Why HBO Max's New High Fantasy Series Has Become A Global Streaming Hit

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James Norton and Joplin Sibtain as knights in House of the Dragon season 3 with an army

Published Jun 30, 2026, 6:00 PM EDT

Felipe Rangel is a Movie and TV Journalist ScreenRant. He has been writing about movies and TV since 2021. Felipe joined ScreenRant in 2022, working across different teams, covering everything from breaking news to features to reviews and more.

Felipe is a writer who is an avid film and TV fan, with superhero movies and series being his biggest passion. He graduated from college in 2019, having studied Journalism. Before college, he spent a month studying at the Oxford English Centre. His superhero knowledge expands to the comics, with his undergraduate thesis being "Politics Reflected In American Comics."

HBO Max's fantasy series has taken over streaming around the world with its new season, and it is rather easy to see why it has become so successful. HBO Max is one of the best streaming services out there. The reason for that is how the platform perfectly matches a huge library of content with a high quality, which is a must in an ever-changing landscape.

Among the best HBO Max shows are HBO series, such as The Sopranos, Succession, The Wire, and more, and streaming releases, like Peacemaker, Hacks, Our Flag Means Death, and others. The streaming service unites proven content from HBO with creative and daring streaming shows, creating a unique selection of shows for subscribers of the most varied genres.

That said, HBO Max is a streamer where fans of genre shows like fantasy or sci-fi can have a lot of fun and get immersed in fleshed-out worlds. After all, the streaming service is the home of Game of Thrones and the larger franchise based on George R. R. Martin's books. It is through a returning series that HBO Max is finding success.

Dragonstone Archives · The Dance Begins The Dance of the Dragons Awaits “The idea that we control the dragons is an illusion.”

🐉The BlacksTeam Rhaenyra

👑The GreensTeam Aegon

🔥DragonsFire & Blood

⚔The CrownSuccession

🔮ProphecyA Song of Ice

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King Viserys I names his heir early in the series, defying tradition that would favor his firstborn son. Who does he name as his successor?

ADaemon Targaryen BAegon Targaryen CRhaenyra Targaryen DAemond Targaryen

✓ Correct! Viserys named his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne after the death of his first wife, Aemma, and their infant son. He forced the lords of the realm to swear oaths of fealty to her — oaths many would later break.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is Rhaenyra Targaryen. Viserys defied Westerosi precedent by naming his daughter over his brother Daemon. Even after fathering sons with Alicent Hightower, Viserys never changed his decree.

Alicent Hightower’s faction is known as “the Greens.” Who is her father, the cunning Hand of the King who orchestrates much of their political strategy?

ACorlys Velaryon BOtto Hightower CLyonel Strong DTyland Lannister

✓ Correct! Otto Hightower served as Hand of the King and was the mastermind behind the Green faction. He strategically positioned his daughter Alicent to marry Viserys, and spent decades maneuvering to place Alicent’s son Aegon on the throne.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is Otto Hightower. He served as Hand to both Jaehaerys I and Viserys I, and engineered the marriage between Alicent and the King. Corlys Velaryon sided with the Blacks, and Lyonel Strong served as Hand before Otto’s return.

Daemon Targaryen rides a fierce, battle-scarred dragon known for its Blood Wyrm nickname. What is the name of his fearsome mount?

ASyrax BVhagar CMeleys DCaraxes

✓ Correct! Caraxes, known as “the Blood Wyrm,” is Daemon’s dragon — a lean, red, battle-scarred beast. While Vhagar is the largest and oldest dragon alive, Caraxes is the most experienced in combat and fiercely loyal to Daemon.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is Caraxes. Syrax is Rhaenyra’s dragon, Vhagar is the oldest dragon (ridden by Aemond), and Meleys “the Red Queen” is Rhaenys’s mount. Caraxes the Blood Wyrm is Daemon’s partner in the skies.

Princess Rhaenys Targaryen is known by a nickname reflecting the fact she was passed over for the throne in favor of Viserys. What is she called?

AThe Queen Who Never Was BThe Dragon Queen CThe Realm’s Delight DThe Black Queen

✓ Correct! Rhaenys was dubbed “The Queen Who Never Was” after the Great Council of 101 AC chose Viserys over her, despite her strong claim. Married to Corlys Velaryon, she became one of the most formidable figures in the Dance, riding Meleys the Red Queen.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is The Queen Who Never Was. “The Realm’s Delight” is actually young Rhaenyra’s nickname. Rhaenys earned her title when the lords of the realm chose Viserys over her at the Great Council, setting the precedent that later fueled the Dance.

Vhagar is the largest living dragon during the Dance. Which Targaryen prince claims her — dramatically shifting the balance of power to the Greens?

AAegon II Targaryen BJacaerys Velaryon CAemond Targaryen DDaeron Targaryen

✓ Correct! Aemond Targaryen claimed Vhagar at Driftmark after the funeral of Laena Velaryon — Vhagar’s previous rider. This bold act gave the Greens their most devastating weapon and sparked the confrontation that cost Aemond his eye.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is Aemond Targaryen. Aegon II rides Sunfyre, Jacaerys rides Vermax, and Daeron rides Tessarion. Aemond’s daring claim of Vhagar at Driftmark was a pivotal moment that made him the Greens’ most dangerous warrior.

Viserys shares a secret Targaryen prophecy with Rhaenyra about a threat from the North and a promised prince. What is this prophecy called?

AThe Prince That Was Promised BA Song of Ice and Fire CThe Long Night Prophecy DAegon’s Conquest

✓ Correct! Aegon the Conqueror had a prophetic dream he called “A Song of Ice and Fire” — a vision of a terrible winter coming from the North that would destroy the world of the living. This secret was passed from king to heir, and Viserys shared it with Rhaenyra on the night he named her heir.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is A Song of Ice and Fire. Aegon the Conqueror’s dream foretold a great threat from the North requiring a Targaryen on the Iron Throne to unite the realm. Viserys revealed this to Rhaenyra, connecting House of the Dragon directly to the events of Game of Thrones.

Corlys Velaryon is one of the richest and most powerful men in Westeros, famous for his legendary voyages. What is his well-known title?

AThe Master of Ships BThe Lord of Tides CThe Kraken DThe Sea Snake

✓ Correct! Corlys Velaryon earned the name “The Sea Snake” through his legendary nine voyages across the known world aboard his ship. He amassed a fortune that made House Velaryon wealthier than even the Lannisters, and his naval power proved crucial in the Dance.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is The Sea Snake. While Corlys did serve on the Small Council, his legendary title comes from his nine great voyages. “Lord of the Tides” is the formal title of the head of House Velaryon, but “The Sea Snake” is his personal epithet.

The Season 1 finale ends with a devastating loss for Rhaenyra when one of her sons is killed in a dragonback confrontation. Which son does she lose, and who kills him?

ALucerys, killed by Aemond and Vhagar BJacaerys, killed by Aegon and Sunfyre CJoffrey, killed by Daeron and Tessarion DLucerys, killed by Daemon and Caraxes

✓ Correct! Lucerys Velaryon, riding his young dragon Arrax, was pursued and killed by Aemond on the colossal Vhagar above Shipbreaker Bay near Storm’s End. The show portrays this as partly accidental — Vhagar acted on her own — but the result ignited the Dance of the Dragons into open war.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is Lucerys, killed by Aemond and Vhagar. Luke was sent as an envoy to Storm’s End but was confronted by Aemond. The massive Vhagar devoured young Arrax and his rider above Shipbreaker Bay — the act that turned a succession dispute into a full-scale civil war.

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HBO Max's latest fantasy release is House of the Dragon season 3, which debuted on June 21, and is currently airing new episodes weekly. The return of the multi-season series has led to House of the Dragon once again becoming a global streaming sensation. Despite a wave of criticism when season 2 aired, the show has bounced back in spectacular fashion.

So far, the first two episodes of House of the Dragon season 3 have been released on HBO and HBO Max, with six episodes left in the fantasy series' new season. At the time of writing, House of the Dragon stands tall as the most-watched TV show on HBO Max worldwide, according to FlixPatrol. The live-action dragon series continues to fight a mighty battle for the streaming service's top spot with Rick and Morty, as the popular animated sci-fi series is also airing new episodes weekly. House of the Dragon also leaves behind Dune: Prophecy, From, Euphoria, My Adventures with Superman, and more.

House Of The Dragon Season 3 Review: Game Of Thrones Finally Masters Neck-Breaking Momentum

House of the Dragon season 3 marks a massive shift for the Game of Thrones franchise as it finally corrects old mistakes with breakneck speed.

After the release of House of the Dragon season 3, the HBO fantasy series is trending in 57 countries. The Game of Thrones spinoff also ranks high as HBO Max's top show in 47 countries. One of those nations is the United States, with the new season of the fantasy series proving itself both a nationwide streaming hit and a global sensation. House of the Dragon season 3's success has also boosted another show from the fantasy franchise, with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which was released earlier this year, now ranked 4th on HBO Max worldwide.

Why HBO's House Of The Dragon Season 3 Is Worth Watching

Daemon and Rhaenyra touching foreheads in House of the Dragon season 3

House of the Dragon season 3 is simply that good so far. Yes, season 2 dragged in parts, particularly with Daemon's Harrenhal storyline that felt like it was going nowhere. However, the show has bounced back in the best way. On Rotten Tomatoes, season 2 holds a strong 84% critics' score. House of the Dragon season 3 is simply a step-up in every way, with a near-perfect 91% critics' score and two action-packed episodes. It feels like everything the show has done before has built exactly to what season 3 is tackling.

Based on that, it is no surprise that the new episodes dropping on HBO Max every week have made the fantasy series the most-watched on the streaming service worldwide. For anyone who complained about season 2's slow pacing and lack of action, well, House of the Dragon season 3 turns up the tempo considerably. The fantasy series makes emotional conversations, sword fights, political schemes, and dragon sequences equally exciting. By firing on all cylinders like never before, House of the Dragon's HBO Max success is deserved, and it is only the start of how far season 3 can go.