IRON MAN

Matt Smith has his eyes on the Iron Throne in the stunning prequel to Game of Thrones

- SEAN MARLAND

NEW FANTASY DRAMA

House of the Dragon

Monday, 9pm, Sky Atlantic

For millions of fans around the world, television didn’t get any better than Game of Thrones.

Over eight seasons, the fantasy saga transported us to a land of unforgettable characters and powerful dynasties, not least the dragon-riding Daenerys Targaryen, whose obsessive quest to claim the Iron Throne ended in her death at the hands of lover Jon Snow.

Now, Sky Atlantic’s long-awaited prequel House of the Dragon delves further into Daenerys’ family’s turbulent history as the 10-part series returns to the Seven Kingdoms to chart the bloody downfall of House Targaryen.

The blond-haired dragon lords ruled Westeros from King’s Landing for more than 300 years, until the demise of Daenerys’ father, Aerys, the ‘Mad King’, 20 years before the events in Game of Thrones.

The new fire-scorched series, based on George RR Martin’s novel Fire & Blood, is set 170 years before Aerys’ death and opens at a time when the Targaryens are at the height of their power – with 17 dragons at their disposal.

Ruling Westeros is Viserys Targaryen, played by Paddy Considine. The king’s power is absolute, but he needs a male heir to carry on the dynasty. After more than a decade of waiting, he believes his prayers have finally been answered when his wife gives birth to a son in this week’s first episode.