Aegon II, The Next Mad King?
Back in House of the Dragon season 1, King Viserys I’s eldest son Aegon had no interest in succeeding his father. He seemed so comfortable with being a failson that he actually had to be captured and dragged to his own coronation by his brother Aemond (Ewan Mitchell). Still, crowns and thrones have a way of changing people. And if this this trailer is to be believed, power has changed Aegon for the worse.
“Fuck dignity, I want revenge!” King Aegon II cries as he waves around the legendary Valyrian steel dagger during a Small Council meeting. This petulance, combined with the Targaryen predilection for madness, does not bode well for the realm.
Lannister Banners (Among Others)
“News spreads through the realm, the Great Houses will come to our side,” Hand of the King Ser Otto Hightower (Rhyfs Ifans) says midway through the trailer. Ser Otto is right. Great Houses will come to the side of King Aegon II and Team Green. But many of them will feel compelled to join Queen Rhaenyra and Team Black. That’s how civil wars work, you see.
There are a couple of shots in this trailer that really communicate just how country-wide an affair this Dance of the Dragons will be. Around the 47-second mark, we see banners displaying the unmistakable sigil and colors of House Lannister. Then around the 55-second mark (in the screen grab above), we see a whole regiment of soldiers gathered from no fewer than three Houses. Based on the heraldry seen on shields, the folks involved seem sworn to: House Darklyn of Duskendale, House Rosby of Rosby, and House Stokeworth of Stokeworth (all in the Crownlands near King’s Landing).
The Velaryon Fleet
With King Aegon II already on the Iron Throne in King’s Landing, Rhaenyra’s cause may seem hopeless at first. But remember that Viserys’ eldest daughter not only has dragons, but also access to one of the greatest naval fleets in world history. Seen in the trailer is a brief glimpse of some Velaryon ships. With much of this conflict set in the watery Crownloads, the naval power of Corlys Velaryon (Steve Touissant) should prove particularly useful.
Alyn of Hull
Speaking of naval power, it’s on the Velaryon side of things where House of the Dragon gets to introduce one of its major new characters. Alongside the aforementioned Cregan Stark, HBO has announced the introduction of: Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers, Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower, Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong, Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull, Jamie Kenna as Ser Alfred Broome, Kieran Bew as Hugh, Tom Bennett as Ulf, Tom Taylor, Vincent Regan as Ser Rickard Thorne.
