Questions about the season 2 finale of “House of the Dragon” (mostly answered)

The finale of the second season of House of the Dragon was a busy one…even if most of the storylines remained unresolved. There were surprising revelations, new characters were introduced, and a whole lot of moving parts set up a series of exciting showdowns in Season 3.

It’s important to remember that you get a little lost in it, especially given the extensive montage that ended the episode. When we talked about the episode as a team, quite a few questions came up – clarifying the motives of certain characters, where the different pieces are on the board, and even wondering, “Hey… did I miss something?”

No matter which camp you fall into, we’ve compiled a list of questions you’re probably asking yourself after watching the season finale — or, if you’re reading this in the future, some reminders of where things left off before moving on to season three.

Wait, where is Otto Hightower?

Image: HBO

It seems: in a dungeon. At the beginning of the season, Aemond called the small council together to find out Otto’s whereabouts, as he had not been heard from since his dismissal as the king’s henchman (while Alicent was told he was unreachable).

In the final montage of the second season finale, we see Otto behind bars, seemingly lit only by torches. It is not clear Where he is imprisoned – it may be in King’s Landing, but it is currently unclear on whose orders it was done – but suffice it to say that he seems a little shaken.

What’s going on with Sharp Point?

As the episode reveals, Sharp Point was destroyed by Aemond after he discovered that Rhaenyra had been breeding more dragon riders. If you watched this episode and wondered what strategic value Sharp Point had for the war, the answer is: not much.

If you look at the history of the city, it’s essentially known as the seat of House Bar Emmon, and there were a few things that happened back when Aegon the Conqueror was traveling the continent. The Bar Emmon thing might become more relevant next season when we learn that Bar Emmon may not want to join the Greens after Aemond’s actions. Most importantly, Sharp Point is the closest location to Dragonstone Island on the map, meaning that Aemond will strike in a way that Rhaenyra will notice, even if the violence has no real strategic purpose.

How did Gwayne know about Criston and Alicent?

Photo: Theo Whiteman/HBO

Although it’s been a few weeks (in both our world and theirs) since we last saw Gwayne and Criston, marching into Harrenhal to try and take it from Daemon, Gwayne’s appearance here – threatening Criston about his sexual relationship with Alicent – also comes a bit out of the blue for the audience.

As the scene leads us to believe: Gwayne may have learned of Criston’s actions through soldiers’ gossip (when Gwayne first holds his sword in front of Criston, the troops around him are obviously watching). Unfortunately, Gwayne’s anger is no match for Criston’s hopelessness.

How many wives does Lohar have?

It’s unclear, but considering Tyland Lannister and Lohar both build the boat, I think it wasn’t. to many for him.

Where is Hugh’s wife?

One would assume that she is still in King’s Landing among the starving commoners. It is understandable why Rhaenyra would not grant an escort to all the Targaryen bastards who come to test their mettle against Vermithor, but still, Hugh…kind of cold-blooded not to even mention her.

Why did Aegon go with Larys?

Photo: Liam Daniel/HBO

The wounded king and Viserys’ Lord Confessor (not to mention Allicent’s former foot worshipper) have formed an unlikely alliance, culminating in the pair fleeing King’s Landing at the end of the finale. The reason for their escape is made pretty clear in the series: Aemond, slowly losing control, would rather have his older brother dead so his throne would no longer be threatened. With Aemond’s scheming and Rhaenyra’s growing dragon force, King’s Landing is anything but a safe place for Aegon. But the strength of their bond may surprise some viewers.

One element of their bond is their relationship with their bodies, as both struggle with disabilities (all of which is very new to Aegon). Larys has helped the bedridden king adjust to his new circumstances and clearly feels a bond with the young ruler. However, the origin of their connection is more likely to lie with Aemond, who rejected Larys as a possible candidate for his hand, leading Larys to seek an alliance with Aegon instead.

Who is marching where/where are we leaving everyone behind?

Everyone in Westeros is ready for battle. Tyland Lannister is crossing the Narrow Sea with his hard-earned mercenaries from Essos, hoping to break the blockade that Corlys Velaryon has set up at Blackwater Bay. Unfortunately for Tyland, it seems that Rhaenyra and her band of new dragon riders, along with her husband and renewed ally Daemon, are also heading for King’s Landing. Elsewhere, we catch glimpses of the Starks crossing the long bridge at the Twins thanks to Jace’s deal with House Frey.

While most of these plot threads are clearly outlined in the series, there are still some questions we need answers to before the war can begin. For example, where exactly are Ser Criston Cole’s forces when he and Alicent’s brother briefly quarrel? And where are Aemond and Vhagar – the answer to that question seems to change hourly, at least in this episode. We also know that Daemon has a large force amassed around Harrenhal, but it’s not yet clear where they’re going or who’s leading them while Daemon is away on dragon business.

Why did Daemon swear allegiance to Rhaenyra in the end?

Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO

We have Harrenhal and all its spooky goings-on to thank for that. Daemon has spent the season more or less hidden here, embarking on a journey of self-discovery with the help of some ghosts and possibly a dose of Alys Rivers. The result is that he stumbles through the halls of Westeros while facing the ghosts of his past – the young Rhaenyra, the great-nephew he killed, his own mother, his second wife, and even Viserys – and wondering why he thirsts for power so recklessly.

This all culminates in the finale when, in the Forest of God, he gets a vision of what is to come – namely the events of the Dance of Dragons, a glimpse of the Others, and Daenerys bringing about the return of the dragons to Westeros. All of this seems to lead him to support Rhaenyra once and for all, which is a huge relief not only for the couple, but also for Ser Simon Strong.

Is Ser Alfred Broome finished now that Daemon has bent the knee?

I can not say that his chances Goodnow that Daemon is firmly on Team Rhaenyra, it’s no surprise that he took off during Daemon’s troop rally. Forget it, Alfred, it’s Westeros…