House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 6: Biggest time gap explained by creators

The ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel series, titled House of the Dragon, which was made based on George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood, started premiering on August 21, 2022, on HBO with 10 episodes.

In general, almost every episode of ‘House of the Dragon’ shows some time jump, but Episode 6, titled “The Princess and the Queen” shows one of the biggest time gaps.

After giving five episodes of Targaryen clan, House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 6 introduced the old version of its main character from Game of Thrones, though the roles are played by a new actor. The biggest time jump show in House of Dragon Season 1 Episode 6 opens with Emma D’Arcy the Princess RhaenyraTargaryen who is now 30 years old (played by Milly Alcock who was 22 in previous episodes) while Emily Carey who played 19 years lady Olivia Cooke (now 28) is now the Queen Alicent Hightower. Several old characters played the same role in the series.

In an interview with THR the series’ showrunner Miguel Sapochnik and the writer Ryan Condal expressed their views on the time gap in the first season of House of the Dragon.

Ryan Condal said to THR, “Most other places would not have had the patience and boldness to allow us to tell the story we’re telling. But this is how you tell this story correctly. We’re telling a story of a generational war. We set everything up so that by the time that first sword stroke falls, you understand all the players — where they are and why they are. All the history is there instead of being told to you in exposition. This way you get to see it all happen.”

“No one ever said to us, ‘When’s the drama going to start?’” Showrunner Miguel Sapochnik stated. “There’s a real advantage to taking the time to get to know the characters because the investment is worthwhile. House of the Dragon season 1 is a slow burn. And it’s worth it because there’s enough in there to keep everybody interested, but we have purposely tried to move away from doing spectacle so that when we return to the spectacle we can do it properly.”

Here is the synopsis for House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 6:

"Ten years later, the Triarchy has reclaimed the Stepstones region. Rhaenyra gives birth to her third child. Ser Laenor names him Joffrey. Queen Alicent notes the infant's hair, like his brothers Jacaerys and Lucerys, is brown rather than Targaryen silver. She presses King Viserys to acknowledge his grandchildren are bastards with no right to the throne, though he rebuffs this. Ser Criston, now loyal to Alicent, trains the king's children and grandchildren in swordsmanship. Alicent scolds son Aegon for pranking younger brother Aemon, then says he must ready himself to fight for the throne when Rhaenyra becomes queen."

The synopsis continued: "Prince Daemon and Lady Laena are in Essos with their daughters Baela and Rhaena, where the Prince of Pentos offers them a lordship in exchange for an alliance against the Triarchy. When pregnant Laena is unable to give birth, she commands her dragon Vhagar to burn her to death. To make peace, Rhaenyra proposes a marriage between her son Jacaerys and Princess Helaena, Alicent's daughter. Ser Lyonel Strong offers his resignation as Hand of the King over rumors that his son Ser Harwin fathered Rhaenyra's children. King Viserys refuses, but allows Ser Lyonel to briefly return to Harrenhal with Harwin. Ser Harwin's emotional farewell to Rhaenyra and her children implies he is their father. Alicent tells Larys Strong she wishes her father, Ser Otto, was still the king's Hand. At Harrenhal, Ser Lyonel and Harwin are killed in a fire orchestrated by Larys."

House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 7 which is titled "Driftmark" is set to premiere on October 2, 2022, at 9 pm ET on HBO Max. Watch the House of the Dragon EP7 trailer below.