“Conflict is coming” to Home of the Dragon‘s second season.
Home of the Dragon season 2 premieres on June 16, almost two years after the primary season aired on HBO. In a Could 2024 cowl story for Selection, collection star Matt Smith and showrunner Ryan Condal provided recent perception into what followers can count on after we return to Westeros.
“I feel the tempo will really feel extra like constructing momentum,” Condal advised the outlet. “Season 1 felt breakneck as a result of you had been leaping time intervals, whereas season 2 feels such as you gentle a fuse in episode 1 and watch it go — and at factors, little expenses go off.”
Season 1 led to dramatic vogue, with everybody in Westeros seemingly declaring their allegiance to both King Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) or Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy). Within the first trailers for season 2, viewers are urged to “Select a Aspect” between the Black Council (a.ok.a. Group Rhaenyra) and the Inexperienced Council (a.ok.a. Group Aegon).
“The Targaryen who sits on the Iron Throne isn’t just a king or a queen, they’re a protector of the realm,” the season 2 trailer begins ominously. By its conclusion, Rhaenyra quietly warns: “Conflict is coming and neither of us might win.”
Learn on for every little thing we find out about what’s to return in season 2, from new forged members to episode rely and every little thing else in between.
Plot and Timeline
After spending most of season 1 establishing the primary gamers within the battle of succession to comply with the loss of life of King Viserys (performed by Paddy Considine, who will certainly be missed), season 2 will inch the collection nearer and nearer to warfare.
“We are going to get to the spectacle,” co-creator and Condal beforehand advised The Occasions. (His co-showrunner, Miguel Sapochnik, just isn’t returning for season 2.) “However you must perceive these individuals’s complexities earlier than they’re thrown into warfare.”
And now that we have gotten to know the main characters, in addition to what’s at stake, he mentioned, “[Season] two will hit the rhythms individuals got here to count on from the center run of Recreation of Thrones, however it should have been earned, and viewers will really feel the tragedies as a result of we put the work in.”
The crux of the season’s battle will most definitely middle across the Inexperienced vs. Black battle for management of the Iron Throne. Following Queen Alicent’s (Olivia Cooke) misinterpretation of King Viserys’ dying phrases — which put in her son, Aegon II (Glynn-Carney), as king — each side have their very own declare to rule.
Nonetheless, as Glynn-Carney advised ET on the season 2 premiere, “My title is on the lease for the citadel. I’ve mentioned it earlier than and I am going to say it once more.”
“Look it is simply extra enjoyable being king,” he added, “so I’ll battle for it.”
As a counterpoint, Cooke admitted to ET on the season 2 premiere that Alicent might quickly study that putting in her son on the Iron Throne was not the private victory she anticipated it to be.
“She begins at her strongest, she’s put her son on the throne, however inside that, she’s given up her regency — she’s now the dowager queen,” she defined. “I do not assume she fairly realizes that that’s an change of energy after which, what does she do when she realizes that the boys, the boys in her life begin to shun her?”
There can even definitely be a reckoning throughout the fractured household for the homicide of Rhaenyra’s son, Lucerys Velaryon, who was killed by Aemond Targaryen throughout a duel on dragonback within the season 1 finale.
“After we meet [Rhaenyra] at the beginning of the [season], I feel she’s type of paralyzed,” D’Arcy advised ET of her character arc in season 2. “I feel she’s type of inflexible with grief.”
“The political designs have by no means felt type of extra personally vital, and I feel for Rhaenyra, significantly, her inheritance, sitting the Iron Throne, her title within the Targaryen histories, all of those really feel like a approach to stay nearer to her late father, and so sitting the throne is sort of a basic, private want now, in addition to a type of political purpose.”
Mitchell advised ET on the season 2 premiere that Aemond’s emotional journey in season 2 is formed by his regret over the unintended homicide of his nephew.
“In season 2, you’ll see these completely different shades. You see it on his face on the finish of the collection — you see that second of remorse,” he recalled. “You are gonna see extra of them in season 2. It challenges the viewers and it challenges what they already know of Aemond.”
In keeping with the GOT fansite Winter Is Coming, there are additionally a number of massive occasions that might play out within the second season. “With out stepping into an excessive amount of element, there can be a conspiracy throughout the Crimson Maintain, Rhaenys Targaryen will mount Meleys once more, and there can be a seek for extra dragonriders,” the fansite said.
Together with extra riders, each side can even have extra firepower.
“You are going to meet 5 new dragons,” Condal teased to THR in March 2023.
As for Daemon Targaryen (Smith), the collection’ massive dangerous turned web boyfriend, count on for lots extra exploration into his dynamic along with his niece and present spouse, Rhaenyra. “We’re writing season two and determining, what’s the nature of his relationship with Rhaenyra?” author Sara Hess beforehand advised The Hollywood Reporter. “There are numerous interpretations [in Fire & Blood] to that.”
In his Could 2024 interview with Selection, Smith mentioned that Daemon can be “a lot weaker” within the upcoming season after dropping Rhaenyra’s belief.
“We positively meet Daemon at some extent of disaster on this state of affairs, and in some ways, it is a completely different model of him,” Smith defined.
On the season 2 premiere, the actor expanded on the fractured dynamic between Daemon and Rhaenyra in season 2.
“I feel Daemon is doing issues that he thinks are for the good thing about the household, and that he is type of responsibility sure to do, actually, however invariably it creates a deeper fragmentation between the 2 of them,” he defined. “In some ways he is type of on his personal path… They seem to be a sophisticated bunch.”
“Daemon’s very aligned with Rhaenyra and eager to take again the throne that he believes was stolen from her,” Condal agreed. “However Daemon has a sophisticated method of doing issues — and Rhaenyra goes to must reckon with that.”
D’Arcy shared with ET on the season 2 premiere that they see Daemon and Rhaenyra as sharing a “basic flaw” that impacts their skill to speak with each other.
“We meet them each in a state of deep grief,” they shared of the place the couple is at the beginning of the second season. “They’re two bereaved individuals who actually wrestle to speak… I feel one thing about their dynamic signifies that they don’t seem to be keen to indicate weak spot to at least one one other.”
“It is a type of basic flaw of their relationship — they do not need to be seen to be weak,” D’Arcy continued. “I feel they’re each fairly shut down at the beginning of the [season]. They’re type of dislocated from each other and, yeah, it is gonna be bumpy.”
Supply Materials
Home of the Dragon relies on George R.R. Martin’s novel, Fireplace & Blood, which is a historical past guide recounting notable occasions in Westeros within the 200 years earlier than the unique collection. HOTD will proceed to discover the in-fighting and intrigue surrounding Home Targaryen in its upcoming episodes.
“We have now the benefit that the guide is right here, it is completed, and we all know the place the curtain closes on this explicit chapter within the Targaryen historical past,” Condal advised Selection, suggesting that present writers do not plan to stray too removed from the supply materials.
Nonetheless, when he spoke to ET on the pink carpet on the season 2 premiere, Condal clarified that they’ve needed to take some inventive license, given the character of the supply materials.
“We’re being true to the story that is written within the guide. I feel there are completely different calls for within the present, provided that it is an adaptation of a historical past guide,” he defined. “However the plan is to faithfully render George’s historical past as as it has been given within the textual content.”
Returning Solid and Characters
After so many deaths in season 1, there are nonetheless a stunning variety of main gamers returning for a second season. Amongst them are Rhaenyra (D’Arcy) and Daemon (Smith) and their blended household of kids, Jacaerys and Joffrey Velaryon, Baela and Rhaena Targaryen in addition to the recently-born twins Aegon and Viserys. Contemplating how younger lots of the youngsters are in season 1, the collection might age them up once more in coming seasons.
Then there’s Queen Alicent (Cooke), her father, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), her kids, Aegon (Glynn-Carney), Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and Helaena (Phia Saban), and her loyal servant, Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel). It is value mentioning that Alicent’s fourth little one with Viserys, Daeron, will make an look on the collection in some unspecified time in the future regardless of not being talked about or seen in season 1. In keeping with Martin, who serves as an government producer on the collection, “their youngest son Daeron is down in Oldtown, we simply didn’t have the time to work him on this season.”
Of the remaining grownup Velaryons, Princess Rhaenys (Eve Finest) and Corlys aka the Sea Snake (Steve Toussaint), will return regardless of so many losses to their household, together with daughter Laena (Savannah Steyn) and son Laenor (John Macmillan) — who was revealed to nonetheless be alive after Rhaenyra and Daemon organized for his assassination in order that they might get married. However regardless of being seen rowing away on a ship, very like Gendry Baratheon (Joe Dempsie) in Recreation of Thrones, it is unclear if and when he’ll make a return to the collection.
Moreover, different characters launched in season 1, Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno), the Arryk Cargyll twins — Arryk (Luke Tittensor) and Erryk (Elliott Tittensor) — in addition to Tyland and Jason Lannister (each performed by Jefferson Corridor), are all again for the brand new episodes.
As for these two Lannisters, count on extra from them because the collection progresses, with Corridor beforehand revealing to ET that “it is a story concerning the Targaryens. And the Lannisters do play a robust position in it, however not from the offset.” He requested for followers “to be affected person so far as that’s involved. As a result of they’re launched to the story… and they’re supporting that story. That is to not say they don’t have a really sturdy, pivotal position inside it as time goes on.”
In April 2023, HBO confirmed that the returning forged members embrace Smith, Cooke, D’Arcy, Finest, Toussaint, Frankel, Mitchell, Glynn-Carney, Mizuno and Ifans are all again as collection regulars for season 2.
Further returning forged members embrace Corridor, Saban, Harry Collett, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell and Matthew Needham.
New Solid and Characters
As for brand new forged members, ET beforehand confirmed that Simon Russell Beale, Freddie Fox, Gayle Rankin and Abubakar Salim have joined the sprawling ensemble.
Beale will play Ser Simon Robust, the Castellan of Harrenhal and great-uncle to Lord Larys (Needham), sharing many scenes with Daemon this season.
Fox has been added as Ser Gwayne Hightower, the Son of Otto Hightower and brother to Queen Alicent, in addition to the uncle to King Aegon, Queen Helaena and Prince Aemond.
Moreover, Rankin will seem as Alys Rivers, a healer and resident of Harrenhal whereas Salim will play Alyn of Hull, a sailor within the Velaryon fleet who served within the Stepstones marketing campaign.
Tom Taylor can also be becoming a member of the season 2 forged because the collection’ first Stark. The actor performs Cregan Stark, the Lord of Winterfell through the time of the Dance of the Dragons, and the the great-great-great-great grandfather of Recreation of Thrones’ Ned Stark (Sean Bean).
Collett, who performs Rhaenyra’s eldest son, Jacaerys Velaryon, filmed scenes with Taylor at The Wall, when Jacaerys asks for Cregan’s help on the aspect of the Blacks, and advised ET that he and his new castmate had “a whole lot of enjoyable” on set.
“We went on vacation previous to filming that scene, so we actually obtained shut,” he shared. “It made us look actually good collectively within the scenes… It is surreal returning again to such an iconic place and I can not look forward to the followers to see. I hope you have loved what me and Tom have executed.”
As for Elizabeth Olsen, the actress addressed rumors that she is headed to Westeros by telling ET, “Dream casting is enjoyable, yeah, however I heard it was, like, introduced although, which is weirder… I by no means heard of such a factor.”
That being mentioned, Olsen can be completely satisfied to be part of it if one thing got here up. “I imply, certain, yeah. [I’d like do to] something that is value telling, that is an excellent story, that is revolutionary, that is nice, nice characters,” she provided.
Return and Premiere Date
HBO introduced on April 11, 2023 that filming had formally commenced at Leavesden Studios within the U.Ok., with Condal sharing, “Home of the Dragon has returned… All of your favourite characters will quickly be conspiring on the council tables, marching with their armies, and driving their dragons into battle. We will not wait to share what now we have in retailer.”
Whereas there have been hopes for one more 10-episode season, ET has since realized that season 2 will encompass eight episodes merely due to what the story merited.
HBO introduced in March that the present will return on June 16, 2024.
The Trailers
Watch the full-length trailer right here:
The Inexperienced Trailer right here:
And the Black Trailer right here:
Home of the Dragon season 1 is now streaming on Max. Season 2 premieres Sunday, June 16 at 9 p.m. PT/ET on HBO and streaming on Max.
RELATED CONTENT: