Flames of war

The battle for the Iron Throne is ignited as spectacular spin-off House of the Dragon returns

- SEAN MARLAND

NEW FANTASY DRAMA House of the Dragon Monday, 9pm, Sky Atlantic

Dragons take to the skies and armies march on their enemies as the Targaryen civil war breaks out in the second season of Sky Atlantic's spectacular fantasy saga House of the Dragon.

Set 200 years before the events depicted in Game of Thrones, the spin-off series' new eight-part run continues the story of how the ruling family of Westeros began their fall from power.

After the first season set the scene for the coming war between the Black and Green factions of the Targaryen clan, the action really hots up in this full-blooded follow-up.

'It's so much bigger in scope and ambition, says showrunner Ryan J. Condal. 'You learn an awful lot when you make the first season of a show, and if you're lucky enough to make it a second season, you get to do it again, but better. In every objective way, this season of House of the Dragon is bigger and richer.

FAMILY FEUD

In this week's opening episode, we find Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) in Dragonstone, where she's devastated to learn of her son's death at the end of the first season.