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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Tom Huddleston

House of the Dragon: what Game of Thrones novices need to know

George RR Martin Daemon Targaryen
Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen in a scene from House of the Dragon.
Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen in a scene from House of the Dragon. Photograph: AP

1 Winter is coming

Game of Thrones and its new spin-off, House of the Dragon, take place in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, a turbulent continent loosely inspired by the feudal societies of medieval Europe – think knights on horseback, stone castles and all-powerful royal dynasties making life miserable for everyone else. But this fantasy world has one notable USP: in Westeros, seasons can last for years, making the arrival of winter a terrifying, potentially apocalyptic prospect. Not least because (by the time of Game of Thrones at least) it’s ruled by a Night King who can reincarnate the dead as zombie-like “White Walkers”.

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