6 crucial things to remember before House Of The Dragon returns

The most vital takeaway from season one is how the friendship between Rhaenyra Targaryen (Milly Alcock/Emma D’Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey/Olivia Cooke) gradually crumbles to bits. At its core, House Of The Dragon is about the ramifications of their tragic rivalry. Yes, they hate each other, but what else to expect after they were pawns in the game of the men around them at a young age? They were manipulated, pitted against each other by circumstances, and forced to selfishly act in the interest of their children. It starts a war that’ll inevitably end in devastation, but their history is what forms the series’ emotional soul.

The best friends grew up together as the kids of King Viserys (Paddy Considine) and his hand, Ser Otto (Rhys Ifans). To secure his family’s legacy, Otto weds his daughter to Viserys after his wife dies during childbirth. It creates an inevitable rift between her and Rhaenyra, further divided when Alicent gives birth to a son. Naturally, it impacts who’ll sit on the throne after Viserys. Will it be Rhaenyra, as he declared, or will Alicent fight to make her firstborn the next king? These questions are the basis of bloodshed and fights, from Alicent almost slicing her former BFF with a knife in front of the family to their sons battling it out in the open sky (more on that in a different slide).

All bets are off for the war in season two even if the two women aren’t in the same place, but Rhaenyra and Alicent are still the beating heart. At a recent press event, showrunner Ryan J. Condal even said that during the editing process, they found a way to “connect those characters even if they’re literally islands apart. It adds dimensionality to this story.” As they say, a friend breakup hurts more than anything, right? It also allows D’Arcy and Cooke to deliver one hell of a performance.

It’s not surprising Daemon became a fan favorite during season one, gaining the title of “the internet’s boyfriend” despite committing some horrible deeds—he killed his first wife, seduced his young niece, is often a nuisance to his older brother Viserys and can be quite cruel. The credit for liking him against all odds is Smith’s hard-to-resist charm (just ask Rhaenyra). But the show’s debut run displays it’s hard to trust Daemon, as tempting as it may be, even when he’s genuinely trying to do better.

When season one begins, he’s ruthless and cares only about his ascension to the throne (okay, and there’s affection for Rhaenyra, taking her to a brothel and everything). When his plans for the Iron Throne are thwarted, he marries Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell), who dies in Pentos while giving birth to their third kid. So with daughters Baela (Bethany Antonia) and Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Cambell) by his side, Daemon reunites with Rhaenyra, marrying her to secure her claim as queen. Even if he’s the one who puts a crown on her head, there’s no telling if Daemon can get over not being in charge. His random beatings of people, even putting Rhaenyra in a chokehold once, reflects his impulsive, violent nature. He might love his wife, but is he ready to obey her? D’Arcy and Smith said during the press conference that their relationship in season two is “dislocated.”

And then there’s Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno putting on one of the worst fake accents ever). A former prostitute who goes by the White Worm, Mysaria is Daemon’s lover in early season one. Their dates include going riding on Caraxes and chilling together at Dragonstone when he’s sent away. She leaves him when he lies about her being pregnant only to return years later as a superior spymaster in the capital. She switches sides and aids Otto in helping Aegon succeed in exchange for shutting down wrongful establishments in Flea Bottom. She’s important to the story because in season two, Mysaria is back and her network of moles is crucial in the war to come.

There’s no one worse on HOTD than Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel). Handpicked by Rhaenyra to join the Kingsguard, the two form a strong connection and start a fun little fling. When he asks her to marry him for love, she rejects the proposal in favor of her duty and the Iron Throne, as is her wont. It pisses him off when she suggests they can continue in secret, even if she’s wife to someone else. So he promptly switches his favorite colors from Black to Green after Alicent stops him from killing himself. Now he’s devoted to her and obsessed with taking Rhaenyra out, no matter what it takes.

He’s not the only leech on Alicent’s side. She’s also got master manipulator Larys Strong (Matthew Needham), who is HOTD’s version of Littlefinger and Lord Varys combined. He’s friendly on the surface, but simmering inside is a callous man who is keenly observant and ready to orchestrate the killing of anyone as long as he survives and stays within power’s reach. On occasion, his behavior has freaked Alicent out, who realizes it’s better to keep Larys close than to let him run amok. Now, brace yourselves because both of these faces will show up heavily in season two, and take charge in the inner circle. Yikes.

The first five episodes of season one are a steady appetizer, paving the way for the main course that is Rhaenyra and Alicent’s adult children. Viserys and Daemon’s complicated brotherly bond is nothing compared to the rivalry faced by these dudes. Rhaenyra’s kids are bullied by Alicent’s kids for being “bastards” because it’s widely believed her husband, Laenor Velaryon (John MacMillan), didn’t father them. Instead, it was Ser Harwin Strong (Ryan Corr), the Commander of the City Watch. Tired of the name-calling, Lucerys and Aemond get into a fight when the latter loses his right eye at the age of 10. As an adult, Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) grows up to be calculating and scary—his smirk keeps reminding us of his personality.

Meanwhile, Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) grows up to be a lazy, drunk womanizer with no concern about his reputation. He doesn’t want to rule over the Seven Kingdoms nearly as much as his half-sister, Rhaenyra, but is made to do it anyway. Perhaps he’ll be remotely responsible now that he’s king and married to and has kids with his sister, a quiet Haelena (Phia Saban). As for Rhaenyra, she’s got Jacaerys (Harry Collett), Lucerys (Elliott Grihault), and Joffrey via Ser Harwin. Her sons with Daemon are Aegon and Viserys Targaryen—they really should’ve branced out with names to make things less confusing, huh?. They are all relatively calm and amenable, but all that might change in season two...

Season one builds up to a shocking, devastating finale climax. During the press event, showrunner Condal called it “a point of no return.” Aemond and Lucerys go to House Baratheon to seek allyship for their respective sides but things turn sour when Aemond demands his nephew fight him. An eye for an eye, literally.

Lord Borros Baratheon wants no blood spilled on his land. He lets Lucerys fly away on Arrax only for Aemond to follow on his much bigger and sronger beast, Vhagar. It’s a visually thrilling scene as they engage in a chase in a stormy sky. An incensed Vhagar comes out of nowhere, ignores his rider’s command, and devours both Arrax and Lucerys as Aemond looks on in horror (although he’s not sad about it). Yeah, things are never going to be the same again, as is written plainly on Rhaenyra’s enraged face when she gets the news of her son’s brutal death. According to Condal, season two isabout “what’s the counterpunch to that?” for Team Black. It will lead to Daemon taking an uninhibited approach for revenge as both sides level up their desire to eliminate their opponents entirely. The beginning of the end is here.

After season one’s time jump and Viserys’ death, everyone is divided into two groups: Rhaenyra loyalists are Team Black, while Aegon supporters are Team Green. But who’s in what faction? Here’s a handy breakdown:

Team Black:

Rhaenyra Targaryen (dragon Syrax)
Daemon Targaryen (dragon Caraxes)
Jacaerys Targaryen (dragon Vermax)
Joffrey Targaryen (unhatched dragon Tyraxes)
Baela Velaryon (dragon Moondancer)
Rhaena Velaryon
Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint)
Rhaenys Velaryon (Eve Best) (dragon Meleys)
Ser Erryk Cargyll (Elliot Tittensor)
House Stark
House Arryn

Team Green:

Alicent Hightower
Otto Hightower
Aegon Targaryen (dragon Sunfyre)
Helaena Targaryen (dragon Dreamfyre)
Aemond Targaryen (dragon Vhagar)
Ser Criston Cole
Lord Larys Strong
House Lannister
House Baratheon