A lookback at where House Targaryen’s drama left off ahead of the new season.
A lookback at where House Targaryen’s drama left off ahead of the new season.
There’s nothing like a trip back to Westeros after a two-year hiatus to cure the dragon blues. House of the Dragon returns on Sunday, June 16, with season 2 on HBO and Max, pitting Alicent Hightower’s Team Green against Rhaenyra Targaryen’s Team Black. Family drama will be at an all-time high with the Dance of the Dragons storyline at the forefront, but before we get there, a refresh may be in order.
The prequel’s season finale aired in October 2022 with the episode The Black Queen, leaving the story on a major cliffhanger while setting up the Targaryens’ civil war.
As you prep to see more interesting wigs, new dragons and loathsome family dynamics, read on to remind yourself what happened with the royals of Westeros, which dragons are slaying their scenes and what’s coming next. You still have time to binge season 1 before diving into the newest installment, and if you’re new to Max’s streaming service, there’s an opportunity to try it free for one week. King Viserys is dead, and Aegon is king
King Aegon Targaryen II.
After Viserys died in the middle of the night, Alicent spread the lie that he uttered his last wishes to her: Aegon would succeed him on the throne. This contradicts what he said to a room full of royals and other witnesses that he would not change his mind about naming Princess Rhaenyra as his heir. Though everyone still hates the idea that a woman should rule the Seven Kingdoms, Alicent thinks placing Aegon in charge is an opportunity for her to operate from behind the scenes. He’s still a Targaryen heir, and to her, he can rightfully usurp the throne.
Her deceit ratchets up when she and her father purposely don’t tell Rhaenyra or Daemon about the king’s death and Aegon’s questionable ascent.
