EntertainmentTVFantasy ShowsHouse of the DragonHouse of the Dragon season 2 showrunner doesn’t feel the pressure of following the controversial Game of Thrones season 8: “Our challenge comes from within"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
EntertainmentTVFantasy ShowsHouse of the DragonHouse of the Dragon season 2 showrunner doesn’t feel the pressure of following the controversial Game of Thrones season 8: “Our challenge comes from within"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: HBO)

House of the Dragon season 2has garneredimpressive reviewsahead of its release, cementing Westeros' comeback story after the controversialGame of Thrones season 8finale.
When we sat down with showrunner Ryan Condal to discuss the upcoming new season of House of the Dragon, we asked whether the conversation surrounding the prequel series as a redemption for the original show and its much-discussed finale is ever something that’s on his mind.
“We’re our own story,” he says. “Myself and all of the creative people that make the show, the team of writers around me, and HBO for that matter: our challenge comes from within. And we know that, now that we’ve made this series that people have really engaged with, the expectation will just keep getting higher and higher to keep topping ourselves and delivering more unexpected twists and turns as we go along, and also a very satisfying character story. All that pressure is quite enough, for me and for us. And that’s also the thing that we can control to an extent, is how well we do internally on delivering on expectations and evolving the story and all the things that challenge us day in and day out on this. So, that’s what I’m focused on.”
House of the Dragon season 2 will focus on the next chapter in the bloody Targaryen civil war, which became known as theDance of the Dragons. Expect plenty of fire and blood, then.
The new season launches on Sky and NOW on Monday 17 June in the UK, and HBO and Max on Sunday 16 June in the US. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcomingnew TV showsto get excited about.
For more from Condal, check out our pieces on:
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
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2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1
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2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
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Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
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3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
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4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
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5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”