House of the Dragon S2 Changed Book’s Biggest Traitor Into a Greens Hero

House of the Dragon ’s season 2 keeps getting its viewers prepared for all the approaching battles between the Greens and the Blacks, and the whole action is heated up by a major betrayal of the Greens’ seemingly loyal citizens.

The second season’s episode 3, titled The Burning Mill, has introduced yet another new character whose original role in George R.R. Martin’s novel is way worse than anyone would ever consider. Yet the show once again stayed away from the original source by giving the character a better position.

Surprisingly, this was foreseen back in the premiere episode of the season.

House of the Dragon’s latest episode is the first one to feature Ser Gwayne Hightower, Alicent’s brother and Otto Hightower’s son. In George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, Gwayne is a commanding officer in King’s Landing’s City Watch aka the local police, but the series significantly alters his storyline making him a member of The Greens’ army.

The episode later sees Gwayne going on a guard with Criston Cole and his military forces, something that may potentially change Gwayne’s fate in the following episodes, yet even in this case his reputation would be significantly restored compared to what he ended up with in the original book.

House of the Dragon’s season 2 episode 1 hinted at a major plot twist sometime in the future, but nobody seemed to care since Blood and Cheese’s atrocities in the Greens’ castle took all of everyone’s attention.

However, this also has to do with the revengeful duo, specifically with Blood who in the show is still a member of the City Watch. During his meeting with Daemon who tasks him with Aemond Targaryen’s murder, Blood reveals that the City Watch has actually always been loyal to Rhaenyra and most of its members quietly hate the Greens.

Since initially Ser Gwayne Hightower had a very different job and was another member of the City Watch, House of the Dragon might have changed things radically so that the storyline could avoid another big betrayal with Gwayne showing support for his sister’s enemies.

Still, the book does give Gwayne a sorrowful closure anyway, but the City Watch’s rebellion against their governors may still take place when the long-teased war finally arrives.

House of the Dragon’s season 2 episodes will be dropped on Max every Sunday until August 4.