'House of the Dragon' Season 2 Episode 2: From Aegon's revenge to Helaena's grief, here's what to expect
Contains speculation and spoilers
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 Episode 2 premieres on Sunday, June 23, 2024 on HBO.
The gruesome conclusion of Episode 1 has left fans of this fantasy political thriller eagerly anticipating the release of 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 Episode 2. The first episode had all the elements that have made 'House of the Dragon' a fan favorite.
It featured a grieving mother in Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy), an arrogant King in Aegon Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), an illicit affair between Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), and finally the murder of Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen in front of Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban).
This sets up an intriguing second episode that will bring the Green and Black factions closer to war. Here are five things we expect from 'House of the Dragon' Season 2, Episode 2.
Aegon's Revenge
Aegon has been waiting for an excuse to go to war, and now that his son has been murdered in cold blood, his hunger for conflict will increase immeasurably.
In the next episode, Aegon will likely embark on an all-out warpath, ignoring the advice of Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) and his mother, Alicent. It will be interesting to see if he will send Vhagar to burn down the blockade at Gullet.
Blood and Cheese to face their fate
Blood (Sam C Wilson) and Cheese (Mark Stobbart) are assassins hired by Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) to kill Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell), but they end up killing Aegon's son instead.
Aegon, known for his temperamental rule, will spare no effort to hunt down Blood and Cheese and kill them to set an example.
In the book, Blood is caught while Cheese escapes, but given the adaptation's departure from the source material, we may see different interpretations unfold.
Rhaenyra and Daemon prepare for war
Rhaenyra sought revenge on Aemond for killing Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault). Daemon's actions resulting in the death of a child will undoubtedly anger Rhaenyra even more.
They have little time for contemplation, as war looms ever closer. They must work tirelessly to gather allies and prepare their strategy for the impending conflict.
Helaena's grief
Helaena possesses an aura of mystery due to her ability to foresee events before they unfold. Witnessing her son's death before her eyes will likely shatter her deeply.
In the book, this tragic event plunges her into a deep depression, leading to her eventual death and sparking a revolt against Rhaenyra in the realm. Furthermore, she is the only witness to Criston Cole and Alicent's affair, which adds to her mysterious character.
We learn more about Alyn of Hull
Alyn of Hull was introduced in the first season, and according to the book, the character is set to play a significant role in the upcoming episodes.
The adaptation of Alyn of Hull has diverged from the book, so we'll discover what the creators have planned for his character on screen.
Alyn has a brother named Addam in the book who might be introduced in the coming episodes. Additionally, there are questions about his parentage and Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) might be his biological father in the series.
How to stream 'House of the Dragon' Season 2?
'House of the Dragon' is streaming on HBO Max starting on Sunday, June 16, 2024. Episodes of the series will continue to air every Sunday until August 4, 2024.
To watch the series, you will need a Max subscription. 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