House of the Dragonhas enjoyed high viewership since it debuted nearly two weeks ago, and now it seems that HBO Max is celebrating those figures with an unusual move. The streaming giant has decided to upload the entirety of episode one onto its YouTube channel.
House of the Dragonpreviously boasted thehighest-watched series premiere in HBO’s history. Nearly 10 million viewers tuned into the premiere episode, more than twice the number of people that tuned intoGame of Thrones' first episode back in 2011. In fact, the series did not boast such high figures until its seventh season on the air but famously kept increasing its average number of viewers each season.
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Now thatHouse of the Dragonhas been renewedfor season 2, HBO is likely looking to expand those viewership figures even further. In doing so, they have made episode 1, “The Heirs of the Dragon,” available to freely watch on YouTube. To recap for old fans, and to provide a synopsis for those who may want to check out the first episode on YouTube,House of the Dragon’s premiere spans nearly a decade of time and begins following a Great Council of the lords of Westeros. It should be noted that the episode is not available on the HBO Max YouTube channel in all countries.
The fifth Targaryen king, Jaehaerys, has a muddied succession following the death of his sons. Due to this, he summons over a thousand lords and implores them to vote on his successor. Ultimately chosen is King Viserys, whose own desire for a son and male heir begins soon after this. Though he and his wife Aemma have a daughter, Rhaenyra, the lords of Westeros have just shown they are reluctant to seat a woman upon the Iron Throne.
It remains to be seen if HBO will try to duplicate this move by posting other offerings on its YouTube channel.House of the Dragonis uniquein that it already has a large, built-in fanbase. And while that fanbase is somewhat wary following the contentious last season ofGame of Thrones,posting the well-received first episode ofHouse of the Dragonallows those reluctant fans a low-stakes way to check out the series without having to pay for it.
House of the Dragonairs Sundays at 9 PM EST on HBO and HBO Max.
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