The first House of the Dragon season 2 clip reveals Daemon’s reaction to Luke’s death during the season 1 ending. Based on George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood, the Game of Thrones prequel series is set 172 years before its predecessor and chronicles the devastating war of succession known as the Dance of the Dragons that divided the Targaryens into the Greens and Blacks and, eventually, destroyed the great house. In House of the Dragon season 2, the civil war is set to heat up after the death of Lucerys during the season 1 ending.
Now, during Matt Smith’s recent appearance on CBS Mornings, the first clip from the House of the Dragon season 2 premiere was unveiled.
The season 2 clip reveals the reaction to Luke’s death from the Blacks’ perspective. At Dragonstone, Rhaenys tells Daemon that a raven has arrived informing Rhaenyra that her son Luke is dead. However, Rhaenyra “needs to know it for certain,” so she goes to Storm’s End to try and find the body, though Daemon says “she was a fool to go alone.” Soon, Daemon chastises Rhaenys for not “acting when she had the chance” in the Dragon’s Pit at Aegon’s coronation to extinguish his line and ultimately prevent Luke’s death.
Luke’s Death Is The Catalyst For House Of The Dragon Season 2
During the House of the Dragon season 1 ending, Luke and his dragon Arrax are devoured by the monstrous Vhagar, who defies its rider, Aemond. After Aegon usurped her throne, Daemon pressured Rhaenyra to declare war, though she exercised restraint. After Luke’s death during the season 1 ending, Rhaenyra is enraged upon receiving the news, and her vengeful facial expression suggests that she is ready to wage war. However, as Rhaenys reveals in the season 2 clip, Rhaenyra has recused herself and is still exercising restraint, even after the apparent murder of her son.
Though Rhaenyra does not “act upon the vengeful impulse that others might,” as Rhaenys says in the clip, Daemon is a different story. Attempting to avenge him, Luke’s death is what leads Daemon to orchestrate the “Blood and Cheese” revenge plot, the nicknames given to the two characters who carry it out. In the book, Daemon describes it as “an eye for an eye, a son for a son.” House of the Dragon season 2 will adapt this brutal revenge plot, and the episode will likely come early in the season.
Once the Blacks respond to Luke’s death with Blood and Cheese, both sides will pass the point of no return and the Dance of the Dragons will truly commence. In turn, Luke’s death acts as the catalyst for the many fiery, bloody battles that are yet to come. The first House of the Dragon season 2 clip highlights how, in the conflict to come, Rhaenyra often exercises restraint, though her husband Daemon’s desire for fire and blood often overtakes his reason.