Summary
- Otto Hightower’s disappearance in
House of the Dragon
Season 2 left fans puzzled, and the finale only confused fans more. - Clues from previous episodes suggest House Beesbury as the likely abductors, seeking revenge against Team Green and the Hightowers.
- The lack of clarity and buildup around Otto’s abduction in the season finale resulted in a frustrating and confusing cliffhanger ending.
As a die-hard fan who has devoted countless hours to unraveling the intricate web of intrigue that is Westeros, I find myself deeply engrossed by the mystery surrounding Otto Hightower’s abduction in House of the Dragon. With my years of watching and analyzing Game of Thrones under my belt, I can confidently say that the Beesburys are the prime suspects for this dastardly deed. Their loyalty to the late King Viserys and their subsequent fall from grace at the hands of Criston Cole make them a perfect fit for seeking revenge against Team Green.
The second installment of “House of the Dragon” has come to an end, and it seems that opinions are divided. Although individual scenes were usually well-executed, the series as a whole appeared to lack a defined purpose, spending excess time treading water instead of moving forward. The season finale, surprisingly, felt underwhelming, predominantly serving as a platform for setting up events for the third season and leaving numerous plot threads unresolved.
In one of the season’s most intriguing mysteries, a prominent character from the first season, Otto Hightower, Hand of the King, was notably absent for several weeks this year. He made his reappearance in the finale on Sunday, having spent his time in a prison cell. Since Otto’s absence didn’t significantly impact the storyline this season, and we don’t know much about who might be holding him captive, his return felt more perplexing than startling. However, today, we’re taking another look at the hints dropped in House of the Dragon Season 2 and speculating about Otto Hightower’s fate.
What Clues Did House of the Dragon Season 2 Give Us?
In the beginning of House of the Dragon‘s second season, Otto Hightower continues to serve as the Hand of the King, faithfully supporting Aegon II and the Greens. However, he’s astute enough to understand when Aegon’s actions veer off course, and he rebukes him sternly after Aegon publicly executes all ratcatchers in King’s Landing, including Cheese, the assassin who killed his young son.
Aegon finds Otto’s resistance unacceptable and swiftly removes him from his post, putting Ser Criston Cole in his place instead. Subsequently, he ponders about strengthening his forces by allying with Alicent’s son, Daeron, who resides in Oldtown. However, Alicent counsels him to travel to Highgarden first to solidify ties with House Tyrell. From then on, Otto disappears from the scene until the series finale, leaving us unsure of his intentions regarding either Oldtown or Highgarden.
For the coming weeks, Otto occasionally appears in passing references. In the sixth episode of the season, Alicent converses with her brother Gwayne, disclosing that the ravens she sent to their father remain unanswered. This suggests a possible tragedy regarding Otto, and these concerns grow stronger later in the episode when Prince Aemond orders Larys Strong to locate Otto and restore him to his previous role as the Hand of the King.
But the biggest clue may be one that almost no one realized immediately. In Season 2’s penultimate episode, “The Red Sowing,” Aemond tries to secure loyalty with the Triarchy in order to fight off Team Black’s blockade of the city. As he takes note of his allies, Lord Jasper Wylde reports that Ser Ormund Hightower is dealing with the threat of armies allied with House Beesbury. Crucially, a member of House Beesbury appeared in House of the Dragon’s first season, which might give us the answer about Otto’s whereabouts.
Did House Beesbury Abduct Otto Hightower?
As a passionate cinephile, I can’t help but feel deeply moved and outraged by the tragic fate of House Beesbury, particularly their desire for retribution against Team Green and, by association, the Hightowers. In the early stages of this epic saga, when King Viserys still graced the Iron Throne, Lord Lyman Beesbury held a seat on the Small Council as the Master of Coin. His unwavering loyalty to his monarch was evident; even after King Viserys’ demise, he was the sole voice of dissent against the coronation of Aegon II. Unfortunately, his protest fell on deaf ears, leading to a fatal confrontation with Ser Criston Cole who, in an act of unimaginable brutality, brutalized him by slamming his head against the table until he breathed his last.
Given their fleeting reference towards the end of Season 2 and their suspected role in Otto’s abduction, House Beesbury appears to be the prime suspect. It’s plausible that they might take on a significant role in Season 3 as an important ally for Rhaenyra, driven by revenge against Aegon’s supporters. In George R.R. Martin’s novel “Fire and Blood,” House Beesbury indeed aligns with Rhaenyra, causing division within the Reach (with House Tyrell remaining neutral) and leading to the Battle of the Honeywine where they play a pivotal role. However, it’s important to note that Otto’s kidnapping is not depicted in the books; instead, after Criston Cole becomes Hand of the King, Otto seeks support from the Triarchy (not Tyland Lannister). Ultimately, after Rhaenyra captures King’s Landing, Otto is executed for treachery.
But in the unlikely chance that House Beesbury isn’t responsible for Otto’s abduction, who else could it be? The other obvious culprit is Master of Whisperers Larys Strong, who remains loyal to Aegon II even after Aemond starts ruling in his stead. Since the brothers’ rivalry is yet another wrinkle in a fractured Targaryen dynasty, it’s highly plausible that Larys secretly imprisoned Otto even after Aemond ordered him to bring him back. For a character like Larys, who seems to be the show’s biggest schemer (and an equivalent to Game of Thrones’ Littlefinger), it’s perfectly in character for him to eliminate his most significant threat to holding power alongside the king.
A Frustrating Cliffhanger in House of the Dragon
The unsatisfying end of Season 2 left us without clear answers on Otto’s whereabouts. We can’t determine where his prison is hidden, and we never catch a glimpse of his abductors. Given how scant the details have been about how or why he was taken captive, his reappearance failed to create the impact that the show creators intended.
House of the Dragon could have provided stronger motivation for viewers to be invested in Otto’s disappearance, by demonstrating its impact on the storyline and clarifying potential suspects rather than leaving us puzzled. Unfortunately, this led to a disappointing cliffhanger that offered few insights and left us with more questions about a mystery we weren’t aware existed. By the way, don’t forget to check out House of the Dragon’s first two seasons on Max!
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2024-08-10 05:01