Contains SPOILERS for Fire & Blood, and so potential spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2.
Summary
There’s a clear blueprint forHouse of the Dragonseason 2 thanks to the book, but there’s one mystery it may not be able to answer.House of the Dragonis based on George R.R. Martin’sFire & Blood, a historical account of House Targaryen written from an in-universe perspective. UnlikeGame of Thrones’ ending, the prequel has the full story and completed source material to work from across its remaining seasons.
That means, much likeA Song of Ice and Firereaders knew about events such as the Red Wedding, there are plenty of “spoilers” book readers already know forHouse of the Dragonseason 2. There will be some changes, of course -House of the Dragonseason 1’s endingturned Aemond Targaryen killing Lucerys Velaryon from a deliberate act into an accident, after all. However, despite having read the book, there’s one season 2 question that I can’t find a clear and obvious answer for.
House of the Dragonseason 2 will begin July 22, 2025, on HBO and Max, and run for eight episodes.
Why Was Emma D’Arcy In Spain For House Of The Dragon Season 2’s King’s Landing Filming
D’Arcy Visited The Location In May 2023
House of the Dragonseason 2 set photosrevealedEmma D’Arcy, who plays Rhaenyra Targaryen, was in Spain during the show’s production. More specifically, they were spotted in Cáceres [via@magi2296on X], where filming for King’s Landing scenes had been taking place. D’Arcy was not seen in costume, but their presence at the location - where the likes of Olivia Cooke and Phia Saban (who play Alicent Hightower and Helaena Targaryen, respectively) had been shooting - was, and remains, curious.
Based on the source material and the timing of the filming, I feelthere’s no obvious reason for Rhaenyra to have been in King’s Landing. Of course, it is possible that D’Arcy was simply visiting the set, or that they had been deliberately flown in as a red herring. But if it is because Rhaenyra appears in the capital of theSeven Kingdoms of Westeros, then what might that entail?
House Of The Dragon Season 2 Cast Guide: Every New & Returning Character
Here are the cast and characters of HBO’s House of the Dragon, which follows House Targaryen at the height of its power as a civil war looms.
Could Rhaenyra Sneak Into King’s Landing In House Of The Dragon Season 2
It Could Be That Rhaenyra Is A Vision Or Hallucination Of Alicent Hightower
Taking it at face value, that Rhaenyra really is in King’s Landing, then it would have to mean she snuck into the city; since she’s at war with its ruler, then she’s not exactly going to be invited in for a friendly chat and a nice cup of tea (or wine). That just raises more questions though, namely: why would Rhaenyra need or want to sneak into King’s Landing?
Could it be to meet with Alicent, to try and settle differences and put an end to the civil war? That would certainly explain it, but it is very hard to reconcile with the look of pure fury on Rhaenyra’s face after Lucerys’ death.
Could it be to meet with Alicent, to try and settle differences and put an end to the civil war? That would certainly explain it, but it is very hard to reconcile with the look of pure fury on Rhaenyra’s face after Lucerys’ death.House of the Dragon’s season 2 trailersuggested Alicent has doubts about the war and how it’s being fought, as well as mysterious shots of her at a lake. So, if anything, it seems more plausible to me she’d be the one trying to reach her old friend than vice versa.
Shots from the trailers have also teased riots in King’s Landing will happen at some point, leading to speculation Rhaenyra will sneak into the city to help the smallfolk. It’s a nice thought, but it’s a little difficult to see how it would fit into the story without feeling too much like a distraction, especially when she’s busy fighting a war (and fighting is the operative word, since she seems to be taking on a more active role inthe Dance of the Dragonsthan she has in the book). Still, it’s not impossible one of these scenarios plays out.
House Of The Dragon Season 2 Confirms A Big, Divisive Rhaenyra Targaryen Change From GRRM’s Story
House of the Dragon season 2 is making some significant changes to George R.R. Martin’s story, including with Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy).
The other option would be that Rhaenyra appears in a visionor dream/hallucination sequence. This would most likely be part of Alicent’s story, and could make sense if she’s thinking a lot about her former friend and having second thoughts about everything that happened sinceKing Viserys’ death. Alicent and Rhaenyra are the heart of the story, but won’t be together much, if at all, in season 2, so it could be an effective way to counter that. D’Arcy wouldn’t necessarily have been needed on location for those scenes, but it again feels somewhat plausible, if not a perfect fit.
Will House Of The Dragon Season 2 Begin The Fall Of King’s Landing?
Rhaenyra Eventually Takes The City - But Season 2 May Be Too Early
The final possibility for D’Arcy being in Spain is thatHouse of the Dragonseason 2 could show Rhaenyra taking control of King’s Landing. This is a moment that happens in the book, and it’s such a core part of the story that it has to happen eventually in the show. And yet, it’s also hard to believe this is what was happening, simply because season 2 feels too early for it.
[The Battle of the Gullet] seemingly won’t be happening until season 3, which makes it less likely the fall of King’s Landing will be in season 2.
In the book, Rhaenyra doesn’t take King’s Landing until after theBattle of the Gullet(one of the biggest, bloodiest sea battles in Westeros history). That itself seemingly won’t be happening until season 3, which makes it less likely the fall of King’s Landing will be in season 2 (and I think it’d be a mistake to swap the order around, since one helps lead to the other). Plus, givenD’Arcy wasn’t in Spain for that long based on the photos and schedule, it’s hard to imagine scenes of this magnitude being filmed there in that timeframe.
How Every Main Character In House Of The Dragon Dies In The Books
Fire & Blood explores the rise and fall of the Targaryen. Here is how every main House of the Dragon character dies according to Westerosi history.
There’s a lot to look forward to with Rhaenyra inHouse of the Dragonseason 2, and potentially some significant book changes too. Her being in King’s Landing may be one of them, and it’ll be interesting to see if it was indeed just a red herring, a vision, a sneak visit, or something much bigger.
House of the Dragon
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim.
