House of the Dragon's end is in sight at HBO, and it could be much sooner than anticipated. The series, which is a prequel to Game of Thrones following the downfall of the Targaryen dynasty, stars a massive ensemble cast that includes Matt Smith, Paddy Considine, Olivia Cooke, Emma D'Arcy, and many more. When the series debuted in August 2022, it surpassed Euphoria for the largest single-day viewership on the platform in history.

Per Deadline, HBO is shifting their focus to long-term plans for their successful shows, so the future after House of the Dragon season 2 is already on their minds. It was recently announced that season 2 would be shortened to eight episodes, with a potential season 3 greenlight in the offing, but HBO is already considering season 4 as well. Season 4 could potentially be the end of the series, which has reportedly been within the visionary scope of the House of the Dragon team from the start.

Why House Of The Dragon Might Have Such A Short Run


Considering how much success House of the Dragon has seen with season 1, it may seem surprising that HBO is considering a four-season run. However, taking into account the show's budget and the massive production gap required, this could still mean the show will last over half a decade. This would also equal half the number of Game of Thrones seasons, which is no small feat.

There is also the case that House of the Dragon has limited source material. While Game of Thrones is based on the long-running A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin, House of the Dragon is based on his 2018 historical spinoff Fire & Blood. Although there is a second volume of the book impending, the fact that there are only two books considerably limits the show's ability to adapt the story.

House of the Dragon also may not want to overstay its welcome, which Game of Thrones experienced with its largely fan-derided final season. If the new series ends on a high note, it will leave the door open for future Game of Thrones spinoffs to be welcomed with open arms. Now that the producers are working on creating a hit universe rather than a hit series, each stepping stone needs to be carefully maintained so they can keep growing.