his brother, with members of the King’s Council, the tourney, or the rounding up of citizens in King’s Landing, peace is never an option for Daemon. The episode ends with Daemon leaving on his dragon, Caraxes, as the lords of the realm pledge their loyalty to Rhaenyra. Daemon won’t be taking this insult lightly, we’re pretty sure of that. Can't hardly wait for what's to come next!