Here’s why episode two of House of the Dragon has an opening credits sequence

For those who saw the first episode of House of the Dragon, you may have noticed the abrupt start.

It thrusted us straight into the action and, for some, it was a brutal, cold opener.

However, the second episode has now introduced us to an opening title sequence that shares the same sound as Game of Thrones.

Showrunners Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik explained the reasoning behind the initial omission when speaking with Entertainment Tonight.

“It was a creative choice. It seemed important that once the curtain went up, so to speak, having a title sequence felt like an indulgence," they said.

"We wanted to get on and tell the story.”

Composer for both House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones, Ramin Djawadi, also spoke to the similarity of the shows’ scores. “What was important to me was to keep the general sound alive," Ramin said.

"The big sound of Game of Thrones, the primary instrument was always the cello, and we will definitely hear the cello again in the show.

" Just the way I stylistically write the show, I hope people will hear it and go, 'OK, I feel familiar. We're back in Westeros.' That was always the idea.”

In the opening credits you’ll see various insignia, representing different Targaryens, against the backdrop of Old Valyria in King Viserys' chambers.

Old and new fans alike will be impressed with the nostalgic soundtrack alongside the striking, fresh visuals, with a similar but darker aesthetic than its predecessor.

The Game of Thrones prequel is set 200 years before the era we’re familiar with and follows the Targaryens in a lead-up to the war of succession, otherwise known as the Dance of the Dragons. 

With a largely positive reaction by viewers, the series has already been renewed for a second season, with the first season racking up an impressive audience score of 83 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes so far.

So, if you’re a fan, you can expect to see much of the new title sequence as you settle in for the ride.