Summary

  • House of the Dragon Season 2 picks up just 10 days after Season 1, delving into characters' emotional journeys post-tragedy.
  • Major characters like Rhaenys and Lord Corlys face difficult decisions and emotional turmoil in the upcoming season.
  • The upcoming season will explore the consequences of Aemond Targaryen's actions as the Dance of the Dragons continues.

Season 2 of HBO's Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, is just over a month away and its stars are slowly teasing fans with more and more details. The prequel series, which debuted in 2022, managed to reignite fans' excitement about George R.R. Martin's world, after the dreadful finale to Game of Thrones' final season. The series tells the story of House Targaryon's swift fall from power, 300 years before the events of Game of Thrones.

The following contains major spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 1!

House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon
Fantasy
Drama
Sci-Fi

Taking place about 172 years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon tells the tale of the rise of the Targaryens, the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria. The popular HBO spinoff show first starred Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before they were replaced by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke, who play the older versions of the characters. Also starring in the series is Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra’s father, King Viserys Targaryen.

Release Date
August 21, 2021
Cast
Paddy Considine , Olivia Cooke , Rhys Ifans , Matt Smith , Eve Best , Steve Toussaint
Main Genre
Fantasy
Seasons
2

Several of the show's cast members appeared at CCXP Mexico City (via Collider), including Steve Toussaint (Lord Corlys 'The Sea Snake' Valeryon). Toussaint gave fans one of the most crucial details about Season 2: how far into the future it takes place, following the shocking finale to Season 1 which ignited an all-out war between Rhaenyra and Alicent Hightower. Toussaint said:

"Okay, Season 2 begins about 10 days after Season 1 ends . So for Corlys, he's still coming to terms with the grief of losing his son, his brother, his daughter, and his heir, his grandson. So he is trying to deal with that, plus hold on to the one thing he holds most of his relationship with his wife, so that's kind of where he is. He's in a very weakened and emotional state."

How the Characters Reacted to House of the Dragon's Season 1 Finale

The cast at CCXP, which also included Eve Best (Rhaenys Targeryon) and Ewan Mitchell (Aemond targeryon), then revealed the state of the major characters going into Season 2, and how they'd all reacted to the shocking death of Lucerys Valeryon (Elliot Grihault). Eve Best weighed in on Rhaenys' psyche going into Season 2, saying:

""Okay, so Rhaenys is trying to keep everything together, in the light of the horrible loss of Lucerys and everything that's been going on for the last 10 days. She's pulling out strength and trying not to lose her shit. And, I think she's really tired and she's out on her dragon (Meleys) a lot."

Her on-screen husband Lord Corlys, played by Steve Toussaint, is in a similar position, and will undergo an "emotional journey" in Season 2 (via Collider). The actor also confirmed that House Valeryon will back Rhaenyra's claim to the Iron Throne. Toussaint said:

“What certainly was surprising for me when I read the scripts is actually just how emotional his journey is in this season. Because I, initially, before I’d seen the scripts, I presumed he’d be all rough, “I'm gonna just lay waste to my enemies!” But in actual fact, without giving anything away, a lot of his past deeds come back to haunt him, and he has to be very humble. So it’s a very strong and very long, emotional journey that The Sea Snake goes on.”

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Finally, Ewan Mitchell weighed in on Aemond Targeryen's position in Season 2. Lucerys' 'accidental' death is on Aemond's hands, and Mitchell teased that his character is wrestling with a massive decision at the start of the new season. Mitchell said:

"Aemond kick-started the Dance of the Dragons and drew first blood by killing Lucerys. He's facing a choice. He can either own what he did, return to King's Landing and say that he meant to kill Luc and become the most hated man in the realm. Or, he can admit what he did was a mistake and be at the mercy of Rhaenyra."

House of the Dragon Season 2 begins on HBO and Max on June 16, 2024.