As House of the Dragon gears up for its second season, HBO has released two gripping trailers, offering a foretaste of the impending Targaryen civil war, famously known as the Dance of the Dragons. This tumultuous period, chronicled in George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, sets the stage for one of the most infamous conflicts in Westeros’ history, predating the events familiar to fans from Game of Thrones.
The two trailers, presented from the opposing perspectives of the Black and Green councils, underscore the deepening divide within House Targaryen. Emma D’Arcy’s Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen and her Black Council supporters are pitted against Olivia Cooke’s dowager Queen Alicent Hightower, her son King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), and the Green Council. This division traces back to the controversial crowning of Aegon as the king of Westeros in the first season, directly challenging Rhaenyra’s claim as the rightful heir designated by her late father, King Viserys (Paddy Considine).
The Black Council’s trailer articulates Rhaenyra’s determination to reclaim her throne, asserting her father’s unyielding choice of her as his successor. This trailer also introduces new alliances and characters, including Tom Taylor’s fan-favourite Cregan Stark, signalling a broader mobilisation of forces across Westeros. Notably, Freddie Fox’s Gwayne Hightower makes an appearance, representing the Hightower family’s involvement in the upcoming strife.
Conversely, the Green Council’s trailer encapsulates Alicent Hightower’s perspective, rooted in the belief that the realm would never accept a queen, a belief allegedly shared by her late husband on his deathbed. This trailer further reveals key players set to rise in prominence in season 2, including Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia), Daemon’s daughter, ready to enter the battle astride her dragon, Moondancer.
Both trailers not only heighten the anticipation for the fateful confrontation between the factions but also tease the involvement of significant dragons such as Caraxes, Sunfyre, and Seasmoke, promising an escalation in both the political and literal firepower on display.
As House of the Dragon returns, viewers are invited to choose their side in a conflict that promises to deliver a blend of political intrigue and spectacular fantasy warfare. With the stage set for a showdown that will determine the fate of Westeros, the second season of House of the Dragon is poised to captivate audiences with its depiction of a realm torn asunder by rival claims to the Iron Throne.
House of the Dragon Season 2 is set to stream on HBO GO on 17 June.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing Honkai: Star Rail, cosplaying, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
