House of the Dragon may be set hundreds of years before Game of Thrones, but the Iron Throne is more important than ever in the new series.
WATCH: House of the Dragon official trailer
Not only is the iconic prop back looking bigger and more dangerous, it plays a more active role as the Targaryens turn on each other in a battle for the crown.
In the very first episode fans got to see what the throne – returned here to its full glory – is capable of when it leaves King Viserys with a nasty cut. And we have a feeling it won’t be the last.
In fact, seeing Viserys injured by the throne serves as a huge omen that he’ll be one of the first major characters killed off this season.
So what does his gory injury mean, why does the Iron Throne look so different and how does it all tie back to Game of Thrones? Keep reading to find out.
If you need to catch up on House of the Dragon, you can stream it now on BINGE and on Foxtel.
Why does the Iron Throne cut King Viserys?
Episodes one and two of House of the Dragon show King Viserys I Targaryen suffering from bad cuts inflicted by the Iron Throne, omens that he’s an unfit king. Even his brother Daemon Targaryen says he’s an unworthy ruler, though it’s unclear if he knows about the injuries.
Generally speaking, being cut or rejected by the Iron Throne isn’t an automatic death sentence, but most of the kings cut by the seat have met grizzly ends. Looks like Viserys may just be the first major character killed off this season if the omens are to be believed!
Has the Iron Throne cut other kings?
We’ve seen several kings – and even a queen or two – sit on the Iron Throne in Game of Thrones, but we never saw any obvious moments when the throne cut the ruler sitting in it on TV. Joffrey even cut his hand once in the books, but that moment never made it to screens.
The Mad King Aerys II Targaryen was cut so many times he became known as “King Scab” in the original A Song Of Ice And Fire book series, while King Maegor I Targaryen was said to be killed by the throne. Known as Maegor the Cruel, his body was found on the throne with huge slashes on his arms and a blade through his neck.
Why does the Iron Throne look different in House of the Dragon?
Game of Thrones fans quickly noticed the Iron Throne looks quite different in House of the Dragon than it did in the original series, appearing more like it’s described in the book.
George R. R. Martin writes that the throne is a “massive”, “ugly”, and “asymmetric” seat constructed from the melted swords of the knights and warriors who surrendered to or were killed by Aegon I Targaryen when he conquered Westeros. It’s perched on a high platform with steep steps and surrounded by twisted blades, with some even jutting out from the back of the seat itself.
The throne was designed to be uncomfortable and dangerous to those who would sit in it, as Aegon believed “a king should never sit easy”. However, in Game of Thrones the seat appears to have been modified to remove many of the surrounding swords seen in House of the Dragon, likely at the request of a king cut one too many times – King Aerys II Targaryen, also known as the Mad King.
WATCH: Daenerys Targaryen’s vision in season two of ‘Game of Thrones’
Who made the Iron Throne?
King Aegon I Targaryen has the Iron Throne forged after he conquered the Seven Kingdoms in Westeros, though there’s debate over who actually made it.
By the time of Game of Thrones, there are two theories. One thought is that Aegon himself made it with the help of his dragon Balerion, who used his flames to melt 1,000 swords into a throne, like in the songs. Another more reasonable theory – and one based in the history of George R. R. Martin’s books, is that the throne was forged by armorers.
What is the Iron Throne made from?
The Iron Throne is said to be made from more than 1,000 swords taken from the enemies of Aegon the Conqueror, some of them surrendered and some taken from the dead and dying.
What is the Iron Throne’s meaning?
In both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, the Iron Throne is the seat of the king or queen of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros and a symbol of the authority and danger that comes with ruling. It has also been known to cut some of the rulers who sit in it, supposedly symbolising that they aren’t fit to rule.
Where can we watch House of the Dragon in Australia?
House of the Dragon premiered Monday August 22 and is available to stream on BINGE and watch on Foxtel now.
You can catch up on the original Game of Thrones series on BINGE. Stream them now, live and on demand with a 14-day free trial. START FREE TRIAL.
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