Please note that the main scene of the first episode of Dragon Season 2, which is currently available on Max, is detailed below. If you haven’t seen it yet and don’t want to know anything about its content, I suggest you stop reading this article now.
This is a sequence we’ve been talking about for months. While fans of the Game of Thrones universe have already had their share of shocking sequences throughout the show’s seven seasons, its prequel House of Dragons isn’t going to tone down the horrors on screen.
Thus, the writers of the program have fun and tease us with the existence of an unbearable scene, which is declared as the most disturbing that has ever been shown in the Game of Thrones series. And good news awaits the most impatient fans as this sequence from the first episode of House of the Dragon Season 2 is offered!
“An eye for an eye, a child for a child”
Season 1 of the show ended with the death of Prince Lucerne Velarion, who was killed by his uncle Aemond Targaryen during a dragon battle. This event had a strong impact on the pretender to the throne, Renyra. So her Daemon Targaryen husband decided to avenge his clan on his behalf.
The latter goes to King’s Landing to hire Sang, an ancient fallen golden hammer, and Fromage, a rat hunter, to kill Prince Emond. But the latter’s absence during the infiltration of the Red Keep prompts them to change their target and kill Crown Prince Jaehare Targaryen instead. “An eye for an eye, a child for a child” Coldly declares one of the two murderers…
As disturbing as this scene is, the murder of the young prince is shown off-camera. Seng’s arrest is also not shown, and the episode does not show Jaehaeris’ mutilated body at any point.
In terms of on-screen violence, this sequence is no worse than the death of Oberyn Martell (Pedro Pascal) in Game of Thrones, the most disgusting scene in the entire franchise.
The book goes further than the series!
First of all, the series is much less brutal than the book. As we know, Dragon House is inspired by several chapters of Fire and Blood written by George AR Martin. Unlike the Game of Thrones volumes, this two-part work is not a novel, but rather a historical story told by Archmeister Gildain.
In Fire & Blood, Blood and Cheese break into Queen Alicent’s room and take her hostage. Their goal is to await a visit from her sister-in-law, Helena, who has a habit of introducing Prince Jaehaerys, his twin Princess Jaehaera, and their younger brother Maylor to her grandmother at bedtime.
Therefore, the goal of Blood and Cheese is to kill one of the young princes, not Emond, as in the series. After capturing Queen Helena and her children, the assassins ask the latter to choose which of her sons she would like to sacrifice. His choice is prompted by a sinister threat of abuse against Jaehaerys if his response continues.
Blood and cheese: different fates for two killers
Eventually, the Queen appoints Maelor to protect her eldest son, Jaehaerys, due to his status as heir to the Iron Throne. But in a final bout of sadism, Fromage decides to behead Jaehaeris in front of his family. After two days on the run, Sang is arrested at the city gate, the prince’s head hidden among his belongings.
In the dragon house, Seng is hanged along with the other rat predators and his body is displayed for all to see. Here again, the book goes further as it deals with torture and agony spread over a total of thirteen days.
Despite this execution, King Aegon II decides to kill the other rat hunters of King’s Landing, an order that his grandfather Otto Hightower carries out without batting an eyelid. In the series, the latter expresses his opposition and his position leads to him being replaced by Sir Kristen Cole as the hand of the king.
One final detail pits the book against the series. At Dragon House, Fromage was immediately captured by the Golden Cloaks and executed by King Aegon II himself. But in George Martin’s book, he manages to escape from the Red Keep and disappears without a trace…
House of the Dragon Season 2 episodes can be seen every Monday exclusively on the new Max streaming platform.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
