The second season of House of the Dragon has returned to our screens, featuring an abundance of dragons, Targaryen family conflicts, and deviations from its inspiration, George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood.
The main disparities between Season 2 of House of the Dragon and Fire & Blood are outlined below.
1. We’re back at the Wall!
The second season of House of the Dragon begins with scenes of wintry forests and the iconic Winterfell theme composed by Ramin Djawadi, signaling the return of House Stark fans. It’s safe to say, we’re back and ready for more.
Following a season spent mainly in Dragonstone and King’s Landing, it is a pleasure to return to the northernmost parts of Westeros.
In the Season 1 finale, Jacaerys (played by Harry Collett), Rhaenyra’s eldest son, had flown up to meet with Lord Cregan Stark of Winterfell (played by Tom Taylor). When we see them again at the start of Season 2, it is evident that they have formed a strong friendship.
As they make their way up the Wall on a field trip, they engage in lively conversation about the moment Torrhen Stark pledged allegiance to Aegon the Conqueror. They also deliberate on ways the North can support Rhaenyra in her war campaign.
In order to reach Jace and Cregan’s alliance, House of the Dragon glosses over a significant amount of material. As is typical in Fire & Blood, Martin’s writing presents conflicting versions of Jace’s experiences in Winterfell.
According to Grand Maester Munkun’s True Telling, the two individuals formed a close bond and even made a blood oath of brotherhood. However, Septon Eustace argues that Jace persistently pressured Cregan to convert to the Faith of the Seven.
Out of all the accounts, the most scandalous one comes from court jester Mushroom, who claims that Jace defied his betrothal to cousin Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) and fell in love with and married a woman named Sara Snow, who was considered a bastard.
Despite having only eight episodes in this season, House of the Dragon most likely did not have enough time to delve into all the potential Northern drama. The focus is on the Dance of the Dragons, but it is safe to assume that we have not seen the end of Cregan Stark.
Alicent Hightower and Criston Cole’s Torrid Affair
To my surprise, and not mentioned in Fire & Blood, Dowager Queen Alicent and Lord Commander of the Kingsguard Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) are engaging in a romantic relationship.
From Alicent’s insistence that they couldn’t continue their affair – as if – it must have been quite some time ago. The real question is, when did this affair actually begin? When did Cole return to the idea of breaking his sacred Kingsguard oath? And when did Alicent ultimately decide to give in and do the very thing she had judged Rhaenyra for doing?
Despite Alicent and Criston’s blatant hypocrisy, it does not affect me because it aligns with their overly self-righteous personalities. It is not surprising that something would transpire between the two of them.
Their close bond is undeniable, and their shared animosity towards Rhaenyra adds a tantalizingly sensual element. As Alicent grapples with the unpredictable behavior of the men in her life, including her sons Aegon II and Aemond, it is only natural that she would seek to regain control in other areas.
It bothers me that Criston is not deserving of this. Please refrain from giving any nice things to Criston.
3. Blood and Cheese
Undoubtedly one of the darkest moments in House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones, occurs when two assassins, known only as Blood (Sam C. Wilson) and Cheese (Mark Stobbart), secretly enter the Red Keep and kill Jaehaerys, the infant son of Aegon and Helaena (Phia Saban).
The atrocious deed is carried out at the request of Daemon (Matt Smith), who desires “a son for a son”as revenge for the loss of Lucerys (Elliot Grihault).
After receiving information from the White Worm about the identities of two men with potential access to the Red Keep, he enlists them for his plan. These men are nondescript Blood, a palace guard, and Cheese, a rat catcher. Their mission is to infiltrate the royal quarters of the palace and locate Aemond in order to assassinate him.
Despite their efforts to search through the corridors, the one-eyed prince was nowhere to be found. However, they unexpectedly came across Queen Helaena and two of her children.
The individuals insist on finding out who among them is the one holding a knife to her neck, and warn that they will harm all three of them if she refuses to reveal the truth.
As she gestures towards her son Jaehaerys, Blood and Cheese swiftly decapitate him while Heleana rushes through the palace with her daughter to seek refuge in Alicent’s rooms. With horror, she informs the Queen Dowager and Criston Cole of the boy’s murder before the screen fades to black. How terrifying.
Undoubtedly one of the most harrowing moments in Martin’s Fire & Blood is the Blood and Cheese storyline. A similar atmosphere is created when Daemon enlists the help of Blood and Cheese to avenge his brother Lucerys’ death at the hands of Aemond.
Despite the series taking a different approach, their objective remains the same – to eliminate one of Aegon and Helaena’s sons from the very beginning. In the first episode, titled ‘A Son for a Son’, the hitmen question Daemon about what to do if they fail to locate Aemond, causing the screen to fade to black. It is uncertain whether Daemon instructs them to kill the baby. However, Martin’s novel leaves no ambiguity on the matter.
As a result, Blood and Cheese take advantage of the fact that Helaena often brings her children to visit Alicent at night before they go to bed.
The Queen Dowager is taken captive, and her bedroom is ambushed by those who seek to harm her and her children. After she arrives, they murder her guards and lock the door, leaving Helaena to make the difficult decision of which of her three sons, Jaehaerys, Jaehaera, or Maelor, will be sacrificed. It is important to note that in the book, all three children are present with her.
Helaena is threatened with rape and the promise of her three children being killed if she does not make a decision. She initially offers herself, but then reconsiders, realizing her children may not fully understand the situation. As a result, she chooses Maelor. Tragically, Jaehaerys is beheaded by Blood and Cheese instead.
About House Of The Dragon
The prequel series to HBO’s successful Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, is based on George R. R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood.
Taking place three hundred years prior to the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon will depict the reign of the Targaryen family over Westeros before the dragons became extinct. The series will focus on the Dance of the Dragons, a civil war between Aegon II and Rhaenyra, siblings who vied for the throne following the passing of their father, Viserys I.
Directed by Ryan Condall and Miguel Sapochnik, the show features a star-studded cast including 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 portraying 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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