House of the Dragon season 2 packed a variety of Westeros drama into its season finale. Though the episode, titled ‚The Queen Who Ever Was‘, retains it gentle on the motion and dragon preventing (we’re positive they’re saving that for season 3) there have been a variety of shifting elements on either side Workforce Inexperienced and Workforce Black to maintain up with, that each one result in yet one more cliffhanger, leaving us completely determined for the subsequent installment.
So, what simply occurred within the season 2 finale? And the way does it arrange House of the Dragon season 3? Nicely, we already know that the next season is on its way, and from what occurred this season we count on the third installment to be filled with conflict as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen edges her option to the Iron Throne. However the season 2 finale performs a serious half in what’s to return, as in only one episode we noticed alliances change, armies claimed, and yet one more dragon tamed, which can all have main results when swords are drawn subsequent season.
However earlier than we get into how this episode actually units the present up for conflict, let’s dive into all the things that occurred. We’ll begin with a recap of the episode after which get into the ultimate particulars later. Are you prepared? Let’s go.
Warning, main spoilers for Home of the Dragon season 2 episode 8 observe, so be sure to are all caught up earlier than studying on.
What occurred within the Home of the Dragon season 2 finale?
The episode opens in true Recreation of Thrones franchise type, with a bunch of characters we’ve not met earlier than. In the hunt for additional swords for his Prince regent Aemond Targaryen, a member of the small council Ser Tyland Lannister ventured to a different kingdom named Essos and thru proving his price by preventing a feminine captain, he managed to persuade them to lend The Greens their armies in return for The Step Stones.
Issues had been simply as bleak at Kings Touchdown as Larys Robust tried to persuade a closely wounded King Aegon to run away with him earlier than Aemond kills him. Aegon first refuses however later within the episode, we see him feeling in a carriage with Larys. On the different facet of the citadel, Alicent is reassuring a melancholy Helaena till Aemond walks in recent from utilizing Vhagar to burn down a small city for no obvious motive, and tries to persuade Helaena to mount her dragon Dreamfyre and struggle for him. She refuses, regardless of him making an attempt once more later, and tells him that she has seen he’s going to die. This dispute leads Alicent to hunt passage to Dragonstone, which results in a surprising revelation later within the episode.
Over at Dragonstone, the dragonseeds are getting used to residing as a highborn, however Ulf’s frequent manners grate on Rhaenyra’s son Jace, who confronts him about his habits. Rhaenyra calms issues down by promising to make the dragonseeds knights in the event that they succeed of their mission – to study their dragons and put together to take down Vhagar. However the assembly is lower quick when Rhaenyra known as to Harrenhal over fears that Daemon could search to betray her.
Nonetheless at Harrenhal, Daemon is additional constructing his military however one night time visits a blood-soaked tree within the Godswood. There he experiences a vivid imaginative and prescient the place he sees the prophecy of The Tune of Ice and Fireplace, AKA the entire plot of Recreation of Thrones. The imaginative and prescient ends with Rhaenyra sitting on the throne. So then when Rhaenyra lands at Harrenhal and sees the huge military her husband has constructed, he bends the knee as he is aware of now from the imaginative and prescient, that she is the one who should rule.
As for a few of the collection’ facet characters, Lord Corlys is getting ready to ship his fleet from The Step Stones however in making an attempt to assist his bastard son Alyn of Hull, he angers him and it’s lastly confirmed that he’s Alyn’s father. The one time we see Ser Criston Cole on this episode is within the woods the place Alicent’s brother confronts him after he’s caught smelling her embossed handkerchief, however Criston’s proclaimed devotion to Alicent forces her brother to decrease his sword. And, within the Vale, Rheana virtually catches her loss of life roaming the hills on the lookout for the wild dragon we predict is Sheepstealer, till she lastly finds him.
In direction of the tip of the episode, Alicent shockingly reveals up at Dragonstone in the course of the night time, unarmed and in determined want of assist from Rhaenyra, and agrees to forfeit her sons in return for her and her daughter’s security. The finale ends with the dragonseeds suiting up for conflict, while the Hightower fleet alongside Daeron Targaryen’s dragon, the Lannister’s military, and the Stark’s troops all march on in direction of Harrenhal the place Daemon is ready. Tyland Lannister’s new fleet and the Seasnake’s ships each make their means by sea. It’s official, conflict is coming.
What occurred between Alicent and Rhaenyra?
Though the finale did not finish in a blaze of dragon fireplace like we could have anticipated, the ending between Alicent and Rhaenyra nonetheless holds a variety of significance and is a satisfying conclusion to a heartbreaking friendship that has spanned over two seasons now. From what occurred in season 2 episode 7 when Alicent walked into the lake, symbolizing her washing away her duties and tasks, it was clear we had been going to see a giant change within the Dowager Queen. However nobody might have anticipated her risking her life and displaying as much as Rhaenyra’s home within the night time begging for assist.
In an emotional scene, Alicent confesses to her as soon as greatest buddy that she was flawed and has been managed by these round her for thus lengthy now. She explains how she was blinded by resentment for Rhaenyra’s freedom, however now she has seen the sunshine and needs no half within the upcoming conflict. In a bid to try to save her kids, Alicent means that when Aemond subsequent leaves the citadel, she and Helaena will let Rhaenyra and her military in to say the throne, and that Aegon is not going to be an issue as he nonetheless lies sick in mattress.
Nonetheless, Rhaenyra calls for Aegon’s head because the folks is not going to settle for her as a conqueror if her opposition nonetheless lives. In a surprising twist, Alicent nods her head and silently agrees to the homicide of her son in return for her and Helaena’s security. On the finish of the episode, we see Alicent strolling away along with her hood up, presumably readying herself to say goodbye to her sons and begin a brand new life along with her daughter.
The place is Otto Hightower?
In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it second on the very finish of the episode, we see a flash of Alicent’s father and previous The Hand of the King Otto Hightower in a jail cell. Otto served as hand to King Viserys after which King Aegon, however his controlling nature led Aegon to dismiss him. We by no means noticed Otto once more however presumed he was again at Oldtown the place the Hightowers reside. It’s clear now Otto was really jailed, presumably, by Aegon. Nonetheless, with Aegon gunning for the throne and expressing his want for Otto to be his hand, we may even see Alicent’s father be let out subsequent season to as soon as once more make strikes for the Greens.
Who’s on Workforce Inexperienced and Workforce Black now?
Now, with that spliced ultimate scene with every military driving out, it’s a little complicated and arduous to recollect who precisely is preventing for who. However do not panic, we’re going to undergo it proper right here.
Out of the armies marching out on the finish, the dragon driving dragonseeds, the Stark military from The North, the Seasnake AKA Lord Corlys’ fleet from The Step Stones, and Daemon’s military at Harrenhaal are all Workforce Black and shall be preventing for Rhaenyra. Whereas, the Hightower military alongside Alicent’s son Daeron Targaryen and his dragon, the Lannister’s military, and Tyland Lannister’s new fleet are all Workforce Inexperienced on Aegon and Aemond’s facet.
As for the principle members, Workforce Black consists of Rhaenyra, Daemon, Jace, Baela, Rheana, Lord Corlys, Hugh Hammer, Addam of Hull, and Ulf. Workforce Inexperienced consists of Aemond, Aegon, Ser Criston Cole, and Gwayne Hightower to call just a few. For the complete rundown, see our information on Greens vs Blacks explained.
Who has which dragons now?
Over the previous few episodes we now have met fairly just a few new dragons, and two extra even confirmed up in the course of the finale. So to place any of your dragon-related inquiries to mattress, here’s a listing of every dragon alive in House of The Dragon proper now, and who they belong to.
Workforce Inexperienced:
- Vhagar – Aemond Targaryen
- Dreamfyre – Helaena Targaryen
- Tessarion – Daeron Targaryen
Workforce Black:
- Syrax – Rhaenyra Targaryen
- Caraxes – Daemon Targaryen
- Vermax – Jacaerys Velaryon
- Tyraxes – Joffrey Velaryon
- Moondancer – Baela Targaryen
- Seasmoke – Addam of Hull
- Vermithor – Hugh Hammer
- Silverwing – Ulf White
- Sheepstealer – Rheana Targaryen (presumably)
You will need to be aware that Aegon’s dragon Sunfyre is now deceased and Joffrey’s dragon is simply too small to journey. For the complete rundown, see our listing of every dragon in House of the Dragon.
What does Daemon’s imaginative and prescient imply for the collection?
In all probability probably the most thrilling elements of the finale must be Daemon’s imaginative and prescient. In the course of the night time, Daemon is woke up by Alys Rivers and led to a tree within the courtyard of Harrenhal. When Daemon places his hand on the tree, which is roofed in blood and resembles Blood and Fire author, George R.R. Martin, he experiences an out-of-body expertise the place he sees that winter is coming as A Tune of Ice and Fireplace performs out in entrance of him. In a mixture of fast blink-and-you’ll-miss-them scenes, Daemon witnesses a horrific conflict leading to many deaths of people and dragons, a three-eyed raven, the ice king, and the delivery of a brand new dragon queen rising from the ashes with three dragon eggs (hello there, Daenerys). The imaginative and prescient ends with Rhaenyra sitting on the throne and Helaena telling him he now is aware of what he has to do.
So what does this all imply? Nicely, The Song of Ice and Fire comes from Aegon the First himself, who believed {that a} lengthy winter would come and finish the world. This ties Home of the Dragon and the principle collection Recreation of Thrones collectively, as GOT performs out the prophecy and joins Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen (Ice and Fireplace) collectively to save lots of The Realm from The Ice King. Daemon virtually sees key factors from GOT play out in entrance of his very eyes from the Mom of Dragons, Daenerys, rising from the flames with three new dragons after dragons had died out lengthy earlier than, to the rise of The Ice King.
How does the finale arrange season 3?
Nicely, just about all Home of the Dragon season 2 episode 8 does is ready itself up for season 3, the place we’ll little doubt lastly see the conflict of the Dance of the Dragons come to fruition. On the finish of the episode, we see a number of armies setting off to conflict, presumably Harrenhaal the place Daemon is ready together with his troops from the Riverlands. So, in season 3 we count on to see conflict get away between these males. Nonetheless, when it comes to dragons, it appears like Workforce Inexperienced’s beasts will take flight towards King’s Touchdown in order that Rhaenyra could declare the Iron Throne with the assistance of her new ally Alicent who said on the finish of the finale that she is keen to permit her son Aegon to die on order for Rhaenyra to turn out to be Queen and her and her daughter Helaena to go free. Nonetheless, Aegon is at present en route with Lord Larys Robust to enter hiding, so that will show a problem for the rightful Queen.
However that is to not say we can’t see some dragon fights in season 3, as there may be nonetheless the problem of Vhagar, who is ready to fly to Harrenhal together with his rider Aemond, so we’re guessing Rhaenyra’s new band of dragons shall be ready for the largest beast within the Realm to return, or perhaps they’ll take their winged conflict out onto the battlefield.
By way of new faces and new storylines, we’re but to fulfill Alicent’s different son Daeron Targaryen. However as we noticed on the finish of episode 8, though we by no means really noticed his face, he’s making his means on his dragon Tessarion, flying to conflict with the Hightower military. As for our new mates from Essos, they had been promised The Step Stones, so will probably be fascinating to see how far they go in making an attempt to say what already belongs to Lord Corlys. Apart from that we’re wanting ahead to seeing how this conflict performs out, and who will find yourself on high.
Nicely, that is all for season 2, and what a journey it has been. Now we sit up for Home of the Dragon season 3, which sadly presently doesn’t but have a launch date.
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