In the sixth episode of House of the Dragon season 2, viewers are reminded of Otto Hightower’s absence when Prince Regent Aemond Targaryen requests his presence as Hand of the King.
Despite being one of the most prominent members of the House of the Dragon ensemble, Rhys Ifans’ character, Otto Hightower, was briefly written off the show when King Aegon II fired him as Hand of the King in the third episode of this season.
As the Greens’ condition deteriorates, the absence of King’s Landing is strongly felt by the characters.
Despite her sons’ reckless actions, Alicent Hightower longed for the security and control her father provided. As the conflict between the Blacks and Greens intensified, she remained one of the few voices of reason in the city while Aemond, Aegon, and Criston Cole continued to act foolishly.
Despite Aemond viewing Otto’s patience as a weakness, he still requested Lord Larys Strong to bring him back to the capital and work under him in the most recent episode. This raises concerns about Otto’s recent actions.
Where is Otto Hightower?
At this point in the Book, Otto Hightower is currently in Oldtown, however, it is possible that the show may depict a different location for him.
After he was sacked by King Aegon and returned to Oldtown in episode 3, Otto Hightower has not made any appearances on screen. However, following this event, Alicent advises him to rally the Tyrells, who have been causing disruptions in the Greens’ army assembly in the Reach.
It was expected that he would either travel to Highgarden or go back to Oldtown, the home of House Hightower. However, it seems that he has not done either of these things. Alternatively, he may be in one of these places but has not responded to Alicent’s messages.
Upon his dismissal in the source material book, Fire & Blood, Otto makes his return to Oldtown. However, the extent of his actions and accomplishments remain uncertain. Interestingly, it seems that the TV series has deviated slightly from the original path of Otto’s story, as the timeline for House of the Dragon has been altered in multiple ways to fit the format of television.
Rhys Ifans, a prominent actor, is expected to be utilized in the series rather than being kept off-screen for its entirety. This would potentially provide some balance in King’s Landing, where Aemond, now in a position of power, may hold considerable influence.
2. Does Otto Become Aemond’s Hand?
Despite his significant role in the Dance of the Dragons, Otto Hightower never serves as Hand of the King to Aemond Targaryen in Fire & Blood. This makes the idea of him being Hand in the television adaptation a completely original concept. However, after being dismissed by King Aegon, there is not much more to Otto Hightower’s story as his influence on the war was primarily felt before it began, rather than during it.
Once again, the decision to bring Otto back during this point in the show is probably a tactic to retain Rhys Ifans’ presence for a longer duration. His character brings distinctive elements to the storyline, making it illogical to remove him from it.
3. What Happens To Otto Hightower?
Following Rhaenyra’s successful takeover of King’s Landing, Otto Hightower is executed, resulting in his death. The book Fire & Blood does not mention much about Otto Hightower between the time he is removed as hand and his eventual demise, except for his involvement in the Battle of the Gullet, which was a result of his own actions.
Despite not being physically present during the combat, it was his idea that sparked it. However, the House of the Dragon holds the power to manipulate time, which could greatly affect Otto.
If Aemond were to fly north to the Riverlands in the finale of House of the Dragon’s second season, Rhaenyra would have the opportunity to take control of the capital with the assistance of her fellow dragon riders and potentially carry out Otto’s execution in either the same episode or the premiere of the show’s third season. The sequence of events would ultimately be determined by the show’s storyline.
About House Of The Dragon
The prequel series House of the Dragon is based on George R. R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood and serves as a companion to HBO’s hit show Game of Thrones.
Taking place three hundred years prior to the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon will depict the Targaryen family’s reign over Westeros before the dragons became extinct. The series will follow the conflict known as the Dance of the Dragons, a civil war between siblings Aegon II and Rhaenyra, who battled for the throne following the passing of their father, Viserys I.
The show, directed by Ryan Condall and Miguel Sapochnik, features Paddy Considine as Viserys I Targaryen, Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen, Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen, Tom Glynn-Craney as Aegon II Targaryen, Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower, Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon, Eve Best as Rhaenys Velaryon, Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria, Fabien Frankel as Criston Cole, and Graham McTavish.
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