House of the Dragon’s debut season soared to massive success, with episodes averaging 29 million viewers in the U.S. alone. With such success, it is no surprise that The Game of Thrones prequel was renewed for a second season, with Warner Brothers deciding to go all in on the fantasy hit. Now, anticipation is at a fever pitch for season 2. While the fandom loves to theorize – need I to remind you of all the theories surrounding The Night King’s real identity? – House of the Dragon has the advantage of being adapted directly from George R.R. Martin’s completed Fire & Blood novel, meaning the storyline’s path is already mapped out and primed to careen towards its inevitably fiery conclusion. That being said, what can we expect from season 2 of House of the Dragon? Here’s everything we know so far.
What to Expect in Season 2
House of the Dragon season 2 will premiere on June 16, 2024, and follow the same weekly release model as season 1, with the finale airing on August 4th. The long-simmering tensions between the Greens and the Blacks will finally erupt into all-out war in House of the Dragon’s second season. In one camp are the Greens, rallying behind the newly crowned King Aegon II and his mother Alicent Hightower’s regime in King’s Landing. Backing their claim to the Iron Throne are cunning players like Ser Criston Cole, the devious Lord Otto Hightower, and Prince Aemond Targaryen, who rides the monstrous dragon Vhagar – the largest in the world.
Opposing them are the Blacks, led by Rhaenyra Targaryen and her uncle/husband Daemon. Despite having the stronger claim, Rhaenyra faces an uphill battle from her seat on Dragonstone. However, her faction boasts formidable allies like the powerful maritime House Velaryon.
The civil war, known as the Dance of the Dragons, has already seen its first casualty. In the shocking season 1 finale, Aemond and Vhagar savagely killed Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys while he was defenseless on his younger dragon. This inciting death marks the point of no return and confirms that blood will be spilled in the coming conflict.
Just how destructive will this Targaryen civil war be? Well, co-creator Ryan Condal stated in an interview that they filmed two massive battles for season 2. Relationship tensions are sure to be another major source of drama and conflict. The once-close bond between Rhaenyra and Alicent has been obliterated, with the former friends and sisters-in-law now sworn enemies leading opposing factions in the civil war.
However, there are also relationship complications within each camp. Rhaenyra’s surprise marriage to her uncle Daemon raised many eyebrows, and writer Sara Hess has teased that “we’re writing season 2 and figuring out, what is the nature of his relationship with Rhaenyra?” Daemon is charismatic but also devious—will he prove to be a supportive husband or turn against Rhaenyra at some point? If the most recent trailer is anything to go by, I’m leaning towards the latter …
On the other side, Alicent chose to crown her son Aegon as king despite his reservations, putting him in an incredibly difficult position. Tom Glynn-Carney, who plays Aegon II, has hinted that his character will embrace the role in season 2, saying, “I’m looking forward to having Aegon have a lot more meat to get his teeth stuck into and to cause more havoc.” But will Aegon chafe under the control of his mother and grandfather, Otto Hightower? The potential for family in-fighting among the Greens could prove to be their fatal flaw.
While Game of Thrones occasionally shied away from the most disturbing parts of George R.R. Martin’s books, the author’s finished source material Fire & Blood suggests House of the Dragon will not hold back in depicting the full, horrific brutality of the Targaryen civil war. The “Dance of the Dragons” was a viciously fought conflict that featured an abundance of dragon-on-dragon violence, with many of the mighty beasts being slain. Characters will be burned alive, children will fall victim to the violence, and there are strong hints of even darker, more depraved acts to come.
The Returning Cast
All of the main players will be returning, including Emma D’Arcy (Rhaenyra), Olivia Cooke (Alicent), Matt Smith (Daemon), Rhys Ifans (Otto Hightower), Fabien Frankel (Ser Criston Cole) and more.
Several new cast additions have been announced. Most excitingly for Game of Thrones fans, Tom Taylor will play Cregann Stark, an ancestor to the Stark heroes from the original series. Cregan is expected to become an important ally to one of the warring factions. Sonoya Mizuno will also reprise her role as the mysterious Mysaria after surviving the Hightowers’ attack. Other new faces include Ser Simon Strong (Simon Russell Beale) and Ulf (Tom Bennett).
Unfortunately, Milly Alcock, who portrayed the young Rhaenyra in the early episodes of season 1, is not returning. With the show no longer employing time jumps going forward, Alcock’s role is unnecessary, with Emma D’Arcy continuing as the older Rhaenyra.
Behind-the-Scenes Changes
While the cast members are locked in for the Targaryen civil war, there have also been some major behind-the-scenes shakeups. Co-creator and executive producer Miguel Sapochnik, who directed some of Game of Thrones’ most epic battle episodes like “Hardhome” and “The Battle of the Bastards,” has stepped down as showrunner. However, he will still be credited as an executive producer on House of the Dragon moving forward.
Sapochnik’s departure coincides with HBO’s early renewal of the series, allowing the remaining creators to map out a long-term plan. According to reports, Ryan Condal and George R.R. Martin have plotted out a broad storyline spanning 3-4 seasons.
This long-view approach has influenced the decision to make House of the Dragon’s second season slightly shorter at 8 episodes, down from season 1’s 10 episodes. However, the creators have indicated this will allow them to raise the quality even higher and pack more action into each installment.
Closing Thoughts
The stakes could not be higher as House of the Dragon enters its second season. What began with a dispute over the Targaryen line of succession has exploded into an all-out war, with the greatest powers in Westeros taking sides. Rhaenyra believes the Iron Throne is rightfully hers, while Alicent sees her son Aegon as the legitimate heir after Viserys’ passing. But this is about more than just crowns and titles – it’s a bloody feud between former friends and family members, fueled by resentment, betrayal, and the devastating loss of life already incurred.
With tensions at a boiling point, the stage is set for the epic “Dance of the Dragons” to get underway in season 2 truly. The presence of so many dragons in the hands of both factions guarantees this will be a conflict fought with searing dragonfire raining down across the lands. Fans have been waiting to see the fabled civil war unfold on screen, and while early doubts existed about whether the Game of Thrones prequel could rekindle the mania of the original series, House of the Dragon has proven itself a capable heir thus far. Its record-breaking premiere illustrated the enduring dedication of the fanbase. However, forging a legacy that is equal to the cultural phenomenon of’ Thrones’ is still an immense challenge facing the new show. Only time will tell if it will manage to do so.
In the meantime, stay tuned for The Path’s recap of season 1 of House of the Dragon!
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