AFTER ALMOST A two-year wait, it’s time to collect your chain mail and dragon kibble: Westeros is ready to rumble once more. The first season of House Of The Dragon left audiences in fear for House Targaryen when by season’s end, fans – spoiler alert – witnessed King Viserys Targaryen’s (Paddy Considine) nauseating death. That left an even messier line of succession for his kin to fight over.
On one side is his firstborn daughter and heir apparent, Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy), in whom Viserys confided secret prophecies, and who enjoyed his favour. On the other side is Rhaenyra’s depraved and entitled half-brother Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney). A leader he is not, yet he’s persuaded by his mother, Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and the Small Council to grab that power. His move to do so provokes a split in the realm as allies and enemies align into two camps: Team Green for King Aegon and Team Black for Queen Rhaenyra, who claims the throne as her own. Call season one the amuse-bouche in terms of setting up the warfare, while season two is set to serve a full-course meal.
Of course, all of this Westeros regal strife and political machination (with dragon accoutrement) is the concoction of author George RR Martin, who began telling the imaginary world’s complex history in (1996), the first entry in his planned seven-book series . Screenwriters David Benioff and DB Weiss had eight seasons to tell that) is adapting , Martin’s prequel history of the House Targaryen’s nasty war of succession known as the “Dance Of The Dragons”.
