House Of The Dragon’s Season 2 Finale Sets Up A Shocking Traitor In Season 3

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As a longtime admirer of the Targaryen dynasty and their dragon-riding antics, I must say that the latest turn of events in House of the Dragon has left me utterly astounded! Alicent’s desperate deal with the devil, or rather her stepdaughter Rhaenyra, is truly a testament to the lengths one will go to save their kingdom.

Contains spoilers for “House of the Dragon” Season 2 Episode 8

In the final episode of “House of the Dragon,” long-time companions find themselves amidst a fierce, violent conflict erupting among kin – a meeting that takes an extraordinarily surprising course, potentially paving the way for events of extraordinary shock in future episodes.

In disguise and under duress, Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower (played by Olivia Cooke) furtively journeys to Dragonstone to confront her former friend turned adversary, Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy), who has defiantly claimed the throne as the eldest child of Alicent’s late husband King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine). This move directly challenges Alicent’s son, King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), and sets the stage for a fierce conflict between Team Green (Alicent’s supporters) and Team Black (Rhaenyra’s allies). As the war rages on and Alicent witnesses her own son, Aegon, being assaulted and disfigured by her other child, Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell), in a clash that decimated Rhaenyra’s powerful ally Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best), she begins to question her ability to handle the situation. The significance of their meeting in the finale lies in Alicent’s proposal to have her own son, the king, eliminated to appease Rhaenyra.

Absolutely, let me rephrase that for you: Alicent does not agree with Rhaenyra when she claims to persuade Aegon to give up the kingdom to her. Instead, Rhaenyra angrily declares that only Aegon’s defeat will truly end the conflict, demanding his surrender at her doorstep. Alicent acknowledges this, promising Rhaenyra she will act in King’s Landing, paving the way for Rhaenyra to take control of the Westerosi capital. This unexpected move is not found in George R.R. Martin’s book “Fire & Blood.”

Alicent Hightower’s massive heel turn doesn’t take place in the source material

As a gamer putting myself into the world of “Fire & Blood,” I’d have to admit, the Fall of King’s Landing was surprisingly underwhelming, if I’m being honest. It almost felt too simple, considering that Rhaenyra had found and recruited fresh dragonriders to join her in this battle atop some fearsome fire-breathing creatures. However, George R.R. Martin does mention that Alicent made a last-ditch effort to reason with Rhaenyra, but it seems their words fell on deaf ears.

“According to Septon Eustace, who was present at the events, it was Dowager Queen Alicent who proposed a joint assembly to Queen Rhaenyra, saying, ‘Let us, like the Old King used to, call for a grand council to decide on the succession issue.’ However, Queen Rhaenyra scoffed at this suggestion. […] ‘We both understand how such a council would rule,’ said Queen Rhaenyra, then she challenged her stepmother: either submit or face destruction.”

Following the handover of the city to Rhaenyra, Queen Alicent by no means proposes to behead her eldest son and heir as a token for peace; on the contrary, she seemingly warns Rhaenyra, implying that House Green will guarantee a brief reign for her. As Martin’s writing suggests, “Bowing her head in submission, Queen Alicent surrendered the castle keys and instructed her knights and soldiers to sheathe their swords.” In essence, she reportedly said, “The city is yours, Princess, but your rule shall not last long. The mice feast when the cat departs, but my son Aemond will come back with flame and blood.”

Unfortunately for Alicent and Rhaenyra, the dowager queen’s plan is doomed

In the digital portrayal, Alicent appears poised to undertake the most sinister deed imaginable to conclude the war, and as she claims, depart the kingdom forever with her daughter Queen Helaena (Phia Saban) and grandchildren. However, it is revealed towards the end of the episode that Aegon has a different strategy, one that involves abandoning King’s Landing completely.

In the final episode of the season, Aegon is approached by Larys Strong, a crafty and manipulative member of Team Green, who advises Aegon to leave the capital for his safety. Despite being severely injured in a battle with his brother, Aegon is told that if he leaves, it could weaken both his siblings, Aemond and Rhaenyra, allowing him to return later as a peacekeeper and rebuilder. This proposition seems convincing to Aegon, leading him and Larys to depart King’s Landing secretly, without Alicent being aware of their whereabouts. It’s safe to assume that finding her son would make it challenging for Alicent to harm him.

What does this mean for Season 3 of House of the Dragon?

The repercussions of Alicent’s pact with her stepdaughter, symbolically referred to as a deal with the devil, are immense and are expected to play a significant role in the upcoming third season of the show. Alicent’s offer of Aegon’s head to Rhaenyra underscores her extreme desperation to halt the ongoing conflict within the Targaryen family, suggesting she is willing to terminate the war at any cost.

The biggest question mark regarding Alicent’s intended betrayal is whether or not Aegon or Aemond will find out in Season 3, and based on the way secrets travel throughout Westeros, it feels inevitable that one or both of them will hear about it. Aegon might not be capable of fighting anymore, but Aemond is a pretty formidable warrior in Westeros, and he may want to punish his mother for her treason. Fans will have to wait and see just how this pans out for the dowager queen, but offering her kingdom to Rhaenyra certainly won’t sit well with her sons.

“House of the Dragon” is streaming on Max now.

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2024-08-05 06:00