The “Game of Thrones” spinoff “House of the Dragon” is officially a hit, earning a Season 2 renewal early into its launch and reigniting appointment viewing on Sunday nights. But while “House of the Dragon” is similar to the flagship series in many ways, there’s one key difference that has made viewers pay extra close attention: all those time jumps.
“House of the Dragon” Episode 6 has the biggest time jump yet, as the story leaps forward a decade and actresses Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke take over the roles of Rhaenyra and Alicent, respectively, to chronicle the characters’ journeys as adults. But even before then, the series was leaping forward in time from episode to episode to span this story arc of the Targaryen reign.
But when does each episode of “House of the Dragon” take place, exactly? Keep everything straight with our handy timeline below.
Episode 1 – “The Heirs of the Dragon”
The first episode of “House of the Dragon” establishes early on that this story is taking place more than a hundred years before the events of “Game of Thrones.” 172 years before Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) was born, as a matter of fact. King Viserys I (Paddy Considine) reigns, although his wife has yet to produce a male heir – and later in the episode dies during childbirth. Despite his brother Prince Daemon’s (Matt Smith) desire to claim the throne, Viserys announces that his heir shall be his young daughter, Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock).
Episode 2 – “The Rogue Prince”
The second episode of the series jumps forward six months in time, which finds Daemon setting up shop at Dragonstone and ends with Viserys announcing that he will marry Lady Alicent (Emily Carey).
Episode 3 – “Second of His Name”
Here’s our first big time jump – the third episode of “House of the Dragon” takes place three years after Episode 2, during which time Prince Daemon and Lord Corlys have escalated conflict at the Stepstones and Lady Alicent has given birth to a son, Aegon. The realm is now split, with many seeing Aegon as the true heir to the throne despite Viserys’ proclamation that Rhaenyra will succeed him.
Episode 4 – “King of the Narrow Sea”
The fourth episode takes place not long after Episode 3, with Prince Daemon returning to King’s Landing victorious over the Stepstones and subsequently wooing Rhaenyra as he sneaks her out of the castle and into a brothel. Word of Rhaenyra’s illicit exploits make their way around King’s Landing, leading Alicent to question Rhaenyra about having sex with Daemon. Rhaenyra denies it, although she did have sex with Ser Criston Cole – an act that puts her in danger due to the rumors of the loss of her virtue.
Episode 5 – “We Light the Way”
Another short time jump – Episode 5 takes place not long after Episode 4, as Rhaenyra is to be wed to Ser Laenor Verlaryon. Rhaenyra makes a pact with Ser Laenor – they can each bed whomever they choose (Rhaenyra knows that Ser Laenor is gay) while getting married for the good of their families and the realm. But Rhaenyra’s decision to marry angers Ser Criston Cole, who acts out at the wedding by murdering Ser Laenor’s secret boyfriend.
Episode 6 – “The Princess and the Queen”
10 years after Rhaenyra and Ser Laenor’s wedding, they’re now living in King’s Landing with three young boys, one of whom was just born. Alicent and Viserys have two additional children of their own in addition to Aegon – a daughter named Helaena and another son named Aemond.
Episode 7 – “Driftmark”
This episode picks up shortly after the events of Episode 6 and takes place around the the events of Lady Laena’s funeral, during which Rhaenyra and Daemon become intimate.
Episode 8 – “The Lord of the Tides”
Another huge time jump, Episode 8 takes place six years after Rhaenyra and Daemon decide to make their union official and finds them returning to King’s Landing for the first time in a long time. The episode culminates with a big family dinner, foreshadowing the tensions to come between Rhaenyra and Alicent.
