The House That Dragons Built

The House That Dragons Built is a 10-part docu-series diving into the making-of the first season of House of the Dragon. With over 100 interviews, the series provides four and a half hours of exclusive behind-the-scenes content, documenting the cast and crew’s 10-month-long production journey across four countries. Check out the full episodes on HBO Max.

Documentary

Seasons

1. S2E1 - A Son for a Son

Air Date: 2024-06-16

Showrunner Ryan Condal, Director Alan Taylor, Production Designer Jim Clay, and more reflect on the making of the making of season 2 episode 1, "A Son for a Son".

2. S2E2 - Rhaenyra the Cruel

Air Date: 2024-06-23

Showrunner Ryan Condal, director Clare Kilner, actress Olivia Cooke (Queen Alicent Hightower), and more take us behind the scenes of the chaotic opening of episode 2, and the funeral scene where Queen Alicent Hightower and Queen Helaena Targaryen's (Phia Saban) emotions are on full display.

3. S2E3 - The Burning Mill

Air Date: 2024-06-30

Director Geeta Vasant Patel, production designer Jim Clay, actor Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen), and more reflect on the scale of the Harrenhal castle set, the introduction and design of Baela's (Bethany Antonia) dragon, Moondancer, and the creation of Aegon's (Tom Glynn-Carney) ancient Valyrian armor.

4. S2E4 - The Red Dragon and the Gold

Air Date: 2024-07-07

Showrunner Ryan Condal, director Alan Taylor, and actress Eve Best (Rhaenys Targaryen) reflect on the massive scale of the Battle at Rook's Rest and the devastating consequences of dragons joining the battle.

5. S2E5 - Regent

Air Date: 2024-07-14

Director Clare Kilner, director of photography Alejandro Martínez, actor Steve Toussaint (Lord Corlys), and more discuss the aftermath of the battle at Rook's Rest and the immersive filming locations of episode 5.

6. S2E6 - Smallfolk

Air Date: 2024-07-21

Showrunner Ryan Condal, stunt coordinator Rowley Irlam, special effects supervisor Michael Dawson, and more discuss the complex stunt work and innovative pyrotechnics used to create Ser Steffon's encounter with Seasmoke.

7. S2E7 - The Red Sowing

Air Date: 2024-07-28

Director Loni Peristere, production designer Jim Clay, VFX producer Thomas Horton, and more reflect on the creation of the Godswoods at Harrenhal, the intense stunt work behind Vermithor's attack, and the cutting-edge visual effects behind riding dragons.

8. S2E8 - The Queen Who Ever Was

Air Date: 2024-08-04

Showrunner Ryan Condal, director Geeta Vasant Patel, and more dissect the revelations of Daemon's (Matt Smith) final vision at Harrenhal, the visual effects used to grow Rhaenyra's (Emma D'Arcy) army, and the innovative special effects used to create the impactful montage at the end of season 2.

1. S3E1 - Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood

Air Date: 2026-06-22

Co-creator and showrunner Ryan Condal, EP and episode director Loni Peristere, and more share behind-the-scenes insights from the season 3 premiere. Cast and crew share what it was like to film the most complicated buck sequences yet, the elaborate combination of SFX and VFX that makes the Battle of the Gullet so visceral and say goodbye to a beloved character.

2. S3E2 - Queen's Landing

Air Date: 2026-06-29

Co-creator and showrunner Ryan Condal, Emma D’Arcy (Rhaenyra Targaryen), Harry Collett (Jacaerys Velaryon) and more dive into Season 3’s meticulous production and design, detailing Aemond’s new battle armor crafted specifically to accommodate his missing eye, learning to operate the buck to simulate dragon riding, and the challenging yet rewarding experience of filming a beheading scene

3. S3E3 - Rhaenyra Triumphant

Air Date: 2026-07-06

A new reign has begun. Co-creator and showrunner Ryan Condal, Emma D’Arcy (Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen), Clinton Liberty (Addam of Hull), and more give behind-the-scenes insight into Episode 3 of the new season. Cast and crew discuss the special lenses and filming techniques used to portray Rhaenyra’s point of view, how the prosthetics teams created realistically edible rat dishes, and the stylistic choices behind the newly-knighted dragonriders’ costumes.

4. S3E4 - Tumbleton

Air Date: 2026-07-13

No task is too big for this team. Co-creator and showrunner Ryan Condal, Tom Glynn-Carney (Aegon Targaryen), Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (Daeron Targaryen), and more, walk through the massive production behind Season 3, Episode 4. Cast and crew discuss the attention to detail that went into crafting a full-size prosthetic head for Aegon’s dragon, Sunfyre, introducing the idyllic town of Tumbleton in an authentic way, and reimagining the Eyrie's Moon Door from Game of Thrones

5. S3E5 - Unbowed and Unbent

Air Date: 2026-07-20

This crew is up for any challenge. Co-creator and showrunner Ryan Condal, Emma D'Arcy (Queen Rhaenyra), Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen), Fabien Frankel (Ser Criston Cole), James Norton (Lord Ormund Hightower), and more, break down the logistics behind producing this latest episode. They dive into the challenges of staying above ground while filming Cole’s army on a muddy bog, the trial and error involved in properly lighting a labyrinth, and the research required to create lifelike bowels for a macabre massacre.

6. S3E6 - Faceless Men

Air Date: 2026-07-27

It’s all in the details. Co-creator and showrunner Ryan Condal, Fabien Frankel (Ser Criston Cole), Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen), Steve Toussaint (Lord Corlys Velaryon), and more go in-depth into the diligent planning and preparation that went into creating Season 3, Episode 6 of House of the Dragon. Cast and crew discuss the process of choreographing Ser Criston’s last battle and Gwayne’s epic fight sequence, constructing Flea Bottom in a way that captured the poverty of its community, and the on-set effects of Lord Corlys’s spirit-lifting sea shanty.

7. S3E7 - The Dragon in Winter

Air Date: 2026-08-03

Producing House of the Dragon requires pulling off the impossible. Co-creator and showrunner Ryan Condal, Emma D’Arcy (Rhaenyra Targaryen), Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen), Tom Glynn-Carney (Aegon Targaryen), and more go in-depth into the massive scale and fiery effects that went into creating Season 3, Episode 7. Cast and crew discuss the elaborate CGI and on-the-ground production needed to film an epic dragon altercation, the meticulous planning behind setting twenty-three stuntmen on fire, and the unwavering dedication Tom put into portraying Aegon’s most powerful on-screen moment.

8. S3E8 - The Treasons at Trumbleton

Air Date: 2026-08-10

That’s a wrap on this record-breaking season of House of the Dragon. Co-creator and showrunner Ryan Condal, Emma D’Arcy (Rhaenyra Targaryen), Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen), James Norton (Lord Ormund Hightower), and more break down the level of preparation both on set and off set that went into creating the Season 3 finale. They discuss the scale and special effects involved in filming the siege of Tumbleton, the intentionality behind Rhaenyra’s wardrobe and makeup for her momentous speech, and the illustrative approach to Helaena’s telling tapestry.

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