When you look upon the Iron Throne in House of the Dragon, what pops into your head? Is it the fact that it’s a powerful and dangerous tool people clammer for? Or is it the uncomfortable nature of its design? Or maybe you were wondering why the Iron Throne looks different in House of the Dragon. Stick around and find out!
Why the Iron Throne has More Swords in House of the Dragon
The reason the Iron Throne looks different in House of the Dragon than it did in the HBO series Game of Thrones is due to the time period. While the Iron Throne is well over a hundred years old when House of the Dragon begins, it’s nearly 200 years before the War of the Five Kings. That’s plenty of time for the Iron Throne to change; after all, it is, in fact, the same throne that appears in Game of Thrones.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, George R. R. Martin and House of the Dragon co-creator Ryan Condal explained that they wanted to step closer to Martin’s vision of the Iron Throne described in his novels. However, just like before, it would’ve been a logistical nightmare to create a 15-foot throne. The way it looks in House of the Dragon was essentially a compromise, not to mention friendlier towards studios to design and film.
Rather than a complete redesign, Ryan Condal added in the same interview:
“It’s as iconic as a lightsaber in Star Wars. What we wanted to do is honor that, but also tell the story of a more decadent time, and also communicate that 200 years has passed. If you look very closely, you’ll see that the original throne is there. It’s just added to and augmented, which suggests that history changes things at some point in the intervening time.”
Ryan Condal, Vanity Fair
And that’s why the Iron Throne looks different in House of the Dragon. The names may sound familiar, but this is a very different time. If this hasn’t satisfied your need for more House of the Dragon, brush up on your knowledge of Dark Sister or on House Blackfyre.
Featured Image Source: HBO Max