In 2019, HBO had the unenviable task of bringing a spin-off to the biggest TV show in the world to life after said show bowed out unceremoniously. Their gambit came in the form of House of the Dragon, needing to recapture the sense of a grand and intricate storyline as well as the stunning visuals that accompanied its predecessor.
To achieve this, and in the years since House of the Dragon’s successful landing, the massive American production studio has decided to come to Wales for filming. In doing so, the world of Westeros was brought back to life, even spurring people to return to those earlier seasons of Game of Thrones and warrant another spin-off.
The Highest of Expectations for House of the Dragon
It can’t be overstated how popular Game of Thrones was and how much that was an amalgamation of so many key components. Of course, the intertwined storylines and the overarching goals of the characters drove it to its level of popularity, which is in part owed to the adaptation skills of the showrunners from the stellar source material.
However, the quality of the acting, the music, and especially the locations all combined to power it up as true prestige television in every single way. Over the first four seasons, it reached incredible levels of acclaim and fandom because of all of these factors, with fans everywhere seeking ways to get more Thrones.
This led to several spin-offs into other forms of media, with films and spin-offs, naturally, mused by HBO. The first big expansion that remains in play and popular today, however, was entered by way of casino slot machines. The Game of Thrones slot is the officially licensed game of the show, complete with the famed houses and show score.
The enduring popularity of the slot game, even among new hits like Inca Queen and Goal Goal Goal! Pachinko-Goal showcases the continued appeal of the show despite its final two seasons. Sentiment at the time of these wasn’t favourable, and yet, HBO knew there was demand for a return to form in Westeros storytelling.
Perfect Backdrops to the Westeros Revival
House of the Dragon tells the tale of how House Targaryen fell from its peak. It involved civil war, a clash of vast armies that bent the houses of Westeros to their side, and massive dragons. For this, the production team needed medieval, fantasy-looking landscapes, vast open arenas for battle, and the odd castle.
Naturally, Wales popped up as a top spot for filming. For the second and third seasons of the acclaimed fantasy drama, some £6.7 million was generated for the Welsh economy because the filming took place here. Among the most recognisable locations used are Anglesey’s Beaumaris Pier and Gwynedd’s Ffynon Llugwy and Eryi.
More specifically, eagle-eyed onlookers have pointed to Yr Eifl Granite Quarry as the basis of Dragonstone, where much of the Targaryen side of the planning takes place, Dinorwig, and Ogwen Valley as key shooting locations. In Season 3, a huge lake known as The God’s Eye will be pivotal, for which the lakes of Eyri National Park look primed to play a part.
In June, House of the Dragon will return for its penultimate season. Of course, if you can’t wait for the premiere, you could always visit the filming locations dotted around North Wales.
