'House of the Dragon' Season 2: Inside Aegon's 'A Song of Ice and Fire' prophetic connection to 'Game of Thrones'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 will premiere on HBO on Sunday, June 16, 2024. 'House of the Dragon' serves as a spin-off from 'Game of Thrones and is based 200 years before the events of the hugely popular series.
'House of the Dragon' revolves around the history of the Targaryen dynasty. As the series begins, we witness King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine) grappling with the dilemma of choosing his successor in a patriarchal society where a male heir is traditionally preferred.
He makes a controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) his successor.
At the time of naming her as his successor, he reveals to Rhaenyra the secret of Aegon's prophecy, a closely guarded secret passed down through generations of the Targaryen family.
For those who have seen, 'Game of Thrones', the prophecy acts as a link between the two shows. Here we explore the prophecy and its link to 'Game of Thrones'
What is Aegon's prophecy?
Aegon, also known as King Aegon the Conqueror, is an ancestor of King Viserys who conquered and united Westeros and had a prophetic dream about the world's end, foreseeing the onset of a devastating winter in the distant North.
He further emphasized that, according to the prophecy, a Targaryen must sit on the Iron Throne for the world to survive. Aegon called the dream 'A Song of Ice and Fire'.
Viserys, at that time, had no male child, and to keep the secret in the family, named Rhaenyra as his heir.
Even after Rhaenyra is married to Lord Corlys' (Steve Toussaint) son Laenor Velaryon (John Macmillan), Viserys ensures that their son, when he ascends the throne, will bear the Targaryen surname.
Later on in the series, Viserys reveals the secret of Aegon's prophecy prophetic dream to his second wife Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) when he is on his deathbed.
Connection with 'Game of Thrones' and its irony
Aegon's prophecy does come true in the 'Game of Thrones' when the Night King leads an army of White Walkers to end human existence on a long night.
The irony of the whole prophecy, however, is the fact that at the end of 'Game of Thrones', a Targaryen isn't sitting on the throne when the Night King is killed by Arya Stark (Maisie Williams).
The person sitting on the throne during the long night is Cersei Lannister (Lena Headley).
The Targaryens do play a pivotal role in uniting the realm, particularly as Jon Snow (Kit Harington), revealed to be a Targaryen in 'Game of Thrones', and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), rally the various houses in the battle against the Night King.
Fans are speculating though, whether, at a later time, it will be revealed that Cersei had Targaryen blood, or if Aegon's prophecy was not as precise as originally believed.
'House of the Dragon' Season 2 Trailer
'House of the Dragon' Season 2 is streaming on HBO on June 16, 2024.