The “House of the Dragon” series makes its big return to the new Max platform during the night from Sunday to Monday. But are you up to date on the plot? We summarize everything you need to remember before the release.
The time has soon come for fans of House of the Dragon. Season 2 begins its broadcast on the night of Sunday June 16 to Monday June 17, with the first episode which will be posted online on the platform. streaming Max after its broadcast in the United States. Remember that the latter has been available in France since Tuesday, which allows viewers to watch the series in legal streaming.
But before diving into the new episodes, it is worth remembering the plot of the first season, released already two years ago. Do you have in mind the names of the characters and the different clans, but also all the issues of the series? Below we summarize the key information that you must keep in mind before starting to watch season 2 of House of the Dragon.
Who is with who? Update on the clans of House of the Dragon
Prequel to Game Of Thrones, House of the Dragon chronicles the events leading up to the civil war known as “the Dance of the Dragons”, which resulted in the fall of the Targaryens and the loss of the dragons in Westeros. The plot takes place precisely 189 years before Game Of Thronesas two clans of Targaryens clash for the Iron Throne following the death of King Viserys, in episode 8 of season 1:
- Supporters of the Black Queen, want Princess Rhaenyra, eldest daughter of King Viserys born from his first marriage to Queen Aemma who died in childbirth, to accede to the throne. Among those who have pledged allegiance to her are her children from her first marriage, Jacaerys and Lucerys, her uncle (and second husband) Daemon Targaryen, the family of her first husband Lord Corlys and Rhaenys, and also Sir Erryk Cargyll. They seek to rally the Baratheons and Starks to their cause at the end of season 1. Their stronghold is located at Dragonstone.
- The Hightowers, who swear allegiance to King Aegon. This is the family of the hand of King Viserys, Otto Hightower, who had his daughter Alicent married to King Viserys in a second marriage for his last years of reign. She gave birth to two male heirs, Aegon and Aemond Targaryen, but also to a daughter, Helaena Targaryen (who is also married to her brother, King Aegon). In their camp, located in the Red Keep of King’s Landing, we also find the Wylde and Lannister families, but also Sir Criston Cole and Sir Arryk Cargyll.
What had Viserys decided about his succession?
During his lifetime, Viserys hesitated for a long time, was sometimes pushed to change his mind, but he was clear: the king officially named Rhaenyra as heir to the throne, which created dissension within the kingdom since it was a woman. But at the time of his death, while his wife Alicent was by his side, he confused her with his daughter and revealed to her bits of The Ballad of Ice and Fire. Alicent struggles to understand what the dying king is trying to tell him and understands (or pretends to understand) that he ultimately wants their son, Aegon, to ascend the throne. Believing it to be his last wish, she insists that Aegon succeed his father. The Hightower family then takes power.
The Hightowers took power by force
King Viserys, father of Rhaenyra and Aegon, and husband of Alicent Hightower, died at the end of episode 8 of the first season of House of the Dragon. If tensions were already felt from the start of the season, this event accelerated the plot, since the Hightowers took the opportunity to take power by force and crown Prince Aegon, before the news of Viserys’ death n ‘reaches the ears of Rhaenyra and her clan. When season 2 begins, the Iron Throne is occupied by King Aegon, and the Hightowers occupy the capital of Westeros.
The death of Rhaenyra’s son
If Alicent and Rhaenyra, who were friends in their childhood, are now openly in conflict, they have sometimes tried to find a peaceful solution to their tensions. But that was before the season 1 finale of House of the Dragon. In the last episode, the Black Queen, furious to learn that the throne is occupied by Aegon, is determined to regain control of the Hightowers thanks to well-intentioned alliances. Especially since she is crowned when Sir Erryk Cargyll brings her the crown of Viserys. She then orders her two eldest sons, Jacaerys and Lucerys, to ride dragons to convince the Baratheons and Starks to rally to her cause. Lucerys therefore leaves for the Baratheon stronghold, but finds his uncle there, Aemond Targaryen (younger son of Alicent and Viserys), trying to convince the family.
Remember that a long-standing conflict opposes Lucerys and Aemond. The latter has not forgiven him for having cut his left eye during a childhood fight, making him blind in one eye, ten years earlier. Especially since he was never punished for his action. Aemond is therefore determined to take revenge on Lucerys, and then pursues him on the back of his dragon, Vaghar. But the two dragons escape their mother’s controls, and Vhagar ends up tearing Lucerys and her dragon to pieces. Season 1 ends when Rhaenyra learns of the death of her son, now ready to do anything to avenge him.
Secondary characters not to forget
If the bulk of the plot House of the Dragon focuses on the different protagonists of each clan, there are also external secondary characters that should not be forgotten. This is the case of Mysaria, nicknamed White Worm, who was a prostitute in King’s Landing and was notably Daemon’s mistress. The latter also has a network of spies which monitored the Red Keep, and in particular members of the royal family.
There are also the Cargyll twins, Sir Erryk and Sir Arryk, who work in season 1 as members of the royal guard in King’s Landing and are notably responsible for recovering Aegon to place him on the Iron Throne after his death. from his father. One of the two brothers, Sir Erryk Cargyll, however ended up changing his allegiance to join Rhaenyra in Peyredragron after freeing Rhaenys and stealing the crown of Viserys to give it to his eldest daughter.