The second season of House of the Dragon is well on its way; filming is done, and we could be watching the premiere episode as early as June. And by the sound of it, that premiere episode will be a doozy: word is that it’s titled “A Son for a Son,” which should make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up if you’ve read George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood. That phrase is associated with a pair of characters named Blood and Cheese, who make an awful mess of things as the civil war between Rhaenyra Targaryen and her half-brother Aegon Targaryen heats up.
At the end of House of the Dragon season 1, Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys Velaryon was killed by her nephew Aemond Targaryen, turning what had been a cold war between the blacks and the greens extremely hot. Members of Rhaenyra’s party are eager for revenge after Luke’s death. They hire a pair of mercenaries known to history only as Blood and Cheese, the first man a soldier, the other a rat-catcher in the Red Keep. Without giving away spoilers, Blood and Cheese become instruments of horrific vengeance.
And by the sound of it, Blood and Cheese might do their dirty business in the season 2 premiere. And now, we know who’s (probably) going to play them.
Who’s playing Blood and Cheese in House of the Dragon season 2?
Months ago, the fansite Redanian Intelligence reported that Cheese will be played by English Mark Stobbert:
This casting isn’t 100% confirmed, but Redanian Intelligence is about as reliable source as you can hope to come across. They’ve also reported that Sam C. Wilson — who’s appeared in shows like Dodger and movies like Hanna — will play Blood. At 6’5″, he has the look to pull off the role:
Sam C. Wilson will appear in two episodes of #HouseOfTheDragon Season 2 as Blood pic.twitter.com/oOLnOgCsOs
— Redanian Intelligence (@RedanianIntel) November 7, 2023
What’s more, RI says that Wilson will appear in two episodes. In Fire & Blood, after Blood and Cheese do what they do, Cheese disappears but Blood is caught a bit later, so it makes sense that Wilson would stick around for a bit. The deed is done in Episode 1, and Blood goes down in Episode 2.
Okay, if you’ve read this far, I think you deserve transparency:
What do Blood and Cheese do in House of the Dragon season 2?
After Luke is killed, Rhaernya’s husband Daemon reaches out to his old flame Mysaria, intending to use her connects to get revenge. Although Martin’s book isn’t completely clear, it sounds like Mysaria hires Blood and Cheese, who sneak into the Red Keep, bind and gag Alicent Hightower, and kill one of Queen Helaena Targaryen’s children in front of her. Hence, “A Son for a Son.”
House of the Dragon writer Sara Hess has previously teased fans about the Blood and Cheese incident. “I don’t think you will be disappointed,” she threatened.
I do think it’s interesting that Blood will reportedly only appear in two episodes. That tells me that House of the Dragon is planning to adapt these events as laid out in Fire & Blood, but not much beyond that. I doubt there’s much chance of Blood and Cheese getting more fleshed out as characters. We’ll find out for sure when House of the Dragon season 2 premieres in summer of 2024.
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