House of the Dragon season 2 returns in Summer 2024. Here are some key moments from the Fire & Blood book to look forward to as the Dance picks up.
There are many exciting things to look forward to from House of the Dragon season 2. Season 1 of HBO’s hit Game of Thrones spin-off saw the events building up to the Dance of the Dragons, a civil war that pitted the Targaryen family against one another as two children of King Viserys Targaryen saw themselves as the rightful heir to the throne. The parties have been divided into the blacks and the greens, represented by Rhaenyra Targaryen and Aegon II, respectively. Following Viserys’ death and the violence between Aemond and Lucerys in the season 1 finale, season 2 is set to see an all-out war.
House of the Dragon is based on George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood, which recounts the events of the Targaryen dynasty that ruled Westeros for nearly 300 years. Fire & Blood covers the events of the Dance of Dragons like a historical text, while the HBO adaptation zooms in on details that weren’t covered in the books. To extend the length of the series and accommodate the number of battles in the war, House of the Dragon season 2 will likely continue to slow things down, focusing on interpersonal moments between characters, presumably making the season’s climactic moment the battle at Rook’s Rest.
10
Aemond Telling The Greens That He Killed Lucerys (& How They React)
Aemond started the war and Alicent won’t be happy.
While the text simply states that Aemond and Vhagar killed Lucerys Velaryon and his far smaller dragon after meeting at Storm’s End, the show reveals that this event was an accident. Aemond loses control over the monstrous Vhagar, who goes in for the snack, killing Lucerys and incidentally starting the civil war. The first episode will see Aemond having to reveal what happened to Alicent, Otto, and the greens, who will likely be furious with him.
9
Blood & Cheese Will Happen Early In House Of The Dragon Season 2
Daemon will seak vengeance for Lucerys.
Blood and Cheese are the names of two assassins who are set to debut in season 2, played by Sam C. Wilson and Mark Stobbard, respectively. The pair are hired by Daemon Targaryen as a direct response to the murder of Lucerys and are contracted to murder one of the sons of Aegon II. House of the Dragon already teased Blood and Cheese as they’ll be hired through Mysaria and the spy network she established late in season 1.
8
Several More New Dragons
Season 1 introduced several, but there are more.
House of the Dragon has already introduced far more dragons than Game of Thrones, as this period sees the largest quantity of them in Westeros. There should be new dragons in House of the Dragon season 2, including full-grown versions of Aegon and Helaena’s Sunfyre and Dreamfyre. The season should also see more of Vermithor, who was teased in episode 10. There are a few unclaimed wild dragons and Baela Targaryen’s Moondancer, which has yet to appear.
7
Going Back To Winterfell & Meeting Lord Cregan Stark
Jacaerys was sent to the North at the end of season 1.
While Lucerys went to Storm’s End to negotiate with the Baratheons, Jacaerys went North to forge an alliance with the Starks. House of the Dragon season 2 should see the exciting return to Winterfell. Cregan Stark is a young man at the start of the Dance of Dragons who will become an important player throughout the series. He’s known as a formidable lord and strong swordsman who would eventually serve as the Hand of the King to Aegon III.
6
Jacaerys And Cregan Go Beyond The Wall
Behind-the-scenes video hints at a scene north of the Wall.
While it isn’t brought up in the Dance of the Dragons chapters in Fire & Blood, a behind-the-scenes video suggests that the Wall will return for House of the Dragon season 2. When Jacaerys visits Cregan in the North, the two quickly get along and become friends, making this the most likely opportunity to go for a fun dragon trip even further North, beyond the Wall. The Wall is one of the most beautiful sites in Westeros, and it’d make sense for Jace to want to witness it. Reintroducing it would also be a clever way for the series to market something familiar to audiences in trailers.
5
The Duel Of The Cargyll Twins
The Cargylls find themselves on opposite sides of the war.
House of the Dragon season 1 introduced audiences to Ser Erryk Cargyll and Ser Arryk Cargyll, two twin brothers who both serve on the Kingsguard. Unfortunately, the two men find themselves on opposite sides in the war, with Erryk swearing loyalty to Rhaenyra and joining her Queensguard. In season 2, the greens’ Ser Arryk will be sent to Dragonstone to pretend to be his twin brother and assassinate Rhaenyra, only to be stopped by Erryk. The two will duel, resulting in fatal wounds for both of them.
4
The Dance Of The Dragons Truly Begins As War Spreads Across Westeros
Other houses choose sides.
Like Game of Thrones, a war for the throne means Westeros will be ravaged, and again, the centered Riverlands are a primary location. With both sides fully engaged in the war after the deaths of the two princes, they’ll begin to assemble allies from houses across the continent. Battles will occur throughout the Riverlands surrounding Harrenhal as well as the Crownlands along its northern peninsula. Targaryens will fight Targaryens, dragons will fight dragons, and the action will amp up with the show’s condensed eight episodes.
3
The Introduction Of Several New Book Characters
An updated cast.
The House of the Dragon season 2 cast will include many new characters from the books. Aside from Blood and Cheese, audiences will be introduced to Alys Rivers, a woman from the Riverlands, who is Aemond Targaryen’s lover. The series has cast Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong, the great-uncle of Lord Larys. Otto’s son, Gwayne Hightower, will arrive to aid the greens in the war. The series may also introduce several other Lords from the great houses aside from Cregan Stark, ancestors of known characters from Game of Thrones.
2
The Sack Of Duskendale
The greens go on the offensive.
Duskendale is an exciting new location to look forward to in House of the Dragon as it’s one of the larger port towns in Westeros, nested in the Crownlands, north of King’s Landing. As the war progresses, Duskendale will be the location of an important battle, as House Darklyn chooses to side with the blacks. The greens sack Duskendale easily, marking the start of their offensive in the war.
1
The Battle at Rook’s Rest
Season 2’s likely climax.
Rook’s Rest will likely be the climactic moment of House of the Dragon season 2, as the battle will claim the lives of multiple dragons and a Targaryen. The battle at Rook’s Rest will see Rhaenys contend with both Aegon II and Aemond with her dragon Meleys. Meleys will contend with Sunfyre and Vhagar, resulting in Rhaenys and Meleys’ deaths. Aegon and Sunfyre both sustain terrible injuries but survive the encounter.
