What Happens in House of the Dragon Season 2 and What Are Biggest Book Changes?

Despite the slow development of events and doubts about the entry into open confrontation between the Black and Green sides, the second season has already given fans epic scenes and unexpected turns.

We tell you how events are unfolding and how they differ from George R.R. Martin's book.

What Happened in The Five Episodes of House of the Dragon Season 2?

​​Devastated by the murder of her son Lucerys, Rhaenyra flies away on a dragon to find proof of his death. At the same time, Jacaerys convinces the North to side with the Blacks, and Daemon avenges Lucerys' death by hiring assassins to kill the king, Aegon. However, the ratcatchers kill Aegon's heir — Jaehaerys. This decision greatly damages Rhaenyra's reputation in the eyes of the people. Her husband retreats to Harrenhal and takes it.

Dissatisfied with Otto Hightower's policies, Aegon appoints Criston Cole as his Hand, who, unlike his predecessor, takes action. He organizes an assassination attempt on Rhaenyra and gathers allies en route to Rook's Rest.

Realizing that Alicent will not declare a truce and recognize her as the rightful heir, Rhaenyra allows Rhaenys to defend the Rest and defeat Cole's army. At the end of the fourth episode, three dragons controlled by Aegon, Rhaenys, and Aemond meet on the battlefield. The result is the death of Rhaenys and her dragon, serious injuries to Aegon, and the appointment of Aemond as regent while the king is unconscious.

What Are Differences Between House of the Dragon and Fire & Blood?

Fire & Blood is written almost like a history book — George Martin recounts the events, referring to historians and eyewitnesses of the time.

Due to the nature of the story, the characters of the book are not described in as much detail as they are in the series. Because of this, their behavior in House of the Dragon is interpreted in another way, and the characters become brighter and deeper. For example, Rhaenyra's difficult birth is shown in more detail, revealing her strength.

At the same time, the attempt to include a dialogue with Alicent in the Great Sept, which is missing in the book, shows her as more cautious, unable to act decisively. In the book, Rhaenyra renounced all calls for peace, was crowned at Dragonstone, and almost immediately started to act in the lands of House Bracken and at the Battle of Burning Mill.

Daemon's actions in the series have taken on a different motivation. While in the book he was following his wife's orders, for example in the capture of Harrenhal, in House of the Dragon he is pursuing personal goals.

We are shown how Alys Rivers sends visions and dreams to Daemon that stir a secret desire from the depths of his soul — to sit on the throne as king. What this instigation results in, we will see in future episodes.

Aegon, shown in the series as an impulsive and eccentric young man who does not understand military affairs and the affairs of the kingdom, is not so useless in the book. Yes, sometimes his attempts to lure allies to his side are unsuccessful, but he not only drinks and mindlessly avenges the death of his son, but also takes part in military actions.

The same is true of the Battle at Rook's Rest — in the series he flew to the battlefield drunk to prove his strength to the council. In the books, Aegon's appearance was planned: he and his brother attacked Rhaenys and destroyed the enemy.

In the original source, Aemond did not try to overthrow his brother, but merely took advantage of a "lucky" coincidence in which Aegon was badly burned in battle and unable to rule.

Aegon's wife, Helaena, went insane rather quickly after the death of her son. In the books, the couple had three children: Jaehaerys (the heir), Jaehaera, and the youngest son, Maelor. It was the latter that Helaena pointed to during the attack by Daemon's mercenaries, when they held a knife to Alicent's throat.

As a result, the ratcatchers killed the heir, and the queen could no longer look at her youngest son without feeling guilty. The pain slowly killed the couple: Aegon washed it down with alcohol, and Helaena withdrew into herself.

How Do These Changes Affect the Show?

Are these changes justified? Well, actually yes. The characters have become more fleshed out and vivid, and many have developed a clear motivation. Aemond's is to overthrow his brother and seize the throne, and Daemon's is to gain at least some of the power he was denied during Viserys' reign and never received with his wife's coronation.

Was it a good move to change the events and add events that did not exist in the original source? On the one hand, yes. Alicent's relationship with Cole (for example, during the attack on Helaena's children) shows her inner indifference to the children and her unconscious competition with Rhaenyra.

On the other hand, Rhaenyra's infiltration of the Red Keep to speak with her former friend seems strange and ridiculous — no one recognized her and she was not arrested on the way. The castle, full of secret passages, seems too easily accessible — why start a war when it is so easy to get inside?

Was it worth it to switch the battles at Rook's Rest and the Burning Mill, thus weakening Rhaenyra's influence on the Black Council in the series? It is clear that the woman's grief for her son seems deeper this way, but her inner confusion seems too strong.

And the impulsive decision to fly to Rook's Rest seems odd, since Rhaenyra literally refused to do anything with the Greens before. Does she look like a strong queen, or more like a confused heir led by Daemon and the Black Council?

Most likely the latter. And Rhaenyra's indecisiveness is already starting to get tiresome — especially in contrast to how her younger version was portrayed. Young Rhaenyra was a determined girl who was not afraid to make decisions.