After over a year of waiting, multiple delays, and much anticipation, we have finally gotten a look at the new upcoming season ofHouse of the DragonSeason 2. While the release is still a while away, with only a vague release window of Summer 2024, the new teaser trailer dropped at CCXP feels like finding an oasis in a desert. If you’ll remember,House of the DragonSeason 1 ended withthe shocking death of Lucerys Velaryon(Elliot Grihault), the son of Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy), at the hands (or dragon jaws) of Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell). After Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynne-Carney) usurped the Iron Throne and was crowned in front of the masses not long after his father, Viserys (Paddy Considine) died, Rhaenyra attempted to negotiate with her half-brother, given that she was the original and rightful heir to the throne. However, with Luke’s death, any hope of peaceful negotiation is now out the window andthe Dance of the Dragonshas truly begun.Let’s break down what Season 2 might have in store for us, but be warned that the following article will go into spoilers from theFire & Bloodbook byGeorge R. R. Martinthat details the events of the Dance of the Dragons.
House of the Dragon
The reign of House Targaryen begins with this prequel to the popular HBO seriesGame of Thrones.Based on George R.R. Martin’sFire & Blood,House of the Dragonis set nearly 200 years beforeGame of Thrones, telling the story of the Targaryen civil war with King Viserys.
‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 Will Focus on Civil War
The Season 2 teaser trailer hammers home the idea that this will be a bloody and brutal war. Not only is this a fight between family, but it is between people who all ride on giant nuclear weapons aka dragons. We first hear Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) say, “Errors were made in the hours following King Viserys' death.” While you might think that means the crowning of Aegon II, it’s more likely that Otto is speaking of Luke’s death. Aemond’s action at Storm’s End makes him into a kinslayer, which is one of the cardinal sins of Westeros. This is not a good look forthe Greens (the faction that supports Aegon II).Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) is also heard saying, “The war will be fought, many will die, and the victor will eventually ascend the throne.” While Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best) tells Rhaenyra, “There is no war so hateful to the gods as a war between kin, and no war so bloody as a war between dragons.” This is not your average battle and scenes throughout the teaser show violence and an abundance of dragon fire.
Rhaenyra Mourns Luke’s Death
The teaser opens up with Rhaenyra standing at the shores of Shipbreaker Bay where Luke fell. Given the state of her appearance, it is hard to tell when in the storyline she visits the bay because she’s covered in soot likely from a battle, but it seems clear that Luke’s death will haunt her for the season.
Aegon II Reigns as King
While Aegon II might have appeared apprehensive in Season 1 before his coronation, it’s clear that he’s finally gotten comfortablewearing the Conquerer’s crown. We see him not only wearing the crown but also wielding theCatspaw Daggerthat Viserys once held. He has his own marble ball that we see him place on the Small Council table. He’s also donned the green color of House Hightower with golden embroidered dragons. His sigil is a gold dragon on a green field, which you will see throughout the season.
Daemon Goes to War
While we saw Daemon (Matt Smith)go to war in the Stepstonesin Season 1, he spent the majority of the season out of armor. But with the war kicking off,Daemonwill be one of Rhaenyra’s most powerful enforcers. In one of the scenes in the teaser, we see him potentially executing someone with a weirwood tree in the back. While there was a weirwood tree in Season 1 in King’s Landing, these trees with creepy faces are typically found in the North and north of the wall. However, one location in the south that has a weirwood tree is the Isle of Faces, a small island across from Harrenhal. Given that Daemon attacks Harrenhal early during the war inFire & Blood, it is possible he is at that location, but who he is executing is a mystery.
The Civil War Will Turn Houses Against Each Other
We can see many different sigils in the teaser. We see the Blacks' classic Targaryen sigil, the red three-headed dragon on black, and we see the Hightower sigil of the tower on green. But some new sigils we see include House Rosby and House Stokeworth. House Rosby’s sigil is three red chevrons on ermine (white with black speckles), and House Stokeworth’s sigil is a white lamb holding a goblet on a green field. In the book, these two houses were originally loyal to Rhaenyra and were Black sympathizers who were imprisoned by Aegon II and then brought to the side of the Greens. It’s unclear from the teaser trailer whose side they’re fighting on but it’s clear from one of the scenes where we see dragonfire explode on a field that they are fodder for this war between Targaryens.In another shot, we see a man wearing yellow with the image of what looks like a red horse on yellow. This could potentially suggest that the man is from House Bracken. This house is known for its notorious feud with the Blackwoods, and we saw this feud in Season 1when a Bracken and a Blackwood fought each otherfor Rhaenyra’s hand in marriage. In the Dance of the Dragons, the Brackens declared their loyalty to the Greens.
Rook’s Rest Will Likely Be the Big Battle of the Season
There are a few big battles in the Dance of the Dragons, and Rook’s Rest is a major one. While there’s no clear indication that this is the battle we see being fought in the teaser, some very big things happen during this battle.Not only is there a major death for the Blacks, but the Greens are dealt a major blow when one of the key players of the war is left incapacitated.
New Dragon Riders and Dragonseeds Will Be Introduced
We see a glimpse of a greyish-silver dragon flying overhead and see a man who could be Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty). Addam was adragonseed, one of the people recruited by the Blacks to ride the many riderless dragons at Dragonstone. In the book, Addam claims to be the bastard son of Laenor Velaryon (John MacMillan) but was rumored to actually be the bastard of Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint). Because Laenor is not actually dead in the series, it’s unclear if Seasmoke will be able to have a new rider. This is one of the main questions that has book readers scratching their head.There are six dragonseeds in total: Hugh Hammer, Ulf the White, Addam of Hull, Alyn of Hull, Nettles, and Silver Denys. So far, only three have been cast: Addam, Alyn (Abubakar Salim), and Ulf (Tom Bennett).
Will Queen Rhaenyra Go to Battle?
We see Rhaenyra with her council in one of the shots, with Daemon to the left, Rhaenys to the right, and queensguard Erryk Cargyll (Elliott Tittensor) beside her. And while Rhaenyra mainly stays at Dragonstone during the war in the book, it seems the scenes of her covered in soot andriding her dragon Syraxmight suggest that we will see the queen take to the battlefield as well.
Criston Cole Rises in the Ranks
While we only briefly see Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), who is seen executing someone surrounded by the king’s men, in the book, Criston rises up quickly in the ranks. As a brutal enforcer and a man without mercy, he is one of the key players for the Greens.
Aemond Will Become a Major Player in Season 2
Book readers will know the implications of the scene where we see Aemond walking up to his brother’s throne, but without giving everything away, suffice it to say that Aemond will be a major player in the war. Not only does he ridethe largest dragon in the world, but he will be derided as a kinslayer. Although we know that Vhagar’s attack on Luke and Arrax was not intentional, the world doesn’t know that. As the war continues, Aemond’s ambition, which we saw in Season 1, will grow.
