House Of The Dragon Season 2 New Trailer Breakdown: 10 Reveals About The Remaining Episodes (2024)

Warning! This article contains spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 1.

House of the Dragon season 2 is finally underway, with a trailer for the weeks ahead offering insight into the deadly Dance of Dragons. Considering the first season of HBO's Game of Thrones prequel was so popular, many were likely reassured by House of the Dragon season 2's positive reviews. The critic reviews of the continuation seemed to imply that the HBO show was continuing with the quality it left off with, and House of the Dragon season 2, episode 1 proved this to be the case as the Song of Ice and Fire book adaptation continues.

The episode, titled "A Son for a Son," continues the political intrigue set up in season 1, with the Targaryen civil war looming on the horizon. The major families of House of the Dragon return, committing to either the Blacks - led by Rhaenyra and Daemon - or the Greens - led by the Hightowers - for the future of the Iron Throne. With House of the Dragon's core cast of characters established in season 1, season 2 has the benefit of getting into the meat of the Dance of Dragons, and the trailer released by MAX teasing the weeks ahead of the season 2 premiere reveals a lot about the upcoming episodes.

10 Blood & Cheese Will Have Consequences On Both Sides

The Climactic Involvement Of Blood & Cheese Will Cause Trouble In House Of The Dragon Season 2

Since the death of Lucerys Velaryon in House of the Dragon season 1's finale, book readers were aware of the dark events that would likely be depicted at the beginning of season 2. As it turns out, book readers were right to be wary as House of the Dragon season 2, episode 1 ended with the infamous Blood and Cheese moments from George R. R. Martin's Fire and Blood. This involved two conspirators, a ratcatcher dubbed Cheese and a city watchman known only as Blood, sneaking into the Red Keep to kill Aemond Targaryen on behalf of Dameon.

However, the two hired by Daemon quickly fail at their mission by capturing Helaena Targaryen and killing her son, Jaehaerys, whose father is King Aegon II. The Blood and Cheese sequence had some book changes in House of the Dragon season 2 but is suitably grim, disturbing, and laden with consequences for the future of the show. The "week's ahead" trailer teases this, with Aegon rightfully outraged and committing to war with the Blacks, and Rhaenyra scolding Daemon for his vengeful act, citing she cannot trust him any longer.

9 Otto’s Time As Hand Of The King May Be At An End

A Change In Aegon's Small Council Seems To Be In Order

Another element teased by House of the Dragon season 2, episode 1's ending concerned Otto Hightower. Leading on from House of the Dragon season 1, Otto is the Hand of the King to Aegon II, helping lead the young ruler through the beginnings of war with Rhaenyra. That said, one scene between Larys Strong and Aegon in House of the Dragon season 1 hints that Otto may not be in the job much longer, with the former stoking the king's distrust of his Hand.

In the trailer for House of the Dragon season 2's subsequent episodes, it seems these teases will come to fruition. A selection of scenes in the trailer show Criston Cole telling Otto that he should speak to his king with more respect before Otto is shown looking visibly distraught. This hints at the events of Fire and Blood coming to pass, specifically the replacement of Otto with Criston as Hand of the King. In the book, Aegon dislikes Otto's seeming inactivity in the war, replacing him with the more militaristic mind of Criston Cole.

8 The Battle At Rook's Rest Is Teased

A Major Dance Of Dragons Battle Is Hinted At For House Of The Dragon Season 2

One of the major battles of The Dance of Dragons in Martin's universe is the Battle at Rook's Rest. This battle takes place at the titular location, with Criston Cole using Rook's Rest as both a trap for the Blacks and a way to force Crownlands houses that supported Rhaenyra into submission. In the trailer for House of the Dragon season 2's coming episodes, the Battle at Rook's Rest is hinted at.

From the various shots of Green-aligned armies on a fiery battlefield to the teases of Vhagar - one of House of the Dragon's titular dragon characters - in battle, House of the Dragon season 2 is expected to have more action sequences than its predecessor. These shots can be linked to the Battle at Rook's Rest, a conflict that saw the Greens lay a trap for Rhaenys and her dragon, Meleys. The two are ambushed by Aegon atop Sunfyre and Aemond riding Vhagar, resulting in the deaths of Rhaenys and her loyal reptilian mount.

7 The Brackens Vs. The Blackwoods

Two Ancient Westerosi Houses Will Be On Opposite Sides Of The War In House Of The Dragon

House Blackwood and House Bracken were first teased in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 4. This episode saw Rhaenyra touring to find a suitor to be her husband, leading to a deadly duel between Willem Blackwood and Jerrel Bracken. The two houses these men belonged to are two of the oldest in Westeros, sharing the blood of the First Men, and have long shared a rivalry.

In House of the Dragon season 2, the feud between the Houses Blackwood and Bracken will deepen. The former will align with Rhaenyra, while the latter will side with Aegon in the coming civil war. This will lead to open conflict between the two, with this fighting teased in House of the Dragon season 2's "weeks ahead" trailer. Soldiers bearing the sigil of House Bracken, a red stallion on a yellow field, are shown fighting with soldiers clad in black and red, the colors of the Blackwoods, showing how the Targaryen civil war affects all Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.

6 Jacaerys At The Twins

The Riverlands' Importance To House Of The Dragon Continues To Be Highlighted

From the inclusion of the Brackens and the Blackwoods to the teases that controlling the Riverlands is vital to the war, House of the Dragon season 2 is placing a lot of focus on the central kingdom of Westeros. The Riverlands will undoubtedly be a major object for both the Blacks and the Greens, with both sides desiring to secure the support of a kingdom that is surrounded by many others. In House of the Dragon season 2, the lords and leaders of the Blacks and Greens will vie for the aid of House Frey.

In Westeros, House Frey is a noble house of the Riverlands and resides in the Twins. This castle serves as a vital crossing point across the Green Fork of the Trident and is often utilized in times of war as a strategic benefit when armies are traveling north or south. As such, gaining the support of House Frey will be a priority for the Blacks and the Greens. House of the Dragon season 2 is set to explore this, with a shot in the newest trailer showing Jacaerys at the Twins, likely petitioning for the Freys to support his mother and the other lords pledged to the Blacks.

5 Daemon Targaryen Takes Control Of Harrenhal

The Control Of The Riverlands Leads Daemon To A New Castle

Even more so than the inclusion of the Blackwoods, Brackens, and Freys, House of the Dragon season 2 will detail the importance of the Riverlands to the Dance of Dragons through the castle of Harrenhal. As is known from Game of Thrones and Martin's books, Harrenhal is the biggest castle in the Seven Kingdoms and lies at the center of the Riverlands. Whoever controls Harrenhal has big implications for the overall control of the Riverlands, with House of the Dragon season 2 teasing which faction will achieve this.

The trailer has Criston Cole outlining the castle's importance: "The Riverlands are the key to the war. Harrenhal is the key to the Riverlands." This is accompanied by shots of Daemon, aboard his dragon Caraxes, landing on top of Harrenhal. Daemon is then shown holding a council with the various lords at Harrenhal, hinting that he gains control of the castle in Rhaenyra's name.

4 Riots In King's Landing

The Capital Of Westeros Remains Unruly In House Of The Dragon

Several shots in the House of the Dragon season 2 "weeks ahead" trailer show the people of King's Landing in turmoil. Riots and revolts are shown on the streets of Westeros' capital, hinting at trouble for the Greens. This is likely in response to the various scenes in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 1, in which the citizens of King's Landing addressed Aegon about their various issues.

In these scenes, it was made clear that the war was having negative effects on the people of King's Landing. From the taxation of food sources to feed the Greens' dragons to the lack of payment being made to blacksmiths, King's Landing's common folk are shown suffering from the war between the Targaryen factions. This suffering is only set to worsen as the Dance of Dragons escalates. These troubles will similarly escalate, likely leading to the riots shown in King's Landing in the trailer for House of the Dragon season 2.

3 Sunfyre & Vhagar In Action

The Dragons Begin To Dance In The Sky

One of the bigger differences between House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones is the abundance of dragons in the former. Each major member of the royal family, on both sides of the civil war, has their own dragon, as shown at length in season 1. House of the Dragon season 2 is only set to continue this difference from Game of Thrones on a more exciting level, by showing how the Targaryen dragons lent themselves to the name of the civil war.

In the Dance of Dragons, the creatures will be vital to warfare. In the trailer for House of the Dragon season 2's coming episodes, Sunfyre and Vhagar specifically are shown in battle. These dragons belong to Aegon and Aemond respectively, proving the brothers will be vital in the coming war. This could link to the aforementioned Battle at Rook's Rest in which Sunfyre and Vhagar fight against the Blacks' forces, led by Rhaenys and Meleys.

2 The Duel Of The Cargyll Twins

The Blacks vs. The Greens Is More Personal For Two Characters

While the Dance of Dragons and the factions of the Blacks and Greens span across the entirety of Westeros, the rivalry impacts House of the Dragon on a more personal level too. This is shown via the story of the Cargyll twins, Erryk and Arryk, with the former siding with Rhaenyra and the latter with Aegon. The rivalry between the two sides of the Targaryen family will continue informing the rivalry between the Cargyll brothers, as proven by House of the Dragon season 2's "weeks ahead" trailer.

House of the Dragon's Cargyll twins will confront one another in season 2. In Fire and Blood, Arryk is sent to infiltrate Dragonstone under the guise of his brother by Aegon to get revenge after Jaehaerys' murder. While it is never mentioned what Arryk's orders were, he never carries them out after being discovered by Erryk. The unreliable narrators of Fire and Blood describe this meeting differently, though one constant is a duel between the two. This duel is briefly shown in House of the Dragon season 2's trailer, hinting that their fraternal rivalry will come to a head.

1 The Dance Of The Dragons Has Properly Started

The Prelude To War Is Over In House Of The Dragon Season 2

For much of House of the Dragon season 1, the prelude to the Dance of Dragons was explored. The various character connections, motivations, beliefs, and ideals were set up in season 1 before the death of Lucerys in the finale led to all-out war. With House of the Dragon season 2, episode 1 dealing with the aftermath of Lucerys' death and the dark revenge gained by Daemon, the Dance of Dragons will properly begin in the coming weeks of the show.

This is evident by the various battle sequences and character rivalries hinted at in the House of the Dragon season 2 "weeks ahead" trailer. Although the action and bloody battles will showcase the civil war in all its gruesome glory, nothing sums up the beginning of the conflict more than Criston Cole's final line in the aforementioned trailer. The character is shown telling Alicent that "we have given war to the dragons," truly highlighting how House of the Dragon's central conflict is finally underway in season 2.

House of the Dragon

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Taking place about 172 years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon tells the tale of the rise of the Targaryens, the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria. The popular HBO spinoff show first starred Milly Alco*ck and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before they were replaced by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke, who play the older versions of the characters. Also starring in the series is Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra’s father, King Viserys Targaryen.

Cast

Jefferson Hall , Paddy Considine , Fabien Frankel , Ryan Corr , Eve Best , Gavin Spokes , Graham McTavish , Steve Toussaint , Olivia Cooke , Sonoya Mizuno , Bill Paterson , Matthew Needham , Emma D'Arcy , Matt Smith , Rhys Ifans , David Horovitch

Release Date

August 21, 2022

Seasons

2

Network

HBO Max

Writers

George R.R. Martin , Ryan Condal

Directors

Miguel Sapochnik , Clare Kilner , Alan Taylor , Greg Yaitanes , Geeta Vasant Patel , Andrij Parekh

Showrunner

Ryan Condal