Fans of HBO’s hit series House of the Dragon were thrilled to recently discover that a new “bonus” episode was available online. But their excitement quickly turned sour when they realized this extra episode wasn’t what it seemed.

It turns out that the supposed Episode 9 of Season 2 is actually fake.

Instead of giving fans more dragon-filled drama, this file is packed with computer viruses. Anyone who tries to download or watch it risks infecting their device with malware.

The persons behind this scheme have made the fake torrent file look convincing, fooling many internet users who were looking to download the show illegally.

But while some fans fell for the trick, others took to Reddit to poke fun at the situation, dreaming up hilarious plots for the non-existent episode – including yet another surprising Ed Sheeran cameo.

The Secret Episode That Never Was

The second season of House of the Dragon ended in August 2024, with the 8th and final episode titled The Queen Who Ever Was.

Photo: HBO

However, as reported on TorrentFreak (a blog focusing on file-sharing news), rumours of a surprise ninth episode began circulating on various online forums and social media platforms, whipping fans into a frenzy of excitement.

Fans speculated that the “bonus” episode might have been cancelled at the last moment, censored, saved for an exclusive streaming release, and other complex (and imaginary) explanations.

The file, which spread on various illegal download platforms, was typically labelled as “House.of.the.Dragon.S02E09.1080p.WEB.h264-ETHEL”, disguised to mimic “legitimate” releases.

Its file size and origin from seemingly reputable torrent sites have lent it an air of authenticity, causing even seasoned downloaders to take notice.

This deception has been further fuelled by online banter and jokes about a hypothetical follow-up episode, which made it even more believable for those not entirely up to speed with the series’ actual episode count.

A Trojan Dragon in Disguise

Unfortunately for those who have fallen for this ruse, the “bonus” episode is nothing more than a vessel for malware.

The risk lies in a hidden .LNK file, included with the fake episode. These files, which are typically used in Windows as shortcuts to quickly open files, folders, or applications, can be maliciously configured.

In this case, the .LNK file triggers a Trojan horse, potentially granting unauthorised access to the user’s computer.

It’s estimated that the file has been downloaded hundreds, if not thousands of times, and it is still being actively shared on some platforms (even though some sites have been quick to remove these files).

Interestingly, HBO itself has taken notice of the phantom episode (perhaps wondering if they’d forgotten to air it). The company issued a takedown notice to Google, requesting the removal of an “infringing” link to the non-existent release.

Ed Sheeran in House of The Dragon?!

Despite the serious nature of the threat, some fans couldn’t resist having a bit of fun with the whole situation.

Over on Reddit, viewers let their imaginations run wild, dreaming up ridiculous scenarios for this phantom episode.

One Reddit user wrote: “Larys sucking on Aegon’s toes was SO SATISFYING. The tension between Aegon’s feet and Larys has been going on all season so I’m glad there was some payoff.”

Another chimed in with, “My favourite part was when Raenera said ‘In the House of the Dragon… you either win or you die’ and winked at the camera.”

And then there was… “Ed Sheeran as Melisandre was a genius move. Well done,” referencing the singer’s controversial cameo in the original Game of Thrones series.

The Dragon’s Legitimate Lair

House of the Dragon, the prequel series to the enormously popular Game of Thrones, has captivated audiences worldwide with its tale of the Targaryen Civil War set centuries before the events of its predecessor.

In the UK, fans can legally watch the show on Sky Atlantic or the streaming service NOW, or buy it on digital VOD services (the first episode is even available for free on YouTube).

Season 2 recently finished airing, and the third season is set to start filming in 2025, with Season 4 set to be the show’s last.

It’s worth noting that Game of Thrones, and now House of the Dragon, have a long and complicated history with piracy.

The original series consistently topped lists of the most pirated TV shows during its eight-season run. Its popularity among pirates was so significant that it even set piracy records, with hundreds of thousands of people illegally downloading episodes simultaneously after they aired.

This persistent issue led HBO to implement various strategies to combat piracy, from sending warning letters to internet service providers to employing 3rd party companies to seek out and remove illegally shared files.