House of the Dragon season 2’s first teaser is out. The minute of footage is packed with story details and foreshadowing for the season.
House of the Dragon season 2’s first teaser trailer is out, and there’s a lot to break down in just over a minute of footage. Season 1 of HBO’s hit Game of Thrones prequel covered the build-up to the Dance of the Dragons, a civil war that sees Viserys Targaryen’s children, Rhaenyra and Aegon II, contend for their right to the Iron Throne. House of the Dragon season 1 covers decades of development, familiarizing the audience with the players and their motives as war becomes increasingly inevitable.
In season 1, episode 10, Aemond Targaryen draws first blood, killing Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys Velaryon and ultimately starting the Dance. The civil war pits Targaryen against Targaryen, dragon against dragon, and will be one of the significant events that lead to the decline of the 300-year dynasty and the absence of dragons that’s apparent at the start of Game of Thrones. The new teaser primarily focused on action shots, but given the text of Fire & Blood, there’s plenty to take away from what’s been shown. House of the Dragon season 2 will be released in the summer of 2024.
11
Rhaenyra Grieves At Storm’s End
The Black Queen returns to the site of her son’s murder.
The trailer’s opening shot sees Rhaenyra grieving over the loss of her son, Lucerys. Storm’s End, the seat of House Baratheon, and the location of the Lucerys and Aemond’s deadly altercation, can be seen across the water. Rhaenyra’s affinity for Alicent led her to want to pursue peace, but Lucery’s death has set her on a path for vengeance and blood. The death of a son will likely haunt Rhaenyra for the remainder of her days.
10
Aegon II Sits The Throne
Aegon Targaryen grows more comfortable with his position.
A taste of power will quickly make Aegon comfortable with the crown.
While Rhaenyra has suffered after the loss of their father, her younger brother, Aegon II, has been crowned and is now the acting Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. Though he showed little interest in responsibility and leadership in season 1, a taste of power will quickly make Aegon comfortable with the crown and chair. The trailer sees him carrying Viserys’ dagger, the same one that appears centuries later in Game of Thrones and is used to kill the Night King.
9
House Hightower Has Called Its Banners
Otto Hightower summons his armies to support the greens.
While Aegon II sits on the Iron Throne, much of the power of the greens belongs to House Hightower. The Hightowers of Oldtown are a prestigious family of the Reach, whose sigil is a white tower with a green flame on top of it. In the season 2 teaser, their army can be seen mobilizing, heading to the Crownlands to support Aegon’s right to rule. While dragons are a significant power source, armies are still vital to capturing cities and castles, making the Hightower contribution essential to the greens.
8
Houses Rosby And Stokeworth Choose Sides
Westeros is divided by the Dance of the Dragons.
Aside from the great houses of Westeros, lesser Lords and noble families have chosen sides in the war. Season 1 saw Lord Allun Caswell, a nobleman from the Reach, caught and hung for attempting to warn Rhaenyra of Aegon’s ascension to the throne. The teaser shows other houses that have taken the side of the greens, including House Rosby (white crest with red stripes) and House Stokeworth (green crest with a white lamb). In Fire & Blood, these houses were initially loyal to Rhaenyra but joined the forces of the greens upon threats of execution.
7
Criston Cole Executes A Rhaenyra Loyalist
Criston Cole earns favor with the new king by beheading black loyalists.
Criston Cole has become one of the most loyal supporters of Aegon II and Alicent Hightower following his love affair with Rhaenyra in season 1. In the teaser, he’s shown with a new haircut, executing a man by the seaside. In Fire & Blood, Cole becomes Aegon’s Hand of the King and partakes in beheading captive noblemen who refuse to acknowledge Aegon II as the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. The show depicts Criston Cole as an angry, petty character, and executing Rhaenyra loyalists is an apt continuation of his narrative.
6
New Riders Will Claim Dragons
Addam of Hull arrives to claim the dragon Seasmoke.
As Daemon mentions in season 1, several unclaimed dragons can be used to bolster the forces of the blacks. Actor Clinton Liberty joined the House of the Dragon season 2 cast as Addam of Hull, a character recruited by the blacks in Fire & Blood to claim one of the riderless dragons. A quick shot from the teaser seems to show this happening. Addam claims to be the bastard of Laenor Velaryon, a character thought to be dead in the books but whom the show confirmed is alive. The dragon Addam claims is Laenor’s Seasmoke.
5
Aemond Eyes The Iron Throne
Second son, Aemond Targaryen, aspires to rule.
Aemond Targaryen became one of the most exciting characters at the end of season 1 due to his menacing demeanor and physical superiority over the other children. He’s a talented swordsman and rides the most enormous dragon in House of the Dragon, making him a clear powerhouse for the greens. Aemond wants power, and he’s frustrated over his brother’s position ahead of him in the lineage. In Fire & Blood, Aemond comes to sit the throne when his brother is unfit to, and a moment from the trailer foreshadows this.
4
Jacaerys Meets Cregan Stark In Winterfell
The blacks forge an alliance with the Starks in the North.
While Lucerys traveled to Storm’s End to meet with the Baratheons, Jacaerys traveled North to meet Cregan Stark. In Fire & Blood, the two get along well and quickly become friends and allies in the war. The trailer shows soldiers marching through the snow, signifying that the Starks and Northmen will be present in season 2.
3
Blood And Cheese Attack Helaena
The blacks retaliate after Lucerys’ death.
One of the most gruesome scenes in House of the Dragon season 2 will be the blacks’ immediate retaliation after Lucerys’ murder. In the book, Daemon hires two assassins to infiltrate the Red Keep, known as Blood and Cheese. The pair attack Helaena, as depicted in the trailer, and kill one of Aegon and Helaena’s children, Jaehaerys. This moment will likely happen early in the season and could be particularly gruesome.
2
The Battle Of The Cargyll Twins
Twin Kingsguard members find themselves on opposite sides of the war.
The Cargyll twins are two members of the Kingsguard, established in season 1. While one brother is loyal to Aegon II, the other goes to swear fealty to Rhaenyra, joining her Queensguard. In the text, Arryk Cargyll, who serves the greens, is sent to disguise as his brother and assassinate Rhaenyra at Dragonstone. Erryk Cargyll catches him in the act, and the two duel, fatally wounding each other. A glimpse of this moment is shown in the trailer.
1
Baela Rides To Battle
Daemon’s daughter, Baela, screams as she rides her dragon into war.
Every dragon rider is a valuable asset in House of the Dragon, and Daemon’s daughter, Baela, can be seen in an action shot from the trailer. Her dragon, Moondancer, is one of the younger dragons in the war, but even a young dragon can be a powerful force. In the teaser, she’s seen screaming as she flies into battle, resembling her mother Laena, from season 1.
