“A Targaryen who sits on the Iron Throne is not just a king or a queen. They are a protector of the realm,” is one hell of a way to start a new House Of The Dragon trailer when we all know the outcome of Targaryen rulers in Westeros. And so it’s no surprise that HotD promises a brutal, bloody, and exciting second season.
HBO released a full-length trailer of the forthcoming eight new episodes, which proves the Game Of Thrones spin-off is going bigger and bolder for round two. There’s more plotting, characters, rivalry, and war when the show returns in June. Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and Queen Alicent (Olivia Cooke), once childhood friends, have seen their relationship devolve into a bitter feud.
In case you need a refresher (hey, season one premiered two years ago), HotD is set almost 200 years before the events of GOT. Long before Daenerys’ (Emilia Clarke) beloved dragons burnt King’s Landing, her ancestors ran the show and led her bloodline into chaos. The existing 10 episodes chart how Rhaenyra, daughter of King Viserys (Paddy Consadine), emerges as a worthy successor to his rule. She’s ready to fight, even if that means going to war against her former BFF/current stepmother Alicent, who is determined to make her son the new king.
Season two picks up after the events of the finale when Aemond’s (Ewan Mitchell) massive dragon Vhagar chomped on Lucerys (Elliot Grihault) and his tinier dragon, Arrax. Naturally, both sides are pissed and will stop at nothing to kill each other. There are brief moments in the trailer where Rhaenyra and Alicent ponder about peace. It doesn’t last long, thanks to the encouragement of the men around them.
Another reminder: Rhaenyra’s side is Team Black. Her supporters include her husband/uncle, Daemon (Matt Smith), and other relatives like Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) and Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best). Alicent’s side is Team Green for the color of her house, Hightower. Those who pledge loyalty are her father, Otto (Rhys Ifans), her sons, and the highly annoying Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), who can go fuck himself, frankly.
Along with the returning cast, season two has added new cast members Gayle Rankin, Simon Russell Beale, Abubakar Salim, Freddie Fox, Tom Bennett, Vincent Regan, Kieran Bew, Clinton Liberty, Jamie Kenna, and Kieran Bew.
HotD is based on George R.R. Martin’s novel, Fire & Blood. No spoilers here but, as someone who has read it, brace for assassins, much more backstabbing, insane dragon fights, and a disastrous strife between Aemond and Daemon. It all builds up to the infamous Dance of the Dragons that put an end to Targaryen rule in Westeros.
Let’s see how much ground the eight episodes cover, although a third and fourth season will probably be necessary to close this chapter. For now, season two premieres on June 16 on HBO, and it will be available to stream on Max.