The Game of Thronesuniverse is no stranger to leaks. Back when the original show was airing, trailers, scenes and even whole episodes were known to leak ahead of time, whether because someone hacked into HBO's business or because an affiliate put them up early.
HBO is having the same problems with the Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon, which will return for a second season next month. The TikTok account for VodafoneTV, a European TV platform, posted a new trailer for House of the Dragon season 2 early. Rather than try to scrub the internet of every copy floating around Twitter, it looks like HBO has opted to just put the thing out a bit early. Watch below!
When last we left our heroes...or whatever you want to call the characters on House of the Dragon...they were on the brink of war. Following the death of their father King Viserys I Targaryen, Aegon II Targaryen had taken the Iron Throne, despite his older half-sister Rhaenyra Targaryen arguably having the better claim. Rhaenyra tried to keep a lid on things, but after Aegon's brother Aemond killed Rhaenyra's son Luke, all bets were half. The second season is going to get bloody as these two rival factions of the Targaryen dynasty clash on land, sea and air.
There are some spine-tingling moments worth noting in this new trailer. Some highlights:
The character of Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) is involved in the Blood and Cheese plot. She shows up near the end of the trailer, telling us that there's more than one way to fight a war. I think this is the first line we've heard from Mysaria in all the trailers released so far.
There's lots of footage in there of a spectacular battle scene to take place in Episode 4 of the new season. It's called the Battle of Rook's Rest, it will involve armies clashing on the ground as well as dragons in the air, and it's going to rock off everyone's face.
There's some tension in this trailer between Rhaenyra and her husband Daemon, who has not-so-secretly lusted after the Iron Throne for years, even though it's Rhaenyra's by rights. Can he keep a lid on his ambitions long enough to support his wife? I also like this line from Daemon: "I did not think they would be so eager to die." Matt Smith knows how to act cool in the face of murder and death.
We get a good look at the Velaryon fleet, managed by Rhaenyra's new Hand of the Queen Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint).
Alicent Hightower, a childhood friend of Rhaenyra's, is still holding out hope that this conflict can be resolved peacefully, but with her sons Aegon and Aemond lusting for battle and revenge, it's not likely.
We get another quick look at new cast member Tom Taylor as Cregan Stark, the ruler of Winterfell during this time period. Rhaenya's son Jace (Harry Collett) will visit Cregan in an attempt to woo the North to his mother's side.
"War is coming, and neither of us may win," someone whispers at the end. That's the latest in a long series of lines from the trailers about how this war is a really bad idea. But once the fire starts burning, who can put it out?
House of theDragon season 2 kicks off on HBO and Max on Sunday, June 16!
