Last week, fans of “House of the Dragon” were treated to not one but two thrilling trailers for the highly anticipated second season. These trailers have sparked a wave of excitement and speculation, as viewers are now choosing sides between Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke). The trailers also revealed that the new season will premiere earlier than expected, on Sunday, June 16. Here’s everything you need to know about the release schedule and remaining episodes of “House of the Dragon” Season 2.
The first season of this “Game of Thrones” prequel, set nearly 200 years before the events of the original series, focused on the Targaryen succession war. It featured 10 hour-long episodes, culminating in the dramatic finale, “The Black Queen,” on October 23, 2022. However, the second season will be shorter, with only eight episodes, each released weekly on Sundays on HBO and Max.
The release schedule for “House of the Dragon” Season 2 is as follows:
– Episode 201: June 16
– Episode 202: June 23
– Episode 203: June 30
– Episode 204: July 7
– Episode 205: July 14
– Episode 206: July 21
– Episode 207: July 28
– Episode 208: August 4
While the titles of most episodes remain under wraps, the season premiere is rumored to be titled “A Son for a Son,” and Episode 4 is reportedly called “A Dance of Dragons,” a nod to the Targaryen civil war depicted in George R. R. Martin’s “Fire and Blood,” the book on which the series is based.
The second season will pick up shortly after the events of the first season finale, where Rhaenyra was crowned Queen of the Seven Kingdoms following King Viserys’ death. Her reign faces immediate challenges, especially after her son Lucerys is killed by his uncle Aemond’s dragon, further igniting the Targaryen succession war. The trailers suggest that Rhaenyra’s storyline will see more active changes compared to the book’s version.
The decision to reduce the episode count from ten to eight was reportedly story-driven, despite some speculation about cost-cutting measures by Warner Bros. Discovery. The creative team, including executive producer-showrunner Ryan Condal and author George R. R. Martin, took a step back to map out the overall narrative flow, deciding how to break up the stories season-to-season and which battles to include.
Season 3 has already been mapped out and might soon be greenlit, with HBO considering a long-term commitment to the series. This could mean that the show might run for four seasons, although this has not been definitively determined as Condal and Martin continue to discuss the optimal number of seasons to tell the full story.
In an October blog post, Martin mentioned that it would take four full seasons of ten episodes each to do justice to the Dance of the Dragons. However, the current plan for Season 2 includes only eight episodes, aligning with the trend of shorter seasons seen in other series like Amazon’s “The Rings of Power.”
“House of the Dragon” is set 172 years before the events of “Game of Thrones” and tells the story of House Targaryen. The series has been embraced by Warner Bros. Discovery, which supported its $200 million production with the biggest marketing campaign in HBO’s history. This led to a successful premiere on August 21, 2022, followed by a quick renewal for a second season.
The cast for Season 2 includes returning stars such as Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen), Olivia Cooke (Alicent Hightower), Emma D’Arcy (Rhaenyra Targaryen), and many others. New cast members include Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong, Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower, Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers, and Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull.
Fans can also look forward to meeting five new dragons in the upcoming season, adding to the already impressive roster of majestic winged creatures. The series will continue to be helmed by co-creator Ryan Condal, with Alan Taylor joining as an executive producer and director for multiple episodes.
Season 2 will delve deeper into the Targaryen civil war, with a faster pace and more action compared to the first season. The story will explore the aftermath of key events, such as the death of Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys, and the ongoing conflict between the Greens and the Blacks. The new season promises to bring more humor and levity, with Matt Smith’s Daemon Targaryen expected to provide some lighter moments.
As the premiere date approaches, fans can revisit the first season on Max and prepare for the next chapter in the epic saga of House Targaryen. With a rich storyline, complex characters, and stunning visuals, “House of the Dragon” Season 2 is set to captivate audiences once again.
Source: Tom’s Guide, Deadline, TV Guide
