How ‘Home of the Dragon’ Season 2 is totally different from George R.R. Martin’s ‘Hearth and Blood’

Home of the Dragon Season 2 has flown again onto our screens, bringing with it loads of dragons, Targaryen household drama, and adjustments from its supply materials, George R.R. Martin’s Hearth & Blood.

A number of of those adjustments construct on these in Season 1. Largest amongst them is the easy proven fact that Home of the Dragon is a story TV present, whereas Hearth & Blood is introduced as a historic account. The distinction in type implies that Hearth & Blood operates on a bigger timescale, spanning centuries, whereas Home of the Dragon can dive deeper into sure scenes and character moments or flesh out “historic” ambiguities.

An instance of that fleshing out is the connection between Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), whose fraught dynamic within the present advantages from the additional layers of seeing them develop up collectively earlier than turning into bitter enemies. That sturdy adaptation alternative is certainly one of many who carries into Season 2, however there are a lot new deviations from Hearth & Blood on the way in which. Which of them work and add depth to the story of the Dance of the Dragons? Which of them are much less profitable? Let’s break it down.

Listed below are all the largest variations between Home of the Dragon Season 2 and Hearth & Blood.

Episode 1: We’re again on the Wall!

Home of the Dragon Season 2 opens with pictures of snowy forests and the acquainted sounds of Ramin Djawadi‘s Winterfell theme, which may solely imply one factor for Home Stark followers: We’re so again.

After spending the primary season principally in and round Dragonstone and King’s Touchdown, it is a delight to revisit the northernmost reaches of Westeros. Rhaenyra’s eldest son Jacaerys (Harry Collett) flew up there within the Season 1 finale to deal with with Lord Cregan Stark of Winterfell (Tom Taylor), and by the point we meet up with them at first of Season 2, it looks as if they’ve grow to be good buddies. They’re taking a discipline journey up the Wall, bantering concerning the time Torrhen Stark bent the knee to Aegon the Conqueror, and discussing how the North can help Rhaenyra in her battle efforts.

Home of the Dragon skips over fairly a bit of fabric to get to Jace and Cregan’s allyship. In traditional Hearth & Blood style, there are a number of conflicting accounts of Jace’s time in Winterfell in Martin’s work. Of his many historic “sources,” Grand Maester Munkun writes in his True Telling that the 2 turned inseparable and swore a blood oath of brotherhood, whereas Septon Eustace claims that Jace badgered Cregan about changing to the Religion of the Seven. Probably the most scandalous of all of the accounts belongs, naturally, to court docket jester Mushroom, who says Jace fell in love with and married a bastard named Sara Snow, although he was betrothed to his cousin Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell).

With solely eight episodes on this season, Home of the Dragon seemingly did not have the time to get into all this potential Northern drama. We have got the Dance of the Dragons to kick off, individuals! Nonetheless, you possibly can guess we have not seen the final of Cregan Stark.

Episode 1: Alicent Hightower and Criston Cole’s torrid affair.

In a transfer I did not see coming (and that actually is not in Hearth & Blood), Dowager Queen Alicent and Lord Commander of the Kingsguard Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) are getting it on. Primarily based on Alicent’s assertion that they should not hook up once more (as if that is going to work), we are able to assume this affair has been occurring for some time. So, when did this tryst start? When did Cole come again round on the entire “breaking his Kingsguard oath of chastity” factor? When did Alicent determine, “Eh, screw it,” and begin doing precisely what she hated Rhaenyra for doing?

Alicent and Criston’s hypocrisy right here would not hassle me, as it’s very consistent with their overly righteous characters. And it simply is sensible that one thing would occur between these two. They’re mainly joined on the hip, and their joint animosity in the direction of Rhaenyra provides a candy psychosexual twist. Plus, as Alicent reckons with the more and more unpredictable males in her circle, like her sons Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) and Aemond (Ewan Mitchell), it additionally is sensible that she’d attempt to reclaim her energy elsewhere.

What does hassle me about this alteration is that Criston is having intercourse in any respect. He would not deserve it. No good issues for Criston, please!

Episode 1: Let’s discuss Blood and Cheese.

In what’s undoubtedly one of many darkest scenes ever featured in Home of the Dragon and Sport of Thrones, two assassins — recognized merely as Blood (Sam C. Wilson) and Cheese (Mark Stobbart) — sneak into the Purple Maintain and homicide Aegon and Helaena’s (Phia Saban) toddler son Jaehaerys. The monstrous act comes on the behest of Daemon (Matt Smith), who seeks “a son for a son” in retribution for the dying of Lucerys (Elliot Grihault).

Within the guide, Blood and Cheese pressure Helaena to decide on which of her sons she desires them to kill. When volunteering herself would not work, she chooses her youngest, Maelor, as Jaehaerys is inheritor to the Iron Throne. In a nasty twist, Blood and Cheese kill Jaehaerys as an alternative — and inform Maelor that his mom desires him useless.

Issues play out slightly otherwise in Home of the Dragon, though the ultimate final result is identical: Jaehaerys dies, and Helaena is traumatized for all times. First off, Blood and Cheese’s unique goal within the present is Aemond. That change already complicates the blame of Jaehaerys’s dying. It lets Daemon off the hook slightly for bankrolling little one homicide, simply as Vhagar’s unauthorized chomping within the Season 1 finale means Aemond technically did not homicide Lucerys. However technicalities do not matter when kids are useless.

As a substitute of discovering Aemond, Blood and Cheese bump into Helaena and the twins Jaehaerys and Jaehaera. (Maelor is lower from the present completely.) They make a snap judgment that one Targaryen son is pretty much as good as one other and make Helaena inform them which of her kids is Jaehaerys. She factors him out, however there is a transient second by which Blood thinks she’s making an attempt to double-cross them. In any case, why would she hand over the inheritor to the throne so simply? Absolutely she’s really pointing to Jaehaera. Cheese calls her bluff although and accurately surmises that she’s really singled out her son. With that, Jaehaerys turns into one other sufferer within the Dance of the Dragons.

This model of the Blood and Cheese scene nods a bit to the guide model, with Helaena nonetheless having to make an not possible alternative and there being trickery concerned. Nonetheless, there’s an additional layer of tragedy right here. Primarily based on a rat-centric assertion in the direction of the start of the episode, Helaena seemingly foresaw the arrival of Blood and Cheese in a prophetic dream. Which means she’s had fairly a little bit of time to consider this second, and perhaps even put together for it. Her try to throw Blood and Cheese off of Jaehaerys’s scent was her last-ditch effort to cease the inevitable. In failing, her motion turns a horrifying scene into one thing even sadder.

Episode 2: The aftermath of Jaehaerys’s dying.

Understandably, a lot of Home of the Dragon Season 2’s second episode offers with the fallout from Jaehaerys’s homicide by the hands of Blood and Cheese. Some parts from Hearth & Blood stay the identical, akin to Aegon’s resolution to homicide all of the ratcatchers. Different particulars are omitted. For instance, the present’s model of Alicent would not attempt to study Blood’s true identify as a way to “bathe within the blood of his spouse and kids.” (Most likely for the perfect.) As a substitute, her response is certainly one of grief for Jaehaerys and particularly Helaena.

Elsewhere, Hand of the King Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) views Jaehaerys’s dying as a possibility to unfold some good old school propaganda. He throws a funeral procession for Jaehaerys, with Helaena and Alicent driving with the younger prince’s corpse. Accompanying them is a crier telling onlookers to “behold the work of Rhaenyra the Merciless,” weaponizing Jaehaerys’s dying towards Rhaenyra. The scene is a show-only invention, but one which’s completely consistent with Otto’s scheming persona. Plus, although Alicent decries the procession as ghoulish, it looks as if Otto’s scheme really works and wins sympathy factors from the smallfolk. (A minimum of, till Aegon hangs each ratcatcher within the neighborhood.)

Episode 2: Rhaenyra and Daemon duke it out.

When Rhaenyra learns of Daemon’s involvement in Jaehaerys’s dying, Home of the Dragon treats us to an enormous argument between the married couple (and uncle-niece pair). Rhaenyra worries that she will be able to’t belief Daemon, whereas Daemon claims Rhaenyra is as weak as her father. It is a brutal however deeply obligatory combat, dredging up each characters’ insecurities about their relationship, proximity to energy, and totally different approaches to the brewing battle with Aegon. And none of it’s in Hearth & Blood.

By this level in Hearth & Blood, Daemon has already taken management of Harrenhal. He orchestrates the Blood and Cheese plot from afar, and we do not get sufficient of Rhaenyra’s response to the homicide to counsel that the 2 fall out over Daemon’s actions. As a substitute, Home of the Dragon fills in one of many emotional gaps of Martin’s fictional historical past. The ensuing scene will get on the coronary heart of Rhaenyra and Daemon’s fraught relationship, and places the 2 in very totally different headspaces as we transfer into the subsequent part of the season.

Episode 2: Arryk versus Erryk.

Like a lot of Hearth & Blood, the duel between the Cargyll twins Arryk and Erryk (Luke and Elliott Tittensor) is the topic of differing historic accounts. Munkun says their battle was epic, lasting for nearly an hour and ending with the brothers dying in one another’s arms. Mushroom, however, claims the combat was short-lived. Erryk (who fights for Rhaenyra) dealt Arryk (who fights for Aegon) a mortal blow pretty early on. He sustained a intestine wound within the course of, and succumbed to it after 4 painful days. Frankly, the latter appears extra believable, so we have got to present this spherical to Mushroom.

Additionally left ambiguous is the true aim of Arryk’s mission to Dragonstone. Was he despatched to kill Rhaenyra, or to homicide her sons Jacaerys and Joffrey (Oscar Eskinazi)? Home of the Dragon decides on the latter. It additionally strikes the battle from “deep within the coronary heart of Dragonstone” to Rhaenyra’s chambers, placing her in additional hazard than in Hearth & Blood. Right here, she witnesses firsthand the kinslaying that can proceed to happen ought to she and Aegon go to battle outright. Will this immediate her to take swifter motion, or will she keep her cautious course?

Maybe essentially the most fascinating growth within the Cargyll combat is the involvement of Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno), who alerts Dragonstone to Arryk’s presence. By this level in Hearth & Blood, Mysaria and Rhaenyra have not interacted a lot, though Mysaria does grow to be Rhaenyra’s unofficial mistress of whispers afterward. Nonetheless, Rhaenyra now owes Mysaria her life. May this sign a higher (and earlier) partnership between the 2, particularly now that Daemon is gone?

Episode 3: The Battle of the Burning Mill and the Taking of Stone Hedge.

The primary main battle of the Dance of the Dragons comes in the beginning of Season 2’s third episode, when the long-feuding Blackwoods and Brackens take up arms towards one another. The result’s a slaughter, and whereas Home of the Dragon would not present us the precise bloodshed, the sphere of corpses stretching so far as the attention can see is greater than sufficient to get the job executed. In Hearth & Blood, the conflict between the Blackwoods and Brackens turns into referred to as the Battle of the Burning Mill. The episode’s opening shot of a turning mill (later seen burned to a crisp) is a strong nod to that.

Nonetheless, Home of the Dragon cuts the follow-up to the Battle of the Burning Mill. Martin’s work sees what’s left of the Bracken forces return to their seat at Stone Hedge, solely to find that Daemon, Caraxes, and several other armies have taken it over of their absence. Eliminating the Taking of Stone Hedge within the present is not the best loss: Daemon has solely simply arrived in Harrenhal, that means he hasn’t had a lot time to assemble a number for Rhaenyra. Plus, the present seems to be saving up the primary main dragon assault for a bigger turning level, as Rhaenyra and Rhaenys (Eve Finest) would reasonably go for warning than unleashing a bloody battle between dragons.

Episode 3: Daemon will get spooky visions at Harrenhal.

Talking of Daemon at Harrenhal, let’s discuss the imaginative and prescient he will get of younger Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) on his first night time there. These visions are show-only additions, however they’re rooted in book-specific lore. Harrenhal is mainly Westeros’ greatest haunted home, broadly believed to be cursed since each Home that runs it goes extinct. So how higher to play up that cursed nature than with a collection of unusual nightmares that can pressure Daemon to confront his best errors and fears?

Mashable High Tales

Episode 3: Rhaena oversees the dragon eggs.

Following the try on her life in episode 2, Rhaenyra makes the painful resolution to ship her youngest kids away to the Vale (and hopefully later to Pentos). Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) will accompany them, their hatchling dragons, and 4 unhatched dragon eggs. In Hearth & Blood, it is Jacaerys who makes this name, as Rhaenyra remains to be grieving Lucerys. Home of the Dragon brings Rhaenyra again into motion a lot sooner, giving her the area to rule and make these choices herself.

Probably the most fascinating change right here includes the dragon eggs, three of which can look very acquainted to Sport of Thrones followers. Episode director Geeta Vasant Patel confirmed to Mashable that the crimson, gold, and inexperienced eggs are those that can finally discover their technique to Daenerys Targaryen. This affirmation marks a minor deviation from Hearth & Blood, which closely implies that Daenerys’s eggs had been stolen by a personality named Elissa Farman throughout the reign of Jaehaerys I. Total, although, the origin of Daenerys’s eggs is left considerably ambiguous, so their inclusion right here is extra of a enjoyable (and literal) Easter egg. Plus, there is a sweetness to the truth that these eggs are the Targaryens’ “hope for the long run.” From an viewers standpoint, we all know that they do discover their technique to the final Targaryen, centuries down the road.

Episode 3: Rhaenyra and Alicent reunite.

Within the greatest book-to-show change this season thus far, Rhaenyra travels to King’s Touchdown to talk on to Alicent. The 2 do not work together till a lot later within the Dance in Hearth & Blood, however given how a lot Home of the Dragon has centered their relationship, their assembly right here is important — and electrical.

On one stage, that is Rhaenyra’s last-ditch try to cease battle from escalating. However on a deeper stage, it is two mates making an attempt to get via to at least one one other, with Rhaenyra specifically making an attempt to know whether or not her father actually modified his thoughts about having her as his successor. Alicent particulars how Viserys named Aegon because the Prince That Was Promised in his dying breath. Alarm bells instantly sound in Rhaenyra’s head: This has all been an enormous misunderstanding about Aegon’s dream of the Music of Ice and Hearth! Viserys by no means doubted Rhaenyra.

Again in Season 1, I discovered myself pissed off by the primary point out of the Music of Ice and Hearth, seeing it as low-cost fan service for Sport of Thrones followers. However with Viserys’s final phrases, and with Rhaenyra’s realization in her dialog with Alicent, Home of the Dragon actually justifies its use of Aegon’s dream. It isn’t simply an try to hook up with a collection that got here earlier than. It is the purpose round which a lot of this battle revolves. (Additionally, only a cautionary story about naming everybody within the household the identical factor.)

Following Rhaenyra’s revelation, a brand new query arises: How will Alicent act going ahead, now that she is aware of she’s made a grave error?

Episode 4: Alicent’s abortion and her attainable change of coronary heart.

Season 2’s fourth episode, “The Purple Dragon and the Gold,” sees Alicent endeavor two troublesome duties. First, she aborts a being pregnant from her affair with Criston utilizing a specifically brewed tea. Then, she scours historic texts in search of any signal of Aegon’s dream. Since each her relationship with Criston and her episode 3 dialogue with Rhaenyra are show-only additions, Alicent’s story in “The Purple Dragon and the Gold” is completely new.

Right here, Alicent’s analysis has the potential to set her on a brand new path from Hearth & Blood completely. Now that she doubts Aegon II’s declare and realizes how horribly she tousled, will she work to undermine the ruler she helped placed on the Iron Throne? Primarily based on her dialogue with Larys Robust (Matthew Needham), that appears unlikely, as she’s resigned to the truth that battle is coming it doesn’t matter what. Nonetheless, since Larys is aware of about Alicent’s doubts in addition to her secret abortion, he is bought some further leverage towards her ought to she select to behave towards his pursuits.

Episode 4: Aegon and Aemond at Rook’s Relaxation.

“The Purple Dragon and the Gold” culminates on this season’s first dragon battle: an enormous set piece fought over the fortress of Rook’s Relaxation. The end result right here is identical as within the guide — Rhaenys (Eve Finest) and Meleys useless, and Aegon and Sunfyre fallen, all by the hands (or claws) of Vhagar. However as in a lot of Home of the Dragon, the route the present takes to get there’s a little totally different from the way it performs out in Hearth & Blood.

Within the guide, Aegon and Aemond assault Rhaenys collectively. However within the present, Aegon’s arrival interferes with Criston and Aemond’s unique plan. It is an ideal illustration of his recklessness — and the right alternative for Aemond to attempt to eliminate him, a growth that’s new to the present.

Home of the Dragon has been constructing the hostility between Aemond and Aegon for some time now. In Season 1, we noticed Aegon tormenting Aemond as a toddler for not having a dragon of his personal. And in episode 3, Aegon teased Aemond mercilessly when he discovered him on the brothel. Loads could have modified within the realm between these factors, however the bullying has actually by no means stopped. Aegon might imagine his brother is loyal as a hound, however when Aemond opens hearth on him and Rhaenys at Rook’s Relaxation, there is not any doubt about it: That is retribution.

Episode 5: Alicent pitches herself to rule.

Following the game-changing occasions at Rook’s Relaxation, we study that Aegon didn’t die. As a substitute, he is horribly injured, coated in burns, with a few of his armor practically fused to his physique. He is in no state to rule, so whereas he recovers — if he even can! — his Small Council should select a regent to rule in his stead.

In Hearth & Blood, Criston merely chooses Aemond to be Prince Regent and Protector of the Realm. (This ends in a delightfully catty second the place Aemond wears Aegon’s crown and declares, “It seems to be higher on me than it ever did on him.”) Home of the Dragon provides a wrinkle to the combo: Alicent places herself ahead as an choice, having dominated whereas Viserys was unwell. The lads of the Small Council, together with her standard allies Larys and Criston, go for Aemond as an alternative. For them, Alicent’s warning isn’t any match for her son’s expertise in battle, which can show helpful within the battle forward.

The choice sends Alicent right into a contained spiral, with the rest of the scene emphasizing her upset respiratory over the Small Council’s proceedings. This complete assembly is yet one more instance of Alicent being undermined by these round her and disadvantaged of any significant say within the rule of Westeros. For instance, within the guide, it is Alicent who orders that the gates of King’s Touchdown be barred to forestall anybody from coming and going. Within the present, that command goes to Aemond.

Between this slight, Aemond’s poorly hidden fratricide try, and her dialogue with Rhaenyra concerning the Music of Ice and Hearth, it looks as if Alicent’s perception within the Greens’ trigger is weakening from episode to episode. Whereas that perception stood agency all through Hearth & Blood, may the present be hinting at a complete change of coronary heart for the Dowager Queen?

Episode 5: Daemon’s in bother within the Riverlands.

Whereas the Brackens’ fall on the Taking of Stone Hedge would not seem in episode 3 together with the Battle of the Burning Mill, it does occur offscreen in episode 5. There are nonetheless some notable adjustments, although: First, Daemon and Caraxes are usually not straight concerned. Second, Daemon encourages a violent assault towards the harmless residents of Bracken land right here, as an alternative of merely taking the fortress. Third, the Blackwoods’ ensuing aggression at Stone Hedge has alienated Daemon from the remainder of the river lords. This marks a major divergence from Hearth & Blood, the place the Taking of Stone Hedge includes “a powerful host made up of Darrys, Rootes, Pipers, and Freys.”

By this level within the guide, Daemon has already amassed a substantial military and isn’t dealing with infighting. He is mainly the right basic for Crew Black. Nonetheless, Home of the Dragon turns Harrenhal right into a testing floor for Daemon, the place emotional turmoil and self-doubt about his relationships materializes within the type of haunting visions. He could name himself King and plan to take the Iron Throne solo — a show-only growth in itself — but it surely solely reads as bluster and delusion within the face of his nightmares.

Not solely do Daemon’s woes supply a captivating dive into his character, in addition they enable Jace to take some initiative of his personal to attempt to safe allies within the Riverlands. We see this when he flies to fulfill the Freys on the Twins, the place we get to look at the form of bargaining and diplomacy he should have used throughout his stint up North. Have a look at this little king-in-training go!

Episode 6: Grover Tully meets an premature dying.

Daemon’s greatest drawback in his stint at Harrenhal (in addition to the frequent hauntings) has been the truth that he is been unable to unite the Riverlords beneath one banner. The best means to do that can be getting Lord Grover Tully’s full help. Nonetheless, an sickness has left Grover incapacitated, and his heirs dare not act with out his phrase. In consequence, Daemon finds himself in an not possible ready recreation — though that did not cease him from encouraging younger Oscar Tully (Archie Barnes) to smother his grandpa in his sleep. Charming stuff!

The stalemate lastly breaks in episode 6, when Grover succumbs to his sickness. Not solely does Grover’s dying come far sooner than in Hearth & Blood — it happens otherwise, too. Right here, Home of the Dragon extremely implies that Harrenhal’s resident witch Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin) had one thing to do with Grover’s dying after she volunteered to “have a tendency” to him. When paired with Alys’ pep speak to Daemon concerning the Tullys being the important thing to the Riverlands, it is fairly clear we’re taking a look at homicide right here.

However why did Alys kill as a way to additional Daemon’s trigger? The 2 have already interacted extra within the present than they ever did within the guide, because the present has expanded upon Daemon’s time in Harrenhal (and made him endure much more whereas there). Does she have some hidden, witchy agenda that Daemon is the important thing to? Is she making an attempt to maintain her personal head whereas such a unstable man resides in her fortress? Or is she simply having a enjoyable, witchy time?

Episode 6: Rhaenyra and Mysaria are an merchandise now!

Season 2 has seen Rhaenyra and Mysaria develop a lot nearer than their guide counterparts by this level within the Dance of the Dragons. Rhaenyra provided Mysaria her freedom, Mysaria saved Rhaenyra’s life by alerting her Kingsguard to the tried Arryk/Erryk plot, and for the previous a number of episodes, the 2 have conspired on how greatest to take down the Greens. In a stunning (however in no way unwelcome) flip, their relationship blossoms into one thing extra in episode 6, when the 2 share a passionate kiss.

This romance is completely new to the present, however following Rhaenyra and Mysaria’s charged prior interactions this season, in addition to queer readings of Rhaenyra (and particularly her relationship with Alicent), it feels greater than earned. Plus, it is a strong nod to the numerous canonically queer girls of Hearth & Blood, together with the lately launched Jeyne Arryn (Amanda Collin). A few of these girls, like Princess Rhaena Targaryen (to not be confused with Home of the Dragon‘s Rhaena) and her lover Elissa Farman, weren’t alive throughout the Dance of the Dragons, so they would not seem within the present. Others, like Alysanne Blackwood and Sabitha Frey, have but to be launched, however do play a component within the Dance.

Episode 6: Addam claims Seasmoke — however not on Dragonstone.

By the top of episode 5, Rhaenyra and Jace hatch a plan to recruit extra dragonriders to their trigger. That plan involves a screeching halt in episode 6, after Seasmoke barbecues Ser Steffon Darklyn (Anthony Flanagan) mid-dragon claiming try.

In Hearth & Blood, one knight dying is just not sufficient to make Rhaenyra and Jace hand over their search. They search out anybody who could also be of Targaryen descent, together with bastards — referred to as “dragonseeds” or just “seeds.” Many, many hopeful dragonriders perish within the bloody course of, which turns into referred to as the Purple Sowing or the Sowing of the Seeds. Nonetheless, one of many only a few success tales is that of Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty), bastard son of Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) and Seasmoke’s new rider.

Addam’s claiming of Seasmoke is a public affair in Hearth & Blood, as is the remainder of the Sowing. Nonetheless, in Home of the Dragon, it is virtually an accident. Seasmoke clearly misses her bond with Laenor, however is not keen to accept somebody like Steffon. As a substitute, she hunts down her personal rider: Laenor’s half-brother. We do not see the claiming onscreen, however we’re capable of infer that the brand new dragonrider Rhaenyra hears about on the finish of the episode is none apart from Addam.

So how will Rhaenyra react when she discovers Addam because the dragonrider? She’ll seemingly restart the seek for different dragonriders. However as an alternative of simply specializing in highborn candidates like Steffon, this new iteration of the Sowing might be open to bastards. And that might make all of the distinction.

Episode 7: Daemon executes Willem Blackwood.

Daemon lastly will get his military of Riverlords in episode 7. All it prices him is the top of Willem Blackwood (Jack Parry-Jones), certainly one of his solely allies within the Riverlands who really favored him.

Similar to most of Daemon’s Harrenhal drama, Willem is a show-only invention. Nonetheless, his dying will certainly spell catastrophe for Crew Black’s in-show relationship with Home Blackwood, although the Blackwoods are stalwart supporters of Rhaenyra in Hearth & Blood. If the present finally ends up introducing characters like Benjicot and Alysanne Blackwood, how will they react to the execution of certainly one of their members of the family? Will they nonetheless stand by Daemon and the opposite Riverlords?

Episode 7: It is time for the Sowing of the Seeds.

Addam’s claiming of Seasmoke in episode 6 vegetation a seed in Rhaenyra and Mysaria’s minds — one may even name it a “dragonseed.” The 2 prolong the decision for dragonriders to lowborn Targaryen bastards, and the Sowing of the Seeds begins in earnest.

In Hearth & Blood, it is Jace who heads up the method of discovering new dragonriders. Nonetheless, the present’s model of Jace is way much less captivated with reaching out to bastards. In any case, he is been haunted all his life by the data that he’s a bastard. Having a dragon legitimizes his declare to the Iron Throne, but when different bastards declare dragons, will in addition they make claims of their very own?

Strife between Jace and Rhaenyra is not the one ingredient of the Sowing that is totally different from Hearth & Blood. The sequence within the guide reads like a conveyor belt of hopeful dragonriders, every taking their flip mounting a dragon, solely to endure brutal accidents or deaths. Right here, Home of the Dragon merely unleashes Vermithor on all the potential riders till he encounters Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew). The sequence is chaotic and terrifying unexpectedly, a reminder of the sheer energy of dragons (and the insanity of Rhaenyra’s complete plan).

In the meantime, Ulf the White (Tom Bennett) runs away and stumbles on Silverwing, as an alternative of mounting her throughout the extra formal Sowing of the guide. Their encounter is a little bit of levity following the catastrophe of the Sowing, and it gives us a take a look at a unique form of dragon bond. Seasmoke knew precisely what he needed in a rider, main him to search out Addam. Vermithor appeared drawn to Hugh’s energy, in addition to the selflessness he displayed when he distracted Vermithor so one other bastard may escape. Silverwing, however, appears to see Ulf as a plaything she will be able to nudge round along with her snout. Clearly, there’s a couple of technique to declare a dragon.

Episode 7: The place is Nettles?

Addam, Ulf, and Hugh aren’t the one new dragonriders in Hearth & Blood. Martin additionally introduces fan-favorite Nettles, a 16-year-old woman who tames the wild dragon Sheepstealer along with her wits. She notably would not have any Valyrian blood that we all know of, so her capability to journey a dragon is one other strike towards the concept that solely the Targaryens can achieve this.

Nettles is totally lacking from Home of the Dragon, however Sheepstealer is not. The wild dragon looking within the Vale is nearly actually the present’s model of this legendary dragon — and Rhaena’s curiosity find and claiming it implies that her storyline is getting merged with Nettles’ position within the books.

On a plot stage, the consolidation makes some sense. Reducing Nettles means Home of the Dragon has one much less character to wrangle, plus the present will get to present Rhaena extra of an arc than simply babysitting and hanging out within the Vale. (Nonetheless, it will undoubtedly intervene along with her Hearth & Blood arc down the road.) That mentioned, followers have expressed frustration at Nettles being mixed with Rhaena, as Nettles is the one canonically Black dragonrider in Hearth & Blood.

We’ll be updating this text as Home of the Dragon Season 2 continues airing, so test again weekly for extra variations between the present and Hearth & Blood.

New episodes of Home of the Dragon air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.