The dragons of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire are as curious as they are magical. No one really knows how those mystical, highly intelligent creatures came into the world. Each one also has its own unique personality, yet also shares a special bond with its rider. Some believe Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon‘s dragons can change their gender whenever they like. It’s impossible to even identify a she-dragon until it lays eggs. And no one understands exactly why those beasts called “fire made flesh” allow certain people to claim them and not others. But while episode six of House of the Dragon‘s second season explored established dragon lore with Ser Steffon Darklyn’s fatal attempt to become a dragonlord, the series also created its own with the Vale’s wild dragon and Seasmoke’s search for Addam of Hull.

The Dragon Seasmoke Rejects Ser Steffon Darklyn in House of the Dragon

The one (almost*) unquestioned rule for dragonriders in the lore of George R.R. Martin’s fantasy world is that they must have at least some blood of Old Valyria. The dragonlords of the former Valyrian Freehold were the only dragonlords in the world. In Westeros, that means someone must have ancestry with either House Targaryen or House Velaryon (even though Velaryons were not dragonriders).

(*One character’s uncertain birth is the only possible example of this not being true. We’ll get to that in the next section.)

Prince Jacaerys thought that rule might have simply been ahistorical propaganda meant to “gild” Valyrians. His mother still took the matter of blood seriously enough to search for forgotten relatives in old scrolls. On House of the Dragon, Rhaenyra believes even someone with “thin” Valyrian blood was more likely to successfully claim a dragon than someone without any. Especially since unquestioned family members can’t always become dragonriders, like Daemon’s daughter Rhaena. Aemond couldn’t successfully bond with a dragon either in House of the Dragon‘s world until he claimed the biggest one in the world, Vhagar.

On House of the Dragon‘s sixth episode, Rhaenyra asked the Lord Commander of her Queensguard, Ser Steffon, if he’d be willing to try to claim a dragon because his grandmother’s grandmother was a Targaryen. She reminded him to try and claim a dragon was to risk death itself, but he was honored by her even asking. Like many in Westeros, he views dragons as gods.

Seasmoke did not care about Ser Steffon’s thin Valyrian blood, commitment to Rhaenyra, or his noble heart, though. The dragon still refused to obey the Lord Commander on House of the Dragon. Worse, he bathed Ser Steffon in dragonflame for even trying.

That outcome was not a surprise for any House of the Dragon viewer who knows about dragon lore in this fantasy realm. That was not true for the other two big dragon moments during this episode of House of the Dragon, though.

Rhaena Learns the Vale Has a Wild Dragon

The last thing young Princess Rhaena expected to find in the Vale was a wild dragon, because dragons don’t live in places like the Vale on House of the Dragon. They stay close to seats of House Velaryon, either in King’s Landing or on Dragonstone. Before they came to Westeros, they only lived in the Valyrian Freehold, leaving for any extended periods of time solely when taken someplace by their dragonrider.

Having a dragon burning sheep far away from dragons’ established homes means that House of the Dragon breaks established canon and dragon lore from Fire & Blood and A Song of Ice and Fire. George R.R. Martin himself confirmed that weeks before episode six debuted. From his “Not a Blog” (emphasis our own):

My dragons are creatures of the sky. They fly, and can cross mountains and plains, cover hundreds of miles… but they don’t, unless their riders take them there. They are not nomadic. During the heyday of Valyria there were forty dragon-riding families with hundreds of dragons amongst them… but (aside from our Targaryens) all of them stayed close to the Freehold and the Lands of the Long Summer. From time to time a dragonrider might visit Volantis or another Valyrian colony, even settle there for a few years, but never permanently. Think about it. If dragons were nomadic, they would have overrun half of Essos, and the Doom would only have killed a few of them. Similarly, the dragons of Westeros seldom wander far from Dragonstone. Elsewise, after three hundred years, we would have dragons all over the realm and every noble house would have a few. 

Why would House of the Dragon violate one Martin’s few, hard-and-fast dragon lore rules? To answer that, we must discuss something from Fire & Blood. We’ll note that this discussion will provide enough context clues to spoil something that now seems inevitable on House of the Dragon. It’s up to you if you want to read it. If you don’t, skip past the remaining text in this section (which is between two images) until you reach the next sub-headline, which explores another show-specific piece of dragon lore.

By moving this specific, sheep-killing dragon from Dragonstone to the Vale, the show appears to be cutting out a major, beloved character from Fire & Blood named Nettles. She is the person whose uncertain birth/bloodline we referenced earlier. House of the Dragon seems to be giving Nettle’s storyline to Rhaena.

Obviously since we mentioned Nettles’ uncertain birth/blood line, she does go on to claim a dragon in Fire & Blood. And since we’re talking about her in this section about Rhaena and the Vale, you can guess which dragon she bonds with.

Does that guarantee Rhaena will now claim that wild dragon on the show instead? It’s a possibility the series is definitely raising, but it’s not a guarantee. Not when House of the Dragon is making such drastic changes in the first place. But we still think it’s likely on a series that also made another significant change to an unlikely dragonrider’s story in this same episode.

Seasmoke Claims a Dragonrider on House of the Dragon (Possibly While His First Still Lives)

Addam of Hull is the bastard son of Lord Corlys Velaryon and, therefore, strong with Old Valyrian blood. It doesn’t go against known dragon lore, and thus is not completely shocking, that a “dragonseed” like Addam could claim a dragon, which is clearly what happened at the end of House of the Dragon episode six. What is unprecedented is a) how the two bonded and b) the fact they bonded at all.

There are two ways humans typically bond with dragons in A Song of Ice and Fire. The first is babies of House Targaryen have dragon eggs put in their crib with them. If healthy dragons hatch from those eggs they form that special dragon/dragonrider connection. The second way is that a person approaches a living dragon who then either accepts them or not. No one knows how or why this happens, only that there’s some kind of mystical element to their connection.

Rhaena, daughter of Daemon Targaryen and Laena Velaryon, has tried to claim a dragon many times on House of the Dragon and only has burn scars to show for it. Ser Steffon Darklyn tried once, and he paid with his life for his efforts. Yet somehow, Addam of Hull didn’t even have to try to become a dragonlord. In a complete role reversal, Seasmoke claimed his human. The “lonely” dragon hunted Addam down before the two took to the sky on House of the Dragon.

That was unusual enough, but what what makes this bond entirely new dragon lore for House of the Dragon is that Seasmoke seemingly already has a dragonrider. His first mount, Laenor Velaryon, isn’t actually dead on House of the Dragon like he is in Fire & Blood. The show changed his story so that he conspired with his wife Rhaenyra to fake his death so he could live freely in Essos. But dragons only accept one dragonrider at a time. They will not accept another so long as theirs lives.

Unless we learn Laenor died in Essos offscreen without anyone on Dragonstone knowing, we know have House of the Dragon-specific dragon lore. (Which still has its own internal logic, since Seasmoke sought out the half-brother of his missing rider.)

How you feel about that is as personal as a dragon/rider bond, but what it actually means is not. Whether or not you’re familiar with both Fire & Blood and George R.R. Martin’s dragon mythology, none of us know what else could happen in the Dance of the Dragons.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Created Its Own Dragon Lore appeared first on Nerdist.

Every week, we eagerly anticipate a new episode of House of the Dragon. But to make that wait a little easier, Max is releasing teaser images from new episodes of the Game of Thrones series a little early. These images don’t tell us too much about what’s in store in the new chapters of House of the Dragon season two, but they are fun to speculate over. Let’s take a look at the sneak peeks the streamer has released for House of the Dragon season two, episode six. Of course, these are technically spoilers, so look away if you don’t want to know anything more.

New Images From House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 6

Aemond looks like he’s adjusting to life in charge in these new images from House of the Dragon season two, episode six. But we bet the current King Aegon, grievously injured after a blast from Aemond’s dragon, might have something to say about that. The trailer for House of the Dragons season two, episode six, certainly hinted at a coming clash.

Click To View Gallery

Meanwhile, Alys Rivers is lurking around with an owl. Does that mean she really is one? We’ll have to wait for the episode to know for sure. Larys, Alicent, and Rhaneyra also feature in these new House of the Dragon images. We can’t wait to see how these sneak peeks come together as House of the Dragon season two releases its sixth episode this Sunday, July 28, at 9 pm on HBO and Max.

Originally published on June 21, 2024.

The post New Images From HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 2, Episode 6 Have Released appeared first on Nerdist.

House of the Dragon might not have White Walkers, but the show’s cast is just as sprawling as Game of Thrones‘ was. Houses Targaryen, Hightower, and Velaryon aren’t the only ones destined to find themselves fighting in a civil war of fire and blood. The Dance of the Dragons will ensnare nearly every family in the Realm. Of course, identifying the many characters of Westeros has never been easy, and it remains tricky on House of the Dragon. Fortunately, you don’t need a maester to know who everyone is, not even with all those “new” families popping up. We’re tracking every major new character introduced on House of the Dragon during season one and season two. Here’s everyone we meet, what happens to them, and who’s still around on House of the Dragon….for now.

The Latest Character Additions on House of the Dragon

Lord and Lady Frey

Jace flew to the Twins, site of the Red Wedding, to meet with the Freys on House of the Dragon. Fortunately for him there was no bloodshed. He made a deal with Lord and Lady Frey. They will allow Cregan Starks’ Northmen soldiers to cross their bridge and will bend the knee themselves to Rhaenyra. That gives the Queen an ever-growing army in the Riverlands. In exchange, Jace said both he and his Uncle Daemon would protect the Twins with their dragons. And at the end of the war, the Blacks will grant the Freys Harrenhal. Allegiance always comes with a big prize for the ambitious Freys.

Dyana

A minor season-one character is now a major player in the Dance of the Dragons. The barmaid Dyana previously worked in the Red Keep but left after Aegon sexually assaulted her. Queen Alicent helped Dyana get an abortion and politely threatened Dyana if she went public with assault in House of the Dragon season one. Now Elinda, an emissary for Rhaenyra, has arrived in King’s Landing to begin spreading Rhaenyra propaganda to the smallfolk, a plan that involves Dyana. When Elinda knocked on the mystery King’s Landing door in House of the Dragon‘s fifth episode, it was Dyana who answered the summons.

Lord Amos Bracken

The ancient enemy of House Blackwood preferred to die in dragon flame rather than bend the knee to Daemon. The King Consort realized that’s exactly the type of soldier he needs for his army, so instead of burning the Brackens he instructed Willem Blackwood to do his “worst” to bring the Brackens to heel. After a series of atrocities committed on women and children, Lord Amos Bracken bent the knee.

Ser Willem Blackwood

Willem Blackwood appeared during House of the Dragon’s first season as a young man. He was vying for Princess Rhaenyra’s hand in marriage before he slew a Bracken boy in a duel. He’s now the regent for House Blackwood. Willem Blackwood swore his house to Rhaenyra’s cause in exchange for Daemon defeating House Bracken. He committed horrible war crimes against the Brackens, enraging other Riverlands lords and ladies.

Ser Oscar Tully

Ser Oscar Tully is the young grandson of Lord Grover Tully, the old, infirmed Lord Paramount of the Trident. Grover is unable to make any decisions, so Daemon told Oscar, Grover’s heir, to put a pillow over his grandfather’s head so he could rule and swear allegiance to Rhaenyra. The horrified knight said he loved his grandsire and could never.

Hugh Hammer the Blacksmith

House of the Dragon has spent much time with the white-haired Hugh Hammer, the blacksmith, a member of King’s Landing’s smallfolk. Hugh believed King Aegon when the monarch said he would pay the blacksmiths quickly, but that never happened. Hugh’s wife wanted them to flee the city with their gravely sick daughter, but new Iron Throne regent Aemond barred the gates before they could leave.

Ulf the White

The white-haired, gregarious Ulf told strangers at a tavern-brothel in King’s Landing he is a “dragonseen,” a bastard of House Targaryen. He specifically said he is the bastard brother of the late King Viserys and Daemon Targaryen. Ulf said this even though he believes some would kill him if they knew that. He’s either a liar or not very smart. He’s also definitely a coward. After saying he supported his supposed niece Rhaenyra, Ulf quickly paid tribute to Aegon when he unexpectedly showed up at the bar.

New House of the Dragon Characters—After Extending “Read More,” Jump To: House Targaryen // House Hightower // House Velaryon // House Strong // House Lannister // House Royce // House Stark // Other Major Characters (Baratheons, Coles, Hulls, and More)

House Targaryen

King Viserys Targaryen

King Viserys Targaryen was the king of sat on the Iron Throne when House of the Dragon began. Of all the new House of the Dragon characters, he definitely wanted peace the most. But the matter of succession was of high importance to King Viserys during the end of his reign. He bypassed his brother Daemon and named his daughter Princess Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne. However, that was before Viserys had a son with his second wife, Alicent Hightower, which brought Targaryen civil war into motion. King Viserys died at the end of season one, and this caused the rift in his family to turn into war.

Daemon Targaryen

Daemon Targaryen is among House of the Dragon‘s most dynamic characters. He seemed volatile and untrustworthy at first, but then seemed to mellow over time. Or so we thought. He and Rhaenyra married after the death of his second wife, Laena Velaryon, and the staged death of her husband Ser Laenor Velaryon. Together, they fight for her place on the throne as we move into House of the Dragon season two, though some question if he truly fights for himself.

Jacaerys (“Jace”) Velaryon

Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen had three black-haired boys with her first husband Ser Laenor. They named their oldest son Jacaerys, heir to the Iron Throne, after Rhaenyra. However, many believed (correctly) their real father was Ser Harwin “Breakbones” Strong. Jace is Rhaenyra’s heir to the Iron Throne (she doesn’t actually have).

Lucerys (“Luke”) Velaryon

Rhaenyra and Laenor’s second child was Prince Lucerys Velaryon, his grandfather Ser Corlys Velaryon’s heir as the Lord of Driftmark. Prince Lucerys never got to inherit that seat, though. He died high over Storm’s Landing after his uncle Aemond Targaryen’s dragon Vhagar attacked Luke and his dragon Arrax. His death helped trigger the main events on House of the Dragon.

Joffrey Velaryon

Joffrey Velaryon was the third, black-haired son of Rhaenyra and Laenor. His lawful father named him after his late paramour, Joffrey Lonmouth, whom Criston Cole murdered years earlier. Joffrey is yet to play a major role on House of the Dragon, but we’re sure we’ll see more of this character in season two.

Aegon Targaryen (Son of Rhaenyra and Daemon)

Daemon and Rhaenyra’s first child together was Prince Aegon Targaryen. (Not to be confused with Alicent’s first child, also a House of the Dragon character named Aegon. That much older Aegon is now King, Second of His Name.)

Viserys Targaryen (Son of Rhaenyra and Daemon)

Rhaenyra and Daemon named their second child after her father, King Viserys. Their third child, a daughter, died during childbirth after Rhaenyra learned her father passed away and Aegon had been crowned King.

Aegon Targaryen (Son of Viserys and Alicent)

Queen Alicent and King Viserys named their oldest child and firstborn son Aegon after the Conqueror. A known rapist and spectator of child fighting rings (where one of his own bastards might be forced to fight), Aegon himself said he is unfit to rule. However, he allowed his grandfather Otto Hightower, the green council, and his mother to crown him King, bypassing Viserys’ named heir, Aegon’s older half-sister Rhaenyra. He wears the crown and holds the Valyrian sword Blackfyre of Aegon the Conqueror.

Helaena Targaryen

Helaena, the first daughter and second child of Queen Alicent and King Viserys, married her older brother Aegon. She became Queen of Westeros after his coronation. They had twins, a son named Jahaerys and a daughter named Jahaera. Blood and Cheese killed Jaeherys in season two’s premiere. (The show did not introduce their third son from Fire & Blood, Prince Maelor.)

The quiet, kind, strange Helaena also seems to be a dreamer. A number of her cryptic quotes proved prophetic, most notably about her brother Aemond needing to lose an eye to gain a dragon, “the beast beneath the boards,” and her fear of the rats in King’s Landing.

Aemond Targaryen

Aemond, the third child and second son of Alicent and Viserys, lost his eye as a child during a fight with his cousins. Aemond grew up to be a great warrior who resented his bastard-born nephews. He frequently wears an eyepatch over his sapphire eye and, unlike his lazy brother, Aemond takes his duties seriously. He spent his life studying and training. Aemond assured war after his dragon Vhagar killed his nephew Lucerys Velaryon in the finale of House of the Dragon season one.

Season one did not introduce Aemond’s younger brother, Alicent’s fourth child with Viserys, Prince Daeron, as a character on the show. He was finally mentioned early in season two, so we know he exists and is living in Oldtown.

House Hightower

Ser Otto Hightower was the first Hand of the King to Viserys (a job Otto filled with the previous king). Viserys eventually relieved Otto of his duties, but Otto returned to the position after the death of Lord Lyonel Strong. He’s also father to Queen Alicent and grandfather to four Targaryens. However, Otto Hightower is not the Lord of his own family. That title belongs to his older, clean-shaven brother, Lord Hobert Hightower, head of one of Westeros’s oldest and most important noble families.

Otto was an instrumental character in crowing Aegon as King on House of the Dragon.

Lord Hobert Hightower

Lord Hightower wanted to ensure his great-nephew became king rather than Aegon’s older half-sister, and House Hightower stands behind the new King.

Ser Gwayne Hightower

Alicent’s arrogant brother, Ser Gwayne Hightower, reminded Criston Cole of his “modest beginnings” when they first met, as Cole had just replaced Gwayne’s father, Otto Hightower, as Hand of the King. But Gwayne sang a different tune after he foolishly left himself exposed during a march to war. Cole saved Gwayne from a dragonflame bath, earning the smug knight’s thanks.

House Velaryon

Ser Corlys Velaryon

Ser Corlys Velaryon, husband to Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (The Queen Who Never Was), abandoned his position as master of ships on the small council to fight in the Stepstones with Daemon Targaryen. Two major characters from House Velaryon—his son and his brother—joined him in this early House of the Dragon battle.

Ser Corlys Velaryon is known as the Sea Snake, the most celebrated and accomplished sailor in the history of Westeros. He controls the most powerful fleet in the world, which he has sworn to Queen Rhaenyra. After debating sitting out the war, he declared for her side to protect his grandchildren. His wife will also fight for Rhaenyra, vowing to use her dragon Meleys for their side.

Princess Rhaenys Targaryen

Rhaenys Targaryen, the Queen Who Never Was, should have sat on the Iron Throne long ago, but it was not to be. Instead, Viserys was voted heir by the lords of Westeros.. Rhaenys serves as the Lady of Driftmark and helps her husband to shrewdly navigate the world of Westeros. Rhaenys’ chief allegiance is to the good of her family and she considers her loyalties from that perspective. In House of the Dragon, Rhaenys made a splash when she rode her dragon Meleys through King Aegon II’s coronation. She didn’t kill them (as she should have), but has vowed her loyalty and dragon to Rhaenyra.

Laenor Velaryon

Corlys and Rhaenys’ oldest son Laenor and his dragon Seasmoke helped defeat the Crabfeeder in his character introduction on House of the Dragon. He then married Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, an arrangement where they both vowed to do their duty while seeking happiness in the bed of another on the side.

Laenor conspired with his wife, her uncle Daemon, and his paramour Ser Qarl Correy to fake his death following a quarrel with Correy. The pair then fled to Essos, allowing Rhaenyra to marry her uncle. We did not see this character again after that and it isn’t clear if he will ever return on House of the Dragon.

Laena (née Velaryon) Targaryen

Lord Lyonel Strong suggested Laenor as a strategic suitor for Princess Rhaenyra, just as he had once recommended King Viserys wed Laenor’s older sister, Laena. Ultimately Laena married Prince Daemon Targaryen. The two had twin daughters, Rhaena and Baela, but Laena died after she was unable to deliver their third child. Rather than die in bed, she had her dragon Vhagar bathe her in dragon flame.

Baela Targaryen

The older daughter of Daemon and Laena’s twins, Baela, rides the dragon Moondancer. She also stayed at Driftmark with her grandmother after the death of her mother, Laena. She is betrothed to Jacaerys Velaryon and fights for her aunt/step-mother, Rhaenyra.

Rhaena Targaryen

Daemon and Laena’s younger daughter was the only member of the family not to be a dragonrider while they lived in Pentos. She is still without a mount at the start of the Dance of the Dragons and serves as Rhaenyra’s cupbearer. This character was also betrothed to Lucerys Velaryon before his death on House of the Dragon.

Vaemond Velaryon

Ser Corlys’s brother Vaemond was ready to mutiny against Daemon Targaryen before their side’s victory in the Stepstones. He also sought to have himself named as Lord of Driftmark when it looked like Ser Corlys might die. After King Viserys affirmed his grandson Lucerys as the lawful heir to Driftmark, Vaemond called Rhaenyra’s boys bastards and her a whore. Daemon then sliced Aemond’s head in half. (He left him his tongue.)

(Note: In the books, Vaemond is Corlys’ nephew, not his brother.)

New House of the Dragon Characters; Jump to: House Targaryen // House Hightower // House Velaryon // House Strong // House Lannister // House Royce // House Stark // Other Major Characters (Baratheons, Coles, and More)

House Strong

Lord Lyonel Strong of Harrenhal first served on King Viserys’ small council as master of laws before becoming Hand of the King. He had two sons. The oldest, Harwin, died alongside his father during a fire at Harrenhal started by Lyonel’s youngest son, Larys.

Ser Harwin “Breakbones” Strong

Considered “the strongest knight” in the Seven Kingdoms, Ser Harwin “Breakbones” Strong was quite a knight in Westeros. We saw how the character earned his nickname early in House of the Dragon, during Viserys’ royal hunt. He was the only knight to hold the stag with his bare hands. Everyone else rode atop a horse.

Harwin Strong later became Commander of the City Watch in King’s Landing and was the real father of Princess Rhaenyra’s three oldest sons. Harwin died alongside his father at Harrenhal shortly after his banishment from King’s Landing for attacking Criston Cole.

Larys Strong, The Clubfoot

Harwin’s younger brother Larys is known as “The Clubfoot” because he was born with a twisted foot. He cited his foot as the reason he could not go on the royal hunt. Instead, he stayed at the King’s pavilion and quietly sat with the high ladies of the hunt. (That group included Lady Ceira Lannister and Lady Joselyn Redwyne, character created for House of the Dragon.)

Larys proved himself to be far more than just cunning and perceptive, though. He murdered his father and brother to appease his close friend and ally, Queen Alicent. Their deaths also made him Lord of Harrenhal. An unofficial master of whispers for the “Greens,” Larys is an amoral killer with a memorable proclivity.

Ser Simon Strong

Ser Simon Strong, uncle to Larys Strong, is an older knight and the castellan of Harrenhal. He willingly gave the enormous castle in ‘disrepair” to Daemon Targaryen and said he does not accept his nephew as Lord because he believes (correctly) that Larys caused the fire at Harrenhal that killed his father and brother.

House Lannister

The widowed Lady Ceira has twin sons, each of whom holds a major position in Westeros.

Jason Lannister

The older of the twins, the prideful, long-haired Jason Lannister is Lord of Casterly Rock and Warden of the West. Princess Rhaenyra spurned his offer of marriage, which he made after believing Prince Aegon had supplanted her as heir. His assumption also upset King Viserys, who called such talk “treason.” Jason Lannister is head of House Lannister, which supports King Aegon.

Ser Tyland Lannister

Tyland Lannister—who sports a shorter, neater haircut than his older twin brother—replaced Ser Corlys Velaryon on the small council as master of ships. His brother considers Tyland “frightfully dull.”

Tyland Lannister conspired with Otto Hightower and the green council to place Aegon on the Iron Throne. The House of the Dragon character remains on the new King’s small council as master of coin.

New House of the Dragon Characters; Jump to: House Targaryen // House Hightower // House Velaryon // House Strong // House Lannister // House Royce // House Stark // Other Major Characters (Baratheons, Coles, and More)

House Royce

House Royce of Runestone in the Vale is an old, noble family descended from the First Men. (They also played a meaningful role on Game of Thrones.) Though kings long ago, they are sworn bannermen to House Arryn, Princess Rhaenys’ family (her mother was an Arryn). The Royce sigil features black iron studs and rune markings on a bronze field, which is where Daemon Targaryen got his uncouth nickname for his late wife.

Lady Rhea Royce

Prince Daemon hated his wife, Lady Royce, and the feeling was mutual. He killed the skilled rider (who was obviously much prettier than any sheep) after Lady Rhea fell from her horse. She died without an heir, which led Daemon to appeal to Lady Jeyne Arryn directly for the rights to Runestone.

Ser Gerold Royce

Lady Rhea’s cousin Ser Gerold Royce believes Daemon killed his first wife, an accusation he made during a feast for Rhaenyra and Laenor’s wedding. But he was taken aback by Prince Daemon’s plans to claim Runestone as his own. The castle has been House Royce’s seat of power for thousands of years. It remains to be seen how the altercation between these two characters will play out.

House Stark

Lord Cregan Stark

House of the Dragon‘s second season brought viewers back to the North where we met the Lord of Winterfell Cregan Stark. The head of House Stark promised Prince “Jace” he would honor his family’s oath and support Queen Rhaenyra, but that he was limited in how many men he could send to her cause. Winter has arrived, and Cregan has an even more sacred duty to the Wall.

Other Major New Characters on House of the Dragon

Alyn and Addam of Hull

Season two has introduced the brothers Alyn and Addam of Hull. Hull is a recent surname given to bastards born in the town of Hull, which sits on Driftmark, the domain of Corlys Velaryon. The bald, stern, no-nonsense Alyn is a talented seaman and adventurer who saved Lord Corlys’ life in the Stepstones. His gregarious brother Addam is a shipwright (who also makes a mean goat stew). Addam also believes Lord Corlys “owes” the two of them something.

Alys Rivers

Alys Rivers last name reveals she’s a bastard born in the Riverlands. Her appearance (and jarring American) accent in Daemon’s unsettling vision reveals she’s a mysterious presence. Alys Rivers is the character tells Daemon, “You will die in this place” at Harrenhal.

Ser Alfred Broome

Ser Alfred Broome, knight of House Targaryen, is a member of Queen Rhaenyra’s black council. He also politely accused her of ordering the brutal death of young Prince Jaehaerys even after Rhaenyra swore she played no part in the child’s death.

Lord Lyman Beesbury

Lord Lyman Beesbury served as master of coin under King Jaehaerys. He continued in that role as part of Viserys’s small council, but Criston Cole killed him after Lord Lyman refused to go along with the plan to crown Aegon.

Lord Jasper Wylde

Lord Jasper Wylde joined King VIserys’s small council as master of laws. He conspired to place Aegon on the Iron Throne. This House of the Dragon character serves on the new King’s small council.

Lord Commander Ser Harrold Westerling

Ser Harrold of House Westerling (House Lannister’s most important bannermen) served as Lord Commander of King Viserys’ Kingsguard. He refused to go along with the green council when it planned to install Aegon as King. We don’t know where this character has ended up as of the finale of House of the Dragon season one.

Ser Criston Cole

Criston Cole called his ascent to the Kingsguard the highest honor anyone in his (minor) family from the Stormlands’ Dornish marches ever achieved. He owed that position to Princess Rhaenyra and was originally her sworn protector. But after they had an affair and she refused to run off with him, he became Queen Alicent’s sworn shield. This House of the Dragon character now hates Rhaenyra and helped usurp her throne.

Criston Cole, Lord Commander of Aegon’s Kingsguard, crowned Aegon at the Dragonpit. He is now Aegon’s Hand of the King, a role he is ill-suited for.

Mysaria

Prince Daemon’s former paramour, sometimes called “Misery,” hails from the Free City of Lys in Essos. Daemon wanted to make Mysaria his second wife, but his brother and the laws of Westeros forbade the marriage. She then became known in King’s Landings as the “White Worm,” a purveyor of secrets. She traded her information to Otto Hightower and also turned Prince Aegon over to him for coin and promises of reform after King Viserys’ death.

Mysaria has so many spies in King’s Landing and not even Larys Strong knows all of them. The Clubfoot and Alicent burned down Mysaria’s manse in season one, but no bodies were shown in the building. She tried to flee, but was intercepted by Daemon, who offered her freedom in exchange for information (which he used to hire Blood and Cheese). She also helped saved Rhaenyra from Ser Arrky Cargyll’s assasination attempt.

Lord Boremund Baratheon

The show’s first Lord of Storm’s End in the Stormlands hosted Princess Rhaenyra during her tour of suitors. Lord Boremund Baratheon was the only son of Lord Rogar Baratheon and former Queen Alyssa Velaryon. (She was first married to King Aenys I Targaryen and was mother to King Jaehaerys I.)

He was also a supporter of his cousin Rhaenys Targaryen’s claim to the Iron Throne before swearing an oath to support Rhaenyra as Viserys’ rightful heir. Boremund had one son of his own, Borros, who followed his father as Lord of Storm’s End after Boremund’s death.

Lord Borros Baratheon

The new, illiterate, prideful Lord of Storm’s End ignored his late father’s vow to keep Rhaenyra as heir after Aemond Taragryen promised to marry one of his daughters in exchange for Storm’s End’s support in the coming war.

Grand Maester Mellos

The first Grand Maester of King’s Landing under Viserys provided the king and his family with questionable care. His service was bad enough to make us wonder if the Grand Maester Conspiracy theory is absolutely true and House Targaryen should be weary of the order. Mellos also served Princess Rhaenyra Moon Tea, a libation used to end a pregnancy, a vital secret that got out immediately. This character died during Viserys’s reign on House of the Dragon.

Grand Maester Orwyle

Archmaester Orwyle tried offering King Viserys a different, more effective course of treatment during House of the Dragon‘s fifth episode, but was shut down by his boss, Grand Maester Mellos. Orwyle eventually became Grand Maester of King’s Landing, which earned him a seat in Viserys’ small council. He is a member of the green council that crowned Aegon king.

Maester Gerardys

The maester of Dragonstone and member of the black council continues to serve and advise Rhaenyra during the Dance of the Dragons began.

Ser Qarl Correy

The paramour of Ser Laenor Velaryon helped fake Laenor’s death. The couple then fled to Essos.

Lord Caswell

Lord Caswell was among the first people to congratulate Rhaenyra and Laenor on the birth of their third son. He asked the couple if there was anyway he could serve the family, which he did when Aegon was about to be named king. He lied about swearing allegiance to Aegon and tried to flee King’s Landing to warn Rhaenyra. Larys Strong had him captured, and Otto Hightower hanged Lord Caswell for treason.

Sers Erryk and Arryk Cargyll

The identical twin brothers, Sers Erryk and Arryk Cargyll, served on King Viserys’s Kingsguard. Erryk was Aegon’s sworn protector, but refused to help crown him King. He knew Aegon was unworthy of the position, so he stole Viserys’s crown and brought it to Dragonstone for Rhaenyra, whom he swore to protect as a member of her Queensguard.

Arryk Cargyll remained behind in King’s Landing as part of Aegon’s Kingsguard against his brother’s urging. They both died after Criston Cole sent Arryk to impersonate his brother in a failed assassination attempt.

Ser Steffon Darklyn

Ser Steffon Darklyn of Viserys’s Kingsguard was with Rhaenyra on Dragonstone when The Dance of the Dragons began. This character joined her Queensguard (under threat of death by Daemon) rather than swear allegiance to Aegon in the final episode of House of the Dragon season one.

Ser Lorent Marbrand

Ser Lorent Marbrand was also a member of Viserys’s Kingsguard at Dragonstone when The Dance of the Dragons began. And like Ser Steffon he joined Rhaenyra’s Queensguard (under the same threat of death by Daemon).

Lord Bartimos Celtigar

The Lord of Claw Isle, Lord Bartimos Celtigar, took an immediate and important spot on Rhaenyra’s small council at the start of the Dance of the Dragons.

Lord Simon Staunton

Lord Simon Staunton of Rook’s Rest was also a member of Rhaenyra’s black council on Dragonstone when war broke out over the Iron Throne.

New House of the Dragon Characters; Jump to: House Targaryen // House Hightower // House Velaryon // House Strong // House Lannister // House Royce // House Stark // Other Major Characters (Baratheons, Coles, and More)

Originally published on September 6, 2022.

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“Mark my words, this is a black omen.”
“Tis an abomination.”
“I thought the dragons was gods.”

Criston Cole turned his side’s “victory” at Rook’s Rest into a public relations disaster. He thought marching the head of Meleys through the streets of King’s Landing would rouse the public to Aegon’s cause like the death of Prince Jaehaerys did. Instead the Green’s latest propaganda parade turned the people against them, because the smallfolk revere dragons as divine creatures. That’s an important part of House Targaryen’s mythology, something Game of Thrones never had the chance to fully explore. The Lord Commander’s ill-advised procession is also an ill-omen for what awaits the dragonriders on House of the Dragon.

The people of Westeros knew about dragons long before the Targaryen family relocated to Dragonstone roughly two hundred years before House of the Dragon. The dragonlords of Old Valyria conquered much of Essos atop their majestic beasts. Everyone in the world feared the power of dragons. But the Realm did not truly appreciate the unmatched strength of “fire made flesh” until Aegon the Conqueror and his two sisters arrived with fire and blood. As Tywin Lannister told Arya Stark on Game of Thrones, Aegon “changed the rules” of warfare.

Now, via the smallfolk’s reaction to Meleys’ death, House of the Dragon has deftly shown another reason House Targaryen was able to not just conqueror the Seven Kingdoms, but to earn the acceptance of Westeros’ people. It’s an important aspect of the family’s reign that Game of Thrones couldn’t delve into simply because no normal living person (a.k.a. not people like Melisandre) had ever seen a dragon before Daenerys briefly called Westeros home. People caught in the middle of a vicious war only had time to respond to dragons as weapons of mass destruction. They didn’t have a chance to love them like people two centuries earlier had.

The Realm is a land of old, noble families with histories going back thousands of years. They were also very insular. Until House Targaryen from Essos, no one had ever unified Westeros’ many kingdoms. For an insular continent to truly accept outsiders as their rulers, the people of the Realm had to believe in more than just the power of dragons. The people also had to believe in the magic and majesty of dragons as being more than just animals.

The reaction to Meleys’ smoking head showed just how much the people adored dragons. The smallfolk loved them just as much as they feared them. Those magical creatures offered protection. They made Westeros and those who lived there feel special. No one else in the world had dragons. Who could mess with Westeros with dragons around? And if only Westeros had them, Westeros must be special. Maybe even more special than the Valyrian Freehold had been, since dragons were plentiful then.

All of that adoration of dragons also made the Targaryens who rode them special, too. They were closer to gods among men than they were monarchs. Only, gods can’t die, something the people of Westeros knew could happen to dragons but didn’t fully appreciate until they saw a decapitated Meleys. The she-dragon wasn’t old. Vhagar bit her neck and killed her because Meleys wasn’t indestructible.

Coming face to face with that reality shattered everything people believed about both dragons and House Targaryen. Meleys’ death wasn’t proof of the Greens strength. It was proof of their vulnerability. All Cole accomplished was to display that what Hugh the blacksmith said is true: dragons are just “meat,” same as every other living thing.

Two sides of House Targaryen are fighting over their ancestor’s Iron Throne. It’s a throne Aegon created on the back of dragons. He used his creatures’ physical power and their exalted status in the world to raise his family up as gods. Now the inexperienced Hand of the King Criston Cole has smashed the mythology House Targaryen relies on to rule. He’s shown the smallfolk dragons aren’t as special as they thought. Neither are their riders who rule them.

What happens when people who considered their rulers specual gods who can keep them safe from everything suddenly realize the beings they put their faith can die the same as them? Both the Greens and the Blacks are about to find out.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist always happy to bash Criston Cole. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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In episode four of House of the Dragon, the Greens and the Blacks finally clashed in a proper conflict at the Battle of Rook’s Rest. While Rhaenyra and the Blacks suffered a powerful loss, the death of Rhaenys and her dragon Meleys, the Greens did not come out of the conflict unharmed. However, a great deal of the damage dealt to the Greens came not from Rhaenyra’s side, but from the choices that Aemond Targaryen made in battle, especially where it concerned his brother King Aegon. Aemond sent out a blast of dragonfire that grievously wounded both his brother Aegon and Aegon’s dragon, Sunfyre. But does that make Aemond Targaryen the King of the Seven Kingdoms on House of the Dragon? Not exactly, but Aegmond has taken on a great deal of power.

Aemond Is Not King on House of the Dragon Season 2, But He Is Prince Regent

No, despite (what we consider) to be Aemond’s attempts to kill his brother on House of the Dragon season two, episode four, Aemond has not yet become King. For the moment, Aegon remains alive in episode five, although badly injured. To get the full title of King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Aemond probably should have moved quicker and actually stabbed his brother in the prior episode of House of the Dragon.

However, Aemond has now gained considerable power on House of the Dragon. Aemond is named Prince Regent by Aegon’s small council. As Queen Alicent notes, “A king cannot rule in his sleep, the realm will have noticed his absence… we must name a Regent to take his place until he recovers… or does not.” To keep the crown appearing stable, someone must rule.

Queen Alicent Lobbies to be Named Regent, But Aemond Is Placed in Charge Instead

Queen Alicent aims to become Regent and rule in Aegon’s stead on House of the Dragon. She wishes to keep justice and order, and not merely strength as an important part of the ruling strategy. However, in a reminder of the intense misogyny that exists in House of the Dragon‘s world, Alicent gets overruled by all the men around her. And Aemond becomes Prince Reagent instead (although, again, not King).

Alicent notes that she served as Queen Reagent for her husband and is well-prepared to do it again. But her years of actual experience are dismissed because she has only ruled during peacetime. And, of course, there’s the matter of her being a woman. (“What would it say if, in response to Rhaenyra’s crowning, we raised up a woman of our own.”)

Not even Alicent’s allies, whom she has intimate relationships with in different ways, Ser Larys Strong (responsible for the last quote) and Ser Criston Cole, rally to her defense. Instead, they abandon her, citing that Aemond is next-in-line to be King, and thus, the better choice for Reagant on House of the Dragon. Only Grand Maester Orwyle speaks in support of Alicent.

Ultimately, Alicent is ignored as Aemond is named Prince Reagent and takes one step closer to being King.

Is Aegon Dead on House of the Dragon?

As mentioned, for now, King Aegon II is not dead and remains alive. Unless he meets his death, Aemond cannot take over as king on House of the Dragon. However, although Aegon lives, he remains incredibly injured. It will likely take him a long time to fully recover. And with Aemond now in a far more powerful position, should he be able to successfully prove himself in the position of Regent, it could strengthen his cause to volley for the position. There’s also the fact that Aegon wasn’t really a very good ruler to begin with.

Will Aemond Become King on House of the Dragon? And Will He Be a Good King?

Will becoming Prince Regent be the first step Aemond takes toward becoming King on House of the Dragon? Obviously, those who want an informed, immediate answer can pull out their copy of George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood. Of course, the series continues to change things from the source material, so it’s possible Aemond and Aegon’s fates could shift as well, and the ultimate position of King could end up somewhere unexpected.

Prince Regent Aemond obviously desires Kingship and believes he is a more suitable candidate than his brother for the crown. If he had his way, Aemond would become king, and he’ll likely continue to push for the role. But would Aemond make for a good king on House of the Dragon? As Prince Regent, and beforehand, he has made some, at least strategically sound decisions. For instance, Aemond instigated the battle of Rook’s Rest and demanded the Ratcatchers’ bodies removed from sight. However, as his mother points out, he is young and lacks restraint. (Although no more than Aegon.) He also bars exit from King’s Landing in episode five of season two, which does not seem to sit well with the people. So it’s a mixed start for Aemond’s go at ruling.

Aegon’s actor Tom Glynn-Carney chimed in on what kind of a King Aemond would make, noting, “He’d be a steel fist, wouldn’t he? I think he’d be quite cutthroat and a cold king, probably. At least from the outset, he’d want people to fear him. He often talks about being bullied as a child, so he probably wants to reinstate himself as a secure, powerful man who won’t be messed with, which could be dangerous in a kingly position.”

We’ll have to wait and see who ultimately rules the Seven Kingdoms. But our two cents is better Aemond as King than Aegon on House of the Dragon.

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It’s no secret that George R.R. Martin often uses real history to inspire events in Westeros. From William the Conqueror being the template for Aegon Targaryen’s conquest of the Seven Kingdoms to the Wars of the Roses serving as an influence on the conflict between the Starks and Lannisters, Martin’s work is filled with allusions to medieval history. And House of the Dragon, which brings Martin’s Fire & Blood book is no exception. The political and familial turmoil in Westeros parallels to a 12th-century English civil war known evocatively as “The Anarchy.” Just as the Targaryen civil war sprung from a succession crisis, The Anarchy came about the same way. (All of this without dragons, of course.) Let’s dive into the real life history that inspired the Dance of the Dragons war in House of the Dragon.

What Happened During The Anarchy and How Does It Compare to House of the Dragon‘s Dance of the Dragons?

King Henry I, King of England and Viserys Targaryean’s historical counterpart, had two legitimate children. His son and heir, William, and his daughter Matilda, named after Henry’s wife Matilda of Scotland. On November 25, 1120, Henry, William, and the rest of the English court were in Normandy across the English Channel. William the Conqueror originally held the Duchy of Normandy in France before conquering England. Therefore the lands remained under the control of his family. It’s not a perfect analogy, but think of Normandy like Dragonstone in House of the Dragon: ancestral holdings of the ruling dynasty separated from the rest of the kingdom by the sea.

Henry’s daughter, Matilda, was not present as she was in Germany fulfilling her duties as Holy Roman Empress. She married to Henry V (yes, there are a great deal of Henrys in this story) several years earlier. When it came time to return across the channel, William and his friends and hangers on decided to drink (a lot). They were aboard a beautiful, sleek, new ship—simply known as the White Ship—that was the fastest in the entire English fleet. 

The drunken revelry continued and, that night, the crew and patrons decided they would head to England. That captain confident that they would beat the old king back to the English coast, despite his head start. Unfortunately for all aboard, disaster struck shortly after casting off. The ship hit a rock formation in the harbor and it was overtaken by the sea. Like a medieval Titanic, the flower of the English nobility drowned in the freezing water. We guess the real life history parallels go beyond House of the Dragon.

When word reached Henry about his son William’s death, his grief was unbearable. Chroniclers claimed that he never smiled again after that night. In addition to his personal loss, the shipwreck presented an immense political problem for Henry. Without a legitimate son to pass the crown to, who would succeed him? An unclear answer to that question would rip the unstable realm apart between rival claimants as male relatives came out of the woodwork to press their claims. 

The King Chooses His Daughter as His Successor

Like Viserys choosing Rhaenyra to succeed him, Henry designated his daughter Matilda as his heir. But, wasn’t Matilda the Holy Roman Empress? Well, she was, but the marriage had not produced any children. When her husband Henry V died unexpectedly in 1125, Empress Matilda returned to England.

This decision did not sit well with the English barons, but Henry would not be swayed from his choice. In fact, he brought the great lords of England before him three separate times to swear sacred oaths that they would obey Matilda as their queen when he died. And each of those times, the lords swore their oaths. 

So, when Henry I suddenly died in 1135, the succession seemed secure for his daughter. Unfortunately, a rival claimant saw his opportunity and pounced. Matilda was out of the country when Henry died, and as House of the Dragon showed us, that is the most dangerous time for the heir to the throne to be absent from the center of power. 

A Man Steps in to Take a Woman’s Claim to the Throne

Matilda’s cousin Stephen heard the news of Henry’s death and raced to London. He was acclaimed as king by the common people there. Stephen quickly moved on to Winchester, where his brother was the Archbishop, to secure the royal treasury. With the gold of the realm under his control, and the powerful symbol of being chosen as king by the people of the capitol, Stephen was officially crowned mere weeks after Henry’s death.

The fact that he had sworn a sacred oath before God and King to recognize his cousin as the heir did not concern him or those who supported him overmuch. The truth was that a woman succeeding Henry did not sit well with many in the Kingdom. They were more than happy to throw their support behind a man with a weaker claim, especially if it meant quickly crowning a new monarch to ensure the stability and security of the realm. It was even rumored that on his deathbed Henry, wracked with guilt over appointing Matilda as his heir, absolved the barons of their oaths.

The parallels to Aegon II and the seizure of power by the Greens immediately following Viserys’ death are clear. It must be said, being a son of the previous king made Aegon’s claim to the throne infinitely stronger than Stephen’s. When news reached Matilda that Stephen had been crowned, she could choose to accept that she had been robbed of her promised inheritance, or she could choose to fight. 

Matilda Chooses to Fight for Her Crown, Just as Rhaenyra Does in House of the Dragon

Like Rhaenyra did on House of the Dragon, Matilda chose to fight in real life, sparking a conflict that changed history. The war was brutal. There were many swings between Stephen and Matilda, with lords and the Church switching sides to support whoever seemed to be winning. As the Anglo-Saxon chronicle evocatively put it: “It was as if Christ and his saints were asleep.”

After 15 years of brutal fighting, an agreement was reached when it was clear that neither side would fully win. Stephen would continue to sit the throne, but he would be succeeded not by his own son, but by Matilda’s son Henry. When Stephen died of stomach issues in 1154, Matilda’s son became Henry II.

She wasn’t able to sit the throne, but her direct descendants would rule England for the next 300 years. Though lacking in dragons, real medieval history can be just as dramatic and shocking as the tales weaved by George R.R. Martin. House of the Dragon brilliantly brings the real life history of The Anarchy to life.

Will the conflict between the Greens and the Blacks end the same way as the struggle between Stephen and Matilda? We’ll have to keep watching to find out.

Editor’s Note: The author’s primary source for the information in this article is from The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens who Made England by Dan Jones.

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House of the Dragon brought viewers back to one of Game of Thrones‘ most notorious locales during the prequel’s fifth episode of season two. Prince Jacaerys took it upon himself to fly his dragon to the Twins, home of House Frey, the Red Wedding, and Arya’s ultimate revenge. House of the Dragon‘s visit to that infamous stronghold wasn’t as deadly, but even without any murder, Jace’s encounter with Lord and Lady Frey still had major connections with Game of Thrones. House Frey was always willing to let a Northern army cross its valuable bridge… for the right price.

With Meleys and her dragonrider Rhaenys dead, Queen Rhaenyra’s position has never been more tenuous. She desperately needs the Riverlands and its massive armies to join her cause if she has any hope to defeat the Greens and claim the Iron Throne. With her husband Daemon out of pocket—and possibly out for himself at Harrenhal—a frustrated Jacaerys flew off on his dragon Vermax without his mother’s knowledge or permission. He’d grown tired of being confined to Dragonstone while others serve (and die for) his mother’s cause. His proactive, unsanctioned mission took him to the Twins of House Frey. Jace hoped to find both an ally and a path forward in the war.

House Frey is one of the newer noble house in Westeros. At the start of the Dance of the Dragons, its history only dated back four hundred years. That’s nothing compared to the millennia some other families have been around. House Frey rose to prominence thanks to its identical dual castle home the Twins. Also known as the Crossing, those structures are connected by a long stone bridge over the Green Fork River, one of three rivers that make up the Trident.

(In George R.R. Martin’s books, the bridge also has a tower in the middle. From there guards can fire on anyone who crosses without permission. HBO’s shows do not include the tower.)

The Freys got rich and powerful by charging others to use their well-placed river passage. They never lacked for willing customers, either. The Twins greatly reduces the time needed to move between the North and Riverlands. The Crossing provides speed, safety, and convenience, all things especially valuable to armies on the move who would otherwise be forced to go a long way around a much more treacherous path.

That swift passage is exactly what Jace hoped to secure for his mother on his mission. Cregan Stark has sworn the North to Rhaenyra’s cause. The Lord of Winterfell is sending 2,000 seasoned, older troops to immediately fight on her behalf. If they could cross at the Twins they would be able to join the fight much faster. Without House Frey’s permission the Northmen might be too late to be of any use. The war could be lost before they arrive. Lannister forces sworn to King Aegon are already amassing in the West.

At first Lord and Lady Frey were wary of providing Cregan’s men passage. They have no issue with Rhaenyra’s claim, but their Lord Paramount has not declared for either side. “The oaf” Lord Grover Tully is too sickly to make any decision. (That led Daemon to tell his grandson to put a pillow over his grandsire’s head so the young man could begin his reign and back Rhaenyra.) Supporting the Queen without their Lord’s permission would be treasonous. Even letting Cregan’s men cross would amount to picking a side.

More importantly, House Frey rightfully fears Aemond and Vhagar. They are the most destructive power in the world. If there were any question about that before, the whole Realm already knows what just happened at Rook’s Rest.

Jace assuaged their concerns by swearing both his dragon and his Uncle Daemon’s would protect House Frey. While that made the Freys happy, the Prince recognized they wanted more. When pushed they asked for Harrenhal, an even bigger, more valuable castle in the Riverlands. It belonged to Larys Strong before Daemon took it.

Prince Jacaerys was willing to give the grant them the infamous, cursed stronghold at the end of the war, but he needed more for a prize that big. To earn Harrenhal his mother Rhaenyra requires “bent knees.”

The Freys sworn support is far more valuable than a couple thousand Northmen walking across a bridge, because the wealthy family can amass a well-regarded army that is even bigger than the one their own lords at House Tully can call on. (The Riverlands are really important because it’s centrally located, fertile, and full of soldiers. Houses Blackwood and Bracken, both now sworn to Rhaenyra as well, can also gather more men than the Tullys.)

Lord and Lady Frey accepted the Prince’s offer, and Rhaenyra said her son did their cause a great service. The Blacks now have a fighting chance to win. But while Jace’s meeting at the Twins went very differently from the last time viewers saw a dark-haired member of a noble family there—when Arya poisoned every Frey man while disguised as Lord Walder—Jace’s scene at the Twins was ripe with connections to Game of Thrones.

Robb Stark’s ill-fated alliance with Lord Walder Frey on Game of Thrones also arose from Robb’s own need to move his Northern army quickly. He was trying to march south against the Lannisters. They had his father Ned imprisoned as a traitor in King’s Landing and were holding Sansa as a de facto hostage. (No one knew where Arya was.) To save his family and advance against the Lannister army, Robb needed safe passage for his men at the Twins.

His mother Catelyn knew the prickly Lord Walder personally and went as an emissary for her son. She returned with an offer for both safe crossing and Frey fealty. The deal included Robb’s oath to marry one of Walder’s daughters after the war.

Robb accepted and the Northmen crossed at the Twins. But Robb did not keep his promise to the notoriously dangerous, untrustworthy Lord Frey. Robb fell in love with a healer from Essos named Talisa. After the two married, against Catelyn’s advice, House Frey withdrew their support from Robb’s cause. A desperate Robb’s later efforts to bring House Frey back to his army resulted in the Red Wedding.

Lord Walder wanted much more than what Robb was now offering. The new deal would see his uncle, Catelyn’s brother and new Lord of Riverrun Edmure Tully, marry one of Walder’s many daughters instead. This new marriage would unite the two Riverland families by marriage.

That marriage happened, but Lord Walder got his revenge anyway. He conspired with Tywin Lannister and Roose Bolton to pull off the Red Wedding. The Freys killed Robb, Catelyn, Talisa, and all the Northmen Walder had sworn to protect at the Twins.

Lord Walder, who always felt disrespected and looked down upon by older, noble houses, specifically cited his desire to have his family marry a King as his reason for this unimaginable act. House Stark had broken their oath and embarrassed House Frey. Robb denied the Freys the one thing all their money and soldiers could never buy: respect. For that disrespect, Robb and the North paid with their lives, as did Lord Walder. In the end, winter came for House Frey.

Lord Walder’s actions did not represent House Frey, but it did capture some things that were always true about them. The Twins was always extremely valuable during war when Northmen needed to go south. And even two hundred years before the Red Wedding the Freys were just as ambitious when someone came knocking. House Frey wanted more power, more money, and more respect.

For Jace that meant giving them a bigger castle. For Robb it was supposed to mean his hand in marriage. And for everyone else it’s a reminder that an upstart family smart enough to build a highly valuable bridge at an important locale should never be underestimated.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist who is always looking for a reason to mention Cregan Stark. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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Somehow, House of the Dragon season two is closer to its finale than its premiere. And things are certainly heating up if the House of the Dragon season two, episode six trailer is to be believed. On the side of the Blacks, Rhaenyra Targaryen and her son Jace are searching for new dragonriders to ride the unclaimed dragons at their side. Meanwhile, the Greens are facing interpersonal conflict as the injured Aegon wakes up to face his brother, Aemond, who felled him. There’s a lot of tension and a lot of fire on the way.

You can check out the full trailer for House of the Dragon season two, episode six, below.

As always on House of the Dragon, episode six’s trailer promises many complicated relationships coming to a head. Rhaenyra vs. Daemon. Daemon vs. Aemond. Aemond vs. Aegon. That’s just a drop in the bucket of the intense familial struggles we’ll soon see explode. And that’s only if no one dies in dragon fire first.

As episode five of House of the Dragon set up, House of the Dragon episode six’s trailer teases more dragons will be coming back into play. It looks like the dragon Silverwing may be joining in on the House of the Dragon season two excitement. But remember, to claim a dragon, you must also be prepared to die. We have a few ideas about which characters might make for good dragonriders, but we’ll have to wait and see who becomes a new dragonlord in episode six.

House of the Dragon season two, episode six, will air on July 21 at 9 PM on HBO and Max. You can check out more about House of the Dragon season two’s full release schedule here. In the meantime, brush up on your dragon names and get ready for some major clashes as House of the Dragon continues.

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House of the Dragon is all about characters with complicated motivations. But in the latest episode of House of the Dragon, viewers witnessed one of the most complicated character decisions yet. During the huge battle at Rook’s Rest, it really seemed like Aemond Targaryen willingly blasted his brother, King Aegon, and his brother’s dragon, Sunfyre, with a stream of fire from his own creature, Vhagar. But was Aemond intentionally trying to kill Aegon in House of the Dragon episode four? Let’s examine the evidence.

Was Aemond Really Trying to Kill Aegon on House of the Dragon?

There are many reasons why it would make sense, or it wouldn’t, for Aemond to have intentionally been trying to kill his brother Aegon on the battlefield. Of course, there’s the question of family and loyalty… and dragons. If Aemond really intended to kill the king and the king’s dragon, it would leave his immediate family’s side of the war in a significantly weakened position. In fact, Aemond’s attack on Aegon made it so that the Greens did not come out of the battle of Rook’s Rest with a clear victory. Yes, Rhaenyra Targaryen lost an ally dragon, but so did Aemond’s side of the fence. (At least for now.) That’s a huge sacrifice to make and doesn’t seem like all that rational of a decision.

However, Aemond also seems to look down on his brother, who really does not have the strategic mind or correct attitude to be King. Aemond seems to (rightfully) believe he possesses the superior skills to lead a war and a better temperament to rule. With Aegon out of the way, Aemond could also imagine ascending to kingship himself.

In season one of House of the Dragon, Aemond even notes, “Here I am, trawling the city, ever the good soldier in search of a wastrel who’s never taken half an interest in his birthright. ‘Tis I the younger brother who studies history and philosophy; it is I who trains with the sword, who rides the largest dragon in the world. I’m next in line to the throne. Should they come looking for me, I intend to be found.” The desire to be king instead of Aegon burns bright in Aemond, and the way he has taken over the strategic efforts of the war for the Greens indicates this desire has not gone anywhere.

Perhaps, ultimately, Aemond did not really intend to kill Aegon with his whole heart, but in the heat of the moment, he could not resist the impulse to try.

Aemond’s Actor Chimes in on His Intentions Toward Aegon

Just watching the episode, one might lean toward the side of Aemond sincerely attempting to kill Aegon. But Aemond’s actor, Ewan Mitchell, feels it’s more complicated than that, and he is the best source of knowledge on Aemond, after all. Mitchell shares, “It was no secret that he felt like Aegon was inferior to himself… He felt like Aegon lacked the perseverance to be a leader. Also, it’s no secret that Aegon was almost the ringleader to a lot of Aemond’s childhood torment and trauma.”

But Mitchell also adds of whether Aemond would actually kill Aegon, “I think that maybe Aemond would never have intended to burn Aegon, but it just so happened that Aegon was there tangled with Rhaenys and Meleys when he was on top of Sunfyre. It raises the question of whether or not he would’ve done that or if Aegon was just collateral damage. I think that’s compelling. Maybe it was when Aegon brought in the Pink Dread [as children] when Aemond was like, ‘I’m going to burn him one day for this.’ Who knows?”

Ultimately, the House of the Dragon episode’s director Alan Taylor concludes, “We wanted to sustain multiple motivations that might have happened there. It’s a battle move, but he did deliberately join the battle late, and he is being a little bit indiscriminate with how he’s blasting fire. So I think you can believe whatever you want to believe about his motivations there.”

We Feel Like Aemond Did Intend to Kill Aegon on House of the Dragon

If whatever we say goes, we’re going to have to go with Aemond really attempting to kill his brother Aegon in House of the Dragon episode four. The framing of the shot when Aegon believes Aemond has arrived to help him and is instead blasted with fire seems to speak to the idea that Aegon was fully wrong in his belief. And what’s the opposite of helping someone? Harming them. In that moment, it’s clear that Aemond has not arrived to save his brother.

Add to this Aemond drawing his sword on his fallen brother toward the end of the episode, and all the ingredients for desired murder are there.

What Happens Now with Aemond and Aegon on House of the Dragon?

In episode five of House of the Dragon, we get a sense of the fallout from Aemond’s decisions. Aegon is gravely injured—he is burned from dragonfire and has many broken bones from the fight and fall. Grand Maester Orwyle implies he has many internal injuries as well. It remains unclear whether he will survive and live; death remains a totally plausible outcome for Aegon on House of the Dragon. In the meanwhile, the Greens must elect a Regent to rule in his stead. Although Alicent attempts to advocate for herself to be placed in the role, everyone, from Ser Larys Strong to Ser Criston Cole, turns on her, and Aemond is instead declared the Prince Regent. Although Aemond is not King, he is now in control, as, ostensibly, he planned to be. At the end of the episode, we see Aegon looking longingly at the Iron Throne.  Helaena asks him if his actions were worth it. But undoubtedly, Aemond considers that they are.

For now, King Aegon remains alive . But if Aegon does die from these injuries, it is surely Aemond who really killed him on House of the Dragon.

Originally published on July 10, 2024.

The post Did Aemond Intend to Kill His Brother Aegon On HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 2? appeared first on Nerdist.

On House of the Dragon, keeping track of the many dragons flying around is a little complex. In Game of Thrones, it was much easier to account for the creatures. Daenerys Stormborn took three eggs into the flames and rose unscathed from the ashes with three “children.” That was it! But the skies of Westeros are overrun with “fire made flesh” on House of the Dragon. The prequel series shows us House Targaryen at its strongest, when they had 17 dragons prior to the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. And the dragons play important roles both in the personal and political machinations of House of the Dragon. But with that many beasts in the air, the question becomes: How will you keep straight the identities of all of House of the Dragon‘s numerous dragons from season one and two of the show and beyond?

The good news is you don’t have to. We’ve got you covered—with as few spoilers as possible. Here’s a list of all the dragons you’ll see on House of the Dragon, along with their riders. And we’ll keep updating this post every time a dragon appears on the prequel series or does something major on the show. For now, this list of House of the Dragon‘s dragons is complete through season one and will be updating throughout season two. So, who are House of the Dragon‘s 17 dragons? Let’s find out.

House of the Dragon’s Dragons; Jump to Rhaenyra Targaryen’s Dragon, Syrax // Daemon Targaryen’s Dragon, Caraxes // Laenor Velaryon’s Dragon, Seasmoke // Rhaenys Targaryen’s Dragon, Meleys // Jacaerys Velaryon’s Dragon, Vermax // Laena (Velaryon) Targaryen and Aemond Targaryen’s Dragon Vhagar // King Aegon Targaryen II’s Dragon Sunfyre // Prince Lucerys Velaryon’s Dragon Arrax // Baela Velaryon’s Dragon Moondancer // The Unclaimed Dragons, Stormcloud and Tyraxes, Plus Four Eggs // Unhatched Dragon Egg // The Unclaimed Dragon, Dreamfyre // The Unclaimed Dragon, Vermithor // The Deceased Balerion // House of the Dragon Future Dragons

How Many Dragons Will Appear During House of the Dragon Season Two?

As House of the Dragon season two begins, the question of dragons returns to the table. And thanks to showrunner Ryan Condal, we know exactly how many dragons we’ll see this season. Per Deadline, Condal noted, “There will be five new dragons in season two” of House of the Dragon. He recently confirmed that season two dragon number, again noting that “five new ones that you haven’t seen before” are coming to House of the Dragon.

You can see season two’s dragons in action in the new House of the Dragon trailers released by Max. And the trailers even revealed a couple of the new dragons we’ll be meeting in season two of House of the Dragon, Sunfyre and Moondancer. You can read about these new dragons in full below.

How Many Dragons Appeared During House of the Dragon Season One?

House of the Dragon‘s co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik told Empire that season one would feature nine of House Targaryen’s 17 dragons before the season began. And that’s exactly what happened, plus a couple of other dragon mentions. While each dragon has its own look, the Game of Thrones alum says the creatures are easier to differentiate by their individual traits, as each dragon has its own personality.

That’s no surprise. We already know Game of Thrones‘ dragons are highly intelligent creatures with minds of their own. But with so many different personalities flying around, it will be fun to see how they interact with their fellow dragons. And it will be entertaining to see how the dragons’ attitudes either mirror or conflict with their riders. Dragons only accept a single rider—of Valyrian blood—while both still live.

For now, let’s meet every House of the Dragon dragon that we get to see in season one and season two.

Which Dragons Have Already Appeared on House of the Dragon?

Syrax (Dragon Rider: Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen)

A giant yellow-scaled she-dragon who took young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen as rider in 104 AC. House of the Dragon opened with the princess riding high over King’s Landing while in a saddle on Syrax’s back. Thanks to her parents, we also now know you can smell like a dragon after taking one for a spin. Syrax features in an early standoff with Rhaenyra’s uncle Daemon Targaryen. When Daemon disrespects the crown during the first episodes of House of the Dragon, Syrax and Caraxes have a tense dragon stand-off, as their riders battle wills below. Without Syrax, there would have been no reasoning with Daemon. But the presence of two dragons serves as insurance and prevents a fight. The dragon was greatly featured earlier in House of the Dragon season one, but we will likely see more of her in season two. In the first episode of the series, Syrax accompanies Rhaenyra in her vigil over Lucerys and Arrax. It is believed that Syrax is the mother of Arrax, which adds to the grief shared by the duo as they discover their lost children.

Syrax is still laying dragon eggs, however—three in episode eight of House of the Dragon season one—setting the stage for more dragon riders to come in House Targaryen’s internal battle. As the Dance of the Dragons war heats up on House of the Dragon, we know Rhaenyra will be glad to have this Syrax by her side.

House of the Dragon’s Dragons; Jump to Rhaenyra Targaryen’s Dragon, Syrax // Daemon Targaryen’s Dragon, Caraxes // Laenor Velaryon’s Dragon, Seasmoke // Rhaenys Targaryen’s Dragon, Meleys // Jacaerys Velaryon’s Dragon, Vermax // Laena (Velaryon) Targaryen and Aemond Targaryen’s Dragon Vhagar // King Aegon Targaryen II’s Dragon Sunfyre // Prince Lucerys Velaryon’s Dragon Arrax // Baela Velaryon’s Dragon Moondancer // The Unclaimed Dragons, Stormcloud and Tyraxes, Plus Four Eggs // Unhatched Dragon Egg // The Unclaimed Dragon, Dreamfyre // The Unclaimed Dragon, Vermithor // The Deceased Balerion // House of the Dragon Future Dragons

Caraxes (Dragon Rider: Daemon Targaryen)

In 105 AC, Daemon Targaryen became the second member of his family to mount Caraxes, the large red dragon known as the Blood Wyrm. Caraxes’ original dragonrider was Prince Aemon Targaryen, but Daemon took him as his dragon after Aemon’s murder. Caraxes made a big impression in House of the Dragon‘s premiere. That included how it brought out the tender side of Prince Daemon.

Don’t let that fool you, though. Caraxes is a fearsome creature. We see him devour his prey with great ferocity, and that’s just lunch. Throughout House of the Dragon‘s episodes, we’ve mostly seen the giant dragon menacing in the background. But it looks like in the season two trailer of House of the Dragon, we see this dragon do battle. And it makes for quite a sight. Especially since it seems Caraxes will battle other dragons in the sky.

Although Caraxes hasn’t seen much action yet in season two of House of the Dragon, we got a very good look at the dragon in episode two, and in episode three, we saw Daemon ride him through a storm on his way to the very wet Harrenhal.

In episode five of House of the Dragon, Daemon used Caraxes to menace the men of the Riverlands to his side.

Seasmoke (Dragon Rider: Laenor Velaryon)

The silver-gray dragon accepted Laenor Velaryon (son of Rhaenys Targaryen, which makes him eligible for dragon-riding) as its rider by the year 101 AC. The duo didn’t make their House of the Dragon debut, though, until the show’s third episode. That’s when Laenor and Seasmoke helped Laenor’s father Lord Corlys Velaryon and Prince Daemon Targaryen defeat the Crabfeeder in the Stepstones. Although Laenor does not die in season one of the Game of Thrones prequel series, he fakes his own death and goes into hiding. And that means he has to leave Seasmoke behind.

Presently, it seems that Seasmoke resides in Driftmark. Daemon Targaryen hoped to use the dragon to help secure Princess Rhaenyra’s claim to the throne on House of the Dragon, but it is not yet clear what will happen with the dragon since Laenor, his rider, remains alive. As mentioned, typically dragons can only bond with another rider when their rider is dead. But it remains for us to see how House of the Dragon tackles this particular bit of dragon-lore. Potentially, Seasmoke will simply not find a new rider on the show. Or perhaps Rhaenyra’s need for another dragon on her side will find Laenor returning to the world of House of the Dragon.

In season two, episode two of House of the Dragon, we see Seasmoke briefly flying around, hinting a potential return could come sooner rather than later. And we see Seasmoke again in episode three of House of the Dragon. This time the show more overtly suggests the dragon may be searching for a new rider.

House of the Dragon’s Dragons; Jump to Rhaenyra Targaryen’s Dragon, Syrax // Daemon Targaryen’s Dragon, Caraxes // // Laenor Velaryon’s Dragon, Seasmoke // Rhaenys Targaryen’s Dragon, Meleys // Jacaerys Velaryon’s Dragon, Vermax // Laena (Velaryon) Targaryen and Aemond Targaryen’s Dragon Vhagar // King Aegon Targaryen II’s Dragon Sunfyre // Prince Lucerys Velaryon’s Dragon Arrax // Baela Velaryon’s Dragon Moondancer // The Unclaimed Dragons, Stormcloud and Tyraxes, Plus Four Eggs // Unhatched Dragon Egg // The Unclaimed Dragon, Dreamfyre // The Unclaimed Dragon, Vermithor // The Deceased Balerion // House of the Dragon Future Dragons

Meleys (Rider: Rhaenys Targaryen), Dragon and Rider Are Deceased

Rhaenys, “The Queen Who Never Was,” became the second Targaryen to sit upon the swift red and pink she-dragon Meleys when they bonded in 87 AC. The first Targaryen to ride Meleys was Princess Alyssa Targaryen. But unfortunately, Meleys lost her dragonrider when the Targaryen princess died while giving birth. In her prime, Meleys was known as one of the fastest of dragons. With time she slowed, but she remained no less cunning.

We finally saw Rhaenys flying Meleys in House of the Dragon‘s fifth episode of season one. As House of the Dragon revealed, this rosy-hued dragon has a “crown” of thorns around her head, hence Meleys’ nickname the “Red Queen.” But after the show’s ninth episode, we can also call the dragon the “Beast Beneath the Boards.” Rhaenys rode Meleys up into the arena of the Dragonpit during Aegon II’s coronation, killing quite a few citizens and causing general mayhem. Rhaenys did not, however, use this chance to spew dragon-fire against her enemies, including Queen Alicent and Aegon II, who had her imprisoned. She instead escapes to safety.

In the finale of House of the Dragon season one, Rhaenys pledged her dragon to Queen Rhaenyra. In season two, she used her dragon to strengthen the Velaryon blockade of The Gullet. But sadly, service to Queen Rhaenyra cost Rhaenys and Meleys their lives. In House of the Dragon season two, episode four, we saw our first major dragon death on House of the Dragon. Rhaenys and Meleys rode out to defend Rook’s Rest from Criston Cole and his Green army, but unfortunately, the Greens had a trick up their sleeve. Aemond and his dragon Vhagar lay in wait for any of Rhaenyra’s dragons to appear. And on top of that, King Aegon II appeared by surprise at the battle with his dragon, Sunfyre. Both dragons attacked Meleys and Rhaenys, and though the duo put up a good fight, they did not prevail.

Vhagar fatally bit his fellow dragon’s neck at the end of the House of the Dragon season two episode, and both Meleys and Rhaenys went tumbling to their doom.

Sadly, our last look at Meleys is of the dragon’s severed head being ignobaly dragged through King’s Landing. We take heart in the fact the people of the city do not look upon the posturing kindly. We do, however, get the sweet story of how Rhaneys claimed Meleys as her dragon. She snuck into the dragonpit, a place she is said to have known exceptionally well. And the firece creature, who shunned all others, bent her neck to Rhaneys and Rhaenys alone.

Despite Meleys and Rhaenys’ deaths, both dragon and rider will always be remembered as a House of the Dragon pair not to be trifled with.

Vermax (Rider: Jacaerys Velaryon)

Prince Jacaerys, Rhaenyra Targaryen’s son, bonded with the young green dragon after it hatched in his crib. This helped cement his place as heir to the throne after Rhaenyra because some in King’s Landing questioned his heritage. Jace and Vermax start off on shaky footing, with the dragon only barely obeying his rider. But by the time of the House of the Dragon finale, they seem to have settled into their dragon and rider bond.

In Game of Thrones’ book, Fire & Blood, it is noted that Vermax especially disliked ice, snow, and cold. This probably means the dragon won’t love the trip North he set out on with “Jace” in House of the Dragon‘s season one finale. Vermax and Jacaerys head to familiar territory in early season two, the Eyrie and Winterfell, in the hopes of finding support for Rhaenyra’s cause among the northern houses.

While we learned they were successful on their mission in episode one of season two, we didn’t get to see the dragon itself again until House of the Dragon season two, episode five. In the episode, Jace takes Vermax to meet with the Freys who control the crossing at the twins, a direct route into the Riverlands. We see the green dragon perching nearby as the political negotion takes place, but no use of force becomes necessary as Jace pledges the protection of his dragon and Daemon’s to the Freys, with the promise of Harrenhal in the future, and wins them to Rhaenyra’s side for now.

Vhagar (Rider: Laena (Velaryon) Targaryen / Rider: Aemond Targaryen)

The Dragon Vhagar in Season One of House of the Dragon

Vhagar was one of the three dragons that helped Aegon and his sisters conquer Westeros. She was first claimed by Queen Visenya. According to the Game of Thrones books, the dragon was so huge, a hore could be ridden down her throat. And Vhagar’s breath was said to be hot enough to melt armor and cook a knight inside of it. Later, the bronze she-dragon with green-blue coloring and green eyes took Laena Velaryon as its rider. But the dragon didn’t establish its importance on House of the Dragon until the show’s sixth episode

Instead of facing death during childbirth, Laena took matters into her own hands. She told Vhagar “dracarys” until the dragon engulfed her in flame.

After Laena’s funeral on Driftmark, young Aemond Targaryen claimed the massive Vhagar as his own, though not without a cost. An ensuing fight with his cousins led to Aemond losing an eye. The young prince was happy to pay that “price,” though. He had long desired a dragon of his own.

Vhagar helped set the coming Targaryen civil war in motion when he killed Prince Lucerys and his dragon Arrax in House of the Dragon‘s season one finale. Seeing this intense violence between dragons in House of the Dragon was shocking, but only the beginning of things to come. And it seems that though Aemond has a certain smugness in himself and his abilities, his dragon still does not fully respect him. This makes sense because Vhagar is an ancient dragon who has lived a long life and seen many riders. And, unlike his dragon, Aemond only has a narrow outlook on the world.

The Dragon Vhagar in Season Two of House of the Dragon

House of the Dragon’s Dragons; Jump to Rhaenyra Targaryen’s Dragon, Syrax // Daemon Targaryen’s Dragon, Caraxes // // Laenor Velaryon’s Dragon, Seasmoke // Rhaenys Targaryen’s Dragon, Meleys // Jacaerys Velaryon’s Dragon, Vermax // Laena (Velaryon) Targaryen and Aemond Targaryen’s Dragon Vhagar // King Aegon Targaryen II’s Dragon Sunfyre // Prince Lucerys Velaryon’s Dragon Arrax // Baela Velaryon’s Dragon Moondancer // The Unclaimed Dragons, Stormcloud and Tyraxes, Plus Four Eggs // Unhatched Dragon Egg // The Unclaimed Dragon, Dreamfyre // The Unclaimed Dragon, Vermithor // The Deceased Balerion // House of the Dragon Future Dragons

In season two of House of the Dragon, Aemond and Vhagar returned to cause yet more chaos that will surely intensify the Targaryen civil war. In House of the Dragon season two, episode four, the dragon and its rider flew to battle. Aemond and Vhagar set a clever trap for Rhaenyra and her supporters. Criston Cole boldly attacked Rook’s Rest, the seat of House Staunton, whose lord is a member of Rhaenyra’s small council. Rook’s Rest also is located only a short distance away from Dragonstone, where Rhaenyra has settled. But the small castle was not really the aim. Instead, Aemond and Cole sought to draw out one of Rhaenyra’s dragons so Aemond could attack it with Vhagar.

Their plan succeeded. Rhaenyra sent the dragon Meleys and her rider Rhaenys to attack the host. Though Aemond’s plan was temporarily disrupted by the appearance of his brother, King Aegon, and his dragon, Sunfyre, it ultimately worked just as he’d imagined. Aemond and Vhagar attacked Meleys, who already had to contend with battling Sunfyre, and managed to kill the other dragon by biting its neck and sending it tumbling to the ground. Both Meleys and Rhaenys perished. However, that wasn’t the only potential casualty Vhagar caused. Unfearing for his brother’s life or his brother’s dragon, Aemond ordered Vhagar to send out a fireblast during the battle, which caught Aegon and Sunfyre in its path. Both Aegon and his dragon seemed in bad shape at the end of the House of the Dragon episode. Aemond and Vhagar seem to have escaped unscathed.

Sunfyre (Rider: King Aegon Targaryen II)

We first caught glimpses of the dragon Sunfyre in House of the Dragon season two’s trailers and the creature made its grand appearance in episode four of the season. On House of the Dragon, Sunfyre is King Aegon II’s dragon. True to its name, this House of the Dragon dragon has golden scales that shine like the sun. We didn’t see Aegon claim Sunfyre but the king has been restless to ride his dragon all season. And finally, in episode four of season two, Aegon and Sunfyre rode out to battle.

Unlike in the original Fire & Blood novel, Aegon’s joining the battle was not part of the plan that his brother and Ser Criston Cole concocted to try to kill one of Rhaenyra’s dragons. Instead, Aegon impetuously flies to the battle of Rook’s Rest, interrupting Aemond’s designs for the clash. Aegon and Sunfyre attack the dragon Meleys and her rider Rhaenys when they appear on the scene, but do not put up a very good fight. When Aemond and his dragon Vhagar join the House of the Dragon battle, Aegon believes he is saved, but Aemond sends a blast of dragonfire into the fray, uncaring if Sunfyre and Aegon survive it.

Dragon and rider are gravely injured at the end of House of the Dragon season two, episode four. It is not yet known if they will survive on the series. In House of the Dragon episode five, Criston Cole refers to Sunfyre as “long in the dying” while Rhanerya refers to the dragon as slain. It seems we cannot yet clearly assess whether Sunfyre remains alive at this time. Aegon remains alive for the moment. (Although, of course, the curious can read about their Fire & Blood fates in the source novel.)

Arrax (Rider: Prince Lucerys Velaryon), Dragon and Rider Are Deceased

The small, young dragon Arrax appeared on House of the Dragon with blue scales. Though quick and agile, the dragon was unable to outrun or outfight Vhagar high above Storm’s End in season one. Vhagar bit Arrax in half, killing Prince Lucerys and killing the dragon. In season two of House of the Dragon, we see the sad remains of Arrax wash up on the shore. It is believed that Arrax is the son of Syrax, meaning that both Rhaenyra and her dragon lost a child.

Moondancer (Rider: Baela Velaryon)

Only one daughter of Daemon Targaryen and his late wife Laena is a dragonrider, Princess Baela. She rides the swift, pale green she-dragon Moondancer noted for her pearl-colored horns and bones. Moondander might be young, but she is as fierce as her rider. In season two, episode three of House of the Dragon, we see Baela riding on her dragon, scouting for Queen Rhaenyra. Baela gives Criston Cole, Gwayne Hightower, and the other Greens quite a scare but ultimately loses them in the forest.

House of the Dragon’s Dragons; Jump to Rhaenyra Targaryen’s Dragon, Syrax // Daemon Targaryen’s Dragon, Caraxes // // Laenor Velaryon’s Dragon, Seasmoke // Rhaenys Targaryen’s Dragon, Meleys // Jacaerys Velaryon’s Dragon, Vermax // Laena (Velaryon) Targaryen and Aemond Targaryen’s Dragon Vhagar // King Aegon Targaryen II’s Dragon Sunfyre // Prince Lucerys Velaryon’s Dragon Arrax // Baela Velaryon’s Dragon Moondancer // The Unclaimed Dragons, Stormcloud and Tyraxes, Plus Four Eggs // Unhatched Dragon Egg // The Unclaimed Dragon, Dreamfyre // The Unclaimed Dragon, Vermithor // The Deceased Balerion // House of the Dragon Future Dragons

Stormcloud and Tyraxes (Unclaimed) Plus Four More Dragon Eggs

Though they have yet to appear, Rhaenyra entrusted Baela’s sister Rhaena with looking after two young, small dragons, Stormcloud and Tyraxes. The latter belongs to Prince Joffrey Velaryon, Rhaenyra’s youngest son with her first husband Laenor Velaryon. (Though the late Harwin Strong is Joffrey’s real father.) No one has yet claimed Stormcloud. Rhaena is also responsible for looking after four unhatched dragon eggs, three of which we know won’t hatch for two hundred years.

The two small dragons are mentioned again in House of the Dragon episode five, which visits Rhaena at Vale of Arryn, in the Eyrie. Lady Arryn is not very impressed with the two dragons Rhaenyra sent her way, calling them “wet from the egg.” But as Rhaena points out, they will grow. We still do not get to see the little dragonlings.

Dreamfyre (Unclaimed)

Dreamfyre, the slim, blue she-dragon with silver wings, was once the dragon of Princess Rhaena Targaryen, Aegon I’s granddaughter. Dragon and rider stayed together until Rhaena passed after a long and troubled life. And then Dreamfyre settled in the Dragonpit at King’s Landing. We first hear of Dreamfyre on House of the Dragon when Daemon admits to having stolen one of her eggs, falsely insisting he had a child on the way. Aemond Targaryen next comes across Dreamfyre in the Dragonpit around 120 AC, but the dragon is not to be claimed by him.

While we know Dreamfyre’s rider from Fire & Blood, the show has yet to establish which member of House Targaryen rides her. Dreamfyre might also connect House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones together. Some theorize that Dreamfyre laid the eggs that became Daenerys Targaryen’s dragons, Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion. We are sure that Dreamfyre’s lack of rider will become an object of interest for both sides of the upcoming war.

Unhatched Dragon Egg

Technically, episode two of House of the Dragon season one didn’t feature a new dragon. But we’re positive there’s one inside the egg Daemon stole in the early episode. How can there not be when that egg—originally meant for King Viserys’s son Baelon—already feels like Chekhov’s dragon? For now, all we know is that the egg belongs to the dragon Dreamfyre. But we think it could ultimately hatch and bond with one of Viserys’ offspring.

Vermithor (Rider: King Jaeherys I (Deceased) / Unclaimed)

One of the largest dragons to ever fly over Westeros, the bronze beast belonged to House Targaryen’s longest-reigning ruler in the Realm, The Old King Jaeherys I. Vermithor outlived the King and remained unclaimed at the start of the Dance of the Dragons.

The beast finally appeared on House of the Dragon during the show’s season one finale, when Daemon sang a song in High Valyrian to lure the dragon from its rest. Rhaenyra’s forced to hope they will find a rider for Vermithor, a hope that she and Jace will soon press more earnestly. One dragon could make all the difference in the upcoming fight on House of the Dragon.

Balerion (Rider Aegon the Conqueror/Viserys I)

We do not ever get to see Balerion the Black Dread alive in House of the Dragon, but the presence of the mighty beast is felt throughout the show. In episode one, Balerion’s giant dragon skull looms over Viserys and Rhaenyra as Viserys imparts crucial words of prophecy onto her.

Aegon the Conqueror was, of course, the first to ride Balerion. And the dragon played a crucial role in Aegon’s conquering of Westeros. It is fitting that Balerion be a party to Viserys and Rhaenyra’s discussion because Viserys speaks of exactly why Aegon the Conqueror felt so moved to conquer.

Balerion was a dragon born in Valyria and was the last dragon to exist in its mighty Freehold. Balerion’s wings and body were black. And his fire was also said to be black. Balerion was one of the largest dragons to ever exist, and his wingspan was enormous. He had sharp teeth and a vicious temperament. But, with time, age took him. The dragon is, in fact, a fitting analog for his final rider Viserys on House of the Dragon. Like Balerion, we see Viserys succumb to the languor of age until he finally fades away. Though once mighty, the time of his rule, like that of his dragon, ends in season one of House of the Dragon.

ADDITIONAL READING

Aegon’s Conquest, When Dragons Came to Westeros
Dragonstone, Birthplace of a Dynasty and Home of Dragonglass
Rhaenyra Targaryen, the First Woman to Sit on the Iron Throne
The Dragonpit and the Demise of Dragons
The Chilling Legend of Ice Dragons

House of the Dragon’s Dragons; Jump to Rhaenyra Targaryen’s Dragon, Syrax // Daemon Targaryen’s Dragon, Caraxes // // Laenor Velaryon’s Dragon, Seasmoke // Rhaenys Targaryen’s Dragon, Meleys // Jacaerys Velaryon’s Dragon, Vermax // Laena (Velaryon) Targaryen and Aemond Targaryen’s Dragon Vhagar // King Aegon Targaryen II’s Dragon Sunfyre // Prince Lucerys Velaryon’s Dragon Arrax // Baela Velaryon’s Dragon Moondancer // The Unclaimed Dragons, Stormcloud and Tyraxes, Plus Four Eggs // Unhatched Dragon Egg // The Unclaimed Dragon, Dreamfyre // The Unclaimed Dragon, Vermithor // The Deceased Balerion // House of the Dragon Future Dragons

What Other Dragons Exist During the Dance of the Dragons?

Silverwing, Tessarion, and More

In addition to the dragons mentioned above, House Targaryen also had four other dragons before civil war pitted the beasts against one another in 129 AC. That included the full-sized dragons Silverwing, Tessarion, as well as two hatchlings too small to ride: Morghul and Shrykos. Silverwing is mentioned in season two, episode five of House of the Dragon, but we have yet to meet the creature properly.

Wild Dragons on House of the Dragon

During the time of House of the Dragon, three wild, unbonded dragons also lived on Dragonstone: Grey Ghost, Sheepstealer, and the Cannibal. Daemon mentions these dragons briefly in the finale of House of the Dragon season one as Rhaenyra and company hope they can join their side of the conflict to come.

In a war pitting dragon-against-dragon, both in the air and on the ground, you can imagine the possibilities a wild dragon presents. But there’s a reason those three had no riders by the time war broke out.

House of the Dragons‘ Future Dragons

So what about the dragons we didn’t see in season one and haven’t met yet in season two? Who flew them high above the Seven Kingdoms? Well, we’ll let you learn all of that on your own when House of the Dragon brings those many magical creatures to life throughout this season.

Don’t worry, though, we’ll make sure to update this post to help you can keep track of all of them. It was a lot easier when Daenerys only had three of them.

This post originally published on August 17, 2022.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post Who Are HOUSE OF THE DRAGON’s 17 Dragons? appeared first on Nerdist.

Daemon Targaryen’s Harrenhal nightmares continued during House of the Dragon‘s “Regent.” His latest bad dream/waking vision was pretty scary for viewers, too. The King Consort dreamt about sleeping with a different member of his House, and it was weird even for a family that constantly marries siblings. Daemon Targaryen had an Oedipal nightmare—at least we hopes he considers it a nightmare—about having sex with his dead mom, Alyssa Targaryen.

Who Did Daemon Have Sex With During His Nightmare on House of the Dragon?

During House of the Dragon season two’s fifth episode Daemon Targaryen had an explicit, uncomfortable (to say the least) sultry sex dream about his dead mom, though he didn’t realize who she was at first. When he did his happiness turned to fear and shock.

This is what Alyssa Targaryen said during the nightmare:

Daemon, you were always the strong one. The finest swordsman…the fearless dragonrider. Your brother had great love in his heart, but he lacked your constitution. Viserys was unsuited for the crown, but you…Daemon, you were made to wear it. If only you’d been born first. My favorite son.

This was Daemon’s latest waking dream at Harrenhal. He was actually eating lunch with members of the Strong family during his creepy vision. The blood he saw on his mother’s bare chest at dream’s end wasn’t actually dripping from his own hands. It was from the bloody duck on his fork, the latest blending of dreams and reality for the King Consort.

Who Was Daemon and Viserys’ Mother Alyssa Targaryen?

Alyssa Targaryen was born 69 years before the Dance of the Dragons. She was the fifth child of King Jaehaerys and Queen Alysanne. They named Alyssa after her grandmother.

Alyssa married her older brother Baelon the Brave, who was briefly heir to the Iron Throne before he died of appendicitis. (Baelon is also the Targaryen Ulf the White claims is his father on House of the Dragon.) Together Alyssa and Baelon had three children: Viserys, Daemon, and (a totally different) Aegon who died before his first birthday.

As a child Alyssa preferred to spend her time sword fighting, riding horses, and playing with boys rather than spending time with girls and participating in activities considered more appropriate for a Lady or Princess of Westeros. Many thought the strong, smart Alyssa had the heart and spirit of a warrior. Meanwhile, she thought she was as “bawdy a wench as any barmaid in King’s Landing.”

Her infamous wedding night supported her claim. Those in attendance said the sounds that came from Baelon and Alyssa’s bedchamber could be heard miles away. She was also not shy about sharing how much she loved being intimate with her husband and that she planned to have many more such nights with. She also told Baelon she hoped to give him twenty sons.

How Did Daemon’s Mother Alyssa Targaryen Die?

Alyssa gave birth to Viserys the future King, in 77 AC. Daemon followed four years later in 81 AC. But Alyssa never recovered from Aegon’s long and challenging birth in 84 AC. She passed away at the age of 24 later that year. Aegon died without reaching his first nameday. Viserys was seven when his mom died, Daemon only three.

Was Alyssa Targaryen a Dragonrider?

Alyssa Targaryen was the first person to ever ride Meleys. She claimed the swift she-dragon the same year she married her brother. The two frequently flew together. (Baelon rode Vhagar, the same dragon that would one day kill Meleys and her only other rider ever, Rhaenys.)

Alyssa took each of her infant sons Viserys and Daemon for a ride on Meleys shortly after giving birth to them. But everything we know about her reveals which one of the boys took after her dragonrider warrior spirit : Daemon.

What Did Daemon’s Oedipal Dream About His Mom Mean on House of the Dragon?

Daemon loved his late brother Viserys, but he also resented him. He believes Viserys was too weak to be King and that he was better suited for the role, if only he’d been born first. Daemon is also still upset Viserys bypassed him and named Rhaenyra heir, when the laws of Westeros (and past precedent) said Daemon should have been heir. The reckless, selfish, ambitious Dameon also desperately wants his family to love him and validate him. He wants them to accept him, but his very nature is why they can never fully trust him.

This Oedipal dream with his mother gave him everything he wanted. Alyssa validated his feelings of superiority. She confirmed his belief that both fate and the Seven Realms wronged him before just as it is wrong him now by denying him the Iron Throne. And she also said said Daemon was “her favorite,” giving him the love he so desperately craves.

It was a dream that gave everything the amorous Daemon ever wanted until he realized exactly what was going on. When he realized he was having sex with his own dead mother, a woman he doesn’t remember, his ecstasy turned to horror. Targaryens might marry their own siblings, and Daemon himself might have married his own niece, but even a man of fire and blood wouldn’t have sex with his own mother. That’s the stuff of nightmares. The question is why did he have such a terrible dream in the first place?

Did Alys Rivers Cause Daemon’s Dream About His Mom on House of the Dragon?

Even before “Regent,” we wondered what is causing Daemon’s nightmares on House of the Dragon. Is it his guilty, insecure subconscious? Cursed Harrenhal itself? Or is it our favorite owl-witch, Alys Rivers? Is she just an astute woman who pays attentions to her surroundings and can read people? Or does she know a lot about Daemon because she’s more than just the castle’s de fact maester?

The episode hinted at her having magical abilities, unnatural knowledge, or both when she curiously mentioned Daemon’s mother later in the episode. Her comment about how it’s too bad he didn’t know his mom might have just been a huge coincidence. (Though not an impossible one, since Daemon’s war crimes might have simply made Alys wish he’d had a motherly influence growing up). Or it was a dead giveaway she knew all about his creepy sex dream, either because she caused it or she has a way of reading his mind.

Daemon’s still at Harrenhal, so there’s still time to learn more about Alys and whether she’s messing with his mind. If she is responsible for his nightmares hopefully that’s the last time she makes us watch him have sex with his mom. Alyssa Targaryen’s notorious escapades with another family member was more than enough.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on  Twitter and  Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post The Woman In Daemon’s Creepy Sex Vision Is Actually His Mom on HOUSE OF THE DRAGON appeared first on Nerdist.

House of the Dragon season two is finally here and the tension is overflowing between the Blacks and the Greens. The first episode shows a remorseful Queen Alicent who realizes she’s set the stage for violence to swallow her family whole. On the other side is (THE RIGHTFUL QUEEN) Rhaenyra, who is mourning the loss of her son Lucerys and only speaks four words in the entire episode: “I want Aemond Targaryen.” I know that’s right, sis. This season is getting into full swing and, if the first season is any indication, House of the Dragon will deliver lots of shocking, gross, brutal, and bloody moments. 

Jump To: Episode 1 // Episode 2 // Episode 3 // Episode 4 // Episode 5

Episode 1 – “A Son for a Son”

Queen Alicent and Criston Cole Are a, Um, Thing Now

In terms of the Game of Thrones universe, this episode was actually rather tame. The first shocking (well, more like gently surprising) moment was the oral sex scene between Alicent and Ser Criston Cole. (We all hate him, right? RIGHT?!) I felt like there were a few hints that they might get together, especially considering how salty he STILL IS over Rhaenyra rejecting his proposal years ago. But there was nothing outright to suggest that their relationship had turned sexual until now. 

It’s even more shocking for poor Helaena to walk in on her mother on top of him after witnessing the brutal murder of her child. 

The Murder of Jaehaerys Targaryen By Blood and Cheese

Speaking of that, the death of Jaehaerys Targaryen has viewers divided but it still certainly registers as a shocking moment. Helaena has to watch her baby boy’s head be slowly sawn off and collected by Blood and Cheese. She then flees the room and alerts Alicent about the death. It’s not the first time a child has died in this universe, of course. But this level of brutality happening to a very small and innocent one is jarring. Daemon has really started some mess!

Episode 2 – “Rhaenyra the Cruel”

The Prince Jaehaerys Street Processional

Otto’s plan to use Jaehaerys’ death to 1) frame Rhaenyra for it and 2) drum up support/sympathy from the kingdom’s subjects was gross. It was incredibly jarring to see his little body (with the head sewn back on) as the carriage made its way through the streets. This only proves that there are people on both sides willing to do anything to win this ongoing battle.

The Hanging of the Ratcatchers

What a terrible time to be a ratcatcher in King’s Landing. Aegon acts out of rage after Blood tells him that his accomplice is a ratcatcher and orders all of them to be hung and displayed in the streets. Cheese is one of them but this move also turns many people in the kingdom away from the royal family.

Ser Criston Cole Becomes Aegon’s Hand

Otto rightfully calls Aegon out about his abhorrent actions. Aegon responds that he will not be seen as weak and dismisses his own grandfather as his Hand. He names Criston Cole, which only gives the latter more power to continue his plan to hurt Rhaenyra in any way possible. We bet Aegon wouldn’t be so thrilled if he knew Criston was sleeping with his mother…

The Twin Duel Between Arryk and Erryk Ends in Tragedy

Ser Criston Cole decides to make himself feel less guilty about his actions by essentially sentencing Arryk to death. He sends him to Dragonstone to slay Rhaenyra, knowing it will not end well no matter what. Arryk and Erryk confront each other in Rhaenyra’s bedchambers. Their fight ends with Arryk killing Erryk before he stabs himself with his sword. What an awful ending, indeed.

Episode 3 – “The Burning Mill”

The Bracken and Blackwood Slaughter

The beginning of episode three shows us tension boiling over between two feuding collectives who have also chosen sides in the Black vs. Green fight. An argument over boundary stones leads to a full on slaughter where everyone dies. Yikes.

Aegon Embarrasses Aemond 

Aegon goes to Aemond’s familiar haunt to make fun of his brother, who is spending time confiding in a sex worker. Aemond doesn’t have anything to be ashamed of considering his encounters with her are consensual (unlike Aegon’s horrific sexual assaults of staff) but his brother certainly makes him feel like a lesser man (and quietly angry) because he has a fondness for this specific woman. Aemond leaves as Aegon offers his squire to the woman. Terrible. 

Daemon’s Vision of Rhaenyra and Jaehaerys 

Daemon is off to his own adventure at Harrenhal. He stays there after “conquering” it but finds it hard to relax. Daemon believes someone is at his door to attack him and he goes out to see a vision of a younger Rhaenyra saying he has to clean up his messes as he comes and goes. He sees her sewing Jaehaerys head back on and watches in horror before coming back to reality… or so he thought. He gets an omen that he will die where he is. Hmmm. 

Rhaenyra Returns to King’s Landing to Confront (a Very Stubborn) Alicent

Rhaenyra makes one last ditch effort to stop the war. With Mysaria’s help, she disguises herself and gets to Alicent. She tells her that war is not necessary and they even get clarity about what Viserys really meant on his deathbed. Still, Alicent says her son being king is not a mistake and she refuses to help correct things in any way. Sigh.

Jump To: Episode 1 // Episode 2 // Episode 3 // Episode 4 // Episode 5

Episode 4 – “The Red Dragon and the Gold”

Corlys Keeps Alyn, His Illegitimate Son, a Secret

Episode 4 takes poor Rhaenys on a wild ride before her shocking death alongside her dragon Meleys. She’s disrespected by Rhaenyra’s council while trying to protect Baela and she also acknowledges that one of the men who works under her husband Corlys is likely his son. Having kids outside of wedlock is certainly nothing new for this world (and ours, tbh). But, out of all the men in House of the Dragon, Corlys seemed to be one of the most morally upstanding ones. Blocking his son from having a higher position and refusing to acknowledge him after Alyn saved his life is nasty work.

Criston Cole’s Violent Tour

Criston Cole continues to push forward with his army, heading to Darklyn to give people a choice: choose Team Green or choose death. Lord have mercy.

Alicent Is Pregnant and Chooses to Use an Abortive Tea

Honestly, this isn’t too shocking. If you keep having hetero sex with someone in a world before birth control options, pregnancy is a possibility. But it is still a shock to see her processing all of this while her sons are acting a fool and her child’s father is outside doing the most.

Aemond Barbequing Aegon and Sunfyre

We all know that Aemond is willing to go for blood. And, after dealing with Aegon’s harassment last episode (and his terrible personality in general), Aemond and Criston Cole team up for a battle plan. When Aegon shows up with Sunfyre against all good advice and engages in a fight with Rhaenys/Meleys, Aemond and Vhagar show up to take action. Aemond times his “Dracarys” at a very convenient moment where his brother is in the crossfire. I’m pretty sure he was trying to kill him alongside Rhaneys.

The Entire Battle at Rook’s Rest

Whew. From Rhaenys’ death to the charred fate for Aegon, this entire battle featured some dragons dancing, which is the real reason why we are here. Love to see it.

Episode 5 – “Regent”

Meleys’ Head Takes a Trip Through Kings Landing 

In the aftermath of Rhaenys’ death, Criston Cole somehow thought it would be a good idea to drag Meleys head through Kings Landing to show how strong the king is. That, in fact, was not a good idea. It only disturbed others and made them question their current leadership versus what they had under Viserys and could have under Rhaenyra. 

King Aegon’s Fried Body 

Aegon looks pretty bad. Alicent watches in horror as the Grand Maester and his men pry Aegon’s steel armor off and reveal the bloody, charred, and broken skin beneath. Of course, Aemond is all ready to rule in his stead, which isn’t shocking at all. 

Daemon’s Weird Oedipal Sex Dream 

Team Black isn’t doing so great either. Daemon continues to lose his mind at Harrenhal with perhaps his most disturbing dream sequence yet. He’s confronted by his mother and they embrace sexually and boy is it weird and stomach-churning. His dream is broken after she takes a dig at him by saying “if only you were born first.” His obvious issues with not being the next ruler fully take over as he starts his own plan to rule as a King. Oh boy. 

Jaecaerys Becomes the Real MVP

Rhaenyra’s kids haven’t been particularly useful until now. Jaecaerys (a.k.a. Jace) flies to the Twins and manages to secure the Freys’ allegiance in exchange for Harrenhal. He does this on his own volition, which upsets Rhaenyra to a degree but also makes her proud. At the end of the episode, she’s upset that she’s unable to make any actual moves because she is the Queen. She’s also not happy that they don’t have dragonriders but Jace comes up with a brilliant idea.

He says there are Targaryen descendants in other Houses that could claim and ride a dragon. In other words, go out and look for the “bastards.” The duo begin to go through genealogical records to see whom they can find. 

We cannot wait to see what other shocking, bloody, and gross moments will happen in House of the Dragon season two.

Jump To: Episode 1 // Episode 2 // Episode 3 // Episode 4 // Episode 5

Originally published June 17, 2024.

The post The Most Brutal, Shocking, and Gross Moments of HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 2 appeared first on Nerdist.

Season two of House of the Dragon marks the beginning of a war between former friends turned bitter enemies Rhaenyra and Alicent. By now, you should have already pledged your allegiance to #TeamBlack (the right choice, obvs) or #TeamGreen (a choice, I guess) and are crossing your fingers to hope your side has the least amount of characters. It is inevitable that there will be quite a few characters who die. That is the way of war, after all, and House of the Dragon goes with death like peanut butter with jelly. So, who dies in House of the Dragon season two? Let’s track all the sad and brutal demises right here. 

Jump to: HOTD Episode 1 Deaths // HOTD Episode 2 Deaths // HOTD Episode 4 Deaths

House of the Dragon Deaths – Episode 1 “A Son for a Son”

Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen Loses His Head to Blood and Cheese 

Jaehaerys, the son of King Aegon and his sister-wife Queen Helaena, was set to be the heir to the throne. The young and innocent boy was spotted in the episode casually playing in the council room before being sent off to his studies. Sadly, this tyke met a brutal ending thanks to some scheming by Daemon that went totally wrong. As we know, Rhaenyra is upset about her son Lucerys death at the end of season one. She only wants one thing: to see Aemond Targaryen pay for what he did.

Daemon takes this personally and hires the duo Blood and Cheese to infiltrate the royal living quarters and kill Aemond. This is obviously where the episode title “Son for a Son” comes from. And it technically happens… just to the wrong son. They locate Jaehaerys and his twin sister along with Helaena and force her to tell them which child is the boy. She does (a little too quickly for my liking) and runs off with her daughter to inform Alicent.

We don’t see a ton of blood and gore. But we hear the awful sawing sound of them taking his head to bring back to Daemon.

House of the Dragon Deaths – Episode 2 “Rhaenyra the Cruel”

Blood and Cheese Die in the Wake of Aegon’s Wrath  

Of course, Blood and Cheese don’t get away with their bumbling crime. Blood is caught leaving King’s Landing and confesses to Larys that his accomplice is a ratcatcher. Aegon, acting out of rage, orders for every ratcatcher to be killed in the kingdom. This includes Cheese but also means a lot of innocent men died, too.

Ser Arryk and His Brother Erryk Have a Sad Fight to the Death

Ser Criston Cole, who was in Alicent’s bed instead of doing his job, pulls an awful move to absolve his own guilt. He orders Ser Arryk to go on an ill-fated mission to kill Rhaenyra at Dragonstone, where his brother Erryk serves by her side. He uses the whole twin bit to get all the way to her chambers, but Erryk is warned of his arrival (presumably by Mysaria). The duo battle and Erryk gets the upper hand, killing his own brother. But, his grief over his actions quickly lead him to die by suicide with his sword. It is a heartbreaking moment that is all Criston’s fault.

House of the Dragon Deaths – Episode 4 “The Red Dragon and the Gold”

Princess Rhaenys Targaryen & Her Dragon Meleys

We didn’t get any major deaths in episode 3 and that’s probably because House of the Dragon was waiting to hurt our souls in episode 4. This episode features the death of Rhaenys Targaryen and her faithful dragon Meleys. During a battle against Criston Cole’s faction at Rook’s Rest, Rhaenys/Meleys went against Aemond and Vhagar as well as Aegon and Sunfyre. At first, it seems they have gotten the upper hand after the duo is leaving following a valiant battle. But Aemond hits Rhaenys with the sneak attack and Meleys is critically injured. Realizing her fate, she lets go of her dragon and they both fall to a fiery death.

Aegon Targaryen Is Alive But Could Be Dead Soon in House of the Dragon

Our resident idiot king Aegon Targaryen rode into the Rook’s Rest battle against wise recommendations in episode four. Meleys/Rhaenys made quick work of Sunfyre, but Aemond’s (probably intentional) command to Vhagar is what caused the fire that send his brother spiraling to the ground. His very fiery crash at the hands of his own brother seemed like a certain death, but it wasn’t clear at the end of the episode.

Episode five reveals that Aegon is still alive, but certainly not well. He is covered in nasty burns and riddled with broken bones. Now, Aemond is Regent after the council pushed Alicent aside and this will continue until Aegon either gets better or dies. There is a small chance he could make it, as indicated at the end of the episode when he comes to some level of consciousness and calls out to his mother. For now, Aemond is relishing in his new power but he may have to deal with his brother soon.

There will be more bloodshed and deaths to come in House of the Dragon season two.

Originally published June 17, 2024.

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With Princess Rhaenys and her dragon Meleys both dead, Queen Rhaenyra’s claim has never been more dire. Fortunately, her son Jace had a “mad thought” at the end of House of the Dragon season two’s fifth episode about how they can turn their fortunes around. The Blacks still have more dragons than the Greens on House of the Dragon; what they don’t have are enough Dragonriders. They need to quickly find some so Rhaenyra, forced to avoid battle, can go “forth in strength and not from necessity.” But who will claim those magical beasts of fire? History says only those with the blood of the dragon can become dragonriders in House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones‘ world.

The problem is, in Westeros, only Houses Targaryen and Velaryon trace their ancestry back to old Valyria. Fortunately, the Targaryens have intermarried in the Realm for a century. They’ve also sired many bastards known as “dragonseeds.” All of those distant relatives could try and claim one of the Blacks’ riderless dragons. So who might risk their life to do so? House of the Dragon has been hiding characters who could become potential new dragonriders in plain sight throughout season two.

Note: For this list, we are only relying on (at this point obvious) context clues from House of the Dragon. The HBO series’ adaptation has already had some major deviations from George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, so anything we might “know” from his book could prove to be totally irrelevant to the show. That includes the possibility House of the Dragon will exclude certain dragons and characters entirely. If it does—and there are already signs it will—that will greatly change what can happen in the prequel.

Who Can Claim a Dragon on House of the Dragon and Become a Dragonrider?

The histories say dragons will only accept a dragonlord as its rider, which is another way of saying a dragon will only accept someone with blood that traces back to Old Valyria. Prince Jacaerys pointed out those histories might not be totally accurate, though. He called them “Valyrian histories, written to gild us in glory.” He might be right. Those tales also conveniently discouraged anyone else from trying to claim a dragon as their own, leaving Valyrian power unchallenged.

If the histories are wrong, that means anyone, regardless of where they came from, could ride a dragon. In that case every single character on House of the Dragon is a potential dragonrider.

Jace might be wrong, though. Valyrians themselves seemed to believe in the specialness of their bloodlines. Families married their own kin to keep their lines “pure.”

Finding out the truth will mean individuals risking a painful death. Even those strong with the blood of the dragon are not guaranteed to claim one. Rhaena, whose father is Daemon Targaryen and whose grandmother was Rhaenys Targaryen, almost burned to death when she tried to claim a dragon on House of the Dragon. Someone whose Valyrian blood is “thin,” as Rhaenyra said, would be even less likely to bond with a dragon on House of the Dragon. Dragons are very picky about who they accept as a rider. There’s a special connection between dragon and rider no one fully understands.

Thin blood would still matter if the histories are correct. Then anyone related to a Targaryen, even partially, is a potential dragonrider on House of the Dragon. And therefore, someone who can change this civil war. (That’s also true of Velaryon kin, even though House Velaryon were not dragonlords in Old Valyria.)

The blood of old Valyria is not limited to just denizens of King’s Landing, Dragonstone, and Driftmark. Both houses married into Westeros families prior to the Targaryen Civil War. Each also has sired bastards. But it’s clear House of the Dragon has been strongly foreshadowing which specific characters are likely candidates to answer Rhaenyra’s call. Here are the House of the Dragon characters most likely to become dragonriders on House of the Dragon.

Alyn and Addam of Hull Have Velaryon Blood

The last time Rhaenys spoke with her husband she told Lord Corlys Velaryon, she told him that she knew the truth about Alyn of Hull. The wise, astute Princess recognized Alyn was more than just the man who rescues Corlys. She recognized Alyn is Corlys’ bastard son in House of the Dragon‘s worlds.

Rhaenys did not hold Alyn’s birth against the brave sailor. She instead encouraged Corlys to honor Alyn. “He should be raised up,” Rhaenys said. Nothing would raise Alyn higher than a dragon…

We know something Rhaenys didn’t, though. Alyn has a brother, Addam. They look a lot alike, and Addam talked about what Lord Corlys “owes” both of them. What else could the Lord of Driftmark owe Addam than the truth? And if that wasn’t a big enough hint, House of the Dragon keeps showing Addam watching the lonely dragon Seasmoke, previously ridden by his half-brother Laener, taking to the sky.

Alyn and Addam clearly have the blood of Old Valyria. Their widowed father, who would not recognize them while Rhaenys lived, is now also Hand of the Queen for Rhaenyra Targaryen, a woman desperate for dragons.

There are no two stronger, more obvious candidates to try and claim dragons and become dragonriders than the bastard sons of the Sea Snake on House of the Dragon. Yet they might not be the best candidate.

Ulf the White Could Become a House of the Dragon Dragonrider

While the show has all but confirmed Alyn and Addam are bastards of a powerful man with Valyrian blood, another character has openly claimed to be exactly that. Ulf the White told his tavern friends he is a “dragonseed,” a term for Targaryen bastards. Ulf specifically said in House of the Dragon episode three that he is the unacknowledged son of Baelon the Brave, father of the late King Viserys and Daemon Targaryen.

The not entirely stupid/not entirely smart Ulf was willing to quietly make that claim to strangers when it meant free drinks, even though he said it could cost him his head. However, he’s not exactly brave. At first, he supported his (supposed) niece Rhaenyra’s claim to the Iron Throne. Ulf even declared her son Jace as the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. But when King Aegon showed up unexpectedly, a terrified Ulf was the first one to pay homage to Aegon.

Ulf’s cowardice is not the best omen for a potential dragonrider. He’s also certainly not the only person to ever make a wild claim for a free mug of ale. But he might really be a dragonseed. His distinct white hair is unusual for anyone his age in King’s Landing. It’s unusual for someone from Westeros. Narratively it also wouldn’t make sense that the show has spent any time with Ulf and his familial claims if we aren’t supposed to at least consider him a future dragonrider on House of the Dragon.

Hair color and the amount of attention House of the Dragon has given to an otherwise unimportant member of the smallfolk also point to one other person in King’s Landing as a possible dragonrider for Rhaenyra.

Hugh Hammer the Blacksmith Could Become an Unexpected Dragonrider

Ulf is not the only denizen of King’s Landing with peculiar hair. House of the Dragon has spent even more time with another such character, Hugh the Blacksmith. Ulf and Hugh Hammer are the only members of the smallfolk with such a distinct physical trait. And, while Hugh Hammer and his family’s story has added to the show’s theme about how innocent people suffer during war, House of the Dragon has spent a lot of time on his story. He’s clearly more important than a single theme.

Hugh Hammer wants to bring his dying daughter and desperate wife somewhere safe, but nowhere in Westeros is safe. Dragonstone and its unclaimed dragons might be the best place for him to go. It offers him something he doesn’t have: the power to do something to save his family.

Aegon broke his promise to pay Hugh for his work. Now that broken promise could work against the Greens, because while Meleys is dead, Rhaenyra has more dragons. She and Jace also now have a plan that is not as mad as it sounds. Perhaps Hugh Hammer, the Blacksmith, will join the ranks of dragonriders.

The Blacks will now go searching through old scrolls for forgotten ancestors. But House of the Dragon has already presented us with some possible dragonriders that we already know about.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist and dragon historian. You can follow him on  Twitter and  Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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There’s nothing fans love more than a well-placed cameo. Of course, on a series like House of the Dragon, cameos come in all shapes and sizes. A cameo can mean a character connected to House of the Dragon from Game of Thrones appeared on the scene, or it can mean a particularly cool actor turned up on the hit show. The major House of the Dragon season two cameo in episodes three and four was not precisely either one of those things, but it sure did delight fans. Here’s how Milly Alcock returned to our screens as young Rhaenyra on House of the Dragon season two’s third and fourth episodes.

Milly Alcock Returns as Young Rhaenyra Targaryen in a House of the Dragon Season 2 Cameo

Surprise! Milly Alcock made an unexpected cameo as young Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon season two, episode three and then returned again in episode four. We suppose it makes sense that the younger versions of the characters could appear for a flashback or dream sequence at any time, but we weren’t really planning on seeing much of Milly Alcock on House of the Dragon in season two.

At the beginning of season one of House of the Dragon, it was impossible to imagine anyone but Milly Alcock playing the role of Rhaenyra Targaryen. But House of the Dragon achieved the nearly impossible and cast so well that trading younger versions of the characters for older ones happened seamlessly. Though we absolutely love Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra, it sure was nice to see Milly Alcock return in the role for one more scene. It brought us back to everything we loved so much about the characters before the time skip.

What Was Milly Alcock’s Young Rhaenyra Doing in House of the Dragon Season 2, Episodes 3 and 4?

Milly Alcock’s Young Rhaenyra’s Episode 3 House of the Dragon Cameo

But what was Milly Alcock’s young Rhaenyra up to in her House of the Dragon season two cameo? Well, she returned to haunt Daemon’s mind in a couple of half nightmare and half a prophetic visions. First up, Milly Alcock appeared in episode three. As Daemon paced his haunted, rain-soaked room in Harrenhal, he was overtaken by a dream. Following mysterious noises and movements, he made his way through the darkened hallways and turned a corner to find who else but young Rhaenyra. Milly Alcock’s Rhaenyra sits by a fire, eerily humming and cradling the dead Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen as she sews his severed head back onto his neck.

“Always coming and going, aren’t you,” young Rhaenyra levels at Daemon in the House of the Dragon season two episode. “And I have to clean up afterward.” Daemon looks truly jolted by this encounter, but before he can say anything, the dream ends. But in his vision state, Daemon has made his way out to Harrenhal’s weirwood tree where he’s greeted with a prophecy of his own death.

Milly Alcock’s Young Rhaenyra’s Episode 4 House of the Dragon Cameo

In episode four, Milly Alcock’s young Rhaenyra returns again to haunt Daemon’s mind. This time young Rhaenyra is dressed in the same dress that adult Rhaenyra wore when Daemon choked her in a moment of anger and envy in season one of the series. She’s also wearing a crown and standing before the iron throne, implying she’s become queen. In her cameo, Milly Alcock’s young Rhaenyra first addresses Daemon in High Valryian. She says the following phrases, some of which are translated by subtitles on HBO and so of which have been translated by fans:

It’s been said that Targaryens are closer to gods than men…

In my eyes, you were a god. Daemon Targaryen. The Prince of the City. The Lord of Flea Bottom.

I was an innocent. You exploited me and abandoned me. You sullied my name at court. You empowered my rivals. You tried to make my ruin.

You put me on that throne. And you love me and you hate me for it.

You created me, Daemon. Yet you are now set on destroying me.

All because your brother loved me more than he did you.

This is what you always wanted, is it not?

Right before young Rhaenyra says her last phrase to Dameon, he unsheaths his sword and chops off her head. But that does not stop her from addressing him again.

What Do Daemon’s Visions of Young Rhaenyra Mean on House of the Dragon Season 2?

Harrenhal is a cursed place where felled weirwood trees make up the rafters, and everything is a little strange. It’s no surprise that supernatural-feeling visions emerge when one spends time there. While Daemon’s visions of young Rhaenyra aren’t necessarily prophetic, it does feel like greater forces coming to tell Daemon that he’s been really making a mess of things. It’s also interesting that in Daemon’s mind, it’s Milly Alcock’s young Rhaenyra who scolds him on House of the Dragon season two, not the full-grown version of the woman to whom he is married. This Milly Alcock cameo offers a fascinating insight into how Daemon sees their relationship. In a way, it feels like Daemon preferred Rhaenyra before she had power and responsibility and also, perhaps, respected and listened to her more when that was the case.

In the case of the second vision, it seems that Milly Alcock is telling Daemon everything he knows is true as young Rhaenyra. Daemon refuses to acknowledge these truths, but they are inside of him, haunting him in Harrenhal where one cannot escape their demons. And even killing Rhaenyra won’t make those truths stop bubbling up inside of him. Daemon also knows that if he were to ever take the throne for himself, he would have to kill Rhaenyra—but even dead, he would not be able to prevail over her. He would still feel like a diminished ruler when measured up against her.

Young Rhaenyra’s First House of the Dragon Season 2 Cameo Is All About Daemon’s Guilt

Beyond that, for Daemon, his initial vision of young Rhaenyra also serves as the first manifestation of true remorse for his actions that we’ve seen. House of the Dragon director Geeta Vasant Patel offered more insight into the cameo scene, Daemon’s feelings in it, and what Milly Alcock’s presence brought to the table, sharing:

At least in my eyes, that’s what it was. “That’s the Rhaenyra I know.” And in that dream, she looks at him — and the way we talked about it is she doesn’t need to say anything. We just worked on the look; the meaning that comes from all the episodes before she looks at him, and she cuts him. She says, “Hey, you killed a boy. You don’t do that.”

People have said that to him all the way through. But when young Rhaenyra says it to him, it’s the first time he feels it. It’s the first time he processes his actions, though he’s been killing people left and right since the beginning. This is the first time we see him regret. We see him feel. We actually kept talking, in between takes, about how this is something we’ve never seen before in Daemon.

There was a take where Matt went in, and he just kept saying, “No, I need another take. I need another take.” He was really such a hardworking actor on this, and all of a sudden I saw his face break after Milly looked at him. I just saw his hands loosen, and I saw the tear in his eye. Then I had a tear in my eye because we both felt it. Even the crew got emotional at that moment. And it wasn’t about House of the Dragon, it was about making a mistake that you deeply regret that hurt somebody else. It’s just that simple. That’s what I love about working on this show. I like to think that it is a documentary with dragons. We always try to make it feel real; like something we can relate to.

But will young Rhaenyra’s cameo appearances actually serve to change anything in Daemon beyond offering moments of grief and clarity, or will Milly Alcock have to return to House of the Dragon again and again to achieve that? We’ll have to see what awaits Daemon outside the world of dreams and back in reality.

Originally published on July 3, 2024.

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Daemon Targaryen claimed Harrenhal on House of the Dragon, but he hasn’t found no peace in that haunted castle. What he has found instead is a mysterious woman named Alys Rivers. Who is this strange figure and fan-favorite from George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood? Is this bastard of the Riverlands nothing more than a wise woman who minds her surroundings? Or is she something much more magical and sinister? Here’s everything we’ve learned about Alys Rivers on House of the Dragon.

Who Plays Alys Rivers on House of the Dragon?

Gayle Rankin (GLOW, Perry Mason) plays Alys Rivers on House of the Dragon. She joined the prequel series during season two. While she is known to readers of Martin’s Fire & Blood, the in-world history reveals less about her than many other figures in the book.

Alys Rivers Arrives With an Ominous Warning (Season 2, Episode 3)

Alys Rivers made her debut (without being named on-screen) in House of the Dragon season two’s third episode. She first appeared in Harrenhal’s dining hall when Daemon Targaryen claimed the castle for Queen Rhaenyra (and himself). Alys was the only person not to kneel to his “Grace.”

She truly made her presence felt later in the episode when she showed up during Daemon’s nightmare-turned-waking vision. After dreaming about his wife (who appeared as a young woman) sewing the head of little Prince Jaehaerys onto his body, Daemon suddenly found himself outside. He was standing near a dying weirwood tree overlooking the sacred Gods Eye lake. A confused Daemons then saw Alys Rivers appear below him. She only said one thing, but it made a major impact. She ominously told him, “You will die in this place,” before walking away.

Alys Rivers: Maester, Owl, or Witch? (Season 2, Episode 4)

Another nightmare once again led Daemon to walk directly to Alys Rivers during House of the Dragon season two’s fourth episode. He found her working late at night in what appeared to be a kitchen.

She explained she was the castle’s de facto maester after the last one fled in the night. Like Daemon, the measter found no peace at Harrenhal. Alys said the castle is responsible for Daemon’s nightmares because Harrenhal is haunted and has been since its first stone was laid. The King who built the massive structure, Harren the Black, felled a grove of sacred weirwood trees for the land. He then used the wood of the heart trees to make the castle’s furniture. According to Alys, the spirits who lived in those ancient trees still roam the castle. She said you can hear them whispering in the night.

When Daemon asked who she really is, Alys jokingly said she’s really an owl trapped in a human woman’s body. (At least it sounded like a joke. In a world with wargs that isn’t totally unbelievable.) Later Daemon accused her of being a witch because she seemingly knew things she shouldn’t. That included how she seemed to know everything Daemon has left unsaid about how he feels over his wife’s ascension. Alys didn’t claim witchcraft or other magical powers for her insights. She cited the many clues he’s unhappy being below Rhaenyra, including how he arrived alone but had yet to send a raven back saying he claimed the castle.

The alluring, wise, mysterious Alys then easily got Daemon to drink an unknown potion just days after he feared someone poisoning him. It was as though she had placed him in a trance and he couldn’t refuse her. Whatever she gave him was powerful. It knocked him out completely. Daemon has lost a huge chunk of time from the moment he took her potion. He awoke the next day, in the middle of a meeting, with no idea how he’d gotten there.

Is House of the Dragon‘s Alys Rivers Really a Witch?

Is Alys Rivers a witch? Is she the one actually causing Daemon’s nightmares? Or is she an owl? Could she possess amazing greenseer abilities like Bran on Game of Thrones? Is that how she knows so much about the past, present, and future? And, maybe most importantly, was she predicting his death at Harrenhal as a prophecy or simply warning him what will happen if he stays there because every Lord of the castle has died before?

There’s still much to learn about Alys Rivers, and we can’t rule out any possibility about who, or what, she might be. The mysterious bastard of the Riverlands could just be a smart woman with a keen eye. Or she could be so much more.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. He’s still mad we didn’t get GLOW’s final season. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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“A war is like to be fought over this treachery, to be sure. But that war is not mine to begin.”

Princess Rhaenys refused to kill the Greens in House of the Dragon‘s first season during Aegon’s coronation. She justified her inaction by saying the coming Targaryen civil war was not hers to start. It was (at best) a frustrating moment that immediately seemed like a mistake. Yet it wasn’t totally out of line for Eve Best’s character. The Queen Who Never Was did not wish for fire and blood to consume the Realm. Rhaenys was a decent, wise person who knew what a war of dragons would mean. But being a good person did not save her during the Battle at Rook’s Rest, where the very people she spared at the Dragonpit killed her.

Rhaenys’ demise gets to the very core of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, a story about what it means to lead that asks if it’s even possible to be both a good person and a good ruler. And like Rhaenys, Ned Stark also paid with his life to learn why you can’t on Game of Thrones.

The kind, insightful Rhaenys was a fearsome warrior who did her best to avoid combat if she could. She was a keen observer of people who also recognized the pitfalls of power and glory. Like Ned Stark, Rhaenys was everything you’d want in a leader, and though she never got to rule, she was a huge and steadying influence over many who did. Rhaenyra had no greater ally than Rhaenys, the very best of House Targaryen. Westeros was lucky to have her.

And what was Rhaenys’ reward for being a good, decent, honorable person on House of the Dragon? Her own kin, the very same people she let live, killed her. Being the best Targaryen in a Targaryen civil war wasn’t enough to keep her safe. But once she entered the war, that was all but inevitable. Rhaenys ultimately supported Rhaenyra in the Queen’s fight for the Iron Throne and went to war on Rhaenyra’s behalf. There were only two outcomes once she did. As Cersei Lannister will tell Ned Stark two hundred years later, “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.”

Ned Stark will die in Game of Thrones, same as Rhaenys does in House of the Dragon. And for the same reason. He tried to be a good person in a world that often demands you be ruthless. The Lord of Winterfell learned the terrible secret that Cersei’s children were not King Robert’s kids. But rather than arrest Cersei and her brother Jaime, Ned infamously told the Queen what he knew. He wanted to give her a chance to flee with her children, lest Robert kill them all. Eddard Stark did the noble, decent thing, just as he always did. His reward for being good was losing his head.

A Song of Ice and Fire is a story about what it means to be a good leader. The demands of power rarely lend themselves to being a good person because being decent and “winning” are rarely compatible.

That’s a lesson Jon Snow, who survived the game of thrones, learned over eight seasons in which he was constantly forced to choose between doing what was “good” and what was “necessary.” Jon needed to “kill the boy” he was and accept the hard responsibilities of ruling, just as Maester Aemon told him. Those responsibilities were often unthinkable, like when Jon didn’t want to behead Olly. Executing a child certainly wasn’t something any decent person would do. It was something the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch was forced to do.

Jon was a decent, noble person like the man who raised him, but Jon didn’t make the same mistakes Ned did. He adapted to the world around him, and he accepted his duties, even the ones that went against his very nature. Neither Ned Stark, nor Rhaenys were able to do this and so they seemingly sentenced themselves to death in respective Game of Thrones stories.

If Ned Stark hadn’t been so kind and noble to Cersei, he would have lived. If Rhaenys had burned the Greens at the Dragonpit, she would never have had to fight at Rook’s Rest. Who was wrong, though: Ned Stark and Rhaenys, or the world? Can we really fault people for doing the “right” thing even in a world that can be so evil? The answer, as it so often is in A Song of Ice and Fire, is not an easy one. Their goodness was commendable, and the world would be better if everyone was like Ned Stark and Rhaenys. Yet ultimately, their good actions were not good for them, their families, their allies, or even the Realm. Their decency led to war and countless more bloodshed.

Rhaenys was wise and temperate. She was good. And now she’s dead on House of the Dragon, and the very fire and blood she tried to prevent from happening will consume the Realm. Too bad that good Ned Stark didn’t learn from Rhaenys’ mistakes.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist and #1 Ned Stark super fan. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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Things are in a bit of disarray on both sides of the Targaryen civil war after House of the Dragon season two, episode four. And the trailer for House of the Dragon season two, episode five, highlights many of the reasons why. So if you haven’t seen the latest episode of the series, look away. And definitely don’t hit play on House of the Dragon season two, episode five’s trailer. War has arrived in earnest now, and it takes many shapes. But which of these paths will bring victory? We’ll just have to wait and see.

You can watch the full trailer for House of the Dragon season two, episode five, below.

The Battle at Rook’s Rest shook the world of House of the Dragon. On Rhaenyra’s side of things, a dragon and valuable ally was lost, as Rhaenys Targaryen and her dragon Meleys, were killed in the skirmish, taken out by Aegon Targaryen and his dragon Vhagar. Of course, the surprise appearance of King Aegon didn’t end well for the Greens either. Now, the King appears to be struggling for his life, even as he is lauded as a dragon-killing hero in the trailer for House of the Dragon season two, episode five.

Then, of course, the House of the Dragon trailer reveals more of Daemon who is continuing his eerie stay at Harrenhal and seemingly becoming obsessed with the idea of his own potential claim to the throne anew. That’s not good news for any side of the war.

Even House of the Dragon‘s dastardly Crison Cole admits in the episode five trailer that “what we must do now is terrible.” What could make even the worst character ever murmur those words? We’ll find out when House of the Dragon season two, episode five, airs on July 13 at 9 PM on HBO and Max. You can check out more details about House of the Dragon season two’s full release schedule here. In the meanwhile, we’ll be pondering just how many ways there are to win a war.

As this trailer suggests, we bet none of them will end well on House of the Dragon.

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Young Rhaenyra is haunting Daemon Targaryen on House of the Dragon. But why? Is his own guilty conscience the reason for his nightmares? Is his last meeting with his wife, where she challenged everything he’s ever done or wanted, weighing so heavily on his mind that self-doubt is keeping him up at night? Or are those terrible dreams really the work of cursed Harrenhal’s ghosts? It could be all three. Or it could be none of them, because it’s possible the mysterious Alys Rivers is causing Daemon on that grief on House of the Dragon.

King Consort Daemon Targaryen arrived at Harrenhal during House of the Dragon‘s third episode in season two. His nightmares in that cold, wet, ruined castle began immediately. He had a dream—or was it a waking vision?—of his wife as a young woman (played once again by Milly Alcock). She was sitting by a fire sewing the head of little Jaehaerys back onto his body. The young, innocent prince was the victim of Daemon’s despicable Blood and Cheese assassination plot. “Always coming and going, aren’t you?” said Rhaenyra. “And I have to clean up afterwards.”

That scene clearly upset Daemon in the moment. It also reflected his own guilt. He’d caused Rhaenyra a problem and then left her to deal with it herself yet again. He’d also murdered a child and now had to literally face what he’d done. Yet what happened next troubled him even more.

After seeing the dead Jaehaerys, Daemon suddenly found himself outside standing near a dying weirwood tree at night. Was he still dreaming? Had he ever been? Or had he slept walk to this eerie place where he was now awake?

Those questions didn’t matter as much when he realized he wasn’t alone. Below him stood the woman he’d seen earlier during his arrival, the only person at Harrenhal who didn’t kneel to him. She then delivered the most ominous of messages: “You will die in this place.” In episode four, he learned exactly who she is. Maybe.

Before that Daemon had another nightmare about his wife as a young woman. In this dream he entered an otherwise empty throne room in King’s Landing. Alcock’s Rhaenyra was there, sitting on the Iron Throne wearing her father’s crown and speaking High Valyrian. A frustrated Daemon could not understand her. When she came down to talk to him directly she said he “created her” as heir yet was now “intent on destroying her.” And all because Viserys loved her more. An agitated, scared Daemon kept telling her to “stop it” but when she wouldn’t, he decapitated her with his sword.

Rhaenyra’s disembodied head, streaming blood from its neck, then opened its eyes and said, “This is what you always wanted, is it not?” When Ser Simon Strong then woke Daemon up, Daemon saw blood on his hands. It quickly vanished, once again blurring the lines between Daemon’s dreams and real life. By the episode’s end, they felt like one-in-the-same.

Is Daemon’s subconscious simply relaying thoughts his waking self won’t dare admit are true? Or is he merely afraid he’s the monster Rhaenyra said he might be when they last spoke? Might these nightmares simply be the manifestation of guilt—guilt borne from being a terrible, selfish husband (and before that uncle)—he’s harboring but won’t acknowledge? It’s possible his dreams are a sign he’s not sure who he really is and what he really wants. Daemon’s own wife, the person he crowned and swore to take as his Queen, questioned all of his motives as a husband, brother, Targaryen, and man.

No matter the ultimate meaning of his dreams about Rhaenyra (which almost certainly have many layers he’ll never understand and we’ll only ever be able to debate), they show some obvious truths. Daemon is not at ease with himself, his marriage, or his station in life. He’s battling insecurity on many personal fronts. His own mind is holding him account from a lifetime of mistakes and selfish, reckless behavior.

Those questions about whether he serves himself or his own ambition took a backseat during his next nightmare. This one was about who he fears and why. In this dream, he chased his nephew Aemond through Harrenhal. Only when Aemond turned around it was Daemon himself with an eyepatch. Like his other dreams there are multiple meanings to this dark vision. For one the King Consort fears himself, as well he should. Daemon has always been his own worst enemy. But he also fears Aemond because he knows deep down just how alike he and his nephew are.

Both Targaryen princes are skilled warriors with a desire to rise above their station and rule. The two dragonriders are both fearsome and fearless, and each will do whatever it takes to destroy the other. Aemond is Daemon’s only equal. Aemond might even be his better.

Why is Daemon having these horrible dreams where he’s not even sure if he’s awake or asleep? He might have got his answer when he continued following his eye-patch doppelganger. That’s when he found Alys Rivers. The bastard of the Riverlands is now acting as the de facto maester of the castle. The last one “fled in the night” after he “never settled in.”

Alys could tell Daemon was having the same trouble getting comfortable in that damp place. She could see he’s not getting rest at a place where sleep “can be thin.” She didn’t cite Harrenhal’s leaky ceiling as the source for his obvious torture, though. Alys claimed the castle itself is the problem.

Harrenhal’s been cursed since its first stone was laid. Black Harren felled the the grove of weirwood tress that grew on these lands. Heart trees, imbued with the spirits of those who lived long before he came. It’s said their whispers can still be heard some times….

Weirwood trees are more than just religious symbols of the old gods. The Children of the Forest carved faces into them and their greenseers could see through them across time itself. And as Alys said, those heart trees were thought to house ancient spirits within them. When Harren (Hoare) the Black, last King of Isles and Rivers who followed the Drowned God, went to build his enormous castle, he chopped down all those sacred trees. He then used the wood to build furniture in Harrenhal, including the very bed Daemon is having nightmares in.

Aegon the Conqueror killed Harren and all his children the day work on Harrenhal finished. Since then everyone who has claimed the castle as their own has died. (That’s exactly what happened on Game of Thrones. Good luck to Larys Strong, current Lord who inherited it after murdering his father and brother.) Harrenhal might very well be cursed in the most literal sense, just as Alys says. Those spirits whispering to Daemon might be real and they might be preying on his insecurities, guilt, and fears trying to drive him away. Or they could be exposing him to his deepest fears to drive him mad and bring about his ruin.

Or it might not be the castle at all. It might not even be Daemon’s subconscious causing his nightmares. Alys Rivers, the strange, alluring, insightful woman who keeps showing up in the middle of his horrible visions, might be behind everything.

She was at the weirwood just as she was working in the middle of the night when his nightmare led him right to her. And rather than being afraid of her and everything she knew about him, the man who was weary of poison when he first arrived at Harrenhal, willingly took a drink from her when she offered it to him. It was though she had a control over him he wasn’t even aware of.

Whatever that potion was it was powerful. It left him in a stupefied state. Daemon lost a huge amount of time after taking it. He went from that room at night to being in a meeting with Willem Blackwood during the day.

During that meeting, where it was obvious Daemon was not okay, he saw his late wife Laena enter the room, another blurring of reality and dreams. She was maybe the only person who ever accepted Daemon for who he is and loved him fully. Her showing up in that moment, though, was anything but comforting. It was another painful reminder of a life with little happiness.

What did Alys give him and why? Why was she at that weirwood tree foretelling of his death at Harrenhal? And how did she know so much about what’s bothering Daemon? Was her keen, spot-on insight into his marital problems, his place in Targaryen pecking order, and his ambition nothing more than a smart woman picking up clues? (She cited some of those very clues.) Or is there more to Alys? And not just because she might be manipulating Daemon?

Is she actually “a barn owl, cursed to live in human form” like she jokingly said? That’s not as wild an idea as it seems. Not in a world with wargs. If a human can enter an animal’s mind, why can’t an animal enter a human’s? Or is she exactly what Daemon called her: a witch? Witches also exist in this world, and Game of Thrones‘ fans know exactly how powerful they can be. Melisandre lived for centuries and was capable of incredible magic. Maybe Alys was actually there when Harren felled those weirwoods. (IF she was an owl Harren might have cut down her home.)

Or maybe Alys is everything and more. Maybe’s she’s a witch, an owl, a warg, and a greenseer who can see across time and space. That would explains how she knows so much about Daemon.

There’s so much we don’t know about Alys Rivers just yet, but everything is on the table for the strange bastard of Harrenhal. But Daemon better hope she’s nothing more than a wise woman who gave him something to help him sleep. He better hope she’s acutely aware of her surroundings and learns through observation and experience rather than sorcery. Because if she’s more than just an intelligent woman toying with him, Daemon might truly be cursed in more ways than one.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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House of the Dragon has finally shown why Westeros remembers the first Targaryen civil war as “The Dance of the Dragons.” Season two’s fourth episode brought to life the infamous moment from Fire & Blood when those creatures first fought one another high above the Realm. The Battle at Rook’s Rest was a brutal, terrifying, impressive sequence that was also a mostly faithful adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s in-world history. But the prequel series did make some meaningful changes, and they will have long term ramifications on House of the Dragon.

The Similarities Between House of the Dragon and Fire & Blood‘s “Battle at Rook’s Rest”

House of the Dragon followed the same general story about the “Battle at Rook’s Rest” as told in Fire & Blood. It began when new Hand of the King Criston Cole left behind both King’s Landing and the letter-writing campaign of his predecessor, Otto Hightower, to be Aegon’s “steel fist.”

Cole began by moving his small force swiftly through the Crownlands, the region surrounding King’s Landing, which is also close to Dragonstone. The Lord Commander easily took both the castles Rosby and Stokeworth when their namesake lords swore fealty to King Aegon. Those houses’ forces then joined Cole’s army on the march to Duskendale. There, the “Kingmaker” beheaded Lord Darklyn, who refused to bend the knee. Those at Duskendale who did also joined the new Hand of the King’s army.

Rather than turn his growing army towards the vital Harrenhal, Cole instead marched towards Rook’s Rest, seat of House Staunton. Lord Staunton, a member of Rhaenyra Targaryen’s small council, tried to stay safe inside his castle’s walls. But the attack on Rook’s Rest was nothing more than a ploy. Cole’s real plan was to draw one of Rhaenyra’s dragons into battle. It worked. Princess Rhaenys and her experienced dragon, Meleys, came to the rescue. When she arrived, she bathed many of Cole’s soldiers in dragonflame.

Rhaenys wasn’t alone in the sky for long. She soon found herself facing two dragons, Aegon’s Sunfyre and Aemond’s Vhagar. The brave Rhaenys refused to flee and led Meleys into a fight for their lives. When the civil war’s first dragon dance ended, both Rhaenys and Meleys lay dead, having fallen when Vhagar bit Meleys’ neck.

It was not a total victory for the Greens. Aegon and Sunfyre also lay greatly wounded on the ground, with both rider and dragon burned and battered.

What House of the Dragon Changed from Fire & Blood‘s “Battle at Rook’s Rest”

While not completely inaccurate, Fire & Blood‘s account of the Dance of the Dragon is notoriously unreliable. (Sometimes, in ways we can’t even know that are unknowable or obvious.) That gives House of the Dragon the freedom to tell its own version of the story and fill in gaps without technically “changing” anything. However, the HBO series still made some choices that are clearly different from the history presented in Fire & Blood.

House of the Dragon‘s Aegon Almost Screws Up the Plan

One of House of the Dragon‘s biggest changes at Rook’s Rest was Aegon’s role in the battle. The King was not part of Cole’s plan like in Fire & Blood. On the show, the rash, impetuous King, determined to prove his worth to his family and small council, flew off to the invasion alone atop Sunfyre. On House of the Dragon, he forced Cole to call on Aemond and Vhagar much sooner.

This made Cole’s plan on the show less impressive. Having two dragons in hiding is smarter than only one, especially when the Greens had no way of knowing how many dragons Rhaenyra would send. It also changes what we know about Aegon, making him even more of a fool than his book counterpart. But neither of those mean this change was bad or indefensible. It completely fit with the story House of the Dragon is telling about Aegon. He felt weak and unimportant, as his Hand and brother plotted without him. They also had already refused to let him in on their secret plans, as well, lest he interfere needlessly. This scene showed why they were right.

House of the Dragon‘s Aemond Is Not Loyal To His Family

Fire & Blood presents the stern, humorless Aemond as ambitious but also fiercely loyal to his family. Book Aemond would seemingly never do anything to harm any member of the Greens, no matter how much he wanted to rule. It’s arguably his best trait and adds immense depth to his character in Fire & Blood.

House of the Dragon‘s “Battle at Rook’s Rest” changed what we thought we knew about Aemond. At best, he was completely reckless with his brother’s life and, at worst, actively tried to kill Aegon. Rather than come to his King’s rescue when Meleys had Sunfyre in her grasp, Aemond had Vhagar shoot fire without worry, endangering Aegon’s life. (The nature of Aegon’s role in this sequence also changed that Fire & Blood says all three dragons fought at once.)

If there was any doubt Aemond wasn’t worried about saving his brother’s life, it looked as though Aemond was about to finish off either Aegon, Sunfyre, or both on the ground before Cole showed up an stopped him.

Aemond hates his brother (with good reason), and that hatred, combined with his ambition, seemed to push Aemond to a place we didn’t know he could go. He’s still a fascinating, dynamic character, just a different version than Fire & Blood‘s.

Gwayne Hightower Fights at the “Battle at Rook’s Rest”

House of the Dragon has already greatly changed Ser Gwayne Hightower’s story from Fire & Blood. Alicent’s brother was not at Rook’s Rest that faithful day because he was serving as second-in-command of King’s Landings City Watch at the time. His father installed him in that role at the start of the Dance because the Greens feared the City Watch was still loyal to its former Commander, Daemon Targaryen. Gwayne had also already lived at King’s Landing for many years with his family and new Criston Cole for a long time.

A Quick Attack on Rook’s Rest Instead of a Siege

Fire & Blood tells us that Criston Cole surrounded Rook’s Rest and burned its nearby fields. Lord Staunton then sent ravens to Dragonstone begging for help. Nine days later Rhaenys arrived alone.

House of the Dragon changed this by having Cole attack the castle immediately. Rhaenyra instead preemptively sent Rhaenys atop Meleys to help her sworn bannerman after her other allies had already falle. However, Rhaenyra sensed something about Cole’s movement didn’t make sense, as Rook’s Rest had little obvious value. Despite her sixth sense, Rhaenyra fell for Cole’s trap, losing the Black’s most valuable dragon.

Rhaenyra Keeps Jace Behind to Tell Him About Aegon the Conqueror’s Dream

In Fire & Blood, Rhaenyra prevented her sons Jace and Joffrey (no longer at Dragonstone on the HBO show) from joining Rhaenys out of fear for their lives. The history stresses that the death of Luke and the recent loss of her unborn child made Rhaenyra scared to send her other children into battle.

On House of the Dragon, Rhaenyra kept Jace behind (at least in part) so she could finally tell her heir about Aegon’s prophetic “A Song of Ice and Fire” dream about the inevitable White Walker invasion. She also cited that responsibility as part of her reason for finally unleashing dragons on her enemies, but no one else knows that but her son.

What the “Battle at Rook’s Rest” Means for House of the Dragon

No matter his reason for being there, Aegon is either dead or badly wounded. That calls into question how many people supporting his claim will still back the Greens now. Alicent’s callousness towards her son also contributed to him flying off into battle, another tragedy she will now have to live with. How much guilt and pain can she withstand?

Meanwhile, Aemond might have just tried to steal the crown (and possibly did), showing he’s not the loyal family member history remembers him as. With little Prince Jaehaerys dead (and the show omitting Aegon’s youngest son Maelor entirely) Aemond would likely be named King if Aegon died. What other treachery is Aemond One-Eye capable of? What might he do to rule? Can anyone trust him if he would willingly maim his own brother and king?

Things are even more dire for Rhaenyra. She lost her wisest adviser and biggest advocate. She also lost her best, most experienced fighting dragon and her allies in the crownlands. Rhaenyra also allowed Rhaenys to go off to battle alone while keeping her son and his dragon safely on Dragonstone. How will Lord Corlys and the rest of the (already frustrated) small council react to this disaster? How much will they trust Rhaenyra’s judgement both as a leader and a person? Where do her loyalties lie? To her sons or to her kingdom?

Who Won the “Battle at Rook’s Rest?”

The Blacks lost the “Battle at Rook’s Rest” in more ways than one. But the Greens did not win that day. Each side suffered losses that will shape the future of the Targaryen civil war on House of the Dragon. Unfortunately, it seems unlikely either faction will learn the one lesson they should have when dragons met high above the Realm, because the dancing has only just begun.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist and the world’s leading Criston Cole hater. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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House of the Dragon season two has already seen more than its fair share of intense character deaths. But sometimes, the threat of death is worse than an actual ending. In a series like House of the Dragon, there are moments when characters can literally see their fates before them but can’t escape their ends. We’ve already experienced a few terrible visions that have come true. In House of the Dragon season two, episode three, fans received a chilling prophecy of death for one of the series’ main characters. But who receives this whisper of doom, and what exactly does it mean? Here’s a spoiler-lite version of what we can expect.

House of the Dragon Season 2 Foreshadows Daemon Targaryen’s Death

After Daemon’s rash and miscalculated efforts to kill Aemond Targaryen end with the death of Prince Jaehaerys instead, he and Rhaenyra exchange heated words. One the heels of their fight, Daemon flies off to Harrenhal in a huff, on a mission to recruit the Riverlands to the Blacks’ cause. Although he comes in the name of Rhaenyra, of course, Dameon’s ambitions and bids for his own power absolutely remain in play.

While there, Daemon falls into an eerie dream that sees the return of young Rhaenyra and features the dead prince Jaehaerys. Daemon Targaryen’s House of the Dragon dream could be seen as a manifestation of his guilt over the needless death his behavior caused, but it also feels deeply like a prophetic sort of vision. When he awakes, he finds himself standing beside Harrenhal’s weirwood tree. It’s a scene out of a gothic horror. Whenever a weirwood tree and its carved faces are around, Game of Thrones fans know supernatural experiences are close at hand. The trees, after all, are sacred to those who follow the old gods, and always bring a sense of the uncanny.

Of course, it doesn’t help that a mysterious new House of the Dragon character appears from the rain, stares Daemon Targaryen right in the eye, and foretells his death.

Who Told Daemon, “You Will Die in this Place?”—Meet Alys Rivers

But who exactly is it that gives Daemon this prophecy of death on House of the Dragon? Why, it’s Alys Rivers who ominously told Daemon, “You will die in this place.” That sentiment naturally begs the follow-up of, who is Alys Rivers? Episode three of House of the Dragon season two gives her an ominous introduction and not much else. But Alys Rivers is a complicated character with an important role to play. We barely meet Alys in this episode, so we don’t want to spoil too much about her, but here’s what we can share.

Alys Rivers’ last name tells us she’s a bastard born in the Riverlands. And in broad stokes, Alys Rivers could be considered a witch. She’s a healer with, as we see, prophetic abilities. Rivers’ actress Gayle Rankin shared a bit more about Alys noting. “On House of the Dragon, we have dragons, obviously, but she’s the first entry point to that world of magic… I’m always fascinated by and drawn to female characters who are tossed around by society and culture. I really tried personally to make her my own and ground her in reality, because you can stereotype someone who’s a healer or a sorcerer or a witch or any of the above.”

Rankin adds, “This person can tell the future, basically… She’s someone who has all of this power, who’s been alive for potentially 400 years. How do we make her a person with a beating heart and wants and desires? Rankin hints that in addition to telling Daemon Targaryen of his death, Alys Rivers will force him to look at his past and all its demons. “She’s going to hold a lot of power for the men inside of this story, especially Daemon, which I think is a really interesting slow burn…What’s interesting is, what does Alys want from Daemon and vice versa?… What are they learning from each other? There’s clearly a match happening here.” We hope Daemon learns something more than just that he’s slated for death. But we’ll have to wait and see to find out.

Will Daemon Targaryen Definitely Die on House of the Dragon?

So now, the big question. Just because Aly Rivers told Daemon he will die, is that death set in stone on House of the Dragon? House of the Dragon is, of course, based on George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones book, Fire & Blood. And so, those interested in an immediate possible answer can read-up on Daemon’s fate in the story right now. That said, Fire & Blood is a history, a recounting from sources that were not present at the time. Other characters’ fates, such as Laenor Velaryon’s, have changed from their previously canonical state.

That said, Alys Rivers and Daemon Targaryen were standing next to a weirwood tree when Alys intoned that Daemon intoned her prophecies of his death. It is both believed that some can look through the eyes of a weirwood to see the past and the future and that one cannot lie in the presence of the tree. Of course, prophecies are funny things. Even death can take on many meanings in a prophetic tongue.

While we now have to worry about Daemon Targaryen’s death on House of the Dragon, the truth is, no character is ever really safe. A prophecy of doom certainly doesn’t help, but it doesn’t mean he’s keeling over immediately, either. And, you never know, Daemon could meet a normal death in “this place”… sure he could.

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If there’s one thing we tune into House of the Dragon for, it is dragons. So far in season two, we’ve seen glimpses of our favorite creatures, but we haven’t seen much dragon action yet. However, that feels like it’s all about to change as the tension between the greens and the blacks slowly bleeds into an all-out war. In episodes two and three of House of the Dragon season two, though, we see one particular dragon flying across our screens, Seasmoke. But which dragon is Seasmoke again, and why is its presence significant? We have some spoiler-lite answers for you.

Seasmoke Appears on the Scene in House of the Dragon

In House of the Dragon season two, episode two, “Rhaenyra the Cruel,” we pause the political machinations and children’s funerals for a moment to enjoy a peaceful scene on the beach. A new character we only just met in this House of the Dragon episode, Addam of Hull, is fishing for food in the ocean when a dragon flies overhead. The casual viewer might not recall which dragon this is exactly. So, for the curious, we’re happy to confirm that the beach-side dragon in House of the Dragon season two, episode two, is Seasmoke, Laenor Velaryon’s dragon.

In episode three of House of the Dragon season two, we again see Seasmoke flying around as Rhaenyra and Mysaria meet on Dragonstone. Mysaria cryptically comments that the dragon might be lonely.

Here’s why this dragon’s presence is significant.

What Happened to Seasmoke and Laenor Velaryon in House of the Dragon Season One?

For those who need a quick House of the Dragon season one refresher, Rhaenyra Targaryen had a husband before she married Daemon. Laenor Velaryon and Rhaenyra were forced into a political marriage while her father, Viserys, was still alive. Neither of them wished to be in the marriage, with Rhaenyra’s heart elsewhere and Laenor being a gay man. Ultimately, Rhaenyra, Laenor, and Daemon conspired to fake Laenor’s death so he could flee to live in freedom and Rhaenyra could marry Daemon.

That seemed like a sound solution for all involved. Of course, at the time, the Targaryens were not engaged in a civil war. So it did not seem so crucially important that Laenor, now on the run, could no longer ride his dragon Seasmoke on House of the Dragon. Laenor, of course, could not take his very conspicuous dragon with him as he headed into hiding. Seasmoke, meanwhile, has been living in the House Velaryon stronghold Driftmark without a rider since Laenor vanished in House of the Dragon season one. In season two, we see the dragon remains there at the current time.

Civil War Makes Dragons Imperative, and That Includes Seasmoke

Of course, now that the greens and the blacks are poised for full-on war, every dragon counts. Previews of House of the Dragon season two tease that dragons fighting dragons will be at the heart of this chapter. With Laenor and Seasmoke, Rhaenyra would have had an additional dragon at her side as she faced Alicent, Aegon, and the rest. And one dragon can make an immense difference. While Seasmoke is present, his rider is not. And, with Laenor missing but not dead, Seasmoke cannot be ridden; at least, that’s what Game of Thrones‘ dragonrider lore seems to imply.

Will House of the Dragon Honor the Dragon Rider Lore of the Books?

In the Game of Thrones universe, a dragon can only have one dragonrider at a time while both still live, and that rider must have Valyrian blood. If House of the Dragon season two abides by these dragon rules, that means that as long as Laenor remains absent, no one else can ride Seasmoke and fully command the dragon in battle.

Of course, HBO’s live-action Game of Thrones has hinted that it might be flexible with the letter of dragonrider lore before. And neither Game of Thrones nor House of the Dragon have fully established how stringently the one-rider-only rule is followed in the live-action universe. After all, Jon Snow rode Daenerys’ dragon. However, it seems likely that House of the Dragon season two will, at least, need to acknowledge its change in canon if the series gives Seasmoke a new rider who isn’t Laenor.

We are going to go ahead and assume that Laenor is not dead. Death would seem a poor fate for someone who the show purposefully kept alive, breaking with the previously known canon. But it doesn’t feel like House of the Dragon is hinting at Laenor’s return to ride Seasmoke, either. Instead, the show teases something else altogether.

Are Addam Hull and Seasmoke Connected on House of the Dragon?

It wasn’t just anyone who saw Seasmoke flying through the clouds; it was Addam of Hull. Those who want a fuller version of spoilers can read the historical accounting found in George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood. For now, all we’ll say is it doesn’t feel like a very coincidental scene. And we will share that Hull is the recent surname given to bastards born in the town of Hull, which, like Seasmoke, sits on Driftmark. In episode two of House of the Dragon, Addam additionally feels that Lord Corlys “owes” Addam and his brother Alyn something. Now, why would that be? And could it be a dragon?

All we know for now is that House of the Dragon has established that Seasmoke is lonely without his dragonrider… and he’s restlessly circling… for some reason.

We’ll have to wait for Seasmoke to fly back to us in a future episode of House of the Dragon to say for sure what or who he is looking for.

Originally published on June 24, 2024.

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In the Game of Thrones franchise, it’s hard to know who to root for sometimes. Even our heroes find themselves morally compromised people. But you know who are the only non-malicious characters in A Song of Ice and Fire? The actual dragons themselves. They just want to fly around, eat sheep, and they only do bad things when humans tell them to. As a way of honoring these very good babies, the folks at Diamond Select are releasing a new Legends in 3 Dimensions bust of Caraxes, Daemon Targaryen’s dragon from House of the Dragon. You can check out images of this incredibly detailed bust down below in our gallery:

Click To View Gallery

Here’s the official description for the House of the Dragon Caraxes bust from the folks at Diamond Select:

Dracarys! Your friends will be breathing fire with envy when you show them your bust of Caraxes, the mount of dragonrider Daemon Targaryen! Measuring approximately 12 inches tall, this bust is insanely detailed, and rests atop a dragon’s egg base. Limited to only 1000 pieces, this resin bust comes packaged with a numbered base and a numbered certificate of authenticity in a numbered full-color box. Designed by Joe Allard, sculpted by Sandro Luis Sampaio.

In George R.R. Martin’s world, the Dragonkeepers considered Caraxes to be the fiercest of all the young dragons of the Dragonpit. They even gave him the fearsome nickname the “Blood Wyrm.” Caraxes isn’t the largest of the dragons in Westeros, as he’s about half the size of Vhagar, the oldest of the Targaryen dragons. None of that kept Caraxes from being one of the deadliest dragons in history, however. You can pre-order this incredible House of the Dragon bust for the price of $250.00 now. Diamond Select is expected to start shipping the Caraxes bust sometime in the first quarter of 2025.

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House of the Dragon‘s Criston Cole is not an all-time Westeros villain because he has no redeemable qualities. He wasn’t born a total monster like Joffrey Baratheon. Criston Cole is a worse monster because he chooses to be one. The Lord Commander and new Hand of the King could easily be a good, noble knight if didn’t love violating his oaths and responsibilities more than Tyrion loves brothels. And we saw just how true that is during season two’s third episode. His situational awareness saved the life of the arrogant Gwayne Hightower. Cole’s swift actions provided a brief—and truly unwelcome—reminder he’s actually good at some things. Fortunately the episode also gave us a new reason to detest him. It took away the one unquestioned positive thing even a hater like me would never deny someone as awful as Ser Criston Cole: his amazing hair.

Ser Criston Cole might be a vile, evil, amoral, craven lickspittle who sullies his white Kingsguard cloak with every breath he draws, but at least he always did so while sporting amazing hair. His dark flowing locks belied the ugly darkness lurking in the empty space where his heart should be. But at least he had the thin shadow of decency to look good while being so bad.

We know he’s a disgusting pig, but his hair was that of a brave and heroic knight they write stories about, the kind Sansa grew up loving. Ser Criston Cole had the hair of a leader.

Now House of the Dragon has taken that away from him and given him a stupid little haircut of a child. It looks like he asked for boy’s regular…from a barber’s apprentice…on their first day…when the barber wasn’t even present…and the scissors were broken and he only had a dull knife.

Why did he feel he needed a haircut in the first place? Why cut glorious hair voluntarily? Did he think hair that good was somehow revealing his “modest beginnings?” Did he think it wasn’t appropriate for the Hand of the King or for war? Who cares why he got it cut?! He’s a big dummy who doesn’t think before he acts. He just sent Ser Arryk to his death on a scheme too silly for Mr. Bean. Criston Cole never needs a good reason to do something bad and this haircut is no different.

Normally Criston Cole doing something indefensible would anger his biggest haters (:raises both hands and both feet:). Instead this is the best development of the season and maybe the series so far.

Losing his luscious locks is the best thing he’s ever done. We no longer have to give it up to Ser Criston Cole for anything. We don’t have to acknowledge there’s a single thing about him worth liking because he cut that one thing off. We’re free to fully, without guilt or disgust, bask in pure hatred.

His beautiful hair is gone. Long Short live his dumb little haircut.

Not short because we want him to grow his hair back out, which with any other character we would. Short because we hope he never gets the chance. Hopefully his next haircut does not come via scissors held by a barber who lost their glassed and was drinking all day. Hopefully Criston Cole’s next hairstyle comes via a dragon’s flame.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist, great hair appreciator, and the world’s leading Criston Cole hater. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post Criston Cole’s Stupid Haircut Is Another Reason to Hate Him appeared first on Nerdist.

House of the Dragon‘s “The Burning Mill” saw Rhaenyra Targaryen task her young niece/step-daughter with a vital mission. The Queen not only entrusted Rhaena to look after her three young sons, she gave the princess two baby dragons and four dragon eggs to protect. If everything comes to “ruin” for Rhaenyra’s side, Rhaena is their backup plan. That plan that will include hatching new dragons ultimately earmarked for Pentos. But that’s where another Targaryen princess will be gifted three dragon eggs during her wedding to Khal Drogo centuries later. So are House of the Dragon‘s dragon eggs the exact same ones Daenerys Targaryen will one day hatch on Game of Thrones? Yes, they are. The series has confirmed Rhaenyra gave Rhaena the very same eggs that appeared on Game of Thrones.

House of the Dragon‘s Gives Daenerys Targaryen’s Dragon Eggs an Origin Story

Episode director Geeta Vasant Patel told Mashable the dragon eggs seen during House of the Dragon season two’s third episode are historically important. Three of those pristine eggs become fossilized by Game of Thrones‘ time period almost two hundred years later. These House of the Dragon eggs are the exact same dragon eggs gifted to Daenerys Targaryen at her first wedding. As we know, she will eventually walk into a fire with them, emerging with her fire-breathing “children,” she’ll name her dragons Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion.

“All of us who work on this show are big Game of Thrones fans,” Patel said. “So it was very exciting to shoot that scene.” Considering Daenerys will quite literally prove to be her family’s “hope for the future” as Rhaenyra Targaryen called her niece on House of the Dragon, it was a fitting send-off for those dragon eggs. They’ll eventually, one way or another, reach Pentos and fall into the hands of the Free City’s Magister Illyrio Mopatis. He’ll then give the priceless artifacts to curry favor with Daenerys and her brother Viserys.

Game of Thrones Lore Suggests a Different History for Daenerys’ Dragon Eggs Than House of the Dragon

House of the Dragon‘s Patel needed to verify the dragon eggs’ connection between shows because it’s a change from established Game of Thrones lore. While never officially confirmed, George R.R. Martin’s in-world history Fire & Blood seems to all but establish those dragon eggs arrived in Essos many decades before the Dance of the Dragons.

The accepted tale is that the three eggs came from the she-dragon Dreamfyre. Her current rider is Queen Helaena, but before Helaena that dragon belonged to a totally different Targaryen princess, (frustratingly) also named Rhaena. That Princess was the child of King Aenys and one of King Jaehaerys’ many siblings. She’s also the Targaryen infamous for letting her lover, Elissa Farman, steal a clutch of dragon eggs.

Elissa desperately wanted to build her own boat and set sail in the Sunset Sea. Rhaena simply loved Elissa too much to let her go, so eventually Elissa took matters into her own hands. She did so by taking dragon eggs. She stole some and sailed to Braavos where she sold them to the Sealord for gold. That gave her the coin needed to build her very own ship, which she used to sail under another name, evading capture.

The theft of the dragon eggs wounded House Targaryen, the only remaining dragon lords in the world. The shame of the scandal was bad enough. Far worse, though, was the fear someone would hatch the eggs themselves. All efforts to get the eggs back failed, and over time, they are believed to have eventually ended up in Pentos.

What About the Fourth House of the Dragon Dragon Egg?

Eventually, the three dragon eggs end up in a fire with Daenerys Targaryen. It’s a good thing they did, regardless of the specifics of how they got there. Without Daenerys’ dragons, the living might not have held off the Night King long enough to stop him. But we knew that already.

What we don’t yet know is what happens to the fourth dragon egg Rhaenyra entrusted to her niece. But for that, we guess we’ll have to wait for House of the Dragon to reveal its secrets.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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House of the Dragon might be a story about a Targaryen king and queen fighting over the Iron Throne, but its latest episode introduced a member of the family who is certainly not royalty. Or at least that man claimed to be dragon-born during “The Burning Mill.” A commoner named Ulf said he’s the bastard brother of King Viserys and Prince Daemon. Was the gregarious, well-liked bar patron telling the truth? Or was he telling a tall tale when he said he’s Rhaenyra’s unacknowledged uncle? Whether or not Ulf truly is who he claims doesn’t matter as much as whether or not he truly believes that he’s a Targaryen.

Ulf first appeared in episode two of House of the Dragon‘s second season wandering the streets near the Red Keep. There he asked about the ratcatchers hanging from the walls. But the next episode showed he’s much more than just a random denizen of the city. He visited a King’s Landing tavern/brothel, one he clearly frequents often, and began greeting many patrons excited by his arrival. Ulf was also there looking for a free drink. To get one, he regaled his table mates, one a complete stranger, with something he claimed he shouldn’t even be telling. It’s a story he brought up entirely on his own.

“It’s said even Dorne mourned the passing of my grandsire,” Ulf calmly told the Dornish man who ordered him a flagon. “They call him The Conciliator.” That was one of the many nicknames of King Jaehaerys, the longest ruling Targaryen king in Westeros’ history. House of the Dragon showed the beloved old King in its first episode at the Great Council. There Jaehaerys convened all the lords of the Realm to name his heir.

One of the many reasons Jaehaerys had no obvious successor was that the very father Ulf claims as his own died. “I’m the Son of Baelon the Brave,” Ulf said. Baelon was the second son of Jaehaerys. Until he died from appendicitis he was also briefly the king’s heir to the Iron Throne after the death of Baelon’s older brother.

Could the renowned, noble, heroic Baelon Targaryen have sired a bastard son named Ulf? Definitely. It’s not like otherwise good men haven’t committed adultery a million times in Westeros, including royalty. Baelon was also a young widower, so it’s possible he didn’t cheat on his wife at all, but instead sired a child out of wedlock either before he married or after his wife died. It’s also very possible Ulf’s mother simply lied about his father being a Targaryen entirely. Or she could have lied because his father was a totally different, less important Targaryen. (His unusual hair at least suggests some Targaryen blood.)

Why lie about Baelon if she slept with a different Targaryen? Maybe she told Ulf that Baelon Targaryen was his dad when he was heir to the Iron Throne.

If Ulf is telling the whole truth about his father, though, he really is an uncle to Rhaenyra, whom he called “the One True Queen.” Or at least he did until his supposed nephew Aegon showed up and a scared Ulf quickly yelled out, “All hail the King!”

Was anything Ulf said 100% true? At least thing one thing was. After claiming “the blood of the dragon runs through” his veins, Ulf said, “men would take my head” over it. He then called himself a “dragonseed,” a well-known term for Targaryen bastards usually used for kids born on the family’s ancestral home island. (There are countless dragonseeds there, though after a century King’s Landing definitely has its own fair share. We might have seen one of Aegon’s bastard kids in season one at the child fighting pit.)

Ulf also said a dragonseed “must watch his own neck when he has no white cloack guardsman to do it for him.” That’s not usually true, but it definitely is right now during a Targaryen civil war. Anyone foolish enough in King’s Landing to claim—to strangers no less—they are Prince Daemon’s brother is putting their life on the line. Even if he’s lying just saying that in jest for free wine and ale, it could be a death sentence.

So why do it? Free drinks are always nice, yet hardly worth the risk of losing one’s head. (They’re hanging ratcatchers for seemingly no reason down the street!) Being a little more popular with bar patrons isn’t worth that kind of danger, either. Plus, Ulf doesn’t seem brave enough to risk making such a bold claim, not even at an establishment where he’s well-liked. He’s not exactly brimming with courage.

Ulf’s obviously not that smart, but he’s obviously not completely stupid. He was smart enough not to speak too loudly. And he assessed the danger he was putting himself in correctly. Yet he still did it, as though he felt compelled to share his “secret” against his better judgement, just as he felt the need to openly support Rhaenyra (until he was frightened). All of this indicates he might actually believe what he said about his father.

House of the Dragon obviously included that scene for an important reason. Smallfolk don’t get that much characterization in the Seven Kingdoms unless they matter. Ulf—known as “the White” because of his hair in George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood—is obviously a character worth paying attention to even if you don’t know what awaits him in the future. But even if you do, all viewers should pay attention to whether or not he truly believes what he says.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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“Only weeks ago, my Lord husband was alive, and the realm was at peace.” Alicent notes at the beginning of the House of the Dragon season two, episode 4 trailer. And she’s pointing to what we’re all feeling. Things sure have devolved quickly on House of the Dragon, and now all-out war is rolling down the hill as events fall into place that cannot be retracted. If the Greens and the Blacks could have come to some more civil discussion before the child-killing and what-not on House of the Dragon, we may not have ended up here. But we guess here is precisely the point of this Game of Thrones‘ spinoff series.

You can check out the full trailer for House of the Dragon season two, episode four, below.

“Tread carefully.” The description for episode four shares. And yes, it refers to Aegon warning his mother Alicent to respect him in the trailer for the House of the Dragon season two episode. But it also refers to basically everyone in the realm. Not only is there an enemy to watch out for, but the trailer for the upcoming episode of House of the Dragon reveals that recruiting for sides in this Targaryen civil war will take a bloody turn in episode four. Not to mention, Rhaenyra has decided that it’s time to send the dragons to war. And we know that won’t end very well for anyone.

House of the Dragon season two, episode four, will air on July 7 at 9 PM on HBO and Max. You can learn more out more about House of the Dragon season two’s full release schedule here. In the meantime, we suggest that you start reinforcing your roof against dragon fire, stat. Things are about to get much hotter in House of the Dragon season two, episode four, if this trailer is anything to go by.

We’re not afraid, we’re just rational.

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Two hundred years after House of the Dragon Cersei Lannister will blow up the Great Sept of Baelor in one of Game of Thrones’ best episodes. Unfortunately the prequel series used a sacred spot in King’s Landing to deliver one of its worst episode. Rhaenyra’s ridiculous, inane, out-of-character reunion with Alicent is among the most abominable scenes in Game of Throne‘s franchise history and a bad omen House of the Dragon is already making the fatal mistake that ruined its predecessor’s final two seasons.

There were many reasons for Game of Thrones’ greatness, including acting, directing, writing, and production design. Yet, what attracted many viewers to the Realm was the idea “anything could happen” in the Seven Kingdoms. This was both true and false. But, from the moment Game of Throne‘s pilot ended with a handsome knight, caught having sex with his twin sister, the Queen, pushing a child out of a tower window it seemed clear the series was not afraid to go unexpected places. When season one’s unquestioned main character, Ned Stark, eventually lost his head, there was no doubt. Subsequent seasons confirmed the idea.

A willingness to do “anything,” even killing off important characters, is not what made HBO’s Game of Thrones series special, though. Other shows, both before and since, have also done that. They’ve also been just as shocking, violent, or graphic. Yet those series’ most notorious moments never generated a shred of Game of Thrones’ emotional impact or its audience.

The true reason why Game of Thrones is special better explains why so many viewers loved it. It was special because, unlike most shows, it didn’t care about being a TV show. Not in any traditional sense, at least. It was concerned with telling its story honestly and without compromise, no matter what. Its most outrageous, painful, gruesome moments weren’t there to simply surprise or upset the audience. Game of Thrones didn’t chop off a character’s hand or slit their throats just to do it.  It wasn’t trying to emotionally manipulate its audience, either. It generated real pathos because those moments were authentic, well-earned events borne from uncompromising storytelling. Game of Thrones went where its story took it.

A sprawling tale of war in a land of magic, dragons, ice zombies, political intrigue, and familial infighting naturally wanted to go to some unbelievable places, and Game of Thrones never shied away from going to them. If that meant killing off an incredible actor in an amazing role, so be it. Charles Dance gave an all-time great performance as Tywin and was a major anchor of the show. That didn’t keep him safe when he betrayed his son. That dedication to the story is why we had to see Oberyn Martell’s head popped like a zit. Every other TV series would have rewritten the character’s arc so Pedro Pascal could stick around a lot longer.

That kind of unflinching commitment to the story, one free of worry over about TV stars, Q-ratings, or making anyone, from executives to the audience, “happy” came from George R.R. Martin’s novels. But that’s exactly why adapting A Song of Ice and Fire was such an unlikely endeavor in the first place. His epic fantasy actively violated the general principles of most television shows. Ned Stark’s actions put his head on a chopping block, but most shows would have found a way to save their biggest actor from his fate. The Red Wedding was clearly too devastating for some, but that wasn’t Game of Thrones fault, it was Robb Stark’s. He broke his vow to a dangerous ally.

Game of Thrones’ willingness to eschew normal TV conventions and practices helped make it special. And then it stopped doing that and turned into every other television show.

Rather than following its story’s natural path over its last two seasons, Game of Thrones began reverse engineering big moments. Spectacle suddenly trumped authenticity and logic. Previously, armies needed an entire season to cross a single continent. Now, they moved halfway across the world in an hour. Meanwhile, dragons flew at lightspeed to save idiots who marched beyond the Wall without a horse to kidnap the dead. Major characters, even the smartest, most experienced people in Westeros, were suddenly stupid because the plot needed them to be. Sisters didn’t tell their brother a giant army was coming to help.

Just as unforgivable was that characters’ absurd actions suddenly had no consequences. Game of Thrones had done the unthinkable and outfitted them with plot armor. Keeping an actor around for another season suddenly seemed important than what the story wanted.

During its much-derided final two seasons, Game of Thrones abandoned the logical, honest storytelling that it had built an empire on. The show, in all aspects, got really dumb. Unfortunately, Rhaenyra’s scheme to speak face-to-face with Alicent on House of the Dragon warns the prequel series might follow in those footsteps.

There is simply no way someone as smart as Rhaenyra Targaryen would sneak into King’s Landing to meet with the mother of her enemy as she does on House of the Dragon, especially not after the death of her own son Lucerys and the brutal murder of Alicent’s little grandson Jaehaerys. Even with Rhaenyra’s genuine desire to avoid a bloody war, she would not put herself in that kind of situation because it would endanger her family and everyone who ever supported her.

The mere chance Alicent had either lied in her letter, changed her mind after Blood and Cheese, or would naturally freak out and and bar the city gates or sept’s doors the moment she got away from Rhaenyra was reason enough for Rhaenyra not to try this cockamamie reunion scheme. Anyone with half a brain would know that. There is no way to defend this House of the Dragon plot development unless you think Rhaenyra is actually that stupid.

Even if Rhaenyra is that idiotic (and until now, she hasn’t been), the reunion scene also required Alicent to be just as dumb. Either the Queen Dowager wants to win the war, or she wants peace. In either case, taking Rhaenyra hostage would give her what she wants. The moment Rhaenyra let Alicent walk away, Alicent should have called her guards.

This House of the Dragon scene can only exist if both people involved are as unintelligent as the scene needs them to be. This was an interaction, at best, devoid of logic and, at worse, actively antagonistic to the story. It’s hard to believe House of the Dragon couldn’t see why when it brought this reunion to life.

So why include the moment in show? Because that House of the Dragon scene wasn’t about Rhaenyra, Alicent, or even the Dance of the Dragons. It was about a TV show that simply wanted to once again have two great actresses in a scene together. Since there was no logical way to make that reunion happen (at this point in the story, at least), House of the Dragon invented an illogical one.

Is it fun to see great performers with incredible chemistry on-screen together again? In a vacuum, for sure. Do Alicent and Rhaenyra have a complicated and fascinating relationship in House of the Dragon that makes the thought of what they’d say to each other interesting? Again, in a vacuum, yes. And did the scene serve any purpose? It did, because Alicent now knows she helped launch a war on a misunderstanding. That reframes everything she does going forward. But do any of those things justify this House of the Dragon reunion scene’s existence? Absolutely not, because it doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It was too inauthentic and obviously silly to be good. It once again violated everything that has made Westeros a place worth revisiting on Sunday nights, bringing to mind the mistakes of the past.

This wasn’t House of the Dragon’s first time caring about being a TV show rather than an honest story. Rhaenys emerging from the dragonpit only to let her enemies live was just as silly. But this Rhaenyra-Alicent meeting was much worse because of who it involved. Alicent and Rhaenyra are House of the Dragon‘s two main characters, the beating hearts of the Blacks and the Greens. The Dance of the Dragons is their story. Now a big part of their story is them being morons. (We don’t mean Emma D’Arcy or Olivia Cooke, though. Both excelled in that scene despite its inanity.)

As we watch the two Queens’ story continue to unfold on House of the Dragon, we’ll have to think about their meeting scene in the Sept of Baelor, just as we had to think about when Daenerys “kind of forgot about the Iron Fleet.” That wasn’t really Daenerys’s fault, not like it was Ned Stark’s fault when he got himself killed. It was the fault of its creators then, just as it’s House of the Dragon‘s creators’ fault now. The characters, of course, don’t know they exist on a TV show, and anything that reminds us they do is bad for viewers.

If House of the Dragon continues to worry about making a TV show instead of telling a genuine story, we’ll remember it the same way we remember Game of Thrones’ final two seasons, and those are two seasons we’d rather forget.

Note: A previous version of this post misidentified the sept Rhaenyra met Alicent in as the Great Sept of Baelor.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post HOUSE OF THE DRAGON’s Absurd Reunion Scene Was as Bad as GAME OF THRONES’ Final Seasons appeared first on Nerdist.

House of the Dragon season two has already served more than one heartbreaking death. But the cruelest season two death so far came when the now-King Aegon II smashed his father’s meticulous model of Old Valyria into pieces in grief over his son’s murder. The painstakingly detailed model of the Targaryen homeland was King Viserys’ pride and joy, and all that hard work was shattered in seconds. Anyone who has ever built a LEGO set before knows (or fears) that truest of pains. We’re sure King Viserys was mourning from beyond the grave. RIP King Viserys’ model of Valyria; we barely knew you, and we still wish you to become an actual LEGO set.

King Aegon II Destroys Viserys’ 8 Meter Valaryian Model

Thunk, thunk, crunch. Anyone who has spent hours, no, days, putting together a particularly complex LEGO set felt a touch of pain in their heart at the smashing. In minutes, Aegon II unraveled an unmeasurable amount of work with a vengeful, grieving hand. After hearing of the death of his son, Jaehaerys Targaryen, the impetuous Aegon took his emotions out on an innocent bystander, King Viserys’ model of Valyria of old.

In the world of House of the Dragon, building his model of the old city, the one-time jewel of the Targaryen House, was Viserys’ escape in a world of dragons and snarling family members. Season one of House of the Dragon reveals that he poured over old texts and maps to accurately understand the makeup of Valyria and then directed the stone masons, who built the structure. So, of course, Viserys wasn’t as fully invested as a LEGO lover might be, but we have to imagine his heart was as deeply in it. Throughout season one, the model of Valyria grew and sprawled out, taking over the massive room. It seems that by the end of it, the small-scale city measured eight meters.

In reality, Viserys’ Valyria model comprises hundreds of 3D-printed pieces that Prop Modeler, Craig Narramore, Set Decorator, Claire Nia Richards, and more deftly put together and decorated, piece by piece, detail by detail. You can check out the full building experience in the video above. We can only hope the Valyria model that Aegon rammed his sword into was not the real thing.

The (Second) Death of Valyria Holds Greater Meaning in House of the Dragon

Poor Valyria. It seems it will always be destined for destruction. In Game of Thrones‘ world, the true cause of Valyria’s destruction is unknown, but history speculates that massive volcanic explosions caused the destruction of the city. In that instance, House Targaryen was saved thanks to a vision from Daenys Targaryen, who foresaw doom and convinced the Targaryens to flee the city for Dragonstone.

But will House Targaryen be saved this time? In House of the Dragon season one, Viserys’ model of Valyria was meant to represent a yearning in him, something he was looking to understand but could never quite grasp. A yearning, it seems, for a house united. Perhaps Viserys hoped that by bringing Valyria into his present existence, he could tap into something that made the Targaryens strong. But this second destruction of Valyria reveals that this dream, at least for now, is dead like the model Viserys so carefully put together.

The hope of unity is gone as both sides of the Targaryen house draw blood. And with it, any memories of their halcyon days. The destruction Viserys’ model of Valyria is an elegantly symbolic loss.

Paddy Considine Reacts to Aegon Smashing His LEGO Set on House of the Dragon

Of course, House of the Dragon exists in both its fictional world and our own. Viserys’ actor Paddy Considine had a choice meme to share after witnessing Aegon destroy his LEGO set on House of the Dragon episode two. As we suspected, Viserys as horrified at this destruction from beyond the grave.

But Aegon isn’t very ashamed of himself for his part in the destruction of Valyria. Aegon’s actor Tom Glynn-Carney responded shamelessly with a “shoddy workmanship.” Shots fired! We guess we’ll have to wait for the blooper reel to see Viserys’ ghost chiding his son for ruining all his hard work.

When Will We Get a Valyria House of the Dragon LEGO Set?

But now, we must ask the important question. When will we get a House of the Dragon Valyria LEGO set of our own to build? Sadly, it doesn’t look like there’s been any conversation about it since House of the Dragon season one came out. Not even a set on LEGO Ideas.

Ultimately, it’s your move LEGO. Only you can write this wrong. Hopefully, if we ever do get a LEGO Valyria set, no furious King comes along to smash it.

The post RIP to King Viserys’ LEGO Set/Model of Valyria, a True HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Death appeared first on Nerdist.

King Aegon Targaryen, Second of His Name, is an amoral, depraved man-child without honor. So when he finds an idea grotesque, it must surely be too terrible for anyone with a shred of decency to entertain. Yet in House of the Dragon‘s “Rhaenyra the Cruel,” the measured Otto Hightower proposed something that horrified his otherwise unethical grandson. The (now former) Hand of the King turned the brutal murder of little Prince Jaehaerys into a funeral progress of propaganda against Rhaenyra. It was a monstrous, sickening plan that turned his family’s private grief into a public spectable. And Otto was right to do it.

That’s not an easy thing to admit, but not for the reason you might think. Defending Otto Hightower’s actions on House of the Dragon means you are also legitimizing Tywin Lannister pulling off the Red Wedding on Game of Thrones.

It’s hard to imagine anything could make Alicent’s son Aegon recoil with horror. He grew up drinking and whoring his way through Flea Bottom where he frequented kids fighting pits, even though some of those children might have been his own unacknowledged bastards. He’s completely craven, and sitting the Iron Throne has only brought out the worst in him. Yet his grandfather’s ploy to turn little Jaehaerys’s murder into a public relations opportunity on House of the Dragon shocked the King. Even a despicable pig like Aegon recognized what anyone with an ethical bone or beating heart did instantly: this was a truly repellent suggestion, even for war.

But as Otto had told his daughter in private before the small council meeting, “Some good may yet come of this.” He wasn’t going to let Jaehaerys “die in vain,” even if that meant doing something Otto must have known in his soul was disgusting. He wouldn’t simply name Rhaenyra a “slayer of infants” without proof (totally unseemly on its own). Otto Hightower wanted to hold a funeral progress to let the people of King’s Landing physically look at a decapitated six-year-old so they could “look upon the works of this pretender to the throne.”

From there, word spread to the lords of Westeros, who would inevitably revaluate their loyalty to the Queen. But Otto Hightower wasn’t going to leave anything to chance on House of the Dragon. He was going to milk this unthinkable tragedy for every ounce of publicity he could. “The Realm must see the sorrow of the crown,” he said. “A sorrow best expressed through its most gentle souls.” Those souls were his guilt-stricken daughter and Jaehaerys’ sweet, traumatized, neurotypical mother, Queen Helaena. They’d have to sit behind the boy’s body as they were quite literally paraded through the city.

Otto’s reprehensible idea was even worse in reality. We had to see Jaehaerys, stitched back together, get stuck in a rut in the streets. We had to watch an overwhelmed Helaena made to suffer even more when she should have been left to grieve in private. And we had to hear Rhaenyra, a grieving mother herself, falsely labeled a monster to smallfolk being manipulated. Aegon, miraculously, was right to find the mere suggestion of the propaganda event so vile. Yet Otto Hightower’s reasoning for this House of the Dragon funeral progress is totally defensible. “Jaehaerys will do more for us now than a thousand knights in battle,” he said to the green council on, which ultimately agreed with him.

The Dance of the Dragons is here. There’s no stopping it now. Jaehaerys’ death will just be one of many still to come. Lots of people are going to die, many of them smallfolk and children as innocent as the little prince. Why not turn the boy’s death into a spectacle if it saves lives? What better outcome could there be? Wouldn’t lessening the pain and suffering of others be the kindest thing the greens can do, especially if the only price is their own pain?

Saying something is “the lesser of two evils” doesn’t mean something is not evil, which Otto Hightower’s House of the Dragon funeral progress surely was. But “lesser” is a relative term, and his plan might lessen the overall amount of evil in the world.

You don’t have to like anything about Otto Hightower’s otherwise unethical House of the Dragon scheme to recognize its merits. But the real quandary begins once you do. Because when you admit Otto had a point you also have to accept that you’re making the case for Tywin Lannister conspiring with Walder Frey to pull off the Red Wedding two centuries later on Game of Thrones.

Inviting people into your home under a banner of peace and protection only to slaughter them is obviously reprehensible. It’s the kind of unimaginable act that seems an obvious bridge too far (intended!) even when done against people you are literally at war with. Tyrion will raise the same argument with his father when he learns about what happened at the Twins. But Tywin Lannister will raise the same type of argument as Otto Hightower long before him: “Explain to me why it is more noble to kill ten thousand men in battle than a dozen at dinner,” Tywin will say.

Is he right? Was Game of Thrones’ Red Wedding—as plainly devious and cruel as it was—justified? If we acknowledge Otto had legitimate cause to use his grandson’s murder to save lives, don’t we have to admit Tywin will have legitimate cause to kill a dozen men in a dishonorable manner because he thinks it will save thousands from dying with honor? What’s honor to the dead anyway? Plus, Tywin didn’t attack innocents victims at the Red Wedding. He only killed soldiers engaged in a war against him and his family, the family he was trying to protect. How is one okay and not the other?

The answer is not obvious because there’s an obvious distinction between exploiting a death that has already happened versus committing literal murder. One is personally repugnant and exploitative, while the other is a war crime. Yet the distinction between the two probably isn’t large enough to make fans of the Seven Kingdoms comfortable. The only real lesson we can take comfort in is one both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon have left unquestioned: the only way to truly save lives in war is never to fight one.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. He is sick to his stomach for having defended Otto Hightower in any way. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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“If dragons begin fighting dragons, we invite our own destruction.” That’s the thesis statement of House of the Dragon season two, episode three’s new trailer. But, as we know, dragons will indeed begin fighting dragons on House of the Dragon. Unease has been brewing, but that tension is about to escalate into an all-out war. Episodes one and two of House of the Dragon season two were bloody, but it looks like fire is about to enter the equation as well.

You can check out the full trailer for House of the Dragon season two, episode three, below.

Dragons, dragons, and more dragons will arrive in episode three. That is why we’re here, after all. Additionally, the description of House of the Dragon season two’s third episode aptly notes, “Reason will be forgotten.” And it certainly does seem like things are heading that way, especially on the side of the greens. With Ser Criston Cole as Hand of the King, no doubt much is about to go wrong. Episode three of season two appears to be called “Second of His Name.”

House of the Dragon season two, episode three, will air on June 29 at 9 PM on HBO and Max. You can check out more about House of the Dragon season two’s full release schedule here. In the meanwhile, we’ll be rewatching this trailer.

We certainly can’t wait for even more dragons to fly into the fray as House of the Dragon continues.

The post HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 2, Episode 3 Trailer Teases Dragons Fighting Dragons appeared first on Nerdist.

House of the Dragon‘s second episode of season two delivered another iconic moment from George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood. Identical twins Erryk and Arryk Cargyll, two members of the late Viserys’ Kingsguard who split over which of his children to support, fought to the death on Dragonstone. The show’s emotional, intense duel answered some major question raised by the book. But the tale of that heinous assassination attempt was bigger than just the two dead knights. It’s also a major part of the story about the cretin responsible for the reprehensible plan, Ser Criston Cole. The reason he sent Ser Arryk has firmly established that unaccountable, dishonorable monster is one of Westeros’ all-time great villains.

After making fundamental changes to “Blood and Cheese,” House of the Dragon opted for a more faithful take on the infamous Cargyll duel. Just as all historians agree, Ser Arryk, member of Aegon’s Kingsguard, snuck onto Dragonstone to pose as his own brother, Erryk, member of Rhaenyra’s Queensguard. Fire & Blood‘s sources never agreed whether Arryk was there to kill the Queen or one of her children, only that the plot was a response to the murder of Prince Jaehaerys. The show made clear Rhaenyra was always his target.

The prequel also added a new wrinkle by having Mysaria play a role in preventing Rhaenyra’s death. On House of the Dragon the White Worm was on Dragonstone at the time, rather than in King’s Landing like in Fire & Blood. That made it possible for Mysaria to see a Cargyll twin walking up from the shore’s of Dragonstone. She knew that knight couldn’t be the same man she’d just see inside the castle protecting the Queen. Without the spymaster’s keen eye, Arryk very likely would have cut down the Queen in her bed.

(Fire & Blood says he never reached Rhaenyra’s bedchamber, but it’s easy to see why the Queen’s supporters would hide that fact. It makes her look weak and vulnerable. Aegon didn’t want people to know what happened to Jaehaerys for the same reason.)

The show then took full creative advantage of the conflicting historical sources the series is based on to give us an incredible adaptation. One source, Grand Maester Munkun, said the two brothers fought for nearly an hour. No one could intervene because it was impossible to tell which brother was which. (Something the show also included.) Munkun says the two then died crying in each other’s arms. Another source, the ribald Mushroom, said the fight was quick, brutal, and filled with hate. The victorious Ser Erryk then died four days later “screaming in horrible pain and cursing his traitorous brother all the while.”

Fire & Blood makes clear neither account is likely definitive. (The third, from Septon Eustace, only says the twins slew each other.) What history does make clear is which version people came to accept. The book says after the war “the singers and storytellers” showed a “marked preference for the tale as told by Munkun.” Why wouldn’t they? It makes for a better, more tragic song. That makes people cry and willing to pay coin. What House of the Dragon delivered, though, was a far more emotional and honest duel than anything described in Fire & Blood.

The prequel’s duel had both professions of both love and anger. The two brothers, who were essentially once one, fought violently. Each tried uphold their sacred vows even against the person they actually cared about most in the world. They still loved each other and hated what they were doing, but as Cregan Stark said, “Duty is sacrifice.” In the end, Ser Erryk did protect his Queen from her would-be assassin as Mushroom wrote, but he didn’t die from his wounds days later. Killing his brother was too much for Erryk to live with. In his final moment he apologized to his Queen before falling on his own sword.

It was a truly heartbreaking sequence, one of the show’s best yet. It’s also a scene that captures the personal tragedy that defines the Dance of the Dragons.

And it was all Criston Cole’s fault.

Fire & Blood says the Lord Commander concocted the plan, just as he did on the show. (One slight HBO change is that Aegon had already named Ser Criston Hand of the King before Cole put his assassination scheme in motion.) What House of the Dragon expanded on was the real reason Cole sent Ser Arryk on his ill-fated mission. Into wasn’t just to “pay the princess back in her own bloody coin” after Blood and Cheese. It wasn’t to end a war before it started. It was to make Criston Cole feel less guilty.

At the episode’s start, for a brief moment, Criston Cole showed a tiny shred of humanity. He felt remorse for his role in little Prince Jaehaerys’ death. Rather than doing his sworn duty to protect the Royal family, the Lord Commander was violating it by sharing a bed with Alicent Hightower.

The Dowager Queen could see Cole was troubled by what had happened. The unimaginable murder of a child had shaken the arrogant Cole. Alicent then asked if he’d told anyone about what they’d been doing. When Cole wondered what kind of idiot she took him for, she said, “One who seeks absolution.” Cole answered, “There is none for what I’ve done.”

That correct acknowledgement was as close as Cole would come to taking any accountability for his unforgivable, dishonorable transgressions. Instead of reflecting on his failures and holding himself responsible for his own sins, Cole turned his self-anger and failures onto another, just as he did in season one. He shamelessly begged young Rhaenyra to run off with him not out of love but so he could he could restore his self-worth. That emotional manipulation didn’t work on her. It did work on Ser Arryk. And the way Cole manipulated a knight of actual nobility showed the full, monstrous depths of the craven Lord Commander.

“The white cloak is a symbol of our purity, our fidelity,” Cole said to Arryk about a cloak Ser Cargyll got dirty during a funeral for a child. The audaciousness of that statement would have been laughable if it wasn’t so disgusting. Cole then kept piling on as blatant, knowing hypocrisy poured out of his mouth like a waterfall of sewage. “Kingsguard are a sacred trust. Will you so easily sully our ancient honor?” he said.

The way the righteously indignant Arryk responsed also showed why Cole was even more responsible for Jaehaerys’ death than it seemed. When Cole questioned where Arryk was during the assassination (protecting the King), Arryk answered, ““Where were you, Lord Commander? And why has Helaena the Queen been granted no sworn protector? Surely once she ascended she should have…”

Helaena had no sworn protector because Cole is breaking his vows with the old Queen. If he were not, he would have rightfully had a Kingsguard protecting the new Queen instead. If Cole wasn’t sleeping with Aegon’s mother, his son would still be alive.

The despicable Cole couldn’t actually respond to an accurate asessement without admitting his heonous wrongs. So instead he changed the subject and attacked Arryle’s integrity, something Cole lacks entirely. Ser Criston said since Erryk is a traitor and a thief no one could trust Arryk completely. That is unless Arryk went on this shameful scheme, one no respectable member of the Kingsguard would ever ask another to do. Arryk knew he shouldn’t go. He knew this was a vile scheme unbecoming of their order. But he also wanted to keep his vows and prove his loyalty. So he went. And he died. As did his brother.

When a heartbroken Ser Erryk fell on his sword, he ended his life. Ser Criston Cole, named Hand of the King as reward for his treachery, responded by returning to Alicent’s bed, once and forever sullying his white cloak and all that it stands for.

The reason that tragic duel on Dragonstone happened ensured Criston Cole’s true place in Game of Thrones‘ infamy. The Lord Commander knows deep in his black green heart he has “brought disgrace” upon his sacred ranks. But it’s not that he he just doesn’t care and refuses to take personaly responsibility that makes him so vile. It’s that he makes his failings, dishonor, and guilt everyone else’s problem, a problem they pay for with their lives. That’s why he’s truly one of the greatest, most hatable villains in the history of the Seven Kingdoms.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist and the world’s leading Criston Cole hater. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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We know. It’s sad news for everyone. But the breakout star of House of the Dragon season two, episode one, Lord Cregan Stark, played by Tom Taylor, won’t be back again this season. House of the Dragon co-creator Ryan Condal and Taylor himself confirmed this message, citing that the introduction of Cregan Stark was just a tease… for now. There’s a lot of story to tell on House of the Dragon season two, after all. Here’s what we know about when we’ll see Cregan Stark again in House of the Dragon.

House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 1 Introduces Lord Cregan Stark (But Only for a Scene)

It’s always good to see a Stark on a Game of Thrones series. Although Starks are prone to hold onto honor to the point of stupidity, they definitely provide a moral center in a lawless universe. After House of the Dragon season two’s first episode, fans reacted strongly to seeing Winterfell, hearing the Stark theme play, and, of course, meeting Lord Cregan Stark.

Cregan Stark’s honorable ways match those of his descendants, whom we meet on Game of Thrones. He promises Jacaerys Velaryon, aka Jace, that he will keep his oaths and send soldiers to support Rhaenyra Targaryen in her claim to the throne. However, he also implies that he’s aware of the much greater threat to the Game of Thrones universe: death that brews in the north. This subtle intimation nods to a much deeper connection between the Starks and the Targaryens.

Sadly, the present connection is cut short, as Jace and Cregan’s time abruptly ends after harrowing news is delivered from the south. After word of his brother’s death, Jace and the audience depart from Winterfell, leaving everyone to wonder when we might see Lord Cregan Stark return to House of the Dragon. After episode one, it feels like Cregan Stark’s House of the Dragon return should be imminent, but unfortunately, we’ll have to wait a little longer than that.

Winterfell Was Always in the Plans for Episode One of House of the Dragon Season 2, But the Narrative Only Allowed for So Much

In Fire and Blood, the George R.R. Martin novel that House of the Dragon is based on, there are differing accounts of what might have happened between Jace and Lord Cregan Stark in Winterfell. Of course, Fire and Blood is designed as a history and not a first-hand account, leaving room for the series to change things as makes sense for the TV narrative. In this case, we see neither blood oaths nor bastards appear on the scene. Instead, the encounter is quite streamlined. The show’s creators share that while they wanted to offer a taste of Cregan Stark, Winterfell, and Jace’s political beginnings, there was a lot of other story to get into in House of the Dragon. And thus, there’s no more room for Cregan Stark in season two of House of the Dragon.

Condal reveals, “We definitely always wanted that scene. For a long time, I think going back to filming season 1, I had it in my head that that was going to be the opening sequence of season 2. But as fun as that sequence is, beyond Cregan agreeing to send soldiers South, there isn’t any real inherent drama in that scene. He’s already sworn for Rhaenyra. We know that Starks are never going to go back on an oath, no matter which Stark swore it. So it’s more of a sequence to bring us back into the world, be in a place where we’re ahead of Jace — we know his brother is dead, he does not yet know it — and the fun fan service of going to the North and seeing that.”

Condal adds, “[The scene in the show] was the version that gets all the information that you need: it’s a political victory for Jace, we introduce Cregan, we understand his quandary with winter coming and having to release troops, and all that. We have so many other POVs to cover and satisfy on both Black and Green side. That was always the appropriate amount of story.”

Sara Hess, Condal’s lead writing partner, further surmises, “We end season 1 with Luke’s death, and that’s where we want to be. Jace very quickly gets that news. It didn’t feel right to end season 1 with Luke dying and then just be at Winterfell for a really long time when you’re dying to know what’s going on with Rhaenyra. When you see that look, Rhaenyra gives at the end of season 1, how much time do you want to spend away from that? We definitely had to pick our narratives there.”

Will We See Lord Cregan Stark Again in House of the Dragon Season 2?

Alas, this departure from Winterfell will last longer than one episode. It sounds like Lord Cregan Stark will not return again in House of the Dragon season two. Although given his place in the narrative and the audience’s strong reaction to him, we will likely see Cregan Stark back in future seasons of the Game of Thrones show, potentially even in season three.

Condal reveals about Cregan Stark’s House of the Dragon season three future, “We’ll see how that plays. Anybody who reads the books knows that he does play a role in the larger Dance of the Dragons. I would love to have Tom back. We really enjoyed working with him, but I think we need to play the story out a bit and see where it takes us.”

That’s not a yes, but it’s also not a no. Taylor himself shares, “I was just itching to do more, as well. I was in the costume. I was like, ‘I just want to keep acting.’ But, yeah, it’s just a little tease for now.”

A little tease that had major impact. Even if we don’t get to see Lord Cregan Stark again on House of the Dragon season two, we will definitely still be wondering what manner of things are transpiring in the north.

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The Targaryen civil war has begun in earnest in season two of House of the Dragon. While the people in this conflict are all varying degrees of “terrible human,” the dragons are innocent in all this. They just want to breathe fire and eat some sheep. Now, there’s a new way of showing your love for the precious dragons of Westeros. Kross Studios has revealed a new set of collector’s watches and egg cases, inspired by House of the Dragon. The six latest collectors sets pay homage to the dragons Arrax, Silverwing, Moondancer, Seasmoke, Vermithor, and Sunfyre. These complement and complete their dragon-inspired series. You can check out images of these exquisite collector’s timepieces below in our gallery:

Game of Thrones – House of the Dragon Collector’s Set

Click To View Gallery

Each of these House of the Dragon collector sets pays homage to a specific dragon from George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire saga, capturing their unique essence and terrifying presence. Previous unique collector set editions, all currently sold out, were dedicated to Balerion, Viserion, Viserion Ice Dragon, Drogon, Rhaegal, Syrax, Caraxès, Meleys, Vaghar, and Vermax. The crafted dragon egg sculpture is in resin, and comes hand-painted by the renowned French workshop Leblon Delienne. Each egg, inspired by the appearance of its corresponding dragon, serves as a nest for the watch. 

The central feature of each set is a central floating tourbillon watch, designed by Kross Studio’s founder Marco Tedeschi. The House of the Dragon watch and its tourbillon, suspended beneath a sapphire crystal dome, reflects the aesthetic codes of House Targaryen, from its 45mm, grade 5 titanium case to its intricate movement. They’re not quite Valyrian steel, but the closest thing to it in our less exciting and dragon-free realm. For more information and pricing, head over to the official Kross Studios website.

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When we began our History of Thrones series examining important events and people from the complex and controversial past of Westeros, we were searching for clues about what might happen on Game of Thrones. What we didn’t know at the time was that HBO would one day bring some of those stories to the screen, too. House of the Dragon takes place long before Daenerys brought dragons back to the Realm. But before she tried to reclaim her family’s Iron Throne, another Targaryen woman fought to sit upon it, Rhaenyra Targaryen. If you want to learn all about Princess Rhaenyra and why we believed her story was a harbinger of things to come on Game of Thrones, here’s everything you need to know about her life and brief reign. Just be warned, this tragic tale is full of spoilers for Rhaenyra Targaryen’s journey and House of the Dragon.

You can find all other History of Thrones entries here.

Jump to: The First Woman to Claim the Iron Throne // King Viserys’ Son // Rhaenyra Targaryen’s Romances // Targaryen Civil War // Rhaenyra Targaryen on the Iron Throne // The Death of Rhaenyra Targaryen

Rhaenyra Targaryen, the First Woman to Claim the Iron Throne

Game of Thrones’ sixth season ends with Cersei Lannister as queen of Westeros, but only after innumerable tragedy and unspeakable acts of horror. She has the support of few friends, is beset by enemies on all sides, and, if all that isn’t bad enough… She doesn’t have any dragons at her disposal like the only other woman to claim the Iron Throne before her.

Because while Cersei became the first official female queen of the Seven Kingdoms, she was not the first woman to sit in Aegon the Conqueror’s royal chair as Westeros’ ruler. That title belongs to the Half-Year Queen, Rhaenyra Targaryen. Rhaenyra Targaryen briefly held King’s Landing during the infamous Targaryen Civil War known as the Dance of the Dragons. The story of this war and of Rhaenyra Targaryen will now be explored in the Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon.

King Viserys Targaryen Names Rhaenyra His Heir

The war of succession between Rhaenyra Targaryen and her half-brother Aegon II got its name both from its combatants and the dragons who fought each other over the skies of the Seven Kingdoms. But the story begins long before, back during the time of Rhaenyra’s childhood.

Rhaenyra Targaryen, born in 97 AC, was the only surviving child of King Viserys and his first wife, Aemma Arryn. Their first son died as an infant. And their second son passed away a day after Queen Aemma died during birth. The early episodes of House of the Dragon chronicle this part of Rhaenyra Targaryen’s life.

To ensure that his brother Daemon was not his heir, Viserys announced in 105 AC that Rhaenyra, already a dragonrider, would follow him on the throne. The King made the Lords of Westeros swear fealty to his eight-year-old daughter as the lawful successor to the crown. Rhaenyra Targaryen was named the Princess of Dragonstone, and thereafter was always by her father’s side, becoming known as the Realm’s Delight. Rhaenyra was beautiful, with classic, old Valyrian looks. But while a popular figure (early in life), she was also a proud woman with a temper.

King Viserys’ Son and the Birth of Civil War

Viserys thought the matter of succession was established for good in 105 AC. He had reason to believe it was. He ascended to the Iron Throne without issue after the Great Council of 101 AC named him King Jaehaerys’ heir. But a year after naming Rhaenyra as his, he remarried. He wedded Alicent Hightower, daughter of his Hand Ser Otto Hightower. Their union is what set the future civil war set in motion, even if the king didn’t realize it. Because a year after they wed, King Viserys and Queen Alicent had a son (107 AC), Aegon, followed by a daughter and two other sons.

You can probably see where this is going.

Sons, no matter their date of birth, always came before daughters in the line of succession. And with the King now having two surviving boys, it was thought he would name his eldest son the rightful heir. But Viserys refused to change his mind. He said he had already named Rhaenyra his successor and that the lords of the Realm had sworn to honor his wish and will. Not everyone wanted those vows kept, though. And some questioned Rhaenyra Targaryen as heir to the Iron Throne.

Ser Otto Hightower Loses His Position for Questioning Rhaenyra’s Claim

Viserys’ Hand and father of the Queen, Otto Hightower, pushed the issue of succession after his grandson’s birth so often that Viserys dismissed him from both his position and King’s Landing. The formerly warm relationship between Queen Alicent and Princess Rhaenyra also grew cold. From their enmity, two factions grew at court. The “Blacks” supported Rhaenyra. The “Greens” backed the Queen. (The names were references to dresses each woman wore at a large tournament).

During this time, the two most important men in Rhaenyra’s life were her uncle Daemon and Ser Criston Cole. She was very fond of both of them and them of her. Her history with both was, for lack of a better word, complicated. But what we know of her relationship with each help explain future events. House of the Dragon also delves into Rhaenyra Targaryen’s complex relationships with both these men.

The Men Who Loved Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen

Ser Criston Cole

Criston Cole named young Rhaenyra the queen of love and beauty at a grand tourney. Soon after he became her personal sworn shield as a member of the Kingsguard. She had asked her father to give him the position. But Viserys was clearly impressed with Ser Criston, too. The King eventually promoted Cole to Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. House of the Dragon delves into Criston Cole and Rhaenyra Targaryen’s romance and even resolves a mystery about their relationship from the Game of Thrones book, Fire & Blood.

Daemon Targaryen

The story of the princess and her valiant knight did not end as a fairy tale, though. A sordid and controversial story began to spread that Rhaenyra lost her virginity to her uncle Daemon at age 16. No one knows if that is true. But Targaryens had long married within the family to keep their bloodlines pure. And King Viserys did exile his brother shortly after. In House of the Dragon, the answer seems to be that Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen did not sleep together when she was young. But perhaps we do not know the full story yet.

Doomed Romance

Meanwhile, the histories tell another story about Rhaenyra and the other man who loved her. As mentioned, one tale tells that the day came when Criston Cole professed his love to Rhaenyra and asked her to run away with him to Essos. But instead, she questioned his loyalties since he wanted to break his sworn Kingsguard vow. But another version of the story says that it was she who professed her love to him, only for him to turn her down. Whatever really happened between the princess and her sworn shield, has remained a mystery until now. But whatever it was, he suddenly became a bitter enemy of hers. Once again, if House of the Dragon is to be believed, it was actually Cole who confessed to Rhaenyra, but instead of questioning him, she wanted him to remain her lover and guard. In any case, Ser Criston Cole then became supporter of Queen Alicent and the Greens.

Game of Thrones‘ prequel series professes to deliver a true account of the events of the time. What we know so far comes from meta “histories,” where the truth of events became distorted with time. It seems that House of the Dragon reveals to us the truths of the relationships between Rhaenyra Targaryen, Daemon Targaryen, and Criston Cole. And, indeed, we have seen depictions of many of moments between the trio.

The Controversial Marriages of Rhaenyra Targaryen

Eventually, Rhaenyra entered into a politically motivated marriage with Ser Laenor Velaryon. Her father arranged the union and threatened to name his son Aegon heir instead when she protested the arrangement. Her desire to be queen was greater than her lack of desire for a husband. But it seems perhaps the match was not a great one for either of the pair. The Princess said Laenor would be more interested in romancing her half-brothers. The couple did officially have three sons together, but the overwhelming evidence indicated Laenor was not their father. The inescapable and obvious question of paternity in the matter of Rhaenyra Targaryen’s children would become a major moment on the path to civil war. Rumors of the boy’s true father would also lead to bitter disputes with their cousins that led to violence over the years.

A few years later, Ser Laenor died during a fight with a dear friend. Some believe it was a lovers quarrel born of jealousy. But others whispered that Daemon arranged to have Laenor murdered. That was never proven. What happened next, though, did nothing to quell the murmur of conspiracy. Rhaenyra quickly remarried, this time to her uncle Daemon. Their controversial union angered her father. Still, the king did not announce a different heir. And that’s where things stood when Viserys died in 129 AC, and all dragon hell broke loose.

On House of the Dragon, we see the marriage between Rhaenyra and Daemon take place. In House of the Dragon‘s version of Rhaenyra, Daemon, and Laenor’s story things go a bit differently. The three come to some kind of arrangement and stage Laenor’s death so he can escape with his lover somewhere far away, and Rhaenyra and Daemon can wed.

The Death of King Viserys Leads to All-Out Targaryen Civil War

Rhaenyra was in Dragonstone, away from court, when her father, Viserys Targaryen, died, an event that has finally happened on House of the Dragon. Meanwhile, Queen Alicent was in King’s Landing. On House of the Dragon, Alicent is at Viserys side when he dies, and hears him speak of the prophecy, “A Song of Ice and Fire.” She does not realize Viserys believes himself to be speaking to Rhaenyra. These are events that the books do not recount.

In the books, after Alicent learned of her husband’s death, she kept it hidden for a week. In the meantime, she called together the small council to determine succession. The council was almost entirely made up of Greens, save for Lord Lyman Beesbury. He argued that Rhaenyra was the rightful heir. For that, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Criston Cole, slit his throat, ending the debate. It’s why Cole is forever known as the Kingmaker. In House of the Dragon, we see these events take place according to what is set out in the books. Although Alicent seems much more empathetic to Rhaenyra and what she might go through and does not wish to kill her, while Otto Hightower is much more set on blood.

In the Game of Thrones books, Aegon II reluctantly accepted the title of King only after he was convinced his half-sister would execute him when she became Queen. Rhaenyra was predictably furious when she finally heard everything that had happened. In response, she had herself crowned on Dragonstone. In House of the Dragon, however, Rhaenyra Targaryen has a much more measured initial response to the news of what has transpired with the crown. Although she crowns herself Queen, she initially agrees to consider the terms sent by Queen Alicent and Otto Hightower. Though Rhaenyra does not think to give up her claim, she notes she does not wish to rule over a kingdom of ash and bone.

The Realm Chooses Sides in the Dance of the Dragons

Despite swearing a vow to King Viserys, many lords of the realm took up Aegon’s claim, for a myriad of reasons. Chief among them was that Rhaenyra Targaryen was a woman. Some also believed her children, next in line to the Iron Throne, were bastards. And some thought crowning her would ultimately make her despised uncle-husband King. However, she had many supporters who planned to keep their vow to her. Plus, she had one major advantage over her brother—Rhaenyra’s side had more dragons than Aegon and the Greens.

Any small hope for a peaceful resolution went out the window quickly. The two sides quickly went to work rallying support which led to a deathly encounter. King Aegon’s brother Aemond, riding on his giant dragon Vhagar, killed Rhaenyra’s son Luce atop of his much smaller dragon, Arrax. When Luce died over Shipbreaker’s Bay off of Storm’s End, peace was no longer an option. In House of the Dragon, Lucerys’ death at Aemond and Vhagar’s hands appears to be more accidental than in the books. However, when news reaches Rhaenyra Targaryen at the end of season one of House of the Dragon, it still strikes the match of full-on war.

To tell the tale of the entire Dance of the Dragons would take five more parts. (NOTE: There’s a reason HBO chose this as its first Game of Thrones spinoff. It features some epic fights, horrible tragedies, and shocking moments we haven’t even touched on). But Westeros will never forget when the skies filled with the flames and shadows of dragons battling one another. And the Realm will never forget how it ended.

Fire & Blood Comes to House Targaryen

King Aegon II was badly injured early in the war. He and his dragon spent most of the Dance missing out of sight. Some even thought Aegon was dead for most of it. However, in the end, he emerged victorious. But only for a very brief time.

Rhaenyra Targaryen could, and probably even should, have won this civil war. She had enough of the realm’s support along with her superior number of dragons. But she lost too many of each of these aspects because of her own anger, paranoia, and mistakes. (She even lost the bastard Targaryens who became Dragonriders during the way. They betrayed her like so many others.). Despite all of that, though, she did sit upon the Iron Throne for a fleeting time.

Rhaenyra Targaryen Takes the Iron Throne, but Only For a Moment

While the Green forces were away from King’s Landing, they foolishly left the capital sparsely protected. That allowed Rhaenyra and Daemon to easily take the city, where she sat on the Iron Throne for half-a-year. An infamous story says when Rhaenyra Targaryen first got up from the chair, she was bleeding from so many cuts. To some, it meant the throne had rejected her for not being worthy. (Though, in fairness, how many people could avoid being cut by a chair of swords the first time they tried to get comfortable in it?)

Rhaenyra Targaryen’s brief rule, which her brother Aegon later declared unofficial, initially caused a celebration in the city. But the Queen soon grew unpopular. She raised taxes, began executing green loyalists, and earned the crude moniker of “King Maegor with Teats.” That was a hard reference to the brutal and hated third Targaryen king.

Rhaenyra Targaryen’s Death—How Did the Queen Die?

Rhaenyra’s time on the Iron Throne enraged citizens so much they came to think of dragons as evil. So one legendary night, they stormed the Dragonpit in a frenzy and killed the four dragons inside. (Many died during the attack.) They also killed Rhaenyra’s own dragon Syrax, shortly thereafter. Having already lost her first three sons to the war, Rhaenyra fled back to Dragonstone for safety. But there she was betrayed and brought before her injured and delirious brother King Aegon II.

So how did Rhaenyra Targaryen die? Well, Aegon had his dragon Sunfyre burn Rhaenyra alive before he ate her. (Sunfyre was one of only two dragons left from many who fought in the war). He also made Rhaenyra’s young son, also named Aegon, watch his mother die. The King refused calls to execute his nephew, though. Instead, he kept him prisoner as his enemies continued the war in the name of Rhaenyra’s son and own heir. And the younger Aegon would ultimately achieve what his mother couldn’t.

King Aegon Is Dead, Long Live King Aegon

Someone close to King Aegon II—who proved himself as unworthy of the Iron Throne as many had feared—murdered the unpopular monarch not long after Rhaenyra Targaryen’s death. And his demise raised the same issue that started the Dance of the Dragons decades earlier. Aegon II died without an obvious heir.

In a poetic end to the deadly war, Rhaenyra’s son with Daemon became King Aegon III. He was also wed to his cousin, Aegon II’s daughter Jaehaera. Their marriage reunited both sides of House Targaryen. But the new King was a sad man who never recovered from seeing his mother’s horrible death. He was known by many names, such as Aegon the Unlucky, Aegon the Unhappy, and the Broken King.

But his lasting moniker is Aegon the Dragonsbane. Because during his rule, the last dragons died (until Daenerys’ time, almost 150 years later). Some suspected him of conspiring to eliminate the creatures due to his personal hatred. But other theories say the maesters of the Citadel, who hated magic and the death caused by dragons, secretly plotted to kill them off.

When Aegon III died, his brother, Viserys—once thought lost forever—ended up sitting on the Iron Throne himself. For everything denied her, Rhaenyra Targaryen ended up being the mother of two kings.

The Dance of the Dragons’ Legacy and House of the Dragons

The Dance of the Dragons was the swan song of the dragons. And House Targaryen was never as powerful without them as they were before.

As for Rhaenyra Targaryen, she grew up believing she would rule Westeros. But when the time came, her enemies and family stole the crown from her. She answered with fire and blood and was destroyed by them. So while Rhaenyra may have been the first woman to claim the Iron Throne, she never ruled the Seven Kingdoms. The Half-Year Queen’s tale is the ultimate reminder that all rulers—whether Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen, or Cersei Lannister—need more than many dragons to rule. They need the support of the people. And the people never truly wanted a woman to rule.

What none of those who opposed Rhaenyra Targaryen knew, including us until House of the Dragon, though, was that Rhaenyra was fighting for something bigger than herself. She knew about Aegon’s dream of Ice and Fire. Her father gave the responsibility of the world to her. For that, she’s a far more sympathetic figure than the histories have ever told of the woman who lost the Dance of the Dragons. But it also means her many mistakes are more unforgivable, too.

Originally published on July 1, 2017.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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Westeros isn’t getting any bigger, but its presence on HBO certainly is thanks to a very large and legendary knight. A second live-action Game of Thrones spinoff is coming about the Realm’s most beloved duo, Dunk and Egg. What’s the show called? Who is this famous knight and his young Targaryen squire? And why are fans of George R.R. Martin so excited to see them come to life? Here’s everything we know about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms so far.

HBO Shares First Production Image From and New Cats Members

Ser Duncan is officially here. HBO has shared the first official pimage from the production in Belfast and it features the “lunk” known as Dunk walking through a market. His raggedy clothes suggest this moment comes from his pre-Egg days. (Not that he’ll look that much better later. Hedge knights aren’t exactly the best dressed knights.)

The network also announced some major new cast members and their roles along with the photo’s release:

• Finn Bennett as Aerion Targaryen
• Bertie Carvel as Baelor Targaryen
• Tanzyn Crawford as Tanselle
• Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Barotheon
• Sam Spruell as Maekar Targaryen

Sarah Adina Smith (Lessons In Chemistry) has also come aboard to direct three of the season’s six episodes.

Title

At one point the spinoff was working under the wordy title of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight. But a recent report says HBO has—thankfully—dropped the latter. The prequel is now operating under the simpler name and the book it’s adapting, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms‘ Plot 

The show’s official logline provided an introduction to the series’ time period and characters. From HBO:

A century before the events of Game of Thrones, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros… a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends.

Fans of A Song of Ice and Fire know much more about the beloved duo’s exploits and lifelong friendship. Martin’s three novellas cover both big and small events related to Westeros during a dangerous time in the Seven Kingdoms. Dunk and Egg began their time together shortly after the second Targaryen civil war known as the Blackfyre Rebellion. The fresh wounds of that Realm-splitting battle is why Egg needed to hide his real identity while serving as Duncan’s squire.

Martin has also previously confirmed a fan theory that the honorable, noble Ser Duncan the Tall is the ancestor of Brienne of Tarth. (Though we don’t yet know how.) Despite taking place a century before its HBO predecessor, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will also have more direct ties to Game of Thrones. Brynden Rivers, Egg’s uncle and the most notorious figure in Westeros, would go on to become the Three-Eyed Raven. And Egg’s older brother is none other than Maester Aemon of the Night’s Watch.

Martin has long said he has plans for many more Dunk & Egg stories. The show could ultimately adapt those unwritten/unpublished tales into entire seasons. HBO’s head of drama Francesca Orsi has said the series will “ideally year-to-year and arcing out a three-season series, which maps out the three novellas that George wrote.” But that doesn’t mean it will only run three years. She also said, “Of course, we’d like more beyond that, and George is continuing to think about the remaining novellas that he still wants to write, but at this point, we have our eye on three seasons that would map out each book, each novella.”

The adult exploits of Dunk and Egg are also explored in Martin’s massive compendium book The World of Ice and Fire. (Spoilers!)

Behind the Scenes

Martin and Ira Parker will write and serve as executive producers the show. House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal will also serve as as executive producer along with Vince Gerardis. Owen Harris (Black Mirror‘s “Be Right Back” and “San Junipero”) will direct the show’s first three episodes.

Production began in the spring of 2024 following the end of the writers and actors strikes.

Additionally, Martin wrote The Hedge Knight will be shorter than the other Game of Thrones series on HBO, however, it will be no less brutal, to be sure. Success for The Hedge Knight could mean other Dunk & Egg stories receive spinoffs. (And maybe Martin will even write a few more.)

Here’s what Martin shared in full.

THE HEDGE KNIGHT will be a lot shorter than GAME OF THRONES or HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, with a much different tone… but it’s still Westeros, so no one is truly safe  Ira Parker and his team are doing a great job.  I hope to visit the shoot come July, when I swing by Belfast on my way to the worldcon in Glasgow.    The show will make its debut next year… and if it does well, THE SWORN SWORD and THE MYSTERY KNIGHT will follow.  By which time I hope to have finished some more Dunk & Egg stories (yes, after I finish THE WINDS OF WINTER).

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms‘ Cast

The only two stars of the show we know so far are the two most important. 6’4″ tall Peter Claffey (Bad Sisters, Vikings: Valhalla) will play the legendary Ser Duncan the Tall. Young Dexter Sol Ansell (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) will serve as Dunk’s diminutive squire, the fiery secret Targaryen prince Aegon forever known as “Egg.”

Martin publicly praised Dexter Sol Ansell’s transformation into Egg.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms‘ Release Date

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has previously said HBO is targeting a “late 2025″ premiere.

Originally published May 22, 2024.

The post HBO Shares First Official DUNK AND EGG Spinoff Image, Announces New Cast Members appeared first on Nerdist.

House of the Dragon is back, and while it’s still using the franchise’s signature theme song, the show has a gorgeous new opening credits sequence. The Game of Thrones‘ prequel’s season two premiere began by weaving together a Targaryen family tapestry of fire and blood.

Instead of focusing on the Targaryen family lineage like season one’s opening credits did with its more mechanical sequence, House of the Dragon‘s second season intro has a more personal feel. It highlights some of the most famous moments of the family’s time in Westeros as it builds to Aegon II and his half-sister Rhaenyra sitting on their competing thrones in the Dance of the Dragons. (He sits on the Iron Throne in King’s Landing. She sits on Dragonstone’s.)

But while this opening might be more beautiful, it’s also more ominous. The red threads of this Targaryen tapestry serves as a reminder of just how much fire and blood they brought to the Realm.

The post HOUSE OF THE DRAGON’s New Opening Credits Weaves a Targaryen Family Tapestry appeared first on Nerdist.

House of the Dragon has a big creative advantage over most adaptations. George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood is not a definitive account of events. It’s a history of House Targaryen “written” by a maester that is incomplete or even wrong in certain places. (Though we can’t always know how or where). That’s especially true of the time period the HBO’s prequel series is retelling. That section is based on three biased sources that frequently conflict with one another, often because none of the chroniclers actually witnessed the events they wrote about. Their blindspots and distortions provide House of the Dragon narrative freedom. It also lets the show fill in huge gaps never mentioned. And House the Dragon‘s season two premiere used that storytelling advantage to make Queen Alicent and Ser Criston Cole’s relationship far more troubling, complex, and interesting.

In Fire & Blood, Kingsguard member Criston Cole goes from being the sworn sword of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen to the personal protector of her enemy, Alicent Hightower. No one in Westeros ever hated Rhaenyra more than the man who crowned her brother Aegon king. The Targaryen history provides a very personal reason for the enmity between the two formerly close duo: their relationship turned sexual.

In Fire & Blood, one source claims Cole asked Rhaenyra to run across the Narrow Sea with her, giving up her claim to the Iron Throne. Another says it was Rhaenyra who asked him to forsake his vows to the Kingsguard. What every historian agrees on is that, after that moment, the two despised one another. Criston Cole didn’t just turn his back on her, he worked to destroy her.

House of the Dragon‘s first season provided a definitive answer as to what happened between them. It’s the one that always made the most sense based on what we knew about each. It was Criston Cole, the worst person ever, who begged Rhaenyra to leave Westeros behind with him. The HBO series also gave us a reason for his request. It wasn’t one driven by love or even lust. Cole felt guilt for having broken his sacred vows in the first place and he wanted Rhaenyra to give up everything to make him feel better about himself. When she refused in House of the Dragon season one, Criston Cole abandoned her and went into the service of Queen Alicent instead.

For everything Fire & Blood says/suggests about Cole and Rhaenyra’s relationship, both explicitly and in subtext, it says almost nothing of his relationship with Alicent. Criston Cole becomes Alicent’s sworn sword and protector, but none of the book’s sources raise even a hint of impropriety between the two. But that doesn’t mean the show created a physical relationship out of thin air, either.

Westeros remembers Criston Cole for the unethical punk he was. It also knows he almost certainly broke his vows and slept with Rhaenyra. (Who was a drunk teenager the first time they slept together on the show). It’s not a stretch, in any way, to imagine Cole also went on to violate his oaths with a young, beautiful widow like Alicent. Nor it is absurd to think that a woman whose entire life was defined/bound by duty until that point took her handsome knight to bed when she was under the most stress she’d ever know.

While their physical relationship contributed to the show botching Fire & Blood‘s most shocking moment (the other side of the adaptation freedom coin), this expansion of their story is ultimately a good thing for the show. It makes all of their interactions more fraught. Their advice to Aegon, whether they agree or not, is also harder to trust. Alicent and Criston Cole have entangled themselves in a way that has often doomed other duos because personal relationships have a tendency to undermine duty and rational thinking.

Each character is also more interesting on their own now, too. This evolution of the relationship makes Alicent more complex and, therefore, more compelling. She’s not as “perfect” as she thought. Maybe now she fears/knows Rhaenyra was right about her true nature, especially since Alicent did the very thing she held against Rhaenyra. It’s even possible jealousy of how Rhaenyra got to live her life drove Alicent into Criston Cole’s arms in House of the Dragon season two. And while Alicent’s hypocrisy makes her less righteous, calling her piety into question, it makes her more human and, therefore, possibly more sympathetic. She’s as vulnerable and flawed as anyone. She gave in to her basest desires just like any other human might.

While this relationship twist makes Alicent more dynamic, it also makes Lord Commander Ser Criston Cole an even greater villain. He’s less a knight and more a walking fraud who speaks with a forked tongue. Every awful thing he says about Rhaenyra is projection. He can’t truly protect the King and his family because he’s compromised himself. He’s the amoral, unethical center at the Dance of the Dragons.

He’s what the show needs just as Game of Thrones needed characters like Joffrey, Ramsay, and Baelish. The handsome Kingsguard member who began his story so nobly and with so much promise is like a reverse Jaime Lannister, someone we hated but grew to love.

No one will ever love Criston Cole… Except apparently Alicent Hightower. And House of the Dragon is better for it.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist and the original Criston Cole hater. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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House of the Dragon season two, episode one is here. Soon, dragons will take to the skies as the Greens and the Blacks face off in a bloody civil war. We’ve many great pieces to read before the Game of Thrones show returns, including ones that will catch you up on everything from House of the Dragon‘s main characters (and its many dragons) to what you should remember from season one of the series. But the most important thing you need to know is what is House of the Dragon season two, episode one’s release date? When should you tune in to watch it? And which platform will stream this return to the world of Game of Thrones? Let’s break down all the practicalities of watching House of the Dragon season two’s first episode.

House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 1 Release Date

House of the Dragon season two, episode one, is now available to watch. It released on June 16. If you don’t want to be spoiled about the deaths, disgusting moments, dramatic betrayals, and more, we suggest you make a plan to tune in right away.

What Time Did House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 1 Air?

House of the Dragon season two, episode one, released promptly at 6:00 PM Pacific/9:00 PM Eastern. It will also simultaneously released/was simulcast in the UK. If you’re in the UK, you can catch House of the Dragon season two, episode one, and all its other episodes, at 2:00 AM BST on June 17. The episode will air again at 9:00 p.m. BST on Sky Atlantic.

Where Can You Stream House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 1?

In the United States, House of the Dragon season two released on HBO and Max, the streaming network, at the same time. In the UK, House of the Dragon season two, episode one airs on Sky and its streaming service, NOW TV.

Stream House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 1 for Free

If you don’t have Max, you can stream House of the Dragon season two, episode one, for free, for a limited time. Max currently has a free trial on offer, but not for long. If you’re a new Max customer, you can sign up for a one-week free trial until June 26.

What About Watching the Rest of House of the Dragon Season 2?

There are eight episodes of the season to watch, after all. Here’s our guide to House of the Dragon season two’s full release schedule.

Originally published on June 14, 2024.

The post HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 2 Episode 1 Release Date and Other Watch Information appeared first on Nerdist.

House of the Dragon‘s second season began in the North. There, Prince Jacaerys met with the Lord of Winterfell, Cregan Stark. Their discussion revealed a monumental secret about the two families’ deep bond. But their shared past might have also finally answered a question fans of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire have long had about Benjen Stark: why did he join the Night’s Watch?

Benjen Stark, the youngest sibling of Ned, took the black shortly after Robert’s Rebellion ended the Targaryen dynasty. At that point, Benjen’s father Rickard, oldest brother Brandon, and only sister Lyanna were all dead. That left Ned the Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. Despite Ned needing all the support he could get (both as a ruler and as a person), Benjen swore his oath to the ancient order mere months after his only surviving sibling returned home. That left the entire ancient family on the verge of total annihilation.

Even with Ned’s best friend atop the Iron Throne, and their surrogate father Jon Arryn serving as Hand of the King, the war left House Stark in tatters. There just weren’t as many of them left in a region where brutal winters can claim the lives of even the most powerful Northerners. If something happened to Ned, the only Starks (by blood) left were two newborns, Robb Stark and Jon Snow.

Why would Benjen leave his family for the Night’s Watch at that exact moment? Why didn’t he get married and have kids, replenishing the line with potential heirs and strengthening their numbers? It’s not as though fathers or older men can’t join. Even if he wanted to join previously (as youngest siblings were known to do), why wouldn’t he at least wait until Ned’s two boys got older and stronger? Or until Ned had more children? One bad chill could have left House Stark without a lord or worse. A single sickness at Winterfell could have wiped them all out. If that happened, Benjen wouldn’t have been able to do anything. He couldn’t violate his sacred oath to the Night’s Watch to claim his family’s ancient seat, just as Maester Aemon couldn’t claim the Iron Throne after the death of the Mad King Aerys II.

Benjen’s decision to become a Sworn Brother when he did has never made sense. George R.R. Martin hasn’t explained it yet, either. The only overt textual evidence he’s ever provided is that a teenage Benjen became enamored with the Night’s Watch after hearing a member try to recruit new members during the very same tourney where Lyanna fell in love with Rhaegar. But that hardly explains why he headed to the Wall just a couple months after Ned returned and House Stark was holding on by a thread.

This mystery has always been a fun one for fans to speculate about. Did Benjen’s departure have anything to do with him possibly knowing the secret of Jon Snow’s birth? Or was it made out of guilt for not fighting in the war? For knowing Lyanna wasn’t kidnapped and had voluntarily ran off with Rhaegar, the entire reason for the rebellion? Had Benjen actually been the one who helped Lyanna run off in the first place? They’re all fascinating possibilities, the kind of small character mystery that give Martin’s story so much emotional depth and intrigue. But House of the Dragon might have revealed Benjen’s reason had absolutely nothing to do with him because he didn’t have a choice at all.

The prequel’s season two premiere opened with new Northern lore. Lord Cregan Stark was overseeing a ceremony his ancestor Torrhen Stark began a century earlier. That’s when House Stark began sending one in ten of its own kin, drawn by random lot, to the Night’s Watch at the outset of every winter. The order, made up mostly of “doomed men,” needed strong, capable, noble members and leaders to keep the Night’s Watch in line. House Stark would keep its sacred oath to protecting the Wall and the Realm by sending their own men to fill those roles.

That ceremony and its origins indicate Aegon the Conqueror told Torrhen Stark about his prophetic vision of a White Walker invasion. That has huge ramifications for all of A Song of Ice and Fire. It also provides the best, most logical explanation for why Benjen Stark joined the Night’s Watch at what seemed like the worst possible time for his family. House Stark needed to send someone and he was the only option since Ned couldn’t go. There was literally no one else to go, so the family and Benjen made a sacrifice in the name of duty, echoing Cregan’s opening words in the episode. It didn’t matter the Starks needed Benjen at Winterfell. “Winter is coming” and that’s the only thing that has ever mattered.

If this sacrifice is why Benjen joined the Night’s Watch, why wouldn’t Martin have revealed it long before? It only makes both Benjen and House Stark look more noble. It was always the one family that truly put Westeros first. Likely because the ceremony that sent Benjen to the Wall is so much bigger than any one character. Tying House Stark and House Targaryen via Aegon’s Dream is a monumental revelation. Assuming it’s not entirely a show creation (or alteration), Martin might very well have been holding the truth of Benjen’s departure back until his final two books in A Song of Ice and Fire.*

Of course, even if this does fully explain why Benjen Stark joined the Night’s Watch, readers still don’t know what happened to the Head Ranger. His story will be different in Martin’s novels than what we saw on Game of Thrones. And in the books Benjen is still missing and presumed dead beyond the Wall.

We hope someone finds him, for lots of reasons. When they do he might confirm he had no choice but to take the black in the first place.

*No comment

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist and loyal bannerman to House Stark. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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Season two of House of the Dragon is finally here. Episode one of the Game of Thrones series’ second season brought us some high points… and some lows. But there are still plenty of weeks ahead of season two for us to enjoy, even though this chapter of House of the Dragon is a bit shorter than the last. To give us a taste of the blood and fire to come, HBO has released a “Weeks Ahead” trailer for season two of House of the Dragon. The sneak peek gives us a look at the dragons, battles, interpersonal conflicts, and juicy, juicy drama still ahead on the fantastical show. You can check it out below.

Civil war has arrived in House of the Dragon season two. And although the war will not be won by dragons alone, there will certainly be more than a few of them flying around. Of course, as Aemond Targaryen shrewdly assesses in this “Weeks Ahead” House of the Dragon season two trailer, political machinations are equally as important.

The Riverlands, the North, and more will all soon come into play in this Game of Thrones spinoff. And everyone will be choosing a side. That is, of course, if each half of the conflict can keep itself from imploding before the enemy can even attack.

In Game of Thrones‘ world, it’s hard to know who to root for at any given time. By nature, everyone is incredibly complicated and makes bad decisions way more often than good ones. Still, it wouldn’t be fun any other way. This House of the Dragon season two trailer teases some compelling weeks ahead. And we can’t wait to experience everything the show has in store for us. House of the Dragon season two will release its eight episodes weekly on Sundays at 9 pm. They’ll air on Max and stream on HBO.

The post HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 2 ‘Weeks Ahead’ Trailer Reveals Dragons, Drama, and Dragons appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s been a long wait for House of the Dragon season two. After all, season one of the Game of Thrones prequel series ended all the way back in 2022. That means we’ve been waiting nearly two years for season two to return and the continuation of Rhaenyra Targaryen, Alicent Hightower, and the rest’s stories. That’s kind of poetic. But, as the wait dwindles down for House of the Dragon season two’s premiere, the most important information you can have about the series is, well, where can you watch it? When is House of the Dragon season two even coming back? What time will the new House of the Dragon episodes be released when it does, and what dates will season two air on? All that good, practical stuff to ensure that when House of the Dragon does start airing again, you’re ready to watch.

Here’s our guide on how to watch House of the Dragon season two, literally.

Jump to: When Does House of the Dragon Return? // What Time Do New Episodes of House of the Dragon Season Release? // Season 2’s Episode Count // House of the Dragon Season 2’s Release Schedule // Where to Watch the Series?

When Does House of the Dragon Season 2 Come Out? HOTD Season 2’s Release Date

Of course, top of mind is the question of when does season two of House of the Dragon even come out? Well, happily House of the Dragon season two has already released. House of the Dragon premiered its first episode on June 16 on HBO and Max.

The show released on House of the Dragon/Game of Thrones‘ usual day, Sunday. Future episodes will follow suit, releasing on Sundays on HBO and Max.

What Time Does House of the Dragon Season 2 Release?

In addition to knowing the release day for House of the Dragon season two, knowing the release time is also important. As with season one, new episodes of House of the Dragon will be available to watch on 9 p.m. ET. They will stream on HBO and Max at that time.

New episodes of season two will also release simultaneously (aka be simulcast) in the UK at 2 a.m. BST. The new episode will air again at 9:00 p.m. BST on Sky Atlantic

How Many Episodes Will House of the Dragon Season 2 Have?

How long of a run will House of the Dragon season two have? House of the Dragon season two will be slightly shorter than season one, which had ten episodes. Season two will be two episodes fewer than season one, in fact. The second season of the Game of Thrones show will have eight episodes.

HBO notes that House of the Dragon received a shortened season two for story reasons. The lower episode count tightened the narrative and also allowed House of the Dragon‘s creators to begin thinking about season three.

What Is House of the Dragon Season 2’s Release Schedule?

House of the Dragon season two will be released weekly, beginning on June 16. Unlike other series, House of the Dragon will only release one episode during its premiere. After its release, episodes will follow every Sunday. House of the Dragon season two’s finale will air on August 4.

Episode titles and runtimes are not yet known. However, we assume each new episode of House of the Dragon will run for about an hour.

You can check out every House of the Dragon season two episode’s airdate below and get yourself ready to watch.

House of the Dragon Season 2 Airdates:

• House of the Dragon season 2 episode 1: June 16 (June 17 in the UK)
• House of the Dragon season 2 episode 2: June 23 (June 24 in the UK)
• House of the Dragon season 2 episode 3: June 30 (July 1 in the UK)
• House of the Dragon season 2 episode 4: July 7 (July 8 in the UK)
• House of the Dragon season 2 episode 5: July 14 (July 15 in the UK)
• House of the Dragon season 2 episode 6: July 21 (July 22 in the UK)
• House of the Dragon season 2 episode 7: July 28 (July 29 in the UK)
• House of the Dragon season 2 episode 8: August 4 (August 5 in the UK)

Where to Watch House of the Dragon Season 2

Finally, where can you watch House of the Dragon season two? As mentioned above, you can watch House of the Dragon on HBO and its streaming platform, Max. The episode will air on both HBO and Max at the same time, 9 p.m. ET. Additionally, episodes will air simultaneously in the UK on Sky and NOW TV at 2 a.m. BST. Episodes will air again at 9:00 p.m. BST on Sky Atlantic

Now, all you have to do is tune in.

Originally published on June 6, 2024.

The post HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Premiere? And When Is the Finale? appeared first on Nerdist.

House of the Dragon‘s season two premiere ended with a violent scene readers of George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood have desperately waited to see. It was the iconic, infamous event known as “Blood and Cheese,” arguably the single most shocking, cruel, and heartbreaking moment in the history of Westeros. And House of the Dragon completely botched it by needlessly delivering a vastly inferior version.

I love every single book and short story George R.R. Martin has written about Westeros. Yet I also know books are not TV shows and TV shows are not books. Adaptations, even faithful ones, must make significant changes if they hope to succeed. The written word, no matter how good, simply does not always translate to the screen. In its first season, House of the Dragon made a lot of amazing changes, the majority of which I supported and celebrated. From the revelation of Aegon’s Dream to an infinitely more dynamic King Viserys, it provided so many fantastic new aspects to Martin’s story.

Of course, the show also made some terrible changes. It undercut the major figures’ storylines and created big spectacles free of logic. Those kinds of alterations are frustrating (to be polite), but it’s a part of the process. I get that. I really do.

But some scenes need zero changes because they’re not only perfect on the page, they’re already perfect for the screen. And—more than any other moment in all of Fire & Blood, and maybe in all of A Song of Ice and Fire—no scene was ever more TV ready than “Blood and Cheese.”

The murder of Prince Jaehaerys on House of the Dragon almost certainly shocked and bothered those who had no idea what was coming. The violent murder of a child, even in Westeros, is still inherently stunning. The problem is those who did know what was coming, the people most excited and invested in this scene, know this version is monumentally, infuriatingly worse. George R.R. Martin’s version is so much more powerful, creative, and awful than House of the Dragon‘s. It’s also more logical and far more meaningful to the story.

In Fire & Blood a scheming, angry, worried Alicent Hightower is the chief architect of Aegon usurping his half-sister’s throne. House of the Dragon took away some of her agency by making her believe Viserys had a deathbed change of heart about succession. Fortunately season two’s premiere gave some back to Alicent by showing she knows the only way forward now is violence. She accepts blood must be shed and she has played a role in that inevitability. That scene with her father (along with the rat catcher walking by her earlier in the episode) also seemed to be setting up the horror that awaited her at the end by having her naively believe a war for the Iron Throne would free of “wanton” violence. The series did a fantastic job foreshadowing the worst moment in Alicent’s life, one that would make her truly face the consequences of her choices.

Then it didn’t have her experience it.

In Fire & Blood, Daemon’s two hired assassins aren’t bumbling around without a plan. They are far more capable, focused, and diabolical. The rat catcher is chosen specifically because he knows how to get around the Red Keep’s secret tunnels (including where the royals live) in a way few others do. That includes even those who actually live there. Cheese, as he is eventually called, knows all the hidden passageways in and out of bedchambers and offices. His intimate knowledge is also partly why they targeted Haelena’s young son rather than Aegon or Aemond in the first place.

Book Alicent resides in an accessible part of the castle, the Tower of the Hand. The highly protected King and his family sleeps in Maegor’s Holdfast, which has no secret ways entrances. King Maegor had the Red Keep’s secret tunnels installed, but wisely didn’t want any where he lived and slept. The subtext of Martin’s story reveals no one in the royal court worried about where Alicent, Helaena, and the kids went anyway because they obviously weren’t targets. This is a war between Rhaenyra and Daemon against Aegon and Aemond. Even the murder of Lucerys Targaryen wouldn’t make someone think little Prince Jaehaerys was in danger. He’s a literal child. But that’s one of the major points of the entire scene, which is really not about Jaehaerys or Helaena at all. They’re just victims. The scene is really about Alicent and how she made her loved ones targets.

In Martin’s book, Blood and Cheese hide in Alicent’s bed chamber because that’s how they can get what Daemon wants, “a son for a son.” Spies let Daemon (not still on Dragonstone at this point) and Mysaria (still in King’s Landing and willingly involved in this scheme) know about the Queen’s activities. Every night Helaena takes her three kids— the twins Jaehaerys and Jaehara, aged six, and son Maelor, aged two—into their grandmother’s bedroom to say goodnight.

On that fateful evening, Blood and Cheese had already bound and gagged Alicent and strangled her bed maid. Then they waited, as a helpless and terrified Alicent looked on, not knowing exactly what they had planned. When Helaena walked in with the three kids holding Maelor’s hand, Blood “barred the door and slew the queen’s guardsman, whilst Cheese appeared to snatch up Maelor.” After promising to kill them all unless Helaena stayed calm and quiet, they also swore to only harm one son. Only, in one of the most horrific decisions ever faced by anyone in Westeros, Helaena would have to pick which son died.

The Queen pleaded with them to take her instead, but they threatened to assault her daughter if she didn’t choose. Finally, “on her knees, weeping, Helaena named her youngest, Maelor.” Why him? Some think because he was too young to understand, others because Jaehaerys was the King’s heir. Whatever drove her choice, it didn’t matter. Cheese whispered to little Maelor, who must have been so confused and scared, “You hear that, little boy? Your momma wants you dead.” Cheese then smiled at Blood, who instead struck Jaehaerys’ head off with a single blow.

Yeah. Yeah.

On the page this horrible, shocking, heartbreaking scene—a true testament to Martin’s gift as a writer—reads like a short play in a way few moments of Fire & Blood do. It’s all there. There’s no guessing at the action, tension, and dialogue. There’s no mystery to fill in. Nor is there any way to improve it. It’s perfect, as is the purpose it serves in this story about two women fighting over the Iron Thrones. That’s what really matters.

This is the moment where Alicent literally must face what she’s put in motion. For all her talk about protecting her family from Rhaenyra, she is the one who put them all in mortal danger. She started this war. Her anger and ambition helped make such a moment of evil possible.

And for all of the Greens’ arrogance about righteousness, they must now spend the rest of the war knowing none of them, not even the youngest and most innocent, are safe. This is a fight to the death no one will win even if they survive. Helaena, Alicent, Jaehaera, and Maelor all walk away from Blood and Cheese with their lives, yet each life is destroyed in its own way.

For indefensible, incomprehensible reasons, House of the Dragon decided not to have Alicent present for any of this. Neither does it make Helaena agonize over an impossible decision only to be left with a son who knows she named him for death. Instead Alicent only had to hear about what happened while Helaena instantly gave up her son. (Which itself was an illogical moment of non-tension. Blood and Cheese could have easily looked under the kids’ pajamas to identify Jaehaerys.)

Why did House of the Dragon take a scene this good and beloved, one of the most highly anticipated in all of Game of Thrones history, and make it inferior? Why did it lessen the emotional impact, horror, and meaning to the story? It’s not as though these changes were about lessening the violence. The show actually amped the physical brutality of the moment. The murder of little Jaehaerys was worse because Blood slowly sawed off his head rather than chopping it off in a single blow. Why amplify the physical awfulness but lessen the emotional aspect when that’s the entire reason for the scene in the first place?

Ultimately the show’s reasons doesn’t matter, at least not to book readers who know what they missed out on. The only thing that matters is that House of the Dragon blew a rare opportunity. It had the chance to adapt a book moment that was already perfect for the screen in every way.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings. (Or complaining about how House of the Dragon did the impossible and screwed up “Cheese and Blood.”)

The post HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Botched George R.R. Martin’s Most Shocking Moment, Blood and Cheese appeared first on Nerdist.

House of the Dragon‘s first season featured one of the most significant revelations in all of A Song of Ice and Fire. Aegon the Conqueror came to Westeros because he “foresaw the end of the world of men” at the icy hands of the White Walkers, and he believed the only hope to defeat the darkness was a unified Westeros led by a Targaryen. We learned about Aegon’s Dream when Viserys shared the secret with his daughter Rhaenyra. It was a vision the family’s kings had only ever told their own heirs. Or so we thought.

House of the Dragon‘s season two premiere has indicated the Conqueror shared that secret with an outsider, the Lord of a family Aegon knew would be the first line of defense when a “terrible winter gusting out of the distant north” began: House Stark. And that shared secret deepens the binds between House of the Dragon, Game of Thrones, Aegon, Jon Snow, the Targaryens, and the Starks.

House of the Dragon returned by returning us to Winterfell at the outset of winter. Season two also began with the voice of Lord Cregan Stark. He said, “Duty is sacrifice. It eclipses all things, even blood.” Those were no mere words, either. He said them as part of a ceremony we’ve never seen on either Game of Thrones show before. When winter starts, House Stark sends one in ten of its own kin, drawn by random lot, to join the Night’s Watch.

Most members of that ancient order are made up of “doomed men who had their life as their only possession.” Game of Thrones viewers know those doomed men—often rapists, thieves, and cravens—usually aren’t the best Westeros has to offer. The Night’s Watch needs capable, honorable fighters and leaders to keep those men in line. The Night’s Watch needs Starks.

Even without that ceremony, though, Starks have served in the Night’s Watch since its inception. The family’s members have often served as Lord Commanders.

What makes this new piece of northern lore so monumental is who began this tradition and when. This “sacrifice” changes everything we know about Aegon Targaryen’s interactions with the Starks and the North, and, therefore, the “bastard” who will one day unite the Realm against the White Walkers.

With the ceremony complete, Cregan Stark brought Rhaenyra Targaryen’s oldest son and heir, Jace, to the top of the Wall. Jace was on a diplomatic mission to secure support of major houses for his mother’s claim to the Iron Throne. The two talked about the first time a Stark swore an oath to a Targaryen, when King Torrhen Stark bent the knee to Aegon.

The current Lord of Winterfell then assured the prince, “Starks do not forget their oaths.” The North will keep the vow Cregan’s father Rickon made to Viserys when the King named Rhaenyra his rightful heir. However, Cregan also said he has an even more sacred oath that limits how many men he can commit to the Queen’s cause.

“My gaze is forever torn between north and south,” Cregan said. “In winter, my duty to the Wall is even more dire than the one I owe to King’s Landing.” Jace did not understand why guarding against “wildlings and weather” was more important than stopping the Hightowers and saving the Realm from a war that will rip it apart. That is until Jace gazed out past the Wall in awe.

Cregan then told the story about how Jace’s great grandparents, King Jaehaerys and his wife Queen Alysanne, once visited this very spot with his father Rickon. From there, the two Targaryens watched as their dragons, “the greatest power in the world,” refused to cross the Wall. The implication was obvious even before Cregan spoke again. “Do you think my ancestors built a 700-foot wall of ice to keep out snow and savages?” Lord Stark asked the prince. When Jace then asked what the Wall does keep out, Cregan told him: “Death.”

The Warden of the North’s comments show House Stark, even millennia after the First Long Night, always knew what the Wall kept out. That exchange also reflected a memorable and ominous moment from Game of Thrones‘ pilot.

In the original series’ premiere a visiting Benjen Stark, member of the Night’s Watch, discussed whispers of White Walker attacks with his brother Ned. Unlike everyone in else Westeros would for many years, the two did not dismiss or mock those reports. They spoke of the possibility with the solemnity of a Stark who knows, and has always known, “winter is coming.” House Stark’s ancient words were always a reminder of the real threat out of the darkness plotting its return.

That’s what makes the timing and originator of the Stark Night’s Watch ceremony so significant. That’s actually an understatement. It’s among the most meaningful pieces of lore ever introduced to A Song of Ice and Fire. To understand why, we need to go back to the start of House Stark and House Targaryen’s relationship, a century before House of the Dragon.

Aegon Targaryen had already conquered most of Westeros when he turned his attention to the King in the North, Torrhen Stark. Torrhen had marched 30,000 men into the Riverlands to take their stand against the larger force of House Targaryen. But by then, Torrhen knew what Aegon, his sisters, and their dragons could do, both good and bad. The Targaryens had already ended the lines of ancient houses who had not bent the knee while empowering those who had. Aegon bestowed honors on his new allies and spared their people.

Not surprisingly, some northern lords still wanted to fight, even though they must have known on some level they would lose. Instead, the evening before the battle, Torrhen sent his bastard brother and maesters to treat with Aegon.

George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood tells us “all through the night messages went back and forth” between the camps. In the morning, Torrhen did not fight as most expected of the northerners. Instead, he knelt as the King of Winter and “rose as Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North” for King Aegon Targaryen.

Why did Torrhen kneel? Wouldn’t a Stark—-leader of a family that traces its ancient blood back to the First Men, who defended Westeros against the White Walkers long ago, who held firm against the Andals—rather go out on his shield fighting than kneel to a foreign invader?

Those obvious questions have always made Torrhen’s decision seem an easy one to explain. He was a wise ruler who didn’t let his pride get in the way of saving the people he swore to protect. But those obvious questions are also why that explanation has always felt incomplete. Why didn’t Torrhen Stark, at least, offer to fight Aegon Targaryen in single combat? He might have died, but it would have been an honorable death that still kept northerners safe from dragon flame. Without understanding what he was fully saying, on House of the Dragon, Jace provided the reason why.

The prince told Cregan, “Surely the great Torrhen Stark would’ve sooner died than bent the knee. Unless he believed the Conqueror could bring unity to the Seven Kingdoms.” Cregan said that was right, but it’s not completely accurate. Before Aegon no one cared about unifying the Seven Kingdoms, especially the North, which was unlike any other kingdom. Torrhen Stark would not have knelt to Aegon Targaryen in the name of unity.

Not unless he truly knew what Aegon was unifying the Realm against.

Everything House of the Dragon revealed about Torrhen Stark—from why he kneeled to the Night’s Watch sacrifice he began right after he knelt—can be explained by something unsaid in words during that scene yet so obvious when taken as a whole: Aegon Targaryen told Torrhen Stark about his dream.

The Conqueror believed the battle with the White Walkers would begin in the North. He even personally called his prophetic dream “A Song of Ice and Fire.”

Aegon trusted Torrhen with the most important secret in the world because only together, Stark and Targaryen, did the living have a chance against the dead. We know Aegon was right. Jon Snow, the son and rightful heir to the Iron Throne born from the love Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark shared, was the only one who could unite the Realm to stand against the White Walkers. Jon Snow’s song, as the prophecy foretold of the Prince That Was Promised did, in fact, promise, was a song of ice and fire.

Did Torrhen tell his own heirs? That seems unlikely based on everything else we know of House Stark, but he didn’t have to. The Starks always knew what was lurking beyond the Wall, which is why Torrhen believed Aegon Targaryen in the first place. It’s why Torrhen started making sure the Night’s Watch had men from his own family who could lead them. It’s why Cregan Stark can’t send all his men to help Rhaenyra Targaryen. Winter has arrived, and that means the Night King might come with it.

Like in season one with Aegon’s Dream, this enormous revelation does more than just connect both shows. It’s also bigger than even the Starks and Targaryens and how important Rhaegar and Lyanna’s love will be one day. Its beauty goes beyond even that of the wondeful symmetry it creates, as King in the North Jon Snow—secretly named Aegon Targaryen—will one day kneel to a Targaryen ruler in the name of uniting the Realm just as Torrhen Stark once did.

This revelation gets to the beating heart of George R.R. Martin’s massive story.

Without this bond between Stark and Targaryen, these houses of ice and fire, death would have done what Aegon and Torrhen both feared. Together, they began crafting the song that would save the world.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist who got goosebumps during Jace and Cregan’s scene. You can follow him on Twitter and  Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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What a shocking twist! Game of Thrones‘ lavish spinoff, House of the Dragon, has been renewed for season three at HBO. Ahead of House of the Dragon‘s season two premiere on June 16, HBO renewed the series for its next season. House of the Dragon season three, here we come!

Here’s what Francesca Orsi, Executive Vice President, HBO Programming, Head of HBO Drama Series and Films, had to say about this House of the Dragon renewal:

George, Ryan, and the rest of our incredible executive producers, cast, and crew, have reached new heights with the phenomenal second season of HOUSE OF THE DRAGON. We are in awe of the dragon-sized effort the entire team has put into the creation of a spectacular season two, with a scope and scale that is only rivaled by its heart. We could not be more thrilled to continue the story of House Targaryen and watch this team burn bright again for season three.

We can’t really say we feel surprised that House of the Dragon will see season three. We’d honestly be way more surprised if HBO canceled it at this point. The series promises to bring to life some riveting parts of the Game of Thrones novel Fire & Blood, like the infamous “Blood and Cheese” moment. And we can’t wait to see what’s in store. But hey, it always feels good to go into a season of TV knowing another one will follow. That’s not always a guarantee at this point. And we definitely can’t wait to see more dragons.

So, even though we do not feel surprised, shocked, or even a little taken aback by this news, we are happy to hear that House of the Dragon has been renewed for season three. Fire, blood, cheese, dragons, wigs, and whatever else awaits us. We are ready.

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Have you heard about that new Game of Thrones spinoff HBO is developing? No, not that one. Not that one, either. They already stopped working on that. And that other one is now going to be an animated series. I think.

HBO’s time in Westeros didn’t end when Bran Stark claimed the Iron Throne. The network has been working on other potential shows set in George R.R. Martin’s world of A Song of Ice and Fire since before the original series even ended. House of the Dragon was the first to make it to air, but it won’t be the last. Many more are still in development. Some, though, as Martin says, are already on the proverbial “shelf.” (He should know. He also says he is “deeply, heavily involved” in every potential show.) Which ideas are still alive and which are dead… for now? Here’s every Game of Thrones spinoff we’ve learned about over the years and their current status.

Latest Developments in the World of Game of Thrones Spinoffs

10,000 Ships – Pulitzer Winning Playwright Working on New Pilot

Another early Game of Thrones spinoff idea still in development is 10,000 Ships (sometimes written as Ten Thousand Ships). It would focus on the legendary warrior Queen Nymeria. She led her people out of the Rhonyar River region in Essos to escape the Valyrian Freehold. Her long and arduous journey to find a new home ultimately led her to Dorne where she and her people settled. Queen Nymeria, who lived a thousand years before the events on Game of Thrones, married Lord Mors Martell. The two conquered Dorne together. She is the reason Dorne has princes and princesses. She was also one of Arya Stark’s heroes. Arya named her direwolf after the famous Queen.

In 2016 Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential) was attached to the show before Amanda Segel took over. HBO tapped her to write the pilot and serve as potential showrunner. In March 2022 Martin said Segel had already delivered a “couple drafts” of the script. However, another writer is now tackling the project. At his “Not a Blog” Martin said Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Eboni Booth (Primary Trust) is “working on a new pilot” for Ten Thousand Ships. “We’re all very excited about this one… though we’re still trying to figure out how we’re going to pay for ten thousand ships, three hundred dragons, and those giant turtles,” he said.

Hegelend Shares 10,000 Ships Has a Biblically-Inspired Story

Helgeland shared details of his idea for the series. He wrote:

It came out great, but I think they felt the period of my show was too far removed from the pillars of the original. That’s why it hasn’t been picked up yet, but nothing is ever dead. My script was based on Queen Nymeria and this little blurb about her that was in a Westeros encyclopedia. Essentially, it was the story of Moses but swapping him out for Nymeria. Her country gets ruined and her people are forced to live on the water, which is why the show was called Ten Thousand Ships. They end up having to leave and find a new home like the Israelites leaving Egypt. She’s leading all these people, trying to hold everyone together but things are always in danger of falling apart as they travel around a fictionalized version of the Mediterranean, looking for a new home to settle in.

Their life was nomadic. Living in a raft city that was bound together, this big floating city. Sometimes, the characters would come ashore, but they ultimately get driven off the land as they search for a home, their version of the promised land. I met with George R.R. Martin to pitch him the idea, which he signed off on. Sadly, I didn’t work with him closer, but I would have done if the show was picked up. It was kind of like Ray Harryhausen’s Sinbad films mixed with The Odyssey. In a way, Nymeria is Odysseus, but instead of a 12-person crew, she’s responsible for every citizen in this floating city-state. My work is still there if HBO wants to pick it up. I enjoyed my time developing it, and you just never know.

Aegon’s Conquest

In early 2023 Variety reported HBO was “actively” discussing a potential prequel about the legendary Targaryen lord who conquered Westeros. A series about Aegon’s Conquest (roughly 300 years before Game of Thrones) was also among the first batch of spinoff concepts considered by HBO in 2016. The original idea is said to have portrayed the famed King as a “drunken lout.” Rand Ravich and Far Shariat wrote that script.

The Hollywood Reporter now says HBO ” is actively heating up” discussions about the long-gestating concept. It also has a name attached to this new attempt. Mattson Tomlin, who is said to have done uncredited script work on The Batman and who is officially co-writing its sequel, is heading up this iteration of an Aegon’s Conquest spinoff. Tomlin is also behind the BRZRKR with Keanu Reeves and is serving as showrunner for Netflix’s animated Terminator series.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Tomlin confirmed he’s working on the series, though that work has just begun. “That one is very early days where I’m currently writing the script, currently doing a lot of great back and forth with George (R.R. Martin),” said Tomlin. He also said Martin told him to treat the story as history that really happened. Doing that he said is akin to writing about great historical figures like Napoleon or Alexander the Great.

“We know where he was, we know who he conquered, we know who lived, and we know who died,” said Tomlin. “That all becomes the plot, and then it becomes my job to go, but what did it mean thematically? How did it feel? What were the emotions when this person died and this person lived? We don’t have the context. We don’t know what anybody said.”

While Tomlin and Martin will handle all of that, THR‘s initial report included one confusing clue about HBO’s idea for the series. A source said the show would mark a “back to basics” approach. Considering House of the Dragon is not that different from Game of Thrones in any meaningful way beyond being more focused, that could indicate previous attempts at an Aegon series tried something very different with its approach. That could explain why the network did not proceed with them. Or “back to basics” could mean this idea is more like a traditional drama with fewer characters and jumping around to various location than Game of Thrones.

The one thing we know for sure about any and all attempts at telling Aegon’s story is that they’ll involve dragons.

ON-AIR

House of the Dragon

HBO’s first Game of Thrones spinoff, a prequel about the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, will return for its second season in summer 2024. However, season one co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik will not be back. He left the series in 2022. Ryan Condal now fulfills the role on his own.

Carly Wray and Bryan Cogman (who wrote a pilot) both worked on a Dance of the Dragons series, but HBO did not move forward with either of their concepts.

Read More: Everything We Know About House of the Dragon Season 2

ORDERED TO AIR

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight (Dunk & Egg)

George R.R. Martin’s three Dunk & Egg novellas tell the story of Ser Duncan the Tall and his young squire. That squire was really a Targaryen Prince named Aegon who traveled with Dunk in disguise. (He also unexpectedly went on to become King years later.) The beloved duo is now set to star in HBO’s second spinoff. HBO ordered the prequel to series to air in April 2023. Martin and Ira Parker will write and executive produce the show. (Patriot‘s Steve Conrad was originally tapped to write the show in 2021.) Ryan Condal and Vince Gerardis will join as executive producers. The series has its Dunk and Egg, but it no official release date. It began filming in spring 2024. A 2025 premiere seems very possible. It also has an official logline:

A century before the events of Game of Thrones, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros… a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends.

Read More: 5 Reasons Why We’re Excited For The Game Of Thrones Dunk And Egg Spinoff Series

IN-DEVELOPMENT

The Golden Empire

Development continues on a potential adult animated series about Essos’ far eastern Yi Ti dynasty. Martin once wrote Yi Ti is the fantasy analogue of Imperial China the way Westeros is the fantasy analogue of the medieval British Isles. The World of Ice and Fire compendium book (which Martin jokingly calls The GRRMarillion in reference to J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion) expanded on the little we know about that powerful, large nation. That also includes some tantalizing tales, one that connects the ancient, advanced Yi Ti to the first Long Night.

It’s unknown who is leading the show’s development or what it would be about. But a possible series would be so far removed from Westeros and Martin’s main story that it would have incredible freedom to tell any story from any time period.

The Sea Snake/Nine Voyages

After initially being developed as a live-action series, George R.R. Martin announced a prequel about the adventures of young Corlys Velaryon is now being considered as a potential adult animated spinoff. The show also initially operated under the title Nine Voyages (which Martin still uses sometimes). That was in reference to the nine famous trips Corlys Velaryon made around the world on his ship The Sea Snake. He travelled to far off places all over the globe in the decades prior to the Dance of the Dragons. His accomplishments made him Westeros’s most famous and celebrated sailor ever. He is also a major figure on House of the Dragon, where Steve Toussaint plays an older Sea Snake.

In March 2022 Martin confirmed reports Rome showrunner Bruno Heller would write the show’s pilot. More recently the author also explained at his “Not a Blog” blog why he “fully” supports the show’s change from live-action to animation:

Budgetary constraints would likely have made a live action version prohibitively expensive, what with half the show taking place at sea, and the necessity of creating a different port every week, from Driftmark to Lys to the Basilisk Isles to Volantis to Qarth to… well, on and on and on. There’s a whole world out there. And we have a lot better chance of showing it all with animation. So we now have three animated projects underway.

STATUS UNKNOWN

Unknown Animated Series

Martin has long made reference to development of an unnamed adult animated series, one possibly meant to air on HBO Max. Nothing is known about the series. That includes whether a spinoff idea reported on previously is the mystery cartoon and no one has made the connection.

SHELVED

Flea Bottom

One potential live-action prequel idea that seemingly never gained much traction was a series have focused on the denizens of King’s Landing’s infamous slum district Flea Bottom. HBO never even confirmed the show was in development. Reports say it did not make it very far in the process.

Untitled Valyrian Freehold Series

The initial batch of five spinoff ideas HBO pursued in 2016 (out of a list of at least 15) was a show about the destruction of the Valyrian Freehold. Valyria was the Roman Empire-like dynasty of dragon lords who ruled over Essos for thousands of years. House Targaryen avoided its ancestral home’s doom when it fled Valyria a century before its demise. Kong: Skull Island‘s Max Borenstein wrote a script for the show, but that seems to be as far as HBO got with it.

Valyria was home to thousands of dragons and ornate architecture. That would make for a bloated VFX budget. This idea is a great candidate for the mysterious animated show Martin continues to allude to.

Untitled Seven Gods of Westeros Show

A long lost concept that “didn’t get very far” at HBO would have seen the gods from the faith of The Seven team up like superheroes, leading to others worshiping them as deities. It’s easy to see why HBO didn’t have much faith in this idea.

Snow Is No Longer Happening

In a Narrow Sea worth of prequel ideas, the only potential sequel series that was confirmed to be under consideration at HBO is Snow. Kit Harington brought the idea to the network. He also brought it to George R.R. Martin, who confirmed the possible spinoff’s development. The author said he’d already met with Harington and his team about it, as well. The show would follow the former Lord Commander after he returned to life beyond The Wall in Game of Thrones‘ series finale.

Snow was “shelved” during the Hollywood strikes. Though the end of the strikes left the current status of the series unknown. In November 2023 HBO CEO and chairman Casey Bloys said, “I wouldn’t say there is anything else in that world that is close to a green light or anything, but we are always working on different scripts and ideas.” And that seemed to convey that the series wouldn’t happen anytime soon.

Most recently, we got a firmer answer about the fate of the Game of Thrones spinoff show. Kit Harington revealed the Jon Snow series was firmly “on the shelf” and no longer in active development. He shared, “In development, you look at every angle, and you see whether it’s worth it. And currently, it’s not. Currently, it’s off the table, because we all couldn’t find the right story to tell that we were all excited about enough. So, we decided to lay down tools with it for the time being. There may be a time in the future where we return to it, but at the moment, no. It’s firmly on the shelf.”

NOT PICKED UP

Bloodmoon

House of the Dragon will forever be the first Game of Thrones spinoff to reach airwaves. However, HBO filmed another spinoff before it. The network spent (at least) $30 million to shoot a pilot for Bloodmoon, a prequel set thousands of years prior to the original series. Starring Naomi Watts, it took place during the Age of Heroes. That’s when legendary figures of the Realm helped establish its most famous houses. At least that’s what the stories say. That mythical era remains shrouded in secrecy.

The series, from showrunner Jane Goldman, also operated under the working title of The Long Night, as it would have covered the original White Walker invasion that plunged the world in darkness. While HBO has said it was a good pilot—and the network was clearly serious about it considering its financial investment—it ultimately passed. That decision shocked many.

Read More: History Of Thrones: The Long Night And Identifying Enemies And Heroes

The public has never seen Bloodmoon‘s lost episode. Not even George R.R. Martin. But it remains a fascinating idea with incredible potential. Just because HBO didn’t order it to air doesn’t mean it won’t some day. Martin always says “shelved” TV shows can always leave the shelf.

Especially in Westeros, where we all know the dead have a way of coming back.

Originally published on January 4, 2024.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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House of the Dragon’s first season flew in with all the drama, shocking moments, and, of course, dragons that fans expect from this universe. Season one took us back many decades before Daenerys Targaryen’s birth to show us the events leading to the decline of the mighty House Targaryen. Now, we are fully locked into the fury that Rhaenyra will rain upon her former BFF Alicent and her supporters after Jace’s death. What does the future hold for these warring factions? We shall see what happens in this upcoming season.

Showrunner Ryan Condal says the season starts “a couple of days” after the end of season one when “all the wounds are fresh.” He also said that after all the time jumps of season one the show’s next outing moves “methodically,” though that certainly doesn’t mean House of the Dragon won’t be exciting.

Here’s everything we know about House of the Dragon season two so far. 

House of the Dragon Season Two’s Plot 

The show is based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, so book fans have a general sense of where this show will go. Of course, there will be some creative liberties taken, but the obvious “Dance of the Dragons” between Team Rhaenyra (the Black Queen) and Team Alicent will happen. Rhaenyra and her uncle-husband Daemon will wage war against Aegon II, Alicent’s son and the newly crowned king.

House Velaryon stands with the “Blacks” along with their massive navy. On the other side is the “Greens” with Alicent, her father Otto Hightower, Ser Criston Cole, and her son Aemond, the rider of Vhagar, the largest dragon in the world. There is no longer a chance at mediation as Rhaenyra’s rage takes over. 

Click To View Gallery

The battle between the Greens and Blacks is further set up with these gorgeous posters featuring Alicent and Rhaenyra and first-look images of the season (pictured above).

George R.R. Martin himself has seen the first two episodes and said on his blog that they were “very dark.” Now, we all know you literally can’t see things sometimes on this show. But we are sure he means the tone and action are not pleasant. He also said the episodes are “powerful, emotional, gut-wrenching, heart rending” and “may make you cry.” Let’s prepare for heartbreak, especially because the season will open with Rhaenyra’s own broken heart.

What it will do, though, is keep Daemon and Rhaenyra far apart as he tries to put together an army at Harrenhal far away from her. How will that space add to her distrust of him? How will being unmoored from his Queen wife make him more dangerous? Time (and dragons) will tell.

Behind the Scenes 

House of the Dragon co-creator and executive producer Ryan Condal will continue on as a showrunner; however, his season one co-showunner Miguel Sapochnik will not return for season two. George R.R. Martin will continue his involvement as an executive producer. This time, fans will get eight episodes, which is two fewer than the first season.

In a featurette, House of the Dragon‘s cast and creators promise season two will be even bigger than the first. They tease a “nuclear” chapter filled with, of course, even more dragons than ever before. Take a look below.

House of the Dragon Season Two’s Cast

After many time jumps and casting changes in season one, House of the Dragon’s second season will stick with the faces we know now. And boy are there a lot of characters in this show. Matt Smith and Emma D’Arcy will return as Daemon and Rhaenyra Targaryen. Olivia Cooke (Alicent), Eve Best (Rhaenys Targaryen), Steve Toussaint (Corlys Velaryon), Fabien Frankel (Ser Criston Cole), Ewan Mitchell (Aemond Targaryen), Tom Glynn-Carney (Aegon Targaryen), Sonoya Mizuno (Mysaria), Matthew Needham (Larys Strong) and Rhys Ifans (Otto Hightower) are also set to round out the main cast. 

Simon Russell Beale, Freddie Fox, Gayle Rankin, and Abubakar Salim have joined the series as well, according to Deadline. Beale plays Ser Simon Strong, Castellan of Harrenhal. Fox is Ser Gwayne Hightower. Rankin is Alys Rivers, and Salim is Alyn of Hull.

The series revealed new cast members at CCXP 2023, including Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull, Jamie Kenna as Ser Alfred Broome, Kieran Bew as Hugh, Tom Bennett as Ulf, Tom Taylor as Lord Cregan Stark, and Vincent Regan as Ser Rickard Thorne.

House of the Dragon Season Two’s Release Date 

House of the Dragon season two will premiere on June 16, 2024.

Originally published on May 8, 2023.

The post HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 2 Begins Days After Season 1 appeared first on Nerdist.

A big Fire & Blood book moment is coming to House of the Dragon season two. Book fans are very familiar with two minor characters, Blood and Cheese, who play a role in the Dance of the Dragons. Well, showrunner Ryan Condal says House of the Dragon will have a Blood and Cheese scene and it will be brutal. Shocking, I know. 

There’s no need to spoil things for those who aren’t familiar with the source material but Olivia Cooke, who portrays Queen Alicent, has this to say about it in an Entertainment Weekly interview:

“I’d just say, it is Game of Thrones, expect the worst. Expect the very worst possible, and then double it. I dunno what else to say without heavily spoiling it, but it is heinous.”

Oof. We do not know who is portraying the roles of Blood and Cheese in House of the Dragon nor how the show will put its spin on their brutal storyline. But there will be death and destruction as Team Black rises up against Team Green.

The post HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 2 Will Bring Brutal Blood and Cheese Book Moment to Life appeared first on Nerdist.

Dragons will soon dance over Westeros. The Greens and the Blacks will officially go to war when House of the Dragon returns for its second season on HBO. How did the Targaryen family get to this deadly point? Who is battling over the Iron Throne? And why will fire and blood engulf the Realm two centuries before Game of Thrones? You might not remember the answer to those questions and more after a two-year hiatus, so before House of the Dragon season two debuts this is everything you need to remember about season one.

The Major Characters, Houses, and Dragons from House of the Dragon Season 1

Get ready for the Dance of the Dragons with our updated season one primers on all things Targaryen. They’ll help you remember the major figures, families, and fire made flesh creatures of the show’s inaugural year. (Seriously, even if you just rewatched House of the Dragon season one these are all essential reading.)

Every Major New Character On House Of The Dragon
House Of The Dragon Houses That Didn’t Appear On Game Of Thrones
Who Are House Of The Dragon’s 17 Dragons?
Every Major Character Death From House Of The Dragon
The Most Brutal, Shocking, And Gross Moments In House Of The Dragon

King Viserys and His Heir

The Old King, Jaehaerys I, had no obvious heir. To resolve the matter, he called on the Realm to name one for him during a grand gathering at Harrenhal. In the final vote the lords of Westeros chose his grandson Viserys over his cousin, Rhaenys (“The Queen Who Never Was”). Their decision established an unwritten rule that males take precedence over women in the Iron Throne’s line of succession. Their decision also put in motion the future war that would divide House Targaryen and the continent.

King Viserys I and his wife Queen Aemma (who was half Targaryen/half Arryn of the Vale) would have only one surviving child, a daughter Rhaenyra. Viserys told doctors to save their unborn son, whom he believed would one day be king, at the cost of Aemma’s life during a difficult childbirth. However, the baby died a day after his mother. The boy’s death meant Viserys’ brother Daemon remained his legal heir. While the King loved his brother, many, like the Hand of the King Otto Hightower, believed Daemon reckless and dangerous. They thought he would bring ruin to the Realm if he ever ascended to the throne.

After the much-maligned Daemon was overheard toasting about his nephew’s death (“the heir for a day”), an irate Viserys named Rhaenyra his successor and ordered Daemon to leave King’s Landing. Viserys then made the lords of Westeros swear oaths to accept Rhaenyra as his rightful, lawful successor. That’s also when he told his daughter the real reason Aegon the Conqueror united the Realm.

Aegon the Conqueror’s White Walker Dream

Aegon had a dream about the eventual White Walker invasion. He believed only a united Westeros led by House Targaryen could stop the end of the world. This revelation is one of the biggest in the history of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire.

Viserys Shocks the Realm and Marries Alicent

With Daemon out of both King’s Landing and his brother’s good graces, the conniving Otto Hightower was free of his most powerful enemy. With a grieving Viserys vulnerable, the Hand of the King made his move. He instructed his daughter to console the Viserys during his time of grief. The obvious, creepy power play paid off, as the King shocked everyone by marrying Alicent rather than a more politically savvy suitor.

They would go on to have four children: the detestable, lazy, amoral Aegon, the sweet, simple Helaena (who has prophetic dreams), the focused, driven warrior Aemond, and Daeron who did not appear in season one. Aegon also married his sister Haelana. He was a terrible, uncaring, unattentive husband who likely fathered many children out of wedlock while drinking his life away in King’s Landing. But the two did have three children, the twins Jaehaerys and Jahaera and their young sibling Maelor, who did not appear in season one.

Some people thought Aegon should have usurped Rhaenyra as heir, but Viserys did not change his succession plans. (Though during one drunken evening he did express doubts to Alicent about whether or not he should.) His unexpected marriage did lead to Rhaenyra losing something else, though. It caused a deep rift in the previously loving friendship Alicent had with the Princess.

Rhaenyra’s own actions pushed them even further apart.

Rhaenyra Almost Loses Her Spot as Heir

The obstinate, independent Rhaenyra refused to pick a husband from the innumerable suitors (including lords of Great Houses) who came forth to offer their hand in marriage. Lacking the political savvy and/or will to treat them gently, she also left many feeling insulted. Viserys finally forced her into an arranged marriage with Laenor Velaryon—son of the powerful Lord of the Tides and Master of Ships, Corlys Velaryon—after Viserys heard scandalous reports about his daughter cavorting in Flea Bottom with her uncle Daemon. In response an irate Viserys said if Rhaenyra did not agree to the marriage he would name her half-brother Aegon as his lawful heir instead.

While Rhaenyra maintained her position as heir, her evening did result in two powerful figures losing their place in the King’s court. Viserys finally realized how Otto had manipulated him into marrying Alicent and removed Otto as Hand of the King. And Daemon, who had returned to King’s Landing in glory after winning a war in the vitally important Stepstones alongside Corlys Velaryon, saw his scandalous evening with Rhaenyra lead to a second estrangement from his brother.

What no one knew was that Rhaenyra had actually ended that night with her sworn protector and member of the Kingsguard, the worst human on the planet, Ser Criston Cole. Their relationship would also forever change the Realm.

The Many Loves of Rhaenyra

Before her marriage, Criston Cole, who’d violated his sacred Kingsguard oath already, proposed that Rhaneyra run off to Essos with him. She refused to give up her future crown and the world-changing prophecy entrusted to her. That ended their relationship. The awful, despicable loser grew to hate Rhaenyra and instead swore his life to protecting her rival, Queen Alicent.

Rhaenyra’s first marriage also helped lead to the coming civil war. She had no problem that Laenor was gay, and the two agreed to live their own lives will still maintaining a strong personal bond. He spent his time with his paramours while she spent hers with Ser Harwin Strong, the son of new Hand of the King Lyonel Strong. Rhaenyra’s three dark-haired sons were all clearly Harwin’s offspring, an open secret everyone but Viserys knew.

Eventually Rhaenyra and Laenor came up with a plan to fake his death so he could live freely in Essos and she could marry her uncle Daemon, recently widowed for the second time. (He caused his first wife’s fatal accident and his second, the sister of Laenor had her dragon Vhagar bathe her in flame during childbirth.)

Everyone, including Laenor’s powerful parents, assumed Rhaenyra and Daemon had Laenor killed. Rhaenyra and Daemon would have two children, Aegon (yes, another one) and Viserys. Both had blonde Targaryen hair.

The Two Families of Viserys Don’t See Eye to Eye

The kind but naive Viserys was desperate for all his grandchildren to grow up together and form strong familial bond that would strengthen House Targaryen. Instead Alicent’s boys mocked their “strong” cousins for clearly being illegitimate. Their feud would erupt one fateful night after Aemond claimed the biggest dragon in the world, Vhagar. When he returned from his first flight a fight between the boys led to Rhaenyra’s son Luke slicing out Aemond’s eye. The entire royal court then saw just how much animosity existed between Alicent and Rhaenyra.

Alicent believed she’d always been dutiful while Rhaenyra did whatever she wanted. Rhaenyra believed Alicent, who wanted Luke to lose an eye as payment, was a fraud long hiding behind a veil of morality.

Larys Strong Kills His Family and Otto Hightower Returns

Larys Clubfoot, Master of Whispers, had his father and brother killed in a fire at Harrenhal, making him Lord of the giant ruined castle. He then worked for Queen Alicent, who kept Larys happy by indulging his foot fetish.

The less said about all of that the better.

Deathbed Confusion Leads to a New King

A dying Viserys spent his final night on Earth happy. He’d organized a dinner for all his family where everyone had a nice time. But when Viserys left Aemond couldn’t help but insult his cousins, splintering the two sides again. Alicent then went to see her husband. He believed he was talking to Rhaenyra about Aegon’s dream. Alicent thought Viserys was talking about their son and that he wanted their child to become king and not Rhaenyra.

When Alicent went to the small council she learned they were already planning to install Aegon as king over Rhaenyra, who was back at Dragonstone unaware her father had even died. Criston Cole murdered the only member of the council who spoke up against the coup. Days later, and after making lords and ladies in King’s Landing choose a side at threat of death, Cole crowned a previously reluctant Aegon in the Dragonpit with the Conqueror’s crown and sword in front of all King’s Landing.

Princess Rhaenys, who Alicent had tried to imprison in the Red Keep, ruined the festivities when she broke through the floor with her dragon Meleys. Rhaenys opted not to kill the Hightower faction, even though her two granddaughters and only unquestioned living heirs will now be in danger. Rhaenys instead flew to Dragonstone to alert Rhaenyra about Aegon taking the Iron Throne.

The Dance of the Dragons Begins With a Mother’s Grief

Rhaenyra did not respond with fire and blood to her brother’s treachery. She showed restraint and debated whether she should give up her claim to keep the peace. (In large part because of Aegon the Conqueror’s dream.)

But she still made moves to shore up her support after being named Queen with her father’s crown. (The Kingsguard Arryk Cargyll had stolen it and brought it to her, while his identical twin brother Erryk stayed to serve in Aegon’s Kingsguard.) Rhaenyra then sent her two oldest sons, Jace and Luke, off to see if the Lords of Westeros remembered their oaths to her.

Some did, but others hadn’t even made them. Their fathers had. That included Borros Baratheon, who agreed to support Aegon in exchange for Aemond marrying one of his daughters.

Prince Lucerys knew none of this when he arrived at Storm’s End to seek the support of House Baratheon. There Luke found an angry Borros and his cousin, who wanted one of Luke’s eyes for long overdue retribution.

Luke then left on his small dragon and Aemond followed on Vhagar. As Aemond chased Luke down to merely toy with him, the dragons acted out and Vhagar killed both Luke’s dragon and the young prince. Season one ended with Daemon telling Rhaenyra about her child’s death.

And so the Dance of the Dragons began.

Now you’re all caught up on season one. So get ready for the show’s second season with Everything We Know About House of the Dragon Season 2.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist who talks about Westeros like it’s a real place. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

The post What You Need to Remember for HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 2 appeared first on Nerdist.

House of the Dragon‘s first season put the pieces in place for all-out war, but the new trailer for the show’s sophomore season reminds us this family showdown won’t be limited to just the battlefield. The combatants will also need to struggle with their own demons and the choices they made that brought them to this point. And the two women at the center of this bloody war both know that in the end neither of them might win.

“Fire and blood” have come to Westeros, and the whole continent is going to burn in season two. This latest look at the infamous civil war that tore the Realm apart two centuries before Game of Thrones will pull in all Seven Kingdoms. But its the internal war its chief combatants must grapple with that could determine the outcome. Though, as both Olivia Cooke’s Queen Alicent and Emma Darcy’s Queen Rhaenyra know, sometimes to win a war you have to be willing to lose your soul. Are either willing to do that? House of the Dragon‘s latest trailer is a wild one, indeed.

House of the Dragon‘s other returning season one stars include Matt Smith, Eve Best, Steve Toussaint, Fabien Frankel, Ewan Mitchell, Tom Glynn-Carney, Sonoya Mizuno, and Rhys Ifans. Other returning cast members include Harry Collett, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Phia Saban, Jefferson Hall, and Matthew Needham. 

Season two will also feature some important new faces in major roles. Abubakar Salim is onboard as Alyn of Hull. Clinton Liberty will play his brother Addam of Hull. Gayle Rankin will play the mysterious Alys Rivers. Freddie Fox will join the Hightower family as Ser Gwayne Hightower. Simon Russell Beale is headed to House Strong as Ser Simon. Tom Taylor will represent the North as Lord Cregan Stark. Vincent Regan will star as Ser Rickard Thorne. And Jamie Kenna has joined as Ser Alfred Broome. Meanwhile Kieran Bew will play Hugh the Hammer and Tom Bennett will play Ulf the White. They are two very important figures in the Dance of the Dragons.

House of the Dragon will return with its second season at HBO on Sunday June 16. It premieres at 9:00 pm ET. It will also be available to stream on Max. Pick your side well. Or, better yet, stay out of a war of fire and blood entirely. That might be the only way to win.

The post It’s All-Out War in HOUSE OF THE DRAGON’s New Season 2 Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.