By Morfeli Data Desk (AI-assisted, data-checked) · Published: November 15, 2026 · Last updated: November 15, 2026 · 6 min read
House of the Dragon is a high-ranking fantasy drama series exploring the internal power struggles of the Targaryen dynasty.
House of the Dragon, which premiered in 2022, holds an 8.4 TMDB score and an 8.2 IMDb rating. The returning HBO series spans 26 episodes across 3 seasons.
Review roundup, not a personal review. Scores and audience reviews were checked on November 15, 2026. Spoiler-free.
- TMDB audience score: 8.4/10 (7321 votes)
- IMDb: 8.2/10 (573,641 votes)
- Seasons: 3 seasons, 26 episodes
- Rank among 2022 releases: about #4 of 106
House of the Dragon Trailer
Official trailer via YouTube. Watch on YouTube
How House of the Dragon Stacks Up
- Among the 106 English-language series that first aired in 2022 with at least 200 TMDB votes, House of the Dragon ranks about #4 by audience score, roughly the top 4 percent.
- Within sci-fi & fantasy alone, it ranks about #2 of 38 in the same group.
The series ranks in the top 4 percent of 2022 English-language series and is the second-highest rated within the sci-fi and fantasy category. Season ratings show a progression from 7.5 for the first season to 7.0 for the second and 6.8 for the third. Individual episode peaks range from 7.6 to 7.9, reflecting consistent audience engagement across the series run.
Critics vs Audiences
- TMDB audiences give it 8.4/10 across 7321 votes.
Different sites measure different things. IMDb and TMDB scores average votes from registered users. The Rotten Tomatoes percentage is the share of critic reviews counted as positive, not an average grade. Metacritic converts reviews into a weighted average out of 100. A title can score high on one and lower on another, so look at all of them together.
What Reviewers Are Saying
This section is based on 3 recent audience reviews posted on TMDB, which rate it 7.5/10 on average (1 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative among 2 rated reviews). It is a small sample and not the whole audience.
What reviewers praise
- Several TMDB reviewers noted the story kept them interested from start to finish.
- Some reviewers described the show as having immense ambition and staggering production value.
What reviewers criticize
- Several TMDB reviewers stated the show is a far cry from original series.
- Some reviewers noted that the second season was criticised for its slower pace.
The reviews behind this summary
| Posted | Rating | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-10 | 5/10 | Read the full review on TMDB |
| 2026-06 | 10/10 | Read the full review on TMDB |
| 2026-08 | — | Read the full review on TMDB |
What Is House of the Dragon About? (Spoiler-Free)
The Targaryen dynasty rules with over 15 dragons, but their stability falters when King Viserys names his daughter Rhaenyra as his heir. The decision to maintain her status after the birth of a son creates deep divisions within the kingdom.
House of the Dragon at a Glance
Cast and Characters
- Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen
- Emma D'Arcy as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen
- Olivia Cooke as Queen Alicent Hightower
- James Norton as Lord Ormund Hightower
- Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys 'The Sea Snake' Velaryon
- Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole
- Matthew Needham as Lord Larys 'Clubfoot' Strong
- Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria 'The White Worm'
The Cast and Crew’s Track Record
Olivia Cooke leads the cast with a recent project average of 7.5, followed by Emma D'Arcy at 6.6 and Matt Smith at 6.4. Creators George R.R. Martin and Ryan J. Condal lead this returning HBO production.
Other recent work from the lead cast of House of the Dragon (since 2020):
| Actor | Recent project | Type | Role | TMDB score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Smith avg 6.4/10 | Morbius (2022) | Movie | Milo | 5.9/10 |
| Caught Stealing (2025) | Movie | Russ | 6.8/10 | |
| Last Night in Soho (2021) | Movie | Jack | 7.3/10 | |
| The Forgiven (2022) | Movie | Richard Galloway | 5.8/10 | |
| Emma D'Arcy avg 6.6/10 | Digger (2026) | Movie | Lina | 7.5/10 |
| Truth Seekers (2020) | TV | Astrid | 7.1/10 | |
| Mothering Sunday (2021) | Movie | Emma Hobday | 5.3/10 | |
| Misbehaviour (2020) | Movie | Hazel | 6.4/10 | |
| Olivia Cooke avg 7.5/10 | The Girlfriend (2025) | TV | Cherry Laine | 7.1/10 |
| Slow Horses (2022) | TV | Sidonie 'Sid' Baker | 8.1/10 | |
| Sound of Metal (2020) | Movie | Lou | 7.7/10 | |
| Little Fish (2021) | Movie | Emma | 7.1/10 |
Season by Season
| Season | First aired | Episodes | Avg episode rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 21, 2022 | 10 | 7.5/10 |
| 2 | Jun 16, 2024 | 8 | 7.0/10 |
| 3 | Jun 21, 2026 | 8 | 6.8/10 |
The best-rated season in this sample is season 1 (7.5/10), whose top episode is "The Lord of the Tides" (7.9/10).
Where to Watch (US)
| Streaming | HBO Max Amazon Channel, Spectrum On Demand, HBO Max |
|---|---|
| Buy | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home |
Availability data from TMDB (provided by JustWatch), checked November 15, 2026. It changes often.
The Bottom Line
It ranks near the top of its genre for 2022 releases.
It may suit you if:
- Fans of high-fantasy drama and political intrigue.
- Viewers interested in dragon-centric storytelling and power struggles.
You might skip it if:
- Viewers who prefer fast-paced action over talk-heavy political drama.
- Those seeking stories outside the fantasy genre.
Shows Like House of the Dragon
| Title | TMDB score | About |
|---|---|---|
| DOTA: Dragon's Blood (2021) | 7.7/10 | After encounters with a dragon and a princess on her own mission, a Dragon Knight becomes embroiled in events larger than he could have ever imagined. |
| The Witcher (2019) | 7.9/10 | Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster-hunter for hire, journeys toward his destiny in a turbulent world where people often prove more wicked than beasts. |
| The Sandman (2022) | 7.8/10 | After years of imprisonment, Morpheus — the King of Dreams — embarks on a journey across worlds to find what was stolen from him and restore his… |
| The Wheel of Time (2021) | 7.6/10 | The lives of five young villagers change forever when a strange and powerful woman arrives, claiming one of them is the child of an ancient prophecy… |
| A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2026) | 8.4/10 | A century before the events of Game of Thrones, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros: a young, naive but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and… |
| Creature Commandos (2024) | 7.8/10 | Follow the exploits of the Creature Commandos, a secret team of incarcerated monsters recruited for missions deemed too dangerous for humans. |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IMDb rating of House of the Dragon?
On November 15, 2026 the IMDb rating was 8.2/10 from 573,641 votes. It changes as people vote.
Is House of the Dragon one of the best-rated 2022 series?
By TMDB audience score it ranks about #4 of 106 English-language titles with at least 200 votes, as of November 15, 2026.
How many seasons does House of the Dragon have?
House of the Dragon has 3 season(s) and 26 episode(s) listed on TMDB. Status: Returning Series.
Who stars in House of the Dragon?
Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy, Olivia Cooke, James Norton, Steve Toussaint.
Data checked on November 15, 2026. Movie and TV data from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Ratings via OMDb (IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic) where shown. Audience reviews belong to their authors on TMDB. Scores change over time; check the source for the latest numbers.
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About this page. Published by Morfeli on November 15, 2026. Facts come from public data sources (TMDB, OMDb, Deezer, Ticketmaster and entertainment news feeds) and are compiled with AI assistance. Review roundups summarize public scores and audience reviews; they are not a critic’s review, and nobody here claims to have watched or rated a title for the page. Dates, scores and availability change over time. See our Editorial Policy.
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