Breaking Down the HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 2 Teaser

Melody McCune

Otto and Alicent Hightower sit in a dimly lit room while facing each other and talking.

Fire to fire; blood for blood. 

HBO unveiled the House of the Dragon Season 2 teaser trailer today. The Game of Thrones prequel ended its first season in rain-soaked tragedy with the death of Lucerys Velaryon, Rhaenyra Targaryen’s youngest son, courtesy of Aemond Targaryen. This event kickstarts the Dance of the Dragons, the famed Targaryen civil war that commences the gradual downfall of House Targaryen. 

This teaser showcases a few pivotal moments in the Dance of the Dragons timeline. Let’s break down what those are and theorize what they mean in the grand scheme of things. 

DISCLAIMER: The night is dark and full of spoilers, especially from Fire & Blood. Proceed at your peril. 

Aemond Targaryen sits at a table while in a room that's lit by a fire and looking focused in House of the Dragon Season 2.
HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 2. Photo credit: Ollie Upton/HBO.

The Greens Retaking Harrenhal 

Daemon Targaryen seizing control of Harrenhal occurs early in the Dance of the Dragons. I imagine we’ll also see that unfold around the beginning of Season 2. Eventually, though, Aemond, Ser Criston Cole and the Greens retake the legendary castle. 

In the teaser, we see Criston beheading a man. While it’s not directly outside Harrenhal proper, the castle is on the northern shore of the Gods Eye. My guess is Criston is decapitating a member of House Strong. At one point, Aegon fires Otto Hightower, promoting Criston as his Hand of the King. It’s no surprise we see more Criston than Otto in the teaser.

Anyway, Aemond orders the death of all the Strongs but spares Alys Rivers. Aemond eventually has an affair with her. 

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Prince Regent 

There’s one moment in the teaser trailer where it looks like Aemond approaches an empty Iron Throne. I predicted last year that we might see the Battle at Rook’s Rest, perhaps in the Season 2 finale. This battle is quite the blow to both the Greens and the Blacks, as Aegon Targaryen and Aemond slaughter Rhaenys Targaryen and her dragon, Meleys. Aegon is severely wounded, as is his dragon, Sunfyre. In fact, Sunfyre remains at Rook’s Rest to heal. 

While Aegon convalesces, Aemond assumes the role of Prince Regent, ruling in his brother’s stead. I believe we’ll see Aemond take up that mantle by the end of Season 2 (perhaps a bit sooner). 

Alicent Hightower wears a green dress and matching veil while looking scared as she runs through the streets of King's Landing in broad daylight.
HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 2. Photo credit: Theo Whitman/HBO.

Blood and Cheese

Helaena Targaryen is seen in the teaser sporting mourning garb and later with a man who holds a blade to her throat. She’s mourning the loss of her son, Jaehaerys Targaryen, who dies at the hands of Blood and Cheese, two assassins hired by Daemon in retaliation for Lucerys’ death. As for the man threatening Helaena, I believe that’s Cheese. 

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After Jaehaerys’ murder, Helaena stops riding her dragon, Dreamfyre, sinking deeper into depression. Unfortunately, she takes her own life after Rook’s Rest and Rhaenyra’s seizing of King’s Landing, although I’m sure the writers will save that for Season 3. 

A Brotherly Tragedy

In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, we see the Cargyll twins fighting in the teaser. Following his son’s murder, Aegon plans to exact revenge against Rhaenyra by ordering Ser Arryk Cargyll to infiltrate Dragonstone, posing as his identical twin brother, Erryk, who supports her. Then, Arryk must kill Rhaenyra or her children (Fire & Blood is full of unreliable narrators, so there are disputing accounts).

Daemon Targaryen and Rhaenyra Targaryen share an intimate moment in a dimly lit room in House of the Dragon Season 2.
HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 2. Photo credit: Ollie Upton/HBO.

However, Arryk and Erryk slaughter each other in the heat of battle at Dragonstone. This also occurs early in the Dance, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we see it onscreen in Season 2. 

RELATED: Top 12 Moments From House of the Dragon Season 1

Scenic Shots 

I tried deciphering some of the battles and scenic shots in the teaser. Of course, it’s difficult to discern what’s what regarding the fighting from a brief trailer or what liberties the writers will take. After all, the source material has multiple interpretations from multiple narrators. 

One moment, in particular, looks more like a traveling party than a battle. We see a host of men on horses with torches as they make their way through a snowy, wooded area. I believe that’s Team Black’s (Rhaenyra’s camp) party en route to Winterfell, where Jacaerys Velaryon will treat with Lord Cregan Stark. 

Corlys Velaryon stands next to a table with food in a room that's lit by glowing torches.
HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 2. Photo credit: Ollie Upton/HBO.

Another scene shows an empty field, potentially hinting at the Battle of the Burning Mill, which sees the notorious rivalry between Houses Bracken and Blackwood end in bloody catastrophe. It also brings Alysanne Blackwood, aka Black Aly, into the fold. 

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Baela Riding Her Dragon 

Baela Targaryen divides her time between Dragonstone and Driftmark in the book. When the Dance starts, her dragon, Moondancer, isn’t big enough for a rider. However, in the teaser, we see her riding a dragon. My guess is this will occur around mid-to-late Season 2, meaning Moondancer is of an appropriate size at that point. Meanwhile, in Fire & Blood, Baela’s twin sister, Rhaena Targaryen, spends her time at the Vale, away from the fighting. 

Lots of Dragon Shots 

We see quite a few shots featuring various dragonriders in the teaser trailer. One moment appears to show Seasmoke, Laenor Velaryon’s dragon (who is still alive despite having died in Fire & Blood), soaring above, presumably, Addam of Hull. During The Sowing, Addam claims Seasmoke as his dragon. Addam and his brother, Alyn of Hull, are rumored to be the children of Lord Corlys Velaryon (their mother claimed that Laenor was their father, though). 

Daemon Targaryen wears heavy armor while sitting at a table in a room that's lit by a fire in House of the Dragon Season 2.
HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 2. Photo credit: Ollie Upton/HBO.

Other shots show Aemond and Rhaenyra riding their dragons. Rhaenyra potentially going into battle excites me because she doesn’t do much of that in the book. Additionally, we see what appears to be Rhaenyra and Aegon facing each other on the beach, with their respective dragons stationed behind them. They don’t really meet in person during the Dance, save for the moment before Rhaenyra’s tragic demise. I’m curious about this scene. 

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Alicent 

Alicent Hightower braces herself for war in this teaser. We see her chatting with her father, Otto. Perhaps this occurs after Aegon fires him. Another moment shows her standing near the water in a flowing white dress, a color she usually doesn’t wear. While it’s not black, could this be following Jaehaerys’ murder? Or she’s worrying about Helaena? I also wonder if it might be a dream sequence. There’s a hazy, filtered quality to the cinematography that suggests it’s a possibility. 

Additionally, we see Alicent fleeing King’s Landing among a melee of residents seeking safety. Rhaenyra seizes control of King’s Landing during the Dance, so I wonder if Season 2 will end with her takeover. Maybe the Battle at Rook’s Rest occurs earlier in the season than I previously assumed. 

I’ve Got Questions

Did you see the focus on the long-haired boy who brandishes a sword in the teaser? His hair is too dark to be Daeron Targaryen. My next guess was Cregan, but he doesn’t look that much like the actor cast to play him. Plus, this boy isn’t in House Stark colors. I suppose he could be one of the ill-fated folks who tried to mount one of the riderless dragons during The Sowing. I’m curious to learn who he is. Now, if only these teasers didn’t move so damn quickly (I sound like An Old™). 

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Next, that final shot at the teaser’s end shows a dragon flying over a field of people. Said dragon has holes in their wings. This dragon is too small and too light-colored to be Vhagar. Could this be Sunfyre during the Battle at Rook’s Rest? He’ll inevitably lose a wing if the onscreen narrative follows the book, but maybe this moment is before that. 

Rhaenyra Targaryen stands near the water at Dragonstone while wearing a dark red leather dress and looking heartbroken in House of the Dragon Season 2.
HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 2. Photo credit: Theo Whitman/HBO.

A few things are notably absent from this teaser: Nettles, the dragonrider who claims Sheepstealer, one of the wild dragons, and Daeron, for starters. (There is a rumor that Daeron won’t appear in Season 2.) Secondly, we don’t see most of the new cast additions, save (potentially) Addam. Thirdly, significant power players like Larys Strong and Tyland Lannister are also MIA. I’m sure they’re scheming somewhere off-screen. 

Regardless, I’m excited and more than ready for the show’s sophomore season. 

What do you think about the House of the Dragon Season 2 teaser? Are there any moments you caught that aren’t in this article? Sound off in the comments below!

House of the Dragon Season 2 premieres in the Summer of 2024. You can stream Season 1 on Max

https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/house-of-the-dragon-dragons-guide-season-2/

Melody McCune
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