The Heirs of the Dragon

"The Heirs of the Dragon" is the series premiere of the fantasy drama television series House of the Dragon, an adaptation of the second half of George R. R. Martin's book Fire & Blood and a prequel to Game of Thrones. The episode was written by series co-creator Ryan Condal and directed by co-showrunner and executive producer Miguel Sapochnik. It first aired on HBO and HBO Max on August 21, 2022.

As the first episode of the series, it introduces the setting and the main characters of the show. The episode centers on the debate over King Viserys Targaryen's heir to the Iron Throne, specifically between his brother Daemon and his first-born daughter Rhaenyra, following the stillbirth of his first-born son.

In the United States, the episode achieved a viewership of nearly 10 million during its premiere night, making it the biggest series premiere for HBO, with 2.1 million viewers on linear television alone. It garnered mostly positive reviews from critics, with praise for Sapochnik's direction, the jousting scene, cast, and performances (particularly that of Matt Smith). It received two Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes and Outstanding Production Design for a One Hour Period/Fantasy Series, winning the former.