Where do Aegon and Larys go at the end of the House of the Dragon season 2 finale?

We've just seen the conclusion of House of the Dragon season 2, and fans, understandably, have strong opinions! With poor pacing and a few questionable book changes throughout, the season has been criticized far more than the first, and I totally get it. There are a lot of moving parts in the season 2 finale as the show tries to wrap up everything in a satisfying way, with added scenes that aren't part of Fire & Blood as well as changes to the timeline of events. One example is what happens to Aegon, who's still pretty much bedridden when episode 8 opens up.

WARNING: Major spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2 episode 8 and Fire & Blood are below.

The season 2 finale picks up right after the events of the seventh episode, with Aemond losing his mind over Rhaenyra's new dragonriders and destroying everything in his way. Early on in the episode, Larys pays a visit to Aegon at his bedside, and this time, he wants him to do more than just practice walking. He catches Aegon up on everything that's happened: Rhaenyra has recruited dragonriders, Aemond has set Sharp Point on fire, and Larys fears for Aegon's life. I still question Larys' motives in his relationship with Aegon, but it's clear he wants to keep him alive.

Larys tells Aegon that they must flee King's Landing, but Aegon disagrees. He doesn't understand why he should be the one to leave when he's the king, but Larys believes Aemond might try and kill him if he stays. A little dramatic, but I guess Aemond is a loose cannon; who knows what he'll do next? Larys informs Aegon that he has money stashed away at the Iron Bank of Braavos, meaning they can live comfortably there if they leave the city and hide out for a while. If Rhaenyra and Aemond battle it out and both of their armies are all but defeated, Larys explains, Aegon can return and take his place on the Iron Throne again. Among other names, Larys calls him "Aegon the Rebuilder" in this scenario, and Aegon seems to come around.

It's not until the end of the episode that we see Aegon and Larys again; they've fled the castle and are stowed away alongside animals in a carriage. We just get a quick glimpse of them during a closing montage, but it confirms Aegon is no longer in King's Landing. So where are they going? Well, as Larys mentions, he has money in the Iron Bank, so it's easy to deduce that they'll be making a stop at Braavos. But is that their final destination to hide out, or are they going elsewhere? Well, in the book, Aegon actually hides out on Dragonstone, of all places. As the book reads, "few hunters would ever think to look for Aegon on his own sister's island."

In the book, it's not until the Fall of King's Landing when Rhaenyra takes back the Iron Throne that the blacks realize Aegon has fled along with his son Maelor and daughter Jaehaera. We don't learn where he's gone until Rhaenyra comes face-to-face with him at Dragonstone, which is when Fire & Blood explains his hideout. While Maelor and Jaehaera are put into the care of others, Aegon lives with a bastard knight, disguised as a lowborn man in fisherman's garb. It's not until Sunfyre — who may or may not be dead in House of the Dragon? — flies to Dragonstone that Aegon emerges to try and defeat Rhaenyra.

Whether or not Larys will bring Aegon to Dragonstone in House of the Dragon after a pit stop at the Iron Bank is unknown, but we know that, at least for now, the pair is headed to Braavos. The show has taken many liberties with the source material, so I'm eager to find out how the writers handle Aegon's storyline moving forward. Tom Glynn-Carney has been fantastic this season, so I hope they don't do him dirty in season 3 and beyond.

The House of the Dragon season 2 finale is now streaming on Max. How are you feeling about it?

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.