'House of the Dragon' Season 2: What is 'Hour of the Wolf' and here's how it connects to the Lord of Winterfell
Contains spoilers and speculation 'House of the Dragon'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 began streaming on June 16, 2024, on HBO. The epic action-adventure series showcases the high-octane battle known as the Dance of the Dragons in its second season.
As the Targaryen house splits into two factions, both sides seek allies to support their cause. In Episode 1 of Season 2, Jacerys Velaryon (Harry Collett) travels to the North, where he meets Cregan Stark (Tom Taylor) and secures an alliance.
Cregan Stark hasn't had much screen time since, but the Lord of Winterfell will play a significant role later in the Dance of the Dragons, during a period referred to in the show as the 'Hour of the Wolf.'
What is Hour of the Wolf in 'House of the Dragon'?
In 'Fire and Blood' by George RR Martin, the friendship between Jacerys and Cregan is much deeper, with Jacerys spending a considerable amount of time at Winterfell.
Jacerys even marries Cregan's half-sister, Sara Snow. However, these events are not detailed extensively in the show.
Jacerys will die in the Battle of Gullet, and the Blacks, who initially take over King's Landing, will ultimately fall after the death of Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) at the hands of Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney).
Even after Rhaenyra’s death, some allies of the Blacks continue to fight. Their leader, Cregan Stark, marches into King's Landing and establishes Rhaenyra’s son, Aegon III Targaryen, as the king.
The 'Hour of the Wolf' refers to Cregan Stark's tenure as Hand of the King, during which he holds court and passes judgment to restore order in King's Landing following the death of Aegon II Targaryen.
Cregan Stark arrests Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) and Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint). However, Aegon III Targaryen is persuaded by Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia) to restore Corlys Velaryon to his position.
In a traditional House Stark practice, Cregan even carries out the executions himself.
He then returned to the North and ruled for many years. Cregan Stark is a formidable character who becomes increasingly important later in the show, despite his initial brief mention at the beginning of the second season.
Why is Cregan's judgment called the Hour of the Wolf?
The name 'Hour of the Wolf' refers to the part of the night in George RR Martin's world, a time known for its deepest darkness.
This is one of the final acts of the Dance of the Dragons, and Aegon III Targaryen rules for a long time after the Hour of the Wolf.
Hour of the Wolf is also a testament to the Starks who are known by their Wolf titles. In 'Game of Thrones', Robb Stark is given the name 'The Young Wolf,' and the Stark family is closely associated with dire wolves, which is the origin of the name.
For now, Cregan Stark has committed only a few soldiers, as his loyalties are divided between King's Landing and the North beyond the Wall. However, he will eventually march his armies to King's Landing.
How to stream 'House of the Dragon'?
The streaming platform typically offers three packages that you can choose from depending on your budget.
The low-cost plan that supports advertising costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 annually. The second package, which does not support advertising, costs $15.99 per month or $149.99 annually.
Meanwhile, the third package, titled Ultimate Ad-Free, costs $19.99 per month or $199.99 annually.
'House of the Dragon' Season 2 trailer
Episodes 1-5 of 'House of the Dragon' are streaming on HBO