https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/bvmj95/hbo-achieves-new-heights-of-corporate-synergy-with-bizarre-house-of-the-dragon-tie-ins

House of the Dragon, HBO’s attempt to cash in on the popularity of Game of Thrones via a spin-off prequel, premieres on Sunday. It has had some truly silly and inexplicable marketing tie-ins.

Despite having an array of bad wigs, yet again, HBO seems hopeful that House of the Dragon will be a smash hit, just like Game of Thrones was. It’s already unveiled a licensed merchandise store, which sells not just t-shirts and Funko Pops but barware and artisanal serving planks as well. Given the sheer tonnage of merchandise that Game of Thrones produced, this isn’t all that surprising. HBO’s partnership with the wrestling outlet AEW is a little bit more unusual.