Here are the ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 characters we’re rooting for right now.
We all know it’s a battle to the finish. After yesterday’s episode 5, Westeros is on the brink of a bloody civil war with the Green and Black Councils fighting for King Aegon and Queen Rhaenyra, respectively.
Based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, and set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, the HBO Original drama series House of the Dragon tells the story of the rise and fall of House Targaryen.
* Spoilers ahead *
In Season 1 of House of the Dragon, available in the Philippines through HBO GO powered by PLDT Home, Viserys I Targaryen passes on and his house is divided between the Greens—led by his son, King Aegon II Targaryen, and the Blacks—led by his daughter Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen. With allegiances being formed, the finale of House of the Dragon Season 1 also saw Rhaenyra’s second son Prince Lucerys Velaryon killed by Prince Aemond Targaryen and his dragon.
Five episodes already in on HBO GO, House of the Dragon Season 2 has no shortage of surprises signature to the franchise. Some characters are also proving to be more memorable than others, at least to us. Here are our favorite characters:
1. Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith)
Daemon had an incredible character arc in Season 1. Starting as a rogue prince whom everyone thought wants the throne of his brother Viserys I (Paddy Considine), we saw the charismatic warrior turn into a loving brother and husband. In S1 E8, he helps his ailing brother sit on the Iron Throne and gently puts the crown on his head. He also beheads Vaemond Velaryon when he insults Rhaenyra.
Season 2 opens with Daemon impatient for Rhaenyra to end her grieving and wants to fight for their birthright. In episodes 4 and 5, he’s having weird dreams about a young Rhaenyra (he chops her head off in his dreams in E4) and his mother in E5. Well, incest does run in the Targaryens, so why not in a dream as well? Daemon believes that he should sit on the throne. At the end of the episode the lords of Riverlands confront him at Harrenhal.
2. Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy)
When will heartache end for Rhaenyra? Possibly never. In S2 E1 Rhaenyra grieves over Lucerys’ death. While she doesn’t want a war and wants revenge, she still shows restraint and wants to find a solution without fighting. We love Rhaenyra because even through her anger, she displays restraint. In E5, Rhaenyra sends Ser Alfred (Jamie Kenna) away. “Are you removing me from your council?” he asks. She tells him to find out Daemon’s intentions—sure and she’s also telling the dissenter to get out of her sight.
3. Prince Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell)
Aemond displayed his hatred for Rhaenyra’s children early on in the first season. He lost an eye as a child while fighting with his nephew Lucerys Velaryon. He told his mother that he may have lost an eye but he gained Vhagar, one of the most powerful dragons (Vhagar is 2-0 so far and we hate it). Aemond is so easy to hate, but sometimes you can’t help but feel for him.
4. Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel)
As a member of the Kingsguard, Ser Criston is often seen breaking his oath and allegiance—first with Rhaenyra in S1 and currently with Queen Alicent. By S2 E2, he has replaced Aegon’s grandfather Otto Hightower as the King’s Hand. Much like Rhaenyra, we fell for his charm in the beginning and are eager to see what comes his way in this season.
5. Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke)
Alicent is a highly complicated character and would do anything to keep her son on the Iron Throne. While we may not see eye to eye with her, we do respect her character development, determination, and how she becomes one of the key players in House of the Dragon. Her sway over her son, King Aegon, is slipping as he comes into his own and appoints Ser Criston Cole as his hand.
6. Princess Rhaenys Velaryon (Eve Best)
While her strength was truly inspiring, we see Rhaenys fall to her death in House of the Dragon S2 E4. The Queen who never was, Rhaenys Targaryen was married to Corlys Velaryon, Master of Driftmark and the head of House Velaryon. You could never read Rhaenys or predict what she was going to do, nor would you ever know whose side she was on until the last minute.
She flexed her power at the end of S1 when she attacked King’s Landing riding on her dragon, Meleys, and began S2 standing up to Daemon, telling him to let Rhaenyra grieve. Eva Best delivers a poignant death scene as she falls with her dragon in E4. Rhaenys was the true queen for many fans who believe that if she had inherited the throne rather than Viserys I, the Targaryens civil war wouldn’t have happened.
7. Cregan Stark (Tom Taylor)
Lord Cregan Stark is on the list simply because he is a Stark. We love the Starks—no matter how long or short their appearance is. Cregan pledges his allegiance to the Blacks as he tells Jacaerys in the opening of Season 2: “The Starks do not forget their oath, my prince…” We can’t wait to see more of Cregan!
With drama and alliances unfolding so quickly in each episode of House of the Dragon Season 2, do not miss an episode or you’ll get lost! Thanks to PLDT Home, you can catch the series every Monday on HBO GO for only P199/month. For unli-entertainment guaranteed, apply for PLDT Home Plans 2099 and up to enjoy three months of HBO GO at no additional costs and avail free installation worth P3,600. For more information, visit pldthome.com/fiber.
