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‘House of the Dragon’ Just Exposed the Darkest Storyline in ‘Game of Thrones’ History

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Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 5.The Game of Thrones franchise has never shied away from dark stories, and the spinoffs have followed that lead. After all, Westeros has plenty of different horrors to choose from. However, House of the Dragon doubles down on this reputation for highlighting the most twisted parts of Westeros by finally detailing Harrenhal’s history. Of all of the castles in Westeros, Harrenhal has the most troubled past from its origins to its multiple inhabitants. The many tragedies that occur throughout its history make Harrenhal infamous and begin rumors of a curse. Yet House of the Dragon shows that this is more than superstition.

Harrenhal has played a large role in House of the Dragon, and it continues to be prominent in the latest season. In fact, Season 3 Episode 5, “Unbowed and Unbent,” hints at Harrenhal’s origins, which is where the horrors began. This moment shows that the franchise always has a chance to get darker and perhaps finally explains why Harrenhal is so unique.

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‘House of the Dragon’ Reveals Harrenhal’s Dark Origins

Harrenhal may not be the gathering sight for an army anymore, but in Season 3, it is still an important place. Now Aemond’s (Ewan Mitchell) hiding spot, the castle receives unwanted guests trying to kill him thanks to the orders of Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), but Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin) and Harrenhal’s eerie history protect him. Early in the episode, Alys scares away armed men by leaning into the castle’s reputation, specifically citing its bloody origins. This may seem like an intimidation tactic, but it is a major part of the castle’s legend.

Built by Harren the Black as a vanity project, Harrenhal was meant to be a grand castle larger than any other, but it quickly took a dark turn. Over the forty-year construction, thousands of captives died due to harsh conditions, as Alys mentions. Worse, rumor has it that Harren mixed human blood into the mortar of his stone in an unnecessary form of cruelty. This terrible beginning earns Harrenhal the reputation of being built on the blood of men, which fits right in with its creepy aesthetic.



















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However, that isn’t the only element of Harrenhal’s construction that plays into its haunted nature, as the castle has sacred Weirwood trees built into it. According to legend, Harren the Black ordered an ancient grove of Weirwood trees cut down and used in construction, disregarding their status in the old religion. This desecration is often cited as the reason Harrenhal is cursed, as it angered the Old Gods. Yet, the rumors of ghosts and a curse are only a symptom of the problem because Harrenhal has been a dark and threatening place from its very beginning.

‘House of the Dragon’ Shows Harrenhal’s Curse Unlike ‘Game of Thrones’

Be it the ghosts of those killed or the displeasure of the Old Gods, Harrenhal’s history does support the idea of it being cursed. From its immediate destruction in dragonfire during Aegon’s Conquest to the brutal extension of most Houses that ever held it, Harrenhal does seem to be cursed. House of the Dragon leans into Harrenhal’s reputation for dark magic even further, proving that it isn’t just a superstition. The castle has played a significant part in the prequel, but none of it has been good. Not only did several members of the Strong family die there in Season 1, but Daemon’s (Matt Smith) journey in Season 2 shows him experiencing terrifying visions during his time there. Now, Aemond is facing the same torment, once again showing that Harrenhal is more than a creepy castle, especially now that it is under Alys’ control.

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This eerie supernatural tone is a distinct change from how the castle comes across in Game of Thrones. Harrenhal appears in a few memorable storylines in the original series, such as Arya’s (Maisie Williams) time disguised as a cupbearer for Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) and Brienne’s (Gwendoline Christie) fight against a bear. However, these scenes do not highlight the dark magic that sets Harrenhal apart. In some ways, this makes sense as magic largely dies out before Game of Thrones, only to be slowly reawakened when Daenerys’ (Emilia Clarke) dragons hatch. In House of the Dragon, magic is still prevalent, and Harrenhal shows that, becoming a fitting way for the prequel to explore Westeros’ dark history. After seeing so much of the castle in House of the Dragon, it’s clear something supernatural is going on there, and Alys’ comments go a long way to explaining why Harrenhal is the way that it is.

House of the Dragon is streaming on HBO Max with new episodes on Sundays.


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Release Date

August 21, 2022

Network

HBO

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Showrunner

George R.R. Martin

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Directors

Clare Kilner, Geeta Patel

Writers
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Gabe Fonseca

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  • Fabien Frankel

    Ser Criston Cole

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