Hotstar says you don't need to know Game of Thrones to watch House of the Dragon. That's not true.

With the first episode having dropped on Hotstar yesterday, House of the Dragon is set two centuries before the events of Game of Thrones. But the pilot provides a plethora of references and contexts from the original show that dedicated GoT fans would obviously be more appreciative of (you can read the review of the pilot episode of House of the Dragon here). 

Just a day before House of the Dragon dropped, Disney+ Hotstar’s YouTube channel released a promo featuring Sara Ali Khan and Janhvi Kapoor as they gear up for the series premiere. Khan plays a non-Game of Thrones watcher who is hyped to check out the new show regardless. Kapoor, on the other hand, is a typical gatekeeper of the fandom as she starts quizzing her about crucial Game of Thrones terms such as Dothraki and the Red Wedding. 

However, Khan adds that as House of the Dragon starts a new story and is a prequel, one doesn’t necessarily need to watch Game of Thrones or have any knowledge about it. The ad plays out as a good marketing strategy for Hotstar to draw in more and more Indian viewers who are non-GoT fans, to get on the House of the Dragon bandwagon. 

Some background is required: Judging from the first episode alone, Hotstar’s claim seems dubious as definitely some context is needed. Unlike the debut season of Game of Thrones (and that stunning title sequence with the moving map of Westeros -- you can scroll down and click on the sound to listen to it once again), little to no background is provided behind the history of the various kingdoms in the fictional world established by author George RR Martin. 

Each of the several kingdoms are ruled by certain Houses (such as House Targaryen being the titular House of the Dragon), which are again not introduced in the pilot. And why would the makers even bother doing that? After all, Game of Thrones concluded only three years earlier with the memories still fresh in the minds of many fans. 

It’s not as laid-out as Star Wars or Marvel: In some cases, prequels and spin-offs can still be watched without much context. The Star Wars prequel trilogy (released under the titles Episode I-III) dropped decades after the original trilogy (which were re-released as Episode IV-VI). However, new viewers can binge on both of the trilogies regardless of the chronology. Some of the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies and shows can also be started by novice watchers even if they are not caught up with the bazillion other MCU originals in the past. 

Obviously, non-Game of Thrones fans can also check out the new HBO original. Maybe, their viewing experience might yield some new perspectives on George RR Martin’s lore. However, for the ones who would find it difficult to catch up with alien-sounding terms like Targaryen, Baratheon, and the other Houses vying for the Iron Throne, a general explainer on the central themes of Game of Thrones can be useful. 

Some basic points about Game of Thrones’ history and geography: Several “Explained” and “An Idiot’s Guide” videos are available on the entire series or even specific seasons. In case you are lethargic enough to binge on the eight-season-long series (especially one that ends with that finale), then just keep the following points in mind before checking out House of the Dragon: 

- The world of Game of Thrones can roughly be divided into three continents Westeros Essos, and Sothyros. Westeros is of greater importance as here is where most of the action takes place. It is divided into the Seven Kingdoms (in case you want to know what they are, click here), each of which is ruled by royal Houses.

- The Kingdom of the North is perhaps the most important kingdom as a large chunk of Game of Thrones’ protagonists hail from here. It is ruled by the House Stark of Winterfell. 

- King’s Landing is the capital of Westeros and the Seven Kingdoms. The Iron Throne lies here and whoever holds power of the throne, automatically holds power over the Seven Kingdoms. At the start of Game of Thrones, this power is wielded by the House Baratheon but by the end, Daenerys Targaryen (of House Targaryen) aims to take over the throne. 

- In House of the Dragon, the aforementioned throne is under the control of House Targaryen and is set 172 years before the birth of Daenerys. 

So, ultimately, Hotstar’s claim is partially true and having some context beforehand might enhance the viewing experience more for amateur watchers. 

Now, the big question: If you have not watched a single Game of Thrones episode, can you watch House of the Dragon without losing track? 

You can. However, knowing the basics of Game of Thrones will help you follow House of the Dragon better.