The second season of House of the Dragon debuted on HBO on Sunday, when the first episode of the second season’s eight-episode frame, titled A Son for a Son, aired.
The second season’s story begins at the end of the show’s first season, in which Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and his dragon Vhaegar massacred Lucerys (Elliot Grihault), the son of Princess Rhaenyra (Eve Best), and her dragon. Arrax.
The deadly series of events heightens the brewing tension between the Targaryens and the Hightowers, eventually culminating in a civil war called The Dance of Dragons.
The show’s second season began with a revised opening title sequence that was noticeably different from the one aired in the show’s first season.
The first season of House of the Dragon featured an animated opening that incorporated ancient Valyria into a stone model, as it had been presided over by the late King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine). It included red blood running through the streets of Valyria, with symbolism alluding to Targaryen leaders.
Olivia Cooke, who plays Queen Alicent Hightower, was seen in the second season of House of the Dragon, which debuted on HBO on Sunday.
Ewan Mitchell appears as Aemond Targaryen in House of the Dragon
The opening of the second season focuses on a Bayeux tapestry with references in the art to past events in history.
The tapestry scene depicts bloodshed in ancient Valyria, as well as the Valyrians’ connection to dragons. One sequence shows a man with a dagger in his hand, while another man kneels in front of a dragon while he is flanked by candles.
Viewers then saw an active volcano to symbolize the Doom of Valyria, an event in which the ancient Targaryen homeland saw people and dragons die as every hill exploded in a burning fire.
Another sequence showed Aegon the Conqueror on a quest to rule Westeros while flanked by his sister wives Visenya and Rhaenys as they rode dragons across the Narrow Sea.
Other notable events in the story seen forming in the tapestry consisted of events seen in the hit series Game of Thrones, which ran for eight seasons on HBO between 2011 and 2019.
One area referenced King Jaehaerys Targaryen (Michael Carter) leading the Great Council of Harrenhal, proclaiming Viserys as the kingdom’s future leader, as well as the beginning of the Dance of Dragons.
Also seen on the tapestry are Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) at a banquet.
Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), son of Alicent and half-brother of Rhaenyra, is depicted in the revised opening as king of the Iron Throne, while Rhaenyra is named queen at Dragonstone Castle.
The second season of House of the Dragon debuted on HBO on Sunday, when the first episode of the second season’s eight-episode frame, titled A Son for a Son, aired.
Soldiers prepare for war in the second season of the HBO prequel
To conclude, the opening credits are images depicting the death of Lucerys Velaryon (played by Elliot Grihault) at the hands of the dragon Vhagar in the sky above Storm’s End.
Cast members returning for the show’s second season include Best, Matt Smith, who plays Prince Daemon Targaryen; Emma D’Arcy as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen; Olivia Cooke, who plays Queen Alicent Hightower; Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys ‘The Sea Serpent’ Velaryon; and Rhys Ifans, who plays Ser Otto Hightower.
The cast also includes Fabien Frankel playing Ser Criston Cole, Matthew Needham playing the role of Lord Varys Strong, Sonoya Mizuno playing Mysaria, Harry Collett as Jacaerys Velaryon and Bethany Antonia as Lady Baela Targaryen.
Phoebe Campbell plays the role of Lady Rhaena Targaryen, Phia Saban plays Queen Helaena Targaryen, and Jefferson Hall plays the role of Jason Lannister in the show’s second season.
New characters added to the prequel story include Abubakar Salim playing the role of Alyn of Hull, Gayle Rankin playing Alys Rivers, Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower, Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong, Clinton Liberty playing Addam of Hull. and Jamie Kenna as Ser Alfred Broome.
Rounding out the new cast are Kieran Bew as Hugh, Tom Bennett as Ulf, Tom Taylor as Lord Cregan Stark and Vincent Regan as Ser Rickard Thorne.
Sunday’s episode began with a raven in flight heading towards Winterfell and the Wall to start the episode.
The Lord of Winterfell, Cregan Stark, is seen speaking with Jacaerys, the brother of the recently deceased Lucerys, who is the son of Queen Rhaenyra.
Steve Toussaint plays Lord Corlys ‘The Sea Snake’ Velaryon for a second season of the series
The latest installment of the franchise created by George RR Martin will run until August 4
Jacaerys, encouraging Cregan to defend the area, requests soldiers from the North, to which Cregan sends a group of older soldiers. Later, Jacaerys learns of the death of his brother.
In Dragonstone, Princess Rhaenys returns with her dragon Meleys after conducting an aerial patrol of Team Black’s blockade of the bay.
Daemon asks him to prepare to head to King’s Landing in an effort to decimate Vhagar, the dragon involved in the massacre of Prince Lucerys.
Daemon tells Rhaenys that Rhaenyra appears to be missing, while Rhaenys says that she believes Rhaenyra is investigating Luke’s death, which explains her extended absence.
Daemon subtly taunts Rhaenys about her unfortunate inability to decimate the Greens earlier, but she retreats to her chambers without reacting.
Queen Rhaenrya discovers Arrax’s wing and a piece of cloth near a beach in Storm’s End and returns to Dragonstone focused on revenge.
Lord Corlys is seen at Driftmark, House Velaryon’s base of operations, discussing the condition of a naval flagship with naval worker Alyn, who points out that he has a brother named Addam in a cryptic but powerful exchange.
Ser Arryk is seen in the Red Keep, and he and his troops are seen preparing to stand behind the Green Team with their crossbows, until they realize it is Aemond and his dragon Vhagar. In the story, Arryk stands behind Aegon while his twin Erryk backs Rhaenyra.
Sunday’s second-season debut was written by showrunner Ryan Condal and directed by Alan Taylor, who previously directed episodes of Game of Thrones as well as HBO staples like Boardwalk Empire, Sex and the City, The Sopranos and their movie prequel, The Many Saints. from Newark.
The latest from the franchise created by George RR Martin will run until August 4.
House of the Dragon begins streaming new episodes Sunday at 9 pm ET/PT on HBO; Episodes can also be streamed in 4K on Max.