House of the Dragon Opening Credits and Theme
"House of the Dragon"'s Opening Credits Sequence Is a Warning and an Omen
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The second episode of "House of the Dragon" introduced what appears to be the show's opening credits going forward. They feature the same theme song that was used in all eight seasons of "Game of Thrones," composed by Ramin Djawadi who did all the music for that series. Djawadi returns to score "House of the Dragon," but the show's creative team didn't change the iconic theme song itself.
The "Game of Thrones" opening credits famously featured models of the most important locations in Westeros and across the Narrow Sea. As events took place on the show that changed those locations, those changes were also made to the models shown in the credits. When the Lannisters took the Iron Throne, the banners in King's Landing changed from stags to lions. When Winterfell was burnt to the ground, that was represented visually, too.
The "House of the Dragon" credits use a similar strategy, with a pretty big change. Instead of using models of actual locations from "House of the Dragon," the series uses a model of Old Valyria — similar to the one King Viserys (Paddy Considine) keeps in his room in the Red Keep. As the credits travel through the model, blood flows through the streets. The model also features symbols and small items that represent the different characters of the show.
The question remains of why they chose Old Valyria for this, instead of using King's Landing or Dragonstone, locations tied closely to the Targaryens that will be seen in the show. The Targaryens (and Valeryons) trace their ancestry — and their dragons — back to Valyria. (It's also where all Valyrian steal comes from.) Valyria fell about 100 years before Aegon the Conqueror took over Westeros, but the Targaryens fled the region before the cataclysmic events, known as the Doom of Valyria, took place. That's because Daenys Targaryen dreamt of its fall and warned her family before it was too late.
It's not quite certain how the Doom happened, but every hill in Valyria exploded at once. Ash, smoke, and fire rose into the air, killing everyone and everything, including dragons. Other parts of the area were destroyed by a tsunami. It's possible the Doom was a natural volcanic explosion, but in the world of "Game of Thrones," some believe it was caused by magic or as punishment from the gods.
Which brings us back to what this means for "House of the Dragon." We know that Viserys puts a huge stock in dreams and the things they might foretell. That's part of why he shares Aegon's dream, the Song of Ice and Fire, with Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock). Viserys also had his own dream about having a son and heir, which has influenced a lot of his decisions, ultimately leading to his wife Aemma's death.
But perhaps more importantly, Viserys's family is heading toward fighting and bloodshed thanks to his own decisions about who will succeed him as heir. The opening credits, then, serve as an ominous warning of the violence to come. What version of House Targaryen will survive?
Watch HBO Max's "House of the Dragon" on Sky and NOW TV.
