https://insidemordecai.com/tags/game-of-thrones/Recent content in Game of Thrones on Mordecai Kipng'etichHugo -- gohugo.ioenmk@insidemordecai.com (Mordecai Kipng'etich)mk@insidemordecai.com (Mordecai Kipng'etich)Wed, 24 Jun 2026 16:01:07 +0300https://insidemordecai.com/start-with-house-of-the-dragon/Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:44:31 +0300mk@insidemordecai.com (Mordecai Kipng'etich)https://insidemordecai.com/start-with-house-of-the-dragon/ <div id="accordion-952e989caa9211fb57b42379a86142d6" class="border border-neutral-200 dark:border-neutral-700 rounded-lg overflow-hidden" data-accordion="collapse" data-accordion-separated="false" > <details class="group border-none" data-accordion-item > <summary class="flex w-full cursor-pointer items-center justify-between gap-4 px-4 py-3 text-left text-lg font-semibold text-neutral-900 dark:text-neutral-100"> <span class="flex items-center gap-2"> <span>TL;DR</span> </span> <span class="accordion-chevron ms-auto flex h-5 w-5 items-center justify-center print:hidden"> <span class="relative block icon"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="currentColor" aria-hidden="true" > <path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M5.23 7.21a.75.75 0 011.06.02L10 11.168l3.71-3.938a.75.75 0 111.08 1.04l-4.25 4.5a.75.75 0 01-1.08 0l-4.25-4.5a.75.75 0 01.02-1.06z" clip-rule="evenodd" /> </svg> </span> </span> </summary> <div class="px-4 pb-4 text-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-300"> This is my backstory on the <em>Game of Thrones</em> franchise but more like a nudge and a validation that one can get into the franchise through <em>House of The Dragon</em> without prior knowledge and simply get hooked. </div> </details> </div> <style> #accordion-952e989caa9211fb57b42379a86142d6 > details + details { border-top: 1px solid rgb(var(--color-neutral-200)); } .dark #accordion-952e989caa9211fb57b42379a86142d6 > details + details { border-top-color: rgb(var(--color-neutral-700)); } </style> <style> #accordion-952e989caa9211fb57b42379a86142d6 details[data-accordion-item] > summary .accordion-chevron { transform: rotate(-90deg); transition: transform 200ms ease-in-out; } #accordion-952e989caa9211fb57b42379a86142d6 details[data-accordion-item][open] > summary .accordion-chevron { transform: rotate(0deg); } </style> <script> (() => { const root = document.getElementById("accordion-952e989caa9211fb57b42379a86142d6"); if (!root) return; const items = root.querySelectorAll("details[data-accordion-item]"); items.forEach((item) => { item.addEventListener("toggle", () => { if (!item.open) return; items.forEach((other) => { if (other !== item) other.removeAttribute("open"); }); }); }); })(); </script> <p>By the end of this, I will answer the title question and shed light on whether one should do so or not.</p> <p>For a long time I was a huge <em>Game of Thrones</em> snob. My experience of the show was filled with myths and failed attempts at watching it.</p> <p>The medieval look was not my vibe. Whispers were told that each episode was over an hour long with each season having 20+ episodes. Unlike others, I don’t crave for shows with a huge backlog. A perfect balance is what I desire. On top of that, the first episode didn’t resonate with me back then.</p> <p>With time, the inaccurate information and the myths were debunked. The first season of <em>House of the Dragon</em> dropped. My favourite Formula 1 driver, Lewis Hamilton, even raved about the show during some of the boring races of 2022. I still didn&rsquo;t care for series, however, at least I knew the show preceded GOT and a part of me liked that.</p> <p>The HOTD season two marketing coupled with a friend&rsquo;s incessant nudges worked wonders. My mind was changed. I made a deal with myself that I would consider watching the main series if I liked the new show. With that, I ventured into the prequel.</p> <p>I would be lying if I said I liked or loved the show. That would be a gross understatement of my situation. I thoroughly enjoyed my foray into the franchise. The eight weeks that followed as season two aired were some of my personal best moments in modern entertainment. I woke up every Monday morning quite expectant for what this new world would present.</p> <p>Anyway, despite the season being more of a chess game laying pieces for what we are witnessing now as season three airs, my hunger for more needed to be quenched. And that’s how I managed to binge the entirety of <em>Game of Thrones</em> in about a week. I loved it flaws and all. My obsession went to the extent of watching a million and one reaction videos, basing my online identity around the franchise for a hot minute, reading <em>A Knight of the Seven Kingdom</em> before the show and getting the <em>Fire &amp; Blood</em> audiobook.</p> <p>Did I miss anything by starting with <em>House of the Dragon</em>? Definitely. I probably didn&rsquo;t have the strongest reaction to the names of certain families nor their significance. The Song of Ice and Fire prophecy didn&rsquo;t hit right. And perhaps a few more things. Nonetheless, I would still start with the prequel. I think of it as two stories years apart taking place in the same world, one focuses on a single family and dragons while the other ventures beyond that.</p> <p>So&hellip; while <em>House of the Dragon</em> and <em>Game of Thrones</em> can both be watched on their own, I would recommend starting with <em>Game of Thrones</em> if you have no hang-ups about it. But if the main series has never appealed to you, <em>House of the Dragon</em> is a solid place to begin and might be the door into Westeros you needed. Either way, pick one and get lost in the world of Westeros. At the end of the day, this is entertainment. Just choose what pulls you in first.</p>