House of the Dragon’s second season debuted on HBO Sunday, as the first episode of the second season’s eight-episode frame, titled A Son for a Son, hit the air.
The storyline of the second season starts at the end of the show’s first season, in which Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and his dragon Vhaegar slaughtered Lucerys (Elliot Grihault) – the son of Princess Rhaenyra (Eve Best) – and his dragon Arrax.
The deadly series of events ramp up the tension brewing between the Targaryens and Hightowers, eventually culminating in a civil war called The Dance of the Dragons.
The show’s second season kicked off with a revised opening titles sequence that was noticeably different than the one broadcast in the show’s first season.
The first season of House of the Dragon featured an animated opening that incorporated Old Valyria in a stone model, as it had been presided over by the late King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine). It included red blood streaming through Valyria’s streets, with symbolism alluding to the Targaryen leaders.
Olivia Cooke, who plays Queen Alicent Hightower, was seen on House of the Dragon’s second season, which debuted on HBO Sunday
Ewan Mitchell is pictured as Aemond Targaryen on House of the Dragon
Season two’s opening focuses on a Bayeux Tapestry with references in the art to past events in the storyline.
The scene on the tapestry depicts bloodshed in Old Valyria, as well as Valyrians bonding to dragons. One sequence shows a man with a dagger in hand, as another man in knelt in front of a dragon while flanked in candles.
Viewers then saw an active volcano to signify the Doom of Valyria – an event in which the one-time Targaryen homeland saw people and dragons perish as every hill exploded in a fiery blaze.
Another sequence depicted Aegon the Conqueror on a quest to rule Westeros as he was flanked by sister-wives Visenya and Rhaenys as they rode dragons crossing the Narrow Sea.
Other notable happenings in the storyline seen forming on the tapestry consisted of events seen on the hit series Game of Thrones, which ran across eight seasons on HBO from 2011-2019.
One area referred to King Jaehaerys Targaryen (Michael Carter) at the head of the Great Council of Harrenhal, proclaiming Viserys as the realm’s future leader, in addition to the commencement of the Dance of the Dragons.
Also seen in the tapestry is Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) seen at a feast.
Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), the son of Alicent and half-brother of Rhaenyra, is depicted in the revised opening as the king of the Iron Throne, while Rhaenyra is named queen at the castle Dragonstone.
House of the Dragon’s second season debuted on HBO Sunday, as the first episode of the second season’s eight-episode frame, titled A Son for a Son, hit the air.
Soldiers ready themselves for war in the second season of the HBO prequel
To conclude the opening credits is imagery depicting Lucerys Velaryon’s (played by Elliot Grihault), death by the dragon Vhagar in the sky over Storm’s End.
Among the members of the ensemble cast returning for the show’s second season include Best, Matt Smith, who plays Prince Daemon Targaryen; Emma D’Arcy as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen; Olivia Cooke, who plays Queen Alicent Hightower; Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys ‘The Sea Snake’ Velaryon; and Rhys Ifans, who plays Ser Otto Hightower.
The cast also features Fabien Frankel playing Ser Criston Cole, Matthew Needham portraying the role of Lord Varys Strong, Sonoya Mizuno playing Mysaria, Harry Collett as Jacaerys Velaryon, and Bethany Antonia in the role of Lady Baela Targaryen.
Phoebe Campbell plays the part of Lady Rhaena Targaryen, Phia Saban portrays Queen Helaena Targaryen and Jefferson Hall is in the role of Jason Lannister in the show’s second season.
New characters added to the storyline of the prequel include Abubakar Salim playing the role of Alyn of Hull, Gayle Rankin portraying Alys Rivers, Freddie Fox in the part of Ser Gwayne Hightower, Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong, Clinton Liberty playing Addam of Hull and Jamie Kenna in the role of Ser Alfred Broome.
Rounding out the new cast include Kieran Bew playing the role of Hugh, Tom Bennett in the part of Ulf, Tom Taylor portraying Lord Cregan Stark, and Vincent Regan as Ser Rickard Thorne.
Sunday’s episode began with a raven in flight headed toward Winterfell and the Wall to begin the episode.
The Lord of Winterfell, Cregan Stark, is seen speaking with Jacaerys, the brother of the recently-deceased Lucerys, who is Queen Rhaenyra’s son.
Steve Toussaint portrays Lord Corlys ‘The Sea Snake’ Velaryon for a second season on the series
The latest installment in the franchise created by George R.R. Martin runs through August 4
Jacaerys, encouraging Cregan to defend the area, requests Northern soldiers, to which Cregan sends a group of older soliders. Jacaerys subsequently learns of his brother’s passing.
At Dragonstone, Princess Rhaenys comes back with her dragon Meleys after conducting an aerial patrol of Team Black’s bay blockade.
Daemon requests she prepares to head to King’s Landing in an effort to decimate Vhagar, the dragon involed in the slaughter of Prince Lucerys.
Daemon tells Rhaenys that Rhaenyra appears to be missing, as Rhaenys says she thinks Rhaenyra is investigating the death of Luke, explaining her expanded absence.
Daemon subtly taunts Rhaenys about her ill-fated inability to decimate the Greens earlier, but she retires to her chambers with little reaction.
Queen Rhaenrya discovers Arrax’s wing and a piece of cloth near a beach at Storm’s End, heading back to Dragonstone focused on retribution.
Lord Corlys is seen on Driftmark – the home base of the House Velaryon – discussing the condition of a naval flagship with the shipworker Alyn, who notes he has a brother named Addam in a cryptic-yet-powerful exchange.
Ser Arryk is seen at the Red Keep, and he and his troops are seen gearing up to stand behind Team Green with their crossbows, until realizing that it is Aemond and his dragon Vhagar. In the storyline, Arryk is behind Aegon as his twin Erryk backs Rhaenyra.
Olivia Cooke plays the role of Queen Alicent Hightower on the second season of the series
King Aegon the Aess and his sister-wife Helaena are seen chatting in her room, where she noted her concerns about the rats circulating the Red Keep. Their twins Jaehaera and Jaehaerys are noted in the scene, with the former playing by a fire.
Queen Alicent and Criston Cole are witnessed in a sexual exchange while in her bedchamber.
During a meeting of the Small Council, it is revealed that they have support from the House Baratheon of the Stormlands, the House Lannister of the Westerlands and the House Hightower of the Reach; while the Riverlands appear to be a hostile territory.
Aegon wants to take an aggressive approach toward the Riverlords – beginning at Riverrun with an effort aimed at Lord Tully – while Alicent and Otto seek to pull back the hostilities amid an already-tense situation.
Sunday’s season two debut was penned by showrunner Ryan Condal and directed by Alan Taylor, who previously directed episodes of Game of Thrones, as well as HBO staples such as Boardwalk Empire, Sex and the City, The Sopranos and its prequel film, The Many Saints of Newark.
The latest in the franchise created by George R.R. Martin runs through August 4.
House of the Dragon begins airing new episodes Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO; the episodes can also be aired in 4K on Max.