Fan-made House of the Dragon animation has me unbearably exciting for season 2

The second season of House of the Dragon premieres in just a few weeks, and despite the torrent of marketing materials coming out, I find that I'm not tremendously excited. I'm looking forward to it, obviously, but the hairs on the back of my neck aren't standing on end in anticipation. I'm not counting down the minutes. I'm sure it'll be good, but will it be good enough?

Leave it to the fans to get my blood up. The YouTube channel Unity 5 Games has labored for three months to bring us an animated short film depicting the Battle of Rook's Rest, a huge action sequence coming this year on House of the Dragon. At one point in the season, Ser Criston Cole will march an army of Greens to Rook's Rest, a castle not far outside of King's Landing, to claim it for King Aegon II Targaryen. Rook's Rest is loyal to Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen and her Blacks, and Rhaenyra dispatches Rhaenys Targaryen and her dragon Meleys to help the besieged castle.

Saying anything more would involve massive SPOILERS, but the this animation captures it all. Check it out and feel those chills:

What will happen at the Battle of Rook's Rest?

This version of the battle is clearly modeled after leaked footage from the season 2 set; the battle was mostly filmed in and around Bourne Woods in England. Plus, characters like Rhaenys and Aemond Targaryen look like the actors who play them on the show: Eve Best and Ewan Mitchell.

Now that we're talking SPOILERS, we can say that the Battle of Rook's Rest ends when Aemond and Aegon surprise Rhaenys by flying in on their own dragons, Vhagar and Sunfyre. Together, the brothers kill both Rhaenys and Meleys, spilling more family blood. Even depicted kind of crudely in Unity, the fight is thrilling to watch, and has me really excited for what's to come in season 2. I also love the detail at the end, when Aemond approaches Aegon's wounded body and contemplates just taking the crown for himself. I can fully see that moment happening.

This animation depicts the Battle of Rook's Rest more or less as it's laid out in the pages of George R.R. Martin's book Fire & Blood. The show will add in some new elements, but we've talked about spoilers already. If you want to know more...

To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and Twitter account, sign up for our exclusive newsletter and check out our YouTube channel.