Emilia Clarke (1986-2025): Her bright smile and warrior spirit will be remembered forever md20

As the first spin-off, House of the Dragon carries Game of Thrones’ legacy in many ways, but recently, the series has quietly refused to follow in the original show’s footsteps in one crucial way. Rather than taking a page from Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon is taking its time to reach an ending, meaning that despite previous statements, Season 5 is still a possibility if it serves the overall story. While it would be easy to look at recent news and assume it’s a cash grab from a streamer that doesn’t want to wrap up a widely successful show, this is actually the best way for House of the Dragon to correct Game of Thrones‘ worst mistake.

‘Game of Thrones’ Raced to an Unsatisfying End

Image via HBO

Fans can (and have) pointed out many failings in Game of Thrones‘ ending, but the root of the problem is how quickly it happens. Perhaps, had they been developed more clearly, fans could have accepted some aspects of the story, but as it is, there wasn’t enough time to end the series properly, especially with a reduced number of episodes. Because of the shortened timeframe, many plot points didn’t get the attention they deserved, like Daenerys’ (Emilia Clarke) descent into madness. This ending is not necessarily out of the realm of possibility, especially for a Targaryen, but the twist didn’t receive the setup it needed to make sense. Without adequately developing the characters’ endings, the entire final season feels rushed.

In part, the problem is due to Game of Thrones‘ early style. The series added storylines slowly, building a conflict so expansive that wrapping it up with Season 8 was an impossible task, and that made the conclusion a letdown. After seven seasons building the threat of the White Walkers in the North, the final conflict is contained to a single episode (that isn’t even the finale). Game of Thrones became so huge that there was no way to do the story justice in the allotted time, which is why the conclusion is so disappointing.

‘House of the Dragon’ Is Avoiding Falling Into the Same Trap

Image via HBO

House of the Dragon became the reintroduction to the world of Westeros following the drama of Game of Thrones‘ finale, and therefore, it seems likely that it will be the first series to face the question of ending. Yet, recently, it has become clear that the prequel is doing everything it can to avoid having the same issue. Showrunner Ryan Condal previously stated that Season 4 would be the last, giving the show plenty of warning as it built to its conclusion. But things may not be as clear anymore, especially after there was no talk of an ending as the series announced its official Season 4 renewal. More importantly, Deadline followed up on this, and HBO CEO Casey Bloys didn’t give a direct answer, saying instead, “For all of [our] shows, we generally try to leave it to the creators to make that decision.” Bloys did confirm that he doesn’t have an update on House of the Dragon‘s final season specifically, and will share it when he does.

Though Season 3 has yet to be released, the next fourth season is already in progress, with Condal leading the charge, and it seems that the showrunner may have changed his mind about the series’ end. As Condal finishes the Season 4 scripts, he will seemingly have the freedom to decide what is best for the story, ending it on his terms in Season 4 or adding a fifth season to avoid squeezing in a conclusion in a limited amount of time. Fortunately, HBO has given him the space to do so, showing that the people behind House of the Dragon are planning the ending carefully, helping them to defy Game of Thrones‘ fate.

‘House of the Dragon’ Might Need a Fifth Season to Reach a Proper Ending

The freedom HBO is allowing House of the Dragon is crucial because a fifth season could be necessary. Based on Season 2’s ending, it feels early for the story to be half over when the all-out war has barely begun. The Dance of the Dragons still has several conflicts ahead, and two more seasons might not be enough time, especially with the season getting smaller. Like Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon started with ten episodes in Season 1, but Season 2 only has eight, and Seasons 3 and 4 are expected to have eight episodes as well. With less time per season, House of the Dragon could well need an additional season to do the story justice, especially given the fact that Season 2 ended earlier in the story than originally intended.

It’s also worth noting that other plans have changed for House of the Dragon, especially after Condal no longer seems to be collaborating with author George R. R. Martin, who had harsh words about the series following Season 2. It seems Condal’s changes to Martin’s material have led to a rift between them, which could free Condal up to add more to the story, making it longer than it would have been initially. However, it’s important to note that, when it comes to reaching an end, House of the Dragon has an advantage over Game of Thrones, as the source material is complete. Though Martin’s Fire & Blood isn’t an exact account, it tells, in great detail, what happens to the characters and how the fallout from the Dance of the Dragons impacts Westeros for generations, so the series has always known the ending it was working towards. With the help of an established ending, the prequel can avoid the fate of the original series by prioritizing the story when it comes to deciding how long to continue the series. With the recent update, fans can rest assured knowing that whenever House of the Dragon ends, it will be to the benefit of the story.