HBO has responded to the season finale of House of the Dragon being leaked. The tenth episode of the Game of Thrones prequel series was leaked on illegal torrent sites on Friday, two days before it was set to air on HBO. A spokesperson for HBO told Variety that the leak “appears to have originated from a distribution partner in the EMEA region. HBO is aggressively monitoring and pulling these copies from the internet. We’re disappointed that this unlawful action has disrupted the viewing experience for loyal fans of the show, who will get to see a pristine version of the episode when it premieres Sunday on HBO and HBO Max, where it will stream exclusively in 4K.”
Leaked Season Finale to ‘House of the Dragon’ Disappoints HBO
While this leaking of the House of the Dragon finale is upsetting to HBO, it should come as no surprise to them. As Vulture explains, Game of Thrones itself dealt with numerous episode leaks during its eight-season run. Regardless, House of the Dragon has been a massive success for HBO, receiving a green light for a second season immediately after the series premiere. It’s no surprise that HBO doesn’t want to lose the ratings on the House of the Dragon series finale.
Based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire and Blood, the new series is successful in ratings and among critics for its superb storytelling and high-profile cast, including former Doctor Who portrayer Matt Smith. The show is also far less sexual than Game of Thrones, although one recent scene did manage to turn a head or two.
