The finale of House of the Dragon season 2 was released on August 5. Serving as a buildup for future battles, episode 8 of the second season merely gave a teaser of what will happen in season 3. While a section of fans who prefer intrigue and politics of this show would not mind that, others who expected more action (particularly involving dragons) to transpire will inevitably be disappointed. It is based on George R. R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood, the first in his two-volume history of the Targaryens. Here is how House of the Dragon season 2 episode 8 deviates from the events depicted in the book.
House of the Dragon, HotD here on, is a spinoff of Game of Thrones and a prequel. It is based on Dance of the Dragons, a conflict among rival claimants to the Iron Throne among the Targaryens. The book is written as an in-universe and not wholly accurate historical account by a fictional character called Archmaester Gyldayn unlike the source material for GoT — A Song of Ice and Fire — which is a more straightforward series of fantasy novels. Thus, if HotD digresses from the book, it is more forgivable as the sources Gyldayn cites often contradict each other.
Dance of the Dragons resulted in much loss of life and property and eventually led to the extinction of dragons, severely weakening the House of the Dragon.
Titled “The Queen Who Ever Was”, HotD season 2 episode 8 featured several changes from the book, even more so than episode 7. But first…
Spoilers ahead!
The show opens with a shot of a little monkey sauntering around. The place is one of the Free Cities across the Narrow Sea in Essos (another, larger continent east of Westeros). Tyland Lannister (played by Jefferson Hall) is negotiating with the Triarchy, an alliance between Myr, Lys and Tyrosh which was defeated by Daemon Targaryen (played by Matt Smith) and Corlys Velaryon (played by Steve Toussaint). The negotiations are eventually successful, though the captain who will lead the Triarchy, Sharako Lohar (played by Abigail Thorn), proves more than a handful for Tyland, forcing him to mud-wrestle.
At Harrenhal, Simon Strong (played by Sir Simon Russell Beale) sends a raven to Rhaenyra, hinting that Daemon has an army and plans to march it under his banners. Rhaenyra (played by Emma D’Arcy) promptly goes to Harrnehal on Syrax and takes Addam of Hull and his new ride Seasmoke. Daemon, surprising her and everyone else, bends the knee. This was after Daemon is shown visions by Alys Rivers (played by Gayle Rankin): visions of the White Walkers, of Daenerys Targaryen and her three baby dragons (Drogon, Rhaegal and Viserion) and Rhaenyra on the Iron Throne.
Alicent Hightower (played by Olivia Cooke) turns up in Dragonstone and offers King’s Landing on a platter, bloodless to boot. She also informs her old friend of Aemond Targaryen’s (Ewan Mitchell) plans, that he flies to battle in three days, and Westerosi capital city will be defenceless without him and Vhagar.
At the Red Keep, Aemond is furious that the Greens no longer have the firepower advantage and burns a random village. He also tries to force Helaena Targaryen (played by Phia Saban) to ride her dragon Dreamfyre but she refuses and reveals that she knows he is responsible for Aegon II’s charred condition. She also prophecises that Aemond will die soon, and when he threatens her, she adds nonchalantly that nothing he does to her will change that.
In the book, it was Otto who was responsible for the Greens allying with the Triarchy against Corlys Velaryon and the Blacks. And no, he was still the Hand of the King at this point and had not been sent to Oldtown by Aegon II. It is not a big difference, but I would say it would have made sense in the show as well. We have seen Otto is a great schemer, but he is also wise.
At this time, it is not spoiler-y to say that King’s Landing will come under the control of the Blacks. In the book, it is Rhaenyra and Daemon who attack it when the Greens’ forces are away. And Alicent does not help Rhaenyra, for in the book they are still implacable enemies and were never childhood friends. They did get along well at first, but that was before Alicent birthed Aegon II and then Aemond. So, if Alicent had snuck into Dragonstone to treaty with Rhaenyra in the book, the book Rhaenyra would have imprisoned her and used her to her advantage.
Yes, and it was his master of whisperers, Larys Strong, who safely smuggled him out of King’s Landing. But that happened as the city was falling to Rhaenyra, Daemon and the Blacks’ forces (there was no peaceful surrender in the book) and not before the Fall. Also, Aegon did not go to the Free Cities. In fact, as Rhaenyra took King’s Landing, he took Dragonstone.
We do not know whether Helaena had the gift of prophecy in the book. It has not been mentioned. So no, she did not say Aemond will perish in God’s Eye. But in the book, Aemond and Vhagar die while fighting Daemon and Caraxes in the Battle Above the Gods Eye, as does Caraxes and likely Daemon, too. So we know, in the show as well, the uncle and nephew conflict that has been boiling over since the beginning of the season will end, somewhat, similarly.
(Hero and Featured image: Courtesy of Ollie Upton/HBO)
This article first appeared on Lifestyle Asia India.
Hugh Hammer rides Vermithor in ‘House of the Dragon’.
Rhaenyra's dragon is called Syrax.
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