'Game of Thrones' fans are loving the premiere of its spinoff 'House of the Dragon'

It was the night Game of Thrones fans have been waiting for Sunday – the premiere of the highly-anticipated spinoff House of the Dragon.

The prequel, based on George R.R. Martin's "Fire & Blood," is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones and chronicles the beginning of the end of House Targaryen, including the events leading up to the Targaryen war of succession known as the "Dance of the Dragons."

Following the opening scene, a prologue explained that the events of this series takes place "172 years before the death of the mad king, Aerys, and the birth of his daughter, Princess Daenerys Targaryen," with the words ultimately fading out to only read "172 years before Daenerys Targaryen." Fans absolutely loved the subtle tribute to the beloved character from the original series, like this person who tweeted: "The fact that the opening scene stated the events of the show are BEFORE Daenerys and not AFTER Aegon is just everything. Daenerys is a legend!"

As for the rest of the series premiere, House of the Dragon delivered all the violence GoT was notorious for and even killed off a loveable character two-thirds of the way into the first episode. Again, typical GoT.

However, some viewers weren't loving a couple plot points, like the fact that King Viserys Targaryen chose to let his wife, Queen Aemma Targaryen, die in labor in order to save his male heir as they thought it hit a little too close to home when it comes to real-life politics.

In another scene, Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, sends his 14-year-old daughter Alicent to King Viserys's chambers to comfort him by sleeping with him. And while the series is set in 112 AC, and is also, well, a fictional television show, some just thought the idea was a little too unacceptable.

But overall, most people, and even the ones still bitter about the Game of Thrones series finale, are glad to be back in Westeros.

Video Transcript

- Jaehaerys called the great council to prevent a war being fought over his succession. But he knew the cold truth. The only thing that could tear down the house of the dragon was itself.

KYLIE MAR: Sunday was a big night for "Game of Thrones" fans as the highly anticipated spinoff "House of the Dragon" premiered and started with a nice subtle tribute to one of our favorite characters from the original series, Daenerys Targaryen, with a prologue explaining that this new series takes place 172 years before the death of the Mad King Aerys and the birth of his daughter Princess Daenerys Targaryen. Fans loved the acknowledgment of what Daenerys ultimately did for House Targaryen as they took to Twitter with comments like the fact that the opening scene stated. The events of the show are before Daenerys's and not after Aegon is just everything. Dangerous is a legend. As for the rest of the series premiere, house of the dragon delivered all the unnecessary violence fans have been missing. While some viewers weren't loving plot points that hit a little too close to home when it comes to real-life politics--

- Don't be scared.

- What is happening?

- Don't be scared. They're going to break the paper.

- Oh no.

- It's all right. Please. I have to break the paper.

- Oh, no, no, no.

KYLIE MAR: --overall, most people, and even the ones still bitter about the "Game of Thrones" series finale, are glad to be back in Westeros.

- Lord of the seven kingdoms and protector of the round one. Do you hear my name, Rhaenyra Targaryen, Princess of Dragonstone and heir to the Iron Throne.