Olivia Cavallaro Culture 09.05.2022 21:Sep PM EDT

You Can Watch One ‘House of the Dragon’ Episode for Free on YouTube

The first episode of the HBO series was made available on YouTube for free in the US in time for the Labor Day weekend.

Labor Day weekend was eventful for "Game of Thrones" fans who haven't seen the "House of the Dragon" yet, as HBO released the first episode of the highly anticipated series on YouTube for free. The move is believed to be a marketing ploy that coincides with the debut of Amazon Prime's "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" on Friday.

According to Collider, "House of the Dragon" was so well received during its first week that it broke the network and HBO Max records with up to 20 million viewers, making it their most watched title ever. The warm welcome spurred an early renewal for a second season of the "Game of Thrones" prequel.

HBO Shows 'House of the Dragon' Free on YouTube Amid 'Rings of Power' Debut

HBO's record-breaking viewership of "House of the Dragon" is comparable to Amazon Prime's biggest debut to date, with "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power " earning 25 million global viewers. Now, HBO is seeking to attract even more viewers by adding the "Game of Thrones" prequel to YouTube and making it free to watch in the US, The Verge reported.

Amazon Prime's success with "Rings of Power" is likely one of the reasons why HBO hmade a move to let viewers see at least one episode for free in the hopes they sign up for an HBO Max subscription. Another reason could be that HBO is looking to lure back scorned GoT fans to come back to Westeros after that dissatisfying finale years ago.

"House of the Dragon" promises a different approach, however, as it is set about 200 years before the events of "Game of Thrones" and delves into how House Targaryen fell amid their rule on the Iron Throne. Fans will get to see the history of Daenerys' bloodline and the civil war that occurred between its family members.

'House of the Dragon' Episode 4 to Feature the King of the Narrow Sea

For GoT fans that are already caught up in the "House of the Dragon" action, however, HBO has just released the Season 1 Episode 4 preview on YouTube, giving a glimpse of the installment coming this Sunday. Titled "King of the Narrow Sea," it follows Daemon Targaryen as he embodies the role of King and will delve into the reasons why Aegon the Conqueror had a prophetic dream about the White Walkers, Decider reported.

The "House of the Dragon" Episode 4 preview also hints at a message engraved into the Valyrian steel of the catspaw dagger that killed Littlefinger and the Night's King on "Game of Thrones." An intense scene is also set to occur between Rhaenyra and her father, Viserys, who calls her his "political headache." Finally, the episode is also set to explore Rhaenyra's reaction to "a vile accusation" being hurled at her.