WARNING! This article contains major SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 2 and George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book, on which the show is based!
Summary
A subtle moment inHouse of the Dragonseason 2, episode 2 sets up a huge event for Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen that I can’t wait to see on the show. As the Dance of the Dragons commences, thecast and characters ofHouse of the Dragonseason 2are gearing up for war with immense dragon power, violent streaks, and the desire for revenge on both sides. While an official large-scale battle has yet to occur,House of the Dragonis sowing the seeds of the major attacks, plans, and losses to come as political strategy turns into the Targaryens embracing themselves as warriors.
One of these moments arrives beforeHouse of the Dragonseason 2, episode 2’s ending. Rhaenyra takes abook out of her library to read, which explores the history and exploits of Queen Visenya Targaryen, the sister-wife of Aegon the Conqueror. As Rhaenyra flips through the pages about the legendary warrior queen in her own Targaryen family tree, the images thatHouse of the Dragonfocuses on foreshadow an event that Rhaenyra herself will experience soon. After seeing so much of her pain and her need to reclaim the Iron Throne, it’s the feat of hers that I’m most excited about inHouse of the Dragon.
Rhaenyra Reading About Visenya Foreshadows The Upcoming Fall Of King’s Landing
A moment in Rhaenyra’s war will soon reflect the image of Visenya
One page that Rhaenyra reads inHouse of the Dragonseason 2 features an image of Queen Visenya taking a castle with her dragon burning fire below.House of the Dragonlingering on this image is no accident, as Rhaenyra will accomplish a similar feat long before theDance of the Dragons concludes. Thepicture of Visenya foreshadows Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen taking King’s Landing, which, according to George R.R. Martin’sFire & Bloodbook, she accomplishes while riding in on her dragon Syrax.
House Of The Dragon Season 2 Has One Rhaenyra Mystery That’s Been Bothering Me For Over A Year
House of the Dragon season 2’s story was told in George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, but the book doesn’t have a real answer for one Rhaenyra question.
Like Visenya, her sister Rhaenys, and brother Aegon taking Westeros and establishing a place on King’s Landing during the Conquest,Rhaenyra will take King’s Landing from Aegon II Targaryen with her husband Daemon leading the charge. Rhaenyra will actually have more dragon power than the Conqueror did during the Fall of King’s Landing, as Team Black will ride in the strength of Rhaenyra on Syrax, Daemon on Caraxes,Addam of Hull on Seasmoke, Ulf White on Silverwing, and Hugh Hammer on Vermithor. While Nettles and Sheepstealer were there in the book, it’s possible thatHouse of the Dragonwill replace them with Baela and Moondancer.
Seasmoke (Addam of Hull)
Silverwing (Ulf White)
Tyraxes (Joffrey)
Fire & Bloodindicates thatRhaenyra doesn’t often go into battle, so the Fall of King’s Landing is her triumphant flight into the violence of waras she finally takes back her stolen inheritance. Since Aegon was crowned, Rhaenyra has been waiting for the right time to take the Iron Throne and crown that her father gave to her, and I can’t wait to finally see her seize it. Like the warrior queens before her, Rhaenyra isn’t sitting back and waiting for the Greens to surrender before she rides into King’s Landing – she’ll be the one giving them the terms while on Syrax.
Since Aegon was crowned, Rhaenyra has been waiting for the right time to take the Iron Throne and crown that her father gave to her, and I can’t wait to finally see her seize it.
Rhaenyra isn’t just having all her battles fought for her
The tease of Rhaenyra wanting to be more like Queen Visenya Targaryen doesn’t just apply to foreshadowing the Fall of King’s Landing, but alsosets up her character to be far more of a warrior in the showthan she was in the book. InFire & Blood, the Fall of the King’s Landing was really the only time that Rhaenyra put herself directly in harm’s way for a potential battle while on Syrax. However,House of the Dragonseems to be giving Rhaenyra a more active role in ensuring that she’s trained to defend herself and fight in the Dance of the Dragons, much like Visenya during Aegon’s Conquest.
House of the Dragonseason 2’s trailer alreadyteased Rhaenyra picking up a swordand learning how to fight with it, so I’m excited thatshe intends on fighting her own war instead of simply having it fought for her. It seems that she was inspired to pick up a sword after her helplessness during theDuel of the Cargyll Twins, as she wouldn’t want to find herself in such a vulnerable position again with her life constantly in danger. With Rhaenys flying into the face of danger without hesitation during the Dance, I’m glad the show is setting up Rhaenyra to do the same.
House Of The Dragon’s Fall Of King’s Landing Scene Will Help Redeem A Game Of Thrones Episode
The Fall of King’s Landing will mirror “The Bells”
Part of the reason why I’m so excited for the Fall of King’s Landing is how much it’ll becompared to “The Bells” inGame of Thrones. WhenDaenerys Targaryen took King’s Landing on Drogon in “The Bells,” it understandably was received with plenty of backlash about her character becoming the “Mad Queen.” Rhaenyra will also be a Targaryen queen claiming King’s Landing and the Iron Throne that is hers by laws of inheritance. But, while Dany accomplished this by burning the city and killing thousands of innocent people, Rhaenyra does so with most casualties being soldiers and Team Green loyalists.
The circumstances are incredibly different, but it will berelieving to see a Targaryen queen take the Iron Throne back without so much division about how she accomplished it. Visenya, Rhaenyra, and Daenerys are the only queens in House Targaryen’s history to make their enemies surrender while riding in on dragonback, but all go about it in different ways. Unfortunately, like Daenerys’ short-lived time on the Iron Throne, Rhaenyra won’t have a hold on King’s Landing for too long after she finally takes it inHouse of the Dragon.
The Fall of King’s Landing could happen in House of the Dragon as soon as the end of season 2 or season 3.
New episodes ofHouse of the Dragonseason 2 release Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.
House of the Dragon
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
