Season 1 of House of the Dragon was a great success, and season 2 is on the way! There were doubts among Game of Thrones fans about returning to Westeros after a controversial final season to the original series. House of the Dragon surpassed expectations and brought us back to Westeros with a variety of exciting new characters, places and storylines to enjoy.
With Warner Bros. Discovery canceling everything in sight, we should count ourselves lucky that House of the Dragon is officially moving forward with a second season. Fans of George R.R. Martin’s book Fire and Blood know that some of the best moments are still yet to come. Let’s take a look at a few of the most exciting bits from the book that fans should look forward to House of the Dragon season 2.
Meet Daeron Targaryen
We’ll start with a surprising (and slightly concerning) omission from season 1. We’ve already met Viserys and Alicent’s sons Aegon and Aemond, but in the books, they also have a third son: Daeron.
Daeron is fostered in Oldtown, the seat of house Hightower, from an early age, which explains why we never saw him in season 1, although it doesn’t explain why he’s never mentioned. George R.R. Martin and showrunner Ryan Condal have both confirmed that Daeron will be a part of the series.
And that’s good, because Daeron has one of the more interesting journeys throughout the Dance of the Dragons. He and his sapphire blue dragon Tessarion are involved in a number of exciting battles, wreaking havoc on sea, land, and air. Also, Daeron is, at least in the book, the only one of Viserys and Alicent’s children who isn’t royally disturbed. It will be great to have a character to really root for among the greens.
Meet the other Hightowers
Daeron isn’t the only green waiting in Oldtown. Otto is not the eldest member of his house; that honor goes to his brother Hobert, who we met briefly in season 1. Otto also has a son named Gwayne who figures into several battles throughout the Dance of the Dragons.
The Hightowers and the other green factions will help House of the Dragon expand beyond Kings Landing, Driftmark and Dragonstone. Through the Hightower, we can see what happens in the western part of the continent, where the people on the ground suffer as the lords and ladies in power play their game of thrones.
We’ll also likely see a lot more of Oldtown, the seat of House Hightower and one of the largest, wealthiest and busiest cities in Westeros. We visited Oldtown in Game of Thrones when it was way past its prime, but House of the Dragon will give audiences the opportunity to see one of the most important metropolises in the Seven Kingdoms at the height of its influence.
Meet Alys Rivers
One of the most mysterious characters in the story is Alys Rivers, the woman who will eventually become Aemond’s lover. Possibly a bastard of House Strong, she lives and works at Harrenhal, but beyond that we know very little about her. That could give the writers on House of the Dragon a lot of latitude in deciding what kind of person she is, what she wants, and what she does.
In Fire & Blood, it’s whispered that Alys can see the future in the flames, similar to Melisandre from Game of Thrones. Perhaps characters like Alys will allow the series to move into new, strange, dark places.
Winterfell under Cregan Stark
Yes, we will see Winterfell on House of the Dragon. Season 2 will likely pick up with Jacaerys Velaryon journeying Winterfell (among other places) on behalf of his mother to try and forge alliances. One of the more interesting stories told in Fire and Blood involves Jace’s time in Winterfell with Cregan Stark and his rumored half-sister Sara Snow.
Exactly how Jacaerys wins Cregan to his side is unknown, but the two were rumored to be close friends, and Cregan Stark becomes a prominent figure much later in the story.
Duskendale
On Game of Thrones, not much time is spent on the other cities in the Crownlands outside of King’s Landing. Located just north of the capitol, Duskendale plays host to a couple of brutal battles during the Dance of the Dragons. Season 2 will likely feature some of the big battle scenes that Game of Thrones fans have come to expect, which coule possibly include the first sack of Duskendale.
The greens assault this port town after suffering a number of losses; it’s the first place that King Aegon II truly unleashes his rage upon the continent. This is a bloody contest that showcases the greens’ brutality.
Blood and Cheese
If House of the Dragon has a “Red Wedding” moment, it’s this. Blood and Cheese are the names of two men whose real names have been lost to history, but what they do to Helaena Targaryen and her poor children is deeply disturbing and upsetting. We won’t spoil exactly what happens, but if the show keeps to the timeline of Fire & Blood, it should fall fairly early in season 2.
The Cargyll Duel
Inspired by a tale in Arthurian Legend, House of the Dragon has already started building towards this dramatic moment. Twin brothers Erryk and Arryk Cargyll, both on the Kingsguard, are on opposite sides of the way at the end of season 1. Naturally, they eventually meet on the battlefield. Their clash should be one of the better swordfights in season 2, with true dramatic tension and heartbreaking tragedy. It lends weight to the “brother fought brother” element of the civil war.
The Sowing of the Seeds
Whoever has the dragons has the power; that’s how House Targaryen has managed to rule undisputed for so long. But what happens when House Targaryen splits in two? Suddenly it’s not just about having dragons, but about having the most dragons.
As Daemon points out in the season 1 finale, there are currently a number of unclaimed dragons roaming Dragonstone. Vermithor, the giant dragon he sings to in a cave, is one of them. This helps set up one of the more interesting storylines for season 2: in order to grow their air force, Rhaenyra and her blacks call upon people to try and tame the wild dragons, promising knighthoods and lands for anyone who can successfully do it and then first for the Black Queen. The “Dragonseeds,” as they come to be known, have a ton of impact on the story. Expect a number of exciting new characters and dragons.
Fans are going to have to wait a long time for another season of House of the Dragon, probably until 2024. In the meantime, we might as well enjoy speculating about everything to come. This series has already been a terrific ride, and it’s only going to get better.
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