Includes SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 5 and major SPOILERS for Fire & Blood, the show’s source material.
Summary
House of the Dragonseason 2, episode 5, was a step-down in action compared to episode 4, butthe episode notably laid the foundation for several upcoming Dance of the Dragons moments and future spinoffs. The HBO prequel series is based onFire & Bloodby George R.R. Martin, a book that contains a broad overview of the primary events ofHouse Targaryen’s history. While the book jumps from battle to battle, the show slows the pace significantly, resulting in criticism of the in-between episodes for being “filler” and having nothing happen.
Season 2, episode 4, “The Red Dragon and the Gold,” was the highest-rated episode of the series so far, praised for its massive battle sequence and dragon action. “Regent” received far lower reviews. Despite being one of the least eventful episodes of the season, season 2, episode 5, carefully begins the set-up for future events and narratives, and there are some subtle details presented in conversations that hint at theplannedGame of Thronesspinoffsas well as major emotional payoff moments inHouse of the Dragon’sfuture.
8Fall of King’s Landing
Daemon Amasses An Army To Take King’s Landing
Daemon’s storyline has been one of the most criticized, as Matt Smith is one of the most exciting members of theHouse of the Dragoncast, and he’s been relegated to doing nothing for most of season 2. He spends this time at Harrenhal in the book, but it doesn’t say much about what he does there. Rather than leaving him out entirely, the TV writers have developed a story that explores his internal conflict after his fallout with Rhaenyra. In episode 5, he foreshadows a major event that will see him reuniting with his niece/wife, the Fall of King’s Landing.
Daemon’s situation in the Riverlands may seem inconsequential now, but his actions are essential to Rhaenyra claiming the Iron Throne
Rhaenyra will eventually retake the capital with the help of Daemon. Daemon’s situation in the Riverlands may seem inconsequential now, but his actions are essential to Rhaenyra claiming the Iron Throne, as his amassing an army draws out Aemond and Criston Cole, leaving the Red Keep unguarded. Daemon has begun to explore the possibility of naming himself king, buthis comments about King’s Landing will eventually lead him back to Rhaenyra and the Blacks, helping her reach her goal of becoming Queen, at least for a time.
7The Sowing Of The Seeds
Rhaenyra & Jace Plan The Sowing
House of the Dragonseason 2, episode 5’s endingseesRhaenyra and Jacaerys hatch a plan to replenish their forces. After Rhaenys' death and Daemon’s loyalty becoming a question mark, the Blacks need more dragonriders on their side to contend with Aemond and Vhagar, should he eventually attack. Jace realizes that, while there are no spare Targaryens or Velaryons to try and claim dragons, there are others out there with Valyrian blood. The Valyrian Freehold may not have survived the doom, but Valyrian blood is still prevalent throughout the world.
House of the Dragonhas already laid the foundation for this, introducing characters like Hugh and Alyn, who are commoners with Valyrian blood. These characters, and others like them, will be invited to Dragonstone to try to tame the unclaimed dragons living in the caverns or roaming the area. This event is called The Sowing of the Seeds, referring to the term “Dragonseed,” which is the word to describe a bastard of Valyrian descent. Alyn of Hull is Lord Corlys Velaryon’s bastard son, making him a Dragonseed.
6Battle of the Gullet
Jace’s Story Foreshadows The Gullet
After the Battle of Rook’s Rest, the next major battle the series will likely depict is the Battle of the Gullet.Lord Corlys Velaryon’s naval blockade of the Gullet was mentioned in the season 2 premiere, and it’s mentioned again in season 2, episode 5. The Greens eventually contend this blockade by requesting the aid of the Triarchy, who still hold a grudge against Corlys and Daemon for their war in season 1. More importantly, Jacaerys Velaryon’s actions in “Regent” begin to prepare audiences for his role in the battle, which will result in his death.
Jace is an incredibly likable character, with actor Harry Collett’s charismatic performance contributing to him becoming a fan-favorite among the show’s supporting cast. He’s young but is determined to grow and train quickly so he can contribute to his mother’s side and secure his eventual claim to be king. Episode 5 begins to show him getting involved more, likely to heighten the emotional impact of his eventual, tragic demise.House of the Dragonis gearing audiences to admire Jace for stepping up in his family’s time of need, much likeGame of Thronesdid with Robb Stark.
5First Battle of Tumbleton
Hugh’s Wife Mentions Tumbleton
The town of Tumbleton is mentioned by Hugh Hammer’s wife in episode 5, foreshadowing yet another upcoming battle.Tumbleton is a town in the Reach that ends up being the site of two major battles in the Dance of the Dragon, one of which involves a major twist from Hugh. Season 2 has shown him to be a decently honorable man, but it seems like some tragedy involving his wife and daughter will lead him down a dangerous road of hungriness for power and lust for vengeance. The back half of season 2 is leading him toward claiming a dragon for Rhaenyra’s side.
After claiming Vermithor, the largest of theunclaimed dragons inHouse of the Dragon, Hugh aids the Blacks in conflicts like the Battle of the Gullet. However, at the First Battle of Tumbleton, he defects to the Greens, betraying the Blacks along with Ulf White, who’s claimed Silverwing. This leads the pair down a treacherous road, and they eventually become known as the Two Betrayers. Hugh has little backstory in the book, so it’ll be fascinating to see his arc, as he’ll likely become one of the most hated characters on the show.
4Alfred Broome’s Betrayal
Alfred Broome Declares His Loyalty To Rhaenyra
Ser Alfred Broome is a minor character introduced onRhaenyra’s small councilwho’s become a contrarian, commonly speaking out against her. In “Regent,” Rhaenyra sends Alfred Broome on a mission to Harrenhal to plead with Daemon, to which Broome takes some offense. He tries to express that he’s been loyal to Rhaenyra in the past and should have her respect, foreshadowing a major plot point for much later in the Dance of the Dragons.Rhaenyra has the right instinct towards Broome, who eventually betrays herlater in the timeline.
After Rhaenyra eventually leaves Dragonstone, she leaves a castellan behind to manage the castle. When Broome isn’t selected despite being a knight of the castle’s garrison since the reign of Jaehaerys I, he takes offense, eventually leading a coup and taking over the castle. He later shelters Aegon there in secret, andwhen Rhaenyra returns there for refuge, he traps her and gives her up to Aegon for execution. Broome’s betrayal directly leads to Rhaenyra’s death, with season 2 laying the foundation with his constant disrespect toward her.
3Corlys Velaryon’s Animated Spinoff
Baela Mentions Corlys Velaryon’s Voyages
Baela Targaryen returns to Driftmark following Rhaenys' death to bring Lord Corlys the Hand of the Queen badge for the Blacks. Corlys expresses pride in his granddaughter despite his grief, and she speaks to him about his worldly adventures. Before the events ofHouse of the Dragon,Corlys Velaryon developed his wealth and reputation through several great voyages, exploring the world to the far east, reaching lands exceedingly foreign to most of Westeros' population, and further east than either TV series has explored.
An animated spinoff about Corlys' voyages is compelling for that reason, as George R.R. Martin’s world is a massive expanse, and TV audiences have only seen a small portion of it. Daenerys' story inGame of Thronessaw some of the cultures of cities in Slaver’s Bay and Qarth, but there’s still much more out there and an infinite amount of stories to be told in this world.This spinoff would also present a version of Corlys in his prime, allowing audiences to see one of the most celebrated figures in Westerosi history.
2Yi Ti Spinoff
Baela Mentions The Essos Nation Yi Ti
In the same conversation, Baela also mentions Yi Ti. This is one of the areas in the far east that Corlys has traveled to and one that manyHouse of the DragonTV fans may not even be familiar with. It’s scarcely mentioned in the books and even less so in the TV shows, and there’s really not a ton of information available about it. It’s a region of Martin’s world that he hasn’t explored much, making it so compelling as one of the many planned spinoff ideas. This spinoff hasn’t seen many updates since its original inception, but it’s not impossible.
The past year has seen two moreGame of Thronesspinoffs move into production, withA Knight of the Seven Kingdomsset to premiere in early 2025 andAegon’s Conquestsometime after.The working title for the Yi Ti spinoff isThe Golden Empire, though nothing has been mentioned about it since March 2022, when George R.R. Martin shared that HBO had a writer working on the project. It’s possible thatHouse of the Dragonincluded a subtle nod as a sign that the series could move forward, but it’s far from guaranteed.
1Aegon’s Conquest Spinoff
Queen Visenya Targaryen Is Mentioned
A spinoff series that is actually confirmed to be happening isAegon’s Conquest, which began its development stage earlier in 2024.“Regent” briefly mentions Visenya Targaryen, one of Aegon the Conqueror’s sister-wivesand the original rider of the dragon Vhagar. Visenya will be one of the most exciting characters in the upcoming prequel, which will take place roughly 130 years beforeHouse of the Dragonseason 2’s events, as she’s regarded as being a warrior queen and famed dragonrider.
References toAegon’s Conquesthave been quite common inHouse of the Dragon, especially given the massive book change about the Aegon’s Dream prophecy. Thus, the eventual prequel series should have direct ties to bothHouse of the DragonandGame of Thrones, beginning to establish a broader continuity for HBO’s fantasy universe. It’s unclear when the TV series will be released, but it should be one of the universe’s most action-packed installments so far, with a wide variety of characters and houses present, like in the original show.
House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
