WMG / House of the Dragon

Spoilers from both promotional materials and the source material are being discussed here. You Have Been Warned.

Pre-release speculation

Daemon Targaryen will be presented as Rhaenyra’s most prominent rival at first.

While book readers and lore video watchers know of his eventual allegiance to Rhaenyra’s cause, he’ll be presented as an antagonist to her at first, both to toy with the uninitiated part of the audience and to better embrace his role as the “Rogue Prince.” He May even be an ally of Alicent Hightower for a while, in acknowledgement of the lore rumor they were involved.

Rhaenyra’s first children will be by Cristin Cole.

They’ll want to embrace a more conflicted but despicable role for Cole, so he’ll be Rhaenyra’s lover while her husband remains homosexual, fathering her children. Then, when they fall apart from each other, he will embrace an anti-Rhaenyra stance out of misplaced shame of knowing her children aren’t legitimate, embracing a misogynist view in support of Otto Hightower and Aegon II. The fact his own children will be casualties of the war will be played for maximum drama.

• Jossed — Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey are fathered by Harwin Strong, matching the books.

Viserys I will die of a Deadly Scratch from the Iron Throne getting infected.

He’s pricked himself on it already in the trailer, and a serious injury is recounted in the book lore… and it would just be too poetically dramatic for the creators to ignore. They’ll invoke Rule of Symbolism for his dangerous the throne is by having it kill a Targaryen at the very start of the story.

• Alternatively, it won’t kill him, but will put him in a bad enough state that Alicent will start making her political moves too early out of expectation he’ll die… and allow Rhaenyra to show everyone else at court What You Are in the Dark regarding Alicent and her support for her son Aegon, who otherwise manages to hide her ambitions from most.

Alicent and Rhaenyra will initially be Forced into Evil against each other before actualizing it personally.

They’ll both start out just trying to be good versions of Daddy's Girl, and friends to each other, but eventually their family lines are natural rivals to each other because of the whole Heir Club for Men thing. They’ll both start with a greater mix of paranoia for their children’s safety over self-ambition… before inevitably ambition becomes more important and “necessary” for the safety of their children. It's also likely that one of them (possibly Alicent) will eventually become a clear example of Ambition Is Evil when it becomes clear they prioritize power over family.

The North will be more explicitly portrayed as the kingdom least swayed by Heir Club for Men.

In part to help justify the ease with which a) the North will later accept Sansa as Queen without much difficulty and b) the fact that House Mormont has been led by women (Maege and Lyanna) in the main timeline. It can be portrayed as not only respect for female leaders, but a general tendency towards utter pragmatism regarding inheritance and political power (not unlike Dorne). It will be mentioned that the North doesn’t hold to any kind of Salic Law in its customs - because that would limit possible heirs too much for a land that faces such brutal winters. This will play a part in why the show’s version of House Stark will pledge allegiance to Rhaenyra, but accept later on that the Altar Diplomacy they were promised can’t be fulfilled.

• Likely true, both reasoning and consequence. And because Dorne is still independent. Going by book logic, the North does prefer male heirs, but a lord's daughter stands ahead of a lord's brother in matters of inheritance (as shown in the Alys Karstark plot). The Starks, and by extension The North, side with Rhaenyra in Fire and Blood and effectively end the war.

The series is framed from Bran's point of view.

This entire series will be about Bran researching the exact point in Westeros' history that everything Targaryen became unsalvageable. He'll also give some self-commentary about events that were tragic or absurd in retrospect and occasionally pause a scene to discover some obscure detail that changed the course of history.

• Jossed so far, there's no commentary. There could be The Reveal at the end that he practiced Intangible Time Travel in this era.

Related to the above, someone will hear Bran at one point.

Since he was already heard by his father (as a young man) and young Hodor. It could happen to one of his ancestors such as Rickon Stark.

The show will end with a teaser that leads into the Blackfyre Rebellion.

Such as a line like, "And so Aegon Targaryen, Third of His Name, took his rightful place as king. There would be another Aegon on the throne soon enough...but that is a tale for another day.

• The show could even have a single, plot relevant character connect the two Targaryen civil wars - Cregan Stark lived long enough to earn the nickname Old Man of the North, and would be 88 by the time of the Blackfyre Rebellion.

Post-premier theories

Craghas Crabfeeder's rampaging on the Stepstones might be more personal than what was written about in Fire & Blood.

The portrayal of the Crabfeeder went for the Bloodier and Gorier route, and there's a possibility he may be actively targeting Velaryon ships and crew in his executions—at least based on Corlys's fury over the crisis. Considering his portrayal also implies he is infected by greyscale (something contagious and easily spread around by travel across the seas), it might be possible that Craghas is an unwitting victim, intentional or otherwise, by Corlys Velaryon's travels (or those who followed him). This would give him motivation to serve the Triarchy and be the massive pain in the backside of the Crown the Velaryons serve—not to mention paint a greyer picture of Corlys Velaryon and his relatively-reasonable (if a bit ambitious) personality.

Alternatively, the Crabfeeder's bodily injuries are caused not by greyscale, but by dragonfire—which may make his personal grudge with House Targaryen instead.

This may be why he readily jumps on the opportunity to cause headaches for the Targaryen-ruled Seven Kingdoms, either with the open or down-low support of the Triarchy.

Otto will try to use House Beesbury's status as a Hightower vassal to force Lyman to support him at one point but will be rebuked.

Ulf the White, Nettles, and Hugh Hammer will get Early Bird Cameos as kids when Rhaenyra visits Dragonstone as its princess for the first time and will have their Targaryen ancestors revealed.

Follow up: Ulf and Hugh will immediately be recognized as dragonseed, due to their Valyrian traits. Nettles doesn't look Valyrian, so she won't be noticed (or just not get the cameo at all).

If Ser Harrold Darke appears, he will recall how his house was founded by a woman who could have been a kingsguard if she was a man, and that this makes him support Rhaenyra.

The Vanity Plate intro will show carved figures of the actual dragons, like chess pieces, so that we know which ones are where and what happens to them.

After Daemon is crowned king of the Stepstones, he’ll realize he doesn’t want to be a real king.

All the Fire and Blood books says is that he’s crowned by the Sea Snake, then later voluntarily gives up his crown, and while he continues to be a power player in the family squabble, he never tries to make himself the political head of his faction. The show will reveal that while he enjoyed winning the war for the Stepstones and being acclaimed king… he realized he had no taste for ruling int he resulting peacetime. At some point, he will audibly confide this to Rhaenyra, marking a stabilized growth in his character; he will remain ambitious and love power, but know that he only craves it for the action and purpose of serving his family.

Daemon will be forged on the Stepstones.

Right now, Daemon doesn't seem to be that great a warrior, having personally done little during his purge of King's Landing's criminals and losing a duel due to his own hubris. The War for the Stepstones will give him the experience he needs to truly become the most dangerous man in the realm.

Archmaester Vaegon Targaryen will appear and comment on Rhaenyra being the heir.

There's a possibility a "Hightower/Reach conspiracy" will be portrayed a bit more explicit compared to the subtext of the source materials on the Dance of the Dragons.

The comparatively-closer working dynamic between Otto Hightower and Grand Maester Mellos when speaking privately to the King (as shown in the second episode—compared to Lord Strong being spoken to alone and Lord Beesbury not being talked to altogether) might suggest that an attempt from Oldtown to curb Targaryen power has been in the wings since at least Jaehaerys I. This puts the death of Queen Aemma in the pilot in a darker light—in that it was instigated specifically to induce Alicent Hightower to become Queen Consort and breed House Hightower into the royal line.

The dragons will be upset about having to fight each other.

Rhaenyra will have briefly be on good terms with at least one of her half-siblings.

Helaena would be the most likely candidate - in the books she's a sweetheart who wouldn't hurt a fly, and Rhaenyra even once refers to her as "my sweet sister" (while her brothers are always called "half-brothers.) This could possibly lead to Rhaenyra feeling some guilt about the Blood and Cheese incident. The other possibility would be Daeron, as he's the youngest of his siblings and is in the books portrayed as more sympathetic than Aegon and Aemond.

Daemon and Rhaenyra won't marry and Aegon III and Viserys II will be sons of an aged-up Baela and one of the Velaryon princes.

The math might be tricky but it would avoid a Squick marriage.

Either Laenor is heterosexual or bisexual and the claims Rhaenyra cheated on him with Harwyn will be In-Universe propaganda, or there will never be any claim that he is the father of the Velaryon princes.

• The Velaryon family's Race Lift makes it more unlikely (although not impossible, given that Laenor is of mixed race) that Rhaneyra will claim he fathered children if they have all white features and Harwin seems to be purely Caucasian. Also, Word of God says the story will differ from the history books. The Hightowers can influence the maesters, and a false history painting Laenor as incapable of fathering children could be in Otto's interests.

Jossed.

Laenor might have been given an Adaptational Badass in order to highlight his genuine value to House Velaryon—and why in turn Corlys would be adamant in having him be succeeded by his grandchildren from Rhaenyra—as well as his rumoured bastards Addam and Alyn.

If Laenor's shown competence in battle means he is already involved in the running of Velaryon affairs, his loss (together with Laena's) would drive Corlys—a man nearly as obsessed as Tywin Lannister about his family legacy—to ensure heirs of his direct blood would inherit everything he has. His shown roughness with his own brother Vaemond would also highlight why other Velaryon relatives (the soon-to-be "Silent Five") would clash with his succession.

Seeing as Laenor is a dragon rider who fought in the Stepstones, more than confirmed.

Rhea Royce will appear in person.

It can help in further layering Daemon's less-positive traits—as well giving us her side of the story (as to why exactly their marriage is mutually awful beyond Daemon's own miserable personality).

• Confirmed: Rhea Royce appears in Episode 5, and dies shortly after her introduction.

House Velaryon has roots in the Summer Isles.

Canonically, the Velaryons, as the blood of Old Valyria, were very much pale, with platinum hair and violet eyes, but in the series, they are all played by black actors. While this could simply be a casting choice, it's also possible House Velaryon has strong ancestry within the Summer Isles. Think about it; Corlys Velaryon is considered the greatest sailor of his generation, his family are all sea-worthy and they have a great connection to the ocean and sea fare. Where (in-lore) do you find the best sailors and ship-builders? Only two places - the Iron Islands and the Summer Isles, but only one of them has dark-skinned people (and the Summer Isles are said to be the best in the world). It's entirely possible that some of the Velaryon ancestors who fled Valyria before the doom diverged from the path to Westeros and instead chose to flee further south-west, far into the Summer Sea and to the Summer Isles. The children all married Summer Islanders and sailed back to the Stepstones and inherited Driftmark after the death of their grandsire. It would explain the Race Lift that House Velaryon has and would change the lore around in an interesting way.

Lyonel or Larys Strong will tell Criston Cole about the fate of his relative Lucamore the Lusty to warn him that Kingsguard members should honor their vows of chastity.

Ironically, Criston gets this conversation after knowing he has already violated that oath.

What will actually happen with the 'Strong Boys'

It will turn out that Laenor is not able to have children, so part of the reason that the 'Strong Boys' happen is Corlys and co wanting to hide this. On top of it Harwin won't just be Rhaenyra's lover, but Laenor's as well. So the entire thing is a mess, but one that looks better up close than from afar.

• Jossed. Harwin was only Rhaenyra's sidepiece while Laenor had several of his own. And Laenor's fertility is anyone's guess if he's 100% gay and unable to perform on a woman.

The Dragon in the Pit is Dreamfyre

Mostly because she looks like Drogon and had 3 eggs stolen who will become Drogon, Rhaegal and Viserion.

Larys was passed over as Lionel's heir due to his disability

The show does not explain why Larys had no qualms killing his father and brother, especially since Larys and Harwin seemed to get along fine in Episode 5. However, the actors' ages give a possible clue. Matthew Needham (Larys) is five years older than Ryan Corr (Harwin). If Larys is indeed the older brother, it would suggest that his clubfoot caused his father to favor Harwin to the point of naming him as heir to the seat of House Strong. That would go a long way towards explaining Larys' motives.

Lucerys will think Aemond had something to do with Laenor’s death.

Aemond ranting about how Lucerys would die screaming in flames like his father did, only for the confused boy to say his father is still alive (i.e. Laenor). Very imminently after this, “Laenor” is found seemingly having burned to death.

A Green supporter will be responsible for the miscarriage that befell Rhaenyra in the books

In the books Rhaenyra became so furious at the usurpation she underwent an early and traumatic birth that killed her unborn daughter. As the series has been stepping away from the tendency towards that trope, what will instead happen is that someone from the Greens, but not on Allicent's orders, will attack her. The resulting attack, be it involving poison or weapon, will cause the loss of her unborn child.

Same results, better implementation.

The prophecy of the Song of Ice and Fire came true in a roundabout way, and the Prince that was Promised is not Jon or Dany

The Targaryen prophecy, as etched onto the catspaw dagger, says that "from my blood come the prince that was promised". Said prince is supposed to deal with the Long Night defeat the Night's King and be the king of the Seven Kingdoms. But neither of those things are accomplished by Dany or Jon, the last Targaryens. Instead, Bran becomes king, while Arya deals the final blow on the Night's King. We've seen throughout the series that translating from High Valyrian to Westerosi sometimes twists the meaning of the sentences, and the fact the prophecy is etched on this dagger may be more important than it seems. It was never about the Targaryen bloodline, but about blood drawn by the dagger itself. When it's used in the murder attempt on Bran, the dagger cuts Catelyn's hands, marking her and her offspring as the chosen ones. Likewise, when Alicent tries to use the dagger on Rhaenyra and also cuts her hand, it's supposed to be an echo of how having blood drawn by the blade marks you as the true heir.

Daemon truly loved Laena and would have stopped his conquest for the throne if she lived.

Wasn’t sure where else to put this since the book didn’t have a wmg page but this still works for the series. It is pretty clear that Daemon groomed Rhaenyra and wanted to marry her so he could nab the throne from her. But upon meeting and falling for Laena, he began to care more for her than for power. In the end he decided Laena mattered more and gave up his plans to take the throne. When she died, he was left an empty shell, now having lost his one true love. He instantly fell back into seducing Rhaenyra, because the throne is all he has. However he is much much worse than he was before, because now he is not only driven by greed and narcissism, but rage and sorrow too.

Future Season predictions

Some Targaryen and Velaryon family members and supporters on both sides will get Faking the Dead moments during the Dance of the Dragons and retire in peace rather than suffer their canon fates.

Confirmed in Season 1, with Laenor running away to Essos with Qarl while Rhaenyra marries Daemon. In the book, he is killed quite publicly, in Spicetown.

More of the dragons, like Syrax, will survive the Dance of the Dragons but be injured and shun human contact like Silverwing does in the books.

Otto Hightower will have a different fate.

If the Dance of the Dragons goes nearly as tragically as it does in the books, then between that and their antagonism in the early episodes, it seems unlikely that Rhaenyra will let him off with a simple beheading. Alternately, he could avoid being arrested and die fighting later on (such as getting a fate like the one Criston has in the books).

Helaena's children are not actually Aegon II's, they're by Aemond.

This popular fan theory is essentially a Call-Forward to the alleged triangle between King Aegon IV, Queen Naerys and Aemon the Dragonknight—wherein the hedonistic King fathers so many bastards, his legal heir being so different from him personality-wise calls question to his actual parentage. With Aemond showing more care/respect to Helaena (not to mention hovering over her during her dance with Jace and covering her during Meleys' attack), it's actually not beyond reason for it to happen behind the scenes. In addition to adding to the hypocrisy of the Hightower side, the "Blood and Cheese" incident occurring in this light would help justify Aemond becoming the vengeful and bloodthirsty warrior history will remember him as. All of these also help draw additional parallels to Daemon's roguish actions throughout his life.

If the Blood and Cheese incident is adapted, then Mysaria will hire the duo without knowing what Daemon wants them to do.

Possibly retaliation for trying to kill her, and people assume it was planned by the blacks as payback for Luke's death.

Jacaerys is not actually a Strong by blood, but a Cole.

• As discussed in the Alternative Character Interpretation page, the timeline of Rhaenyra's pregnancy and the relative recency of her affair with Harwin might mean that while Luke and Joff are Harwin's bastards, Jace might have been conceived just before her wedding (and is something that can be readily claimed by Laenor to protect them from rumors). This narrows it down to Criston—and casts significant Dramatic Irony on a) Criston's bullying/mistreatment of him during training; and b) also casting Jace's Inferiority Superiority Complex as something inherited.

Addam and Alyn will be combined, as will Baela and Rhaena.

• Jossed on the case of Baela and Rhaena, who are separate characters.

House Hightower will be reduced in status after the Dance of the Dragons

They are never mentioned in their roles as the lords of Oldtown in the original series. The Kingsguard Gerold Hightower shows that the house is still around, but they could have been reduced to landed knights or minor lords in the show timeline. It could be a Laser-Guided Karma or Alas, Poor Villain moment for Otto.

Rhaenyra will die at King's Landing instead of Dragonstone.

Jaehaera and Daenaera will be combined.

If Alys Rivers appears, she will convince Aemond to spare and exile her relatives instead of killing them.

The Shepherd will be revealed to be a Faceless Man

Given how the Shepherd's identity is shrouded in mystery, and his hatred for the dragons, it would make a lot of sense and tie the story closer to the original show—not to mention tying the entire Dance of the Dragons to the Free Cities' likely plot to destabilize Westeros that started with the Crabfeeder.

Alicent's last words will be altered a bit.

In the books, she dies reminiscing about seeing her loved ones again, specifically her children and King Jaehaerys. Her friendship with the ailing Jaehaerys is not mentioned in the show, so obviously that won't be referenced. Her relationship with Rhaenyra, however, is beefed up in the show. It's apparent that whatever comes next that will tear them apart, there was once a point where they genuinely loved each other. Perhaps in her final moments, after all the war and loss and bloodshed, Alicent will think back to the time she spent in the Godswood with Rhaenyra.

An epilogue will have a character from the parent show find a private historical record of the show's events that is more accurate than the official record and make it public to vindicate the memory of any unfairly-scapegoated characters.

The easiest character to be brought in here, based on the premise, would be:

• Samwell Tarly, who ended the show as Grand Maester and would have direct access to it;
• Tyrion Lannister, who would perhaps use it as a way to blunt the negative reputation of the Targaryens (as a posthumous apology to Daenerys); or
• King Brandon Stark himself, what with his own vision likelier to settle things straight. (Not to mention—if his predecessor as Three-Eyed Raven was indeed still Bloodraven—a form of thanks and apology as well).

Laenor Velaryon will come back as Addam Hull.

Addam’s history is a mystery and much disputed (claiming to be Laenor’s bastard when Laenor was gay). He is also quickly accepted by Corlys as heir to Driftmark and the rider of Seasmoke.

Addam will be revealed here to be Laenor coming back for his family (who he has said how he loves them, adopted sons included) now that things have gotten so dire. The false name is so not to blow the ruse of his faked death with the potential consequences that could bring (up to and including making bastards of the children by Rhaenyra’a second marriage which would not be valid if Laenor had not died).

As for the age difference, easily a discrepancy in a history book GRRM himself has mentioned is full of them by Unreliable Narrator nature.

• Since he is obviously too old to claim to be Laenor's bastard, he will instead claim to be Corlys' bastard.

If Laenor and Qarl return, then they will try to save the Velaryon princes (who Laenor does seem close to) from dying in the Dance of the Dragons.

If Daeron has been Adapted Out, Ulf or Hugh will get his death scene.

Daemon becomes the Night King - without completely retconning the origins of the White Walkers.

He fakes his death at the Battle of Gods Eye, travels North beyond the Wall, kills the "original" Night King (the one created by the Children of the Forest as seen in Bran's flashback). Daemon then somehow absorbs the first Night King's powers (or gets possessed by his spirit), and becomes the Night King seen in present day GOT.

Jace's relationship with Sara Snow will take inspiration from Robb's relationship with Jeyne Westerling

The catalyst of their relationship will be Jace receiving news of Luke's death and Sara comforting him. The fallout will similarly be the conflict between Jace's guilt for deflowering Sara and potentially fathering a bastard with her, as well as his prior obligation to Baela as his betrothed.

The Storming of the Dragonpit will be played in a more sympathetic light.

Rhaenys bursting through the Dragonpit astride Meleys no doubt caused many civilian casualties. Perhaps this will contribute to the smallfolk's increased fear of the dragons, and the Storming will be portrayed not as a religious cult gone mad, but as a desparate attempt of the civilian mob to essentially act "nuclear disarmament" on a political power abusing their destructive might.

• Then again, it's not like the religious cult in the books was wrong. After all, the dragons did cause much destruction during the war, Rhaenys' act would at best add fuel to the fire.

Vhagar and Vermithor will fight.

Vermithor's rider betrays the blacks in the novels and sides with the greens. Perhaps his realizing even Vermithor can't take on Vhagar and decides to cut his losses. And besides, it would make for an epic Behemoth Battle to pit the two largest living dragons on each other.

A smaller, less plot-significant dragon will be killed by the Cannibal.

Given the Unreliable Narrator nature of the books, a dragon with a more vague or unconfirmed death can be shown getting eaten by the Cannibal as an Establishing Character Moment.

Rhaena will claim one of the wild dragons as her mount instead of being sent to the Eyrie and hatching Morning

Aemond will confess the murder of Lucerys instead of accepting he lost control of his dragon. This facade will push him over the edge, and he will end truly becoming the monster history remembers

In a later season, the silver-haired child seen in the child fighting ring who is implied to be Aegon's bastard son will turn out to be an Early-Bird Cameo of Gaemon Palehair.

• Unlike in the book, it will be revealed to the audience that he is genuinely Aegon's bastard, just not acknowledged by Aegon. It will be why Aegon chooses to make the child a ward of the Crown, instead of completely abandoning him.

Possible Episode Titles for future seasons

• The Pact of Ice and Fire
• A Son for a Son
• Kingmaker
• The Red Queen
• Dragonseeds
• The Red Kraken
• Butcher's Ball
• Two Betrayers
• Tumbleton
• Loyal
• The Shepherd
• The Dragonpit
• Ash and Bones
• The Lads
• The Hour of the Wolf
• Dragonbane
• Long Live the King/Queen
• Third of his Name
• Blood and Fire
• The God's Eye
• A Dream of Spring
• Rhaenyra's Fate
• The Gullet
• The Last Dragon
• Death of the Dragons

In the Blood and Cheese incident, it will be Alicent who would be given the Sadistic Choice, because Helaena, mentally, will not be capable of making the choice

• Why wouldn't she be capable? She's autistic, not a vegetable.

Rhaenyra will fulfill her promise to Alicent to return to King's Landing on dragonback

In Episode 8 of Season 1, she promised to fly back to King's Landing after seeing her children to Dragonstone. It's possible that she'll fulfill the promise in an ironic way by flying there on her dragon and attacking the city.

Vaegon Targaryen will be introduced in Season Two

Vaegon will be The Comically Serious due to his unspecified mental/personality disorder and a man Born in the Wrong Century, as in Fire & Blood he was the one to propose the Great Council. Like Samwell Tarly, he finds flaws in the feudal system and would have preferred a democratic government rather than the instability of the Westerosi feudal system. Moreover, his past rejection of his sister Daella will be framed more as pragmatism rather than callousness as he precociously rejected the Targaryen tradition of incest and believes it to the cause of most of their problems in having healthy and sane progeny.

The last episode will end with a hint towards a future Blackfyre Rebellion adaptation

For example, Rhaenyra narrating "And so Aegon, Third of his Name, at last took his place as King of the Seven Kingdoms. There would be another king named Aegon soon enough, but that is a tale for another day."

The last episode of the series will be a Distant Finale

It will take place just after the funeral of Corlys Velaryon, and will focus on a grieving young-adult Aegon III, dealing with both the death of his most trust advisor and the apparent extinction of the Targaryen family dragons. Then he will receive word that his brother Viserys is still alive, and when he returns from Essos, he brings with him an alchemist, who has a formula for something called "wildfire..."

The Prophecy will be lost with Rhaenyra

From the books, her only sons alive before she died were Aegon (the Younger) and Viserys and only Aegon was by her side.Before she is fed to her brother's dragon, she suddenly remembers she hasn't told the prophecy to her son Aegon yet, but it's too late. Part of the larger tragedy of Hot D where nobody gets what they wanted.

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