House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6: Book vs Series and Easter Eggs You Missed

House of the Dragon season 2’s latest episode, “Smallfolk,” was similar to the previous episode, “Regent,” in that it concentrated less on the actual action and more on setting up an explosive ending.

The continuous dispute between the Greens and the Blacks has escalated. Though the series is based on George R. R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, a history of House Targaryen, there are some variances in how the story is presented across the two mediums.

1. Book vs Series Comparison

Triarchy and the Blockade of the Gullet and Blackwater Bay

This season concludes with a conflict, the seeds of which were sown by Regent Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) in the last episode.

Aemond proposed that the Greens join the Triarchy, an alliance of the Free Cities of Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh. Daemon and Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) conquered the Triarchy in Season 1.

This partnership succeeds solely in the book due to Lord Otto Hightower’s (Rhys Ifans) scheming. Season 2 will most likely conclude with the Battle of the Gullet, in which the Triarchy fleets attack Gay Abandon, the ship carrying Rhaenyra’s boys. Or it may be Battle at the Red Fork.

Is Mysaria an Important Character?

Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) is a very minor character in the book, although this is certainly not the case in the show. Aside from her kiss with Rhaenyra, she plays a larger role in the drama and effectively pulls the strings for the Blacks. Rhaenyra in the book is very different, being more angry and impulsive.

And, while she listens to Mysaria’s guidance, she is a lady of her mind. In the episode, she is readily influenced by others, particularly Mysaria and her Small Council, but she protests against this by slapping one of her advisors.

Seasmoke and Addam of Hull

In the book, Prince Jacaerys invites Dragonseeds (those with Targaryen or Velaryon blood) to attempt to ride the riderless dragons.

Many listen, and dragons such as Vermithor and Seasmoke gain new riders. The rider for Seasmoke is Addam of Hull, who also rides in the show. However, in the episode, Seasmoke hunts out Addam after noticing the Velaryon blood (of Corlys) in him. In the book, Addam merely tries his luck and succeeds.

Daemon Targaryen at Harrenhal

Until this episode, Daemon and Rhaenyra couldn’t stand hearing the other’s names, but now they both speak it out loud and process their differences.

Both bravely share their worst worry at the beginning of the episode: that their spouse is plotting against them. “Or is it Rhaenyra herself?” Daemon asks Ser Simon Strong.

I find it ridiculous that Daemon charged Ser Simon and even Rhaenyra with mind control but not Alys, from whom he had ingested a magical potion.

It’s beyond me that he confides in her rather than exercising caution. It is stated in the book that Daemon appeared impervious to Alys’s charms. With what we’ve seen thus far, I’m starting to get scared that the show will make Alys Daemon’s purported lover rather than Aemond.

2. 5 Easter eggs you might have missed out on

Aegon and Larys Strong’s alliance

Following Rook’s Rest, Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) sustains severe injuries from which his body may never fully heal, making him an unlikely opponent.

Born with a twisted foot, Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) imparts insightful advice about how people will undervalue him and how, if his brain functions properly, he can take advantage of his impairment.

Larys Strong and Aegon II Targaryen will be close allies in the show in the future, as this is the beginning of their alliance. Later, after Rhaenyra assumes the Iron Throne, Larys will aid Aegon in his escape from King’s Landing. Once Rhaenyra dies, he will assist Aegon in rising to the top once again.

Hugh the Hammer’s selfishness

Hugh the Hammer (Kieran Bew) is a character introduced in the show in Season 2. Due to the conflict, his family suffers from a shortage of provisions, so when Rhaenyra delivers supplies to King’s Landing, he attacks another smallholder out of selfishness and steals his goods.

Hugh frequently uses this quality as he mounts Vermithor and joins the Dragonriders of Rhaenyra. Hugh betrays Rhaenyra in the first battle of Tumbleton after she captures King’s Landing.

In the book, he claims to have the greatest dragon in the seven kingdoms and harbors a self-centered thirst for the Iron Throne following Vhagar’s death.  

Alyn of Hull’s Velaryon hair

Alyn of Hull’s relationship with Corlys Velaryon has been teased in the first few episodes of the second season. The biggest hint about their relationship came in Episode 6. 

Alyn was shown shaving his hair to hide his Velaryon hair from his other mates on the ship. Alyn is speculated to be the illegitimate child of Corlys Velaryon and gets legitimized by Rhaenyra as a Velaryon later.

Sheepstealer

While in Vale, Rhaena Targaryen discovers signs of a massive dragon and charred lambs. Sheepstealer is the dragon in question. Nettles, a female character, is the dragon’s rider in the books.

In the screen adaptation, Rhaena’s character has replaced Nettles as Nettles has been combined into her character itself. She will be another dragon rider who helps Rhaenyra claim the Iron Throne. 

Triarchy and Gullet

After being ousted from his position as the Hand of the King, Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) has been absent from the show for the past few episodes. Aemond suggests the Triarchy break Gullet’s siege in this episode.

This was a premonition of what would happen at the Battle of Gullet when Otto Hightower would reach out to the Triarchy to break the Gullet Blockade and re-enter the war once King’s Landing was defeated.  

3. About House Of The Dragon

House of the Dragon is the prequel series to HBO’s blockbuster Game of Thrones based on George R. R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood.

Set three hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon will show Westeros under the Targaryen family’s rule before the dragons went extinct. It will follow the Dance of the Dragons, the Targaryen civil war between siblings Aegon II and Rhaenyra, who fought for the throne after the death of their father, Viserys I.

Directed by Ryan Condall and Miguel Sapochnik, the show stars Paddy Considine as Viserys I Targaryen, Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen, Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen, Tom Glynn-Craney as Aegon II Targaryen, Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower, Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon, Eve Best as Rhaenys Velaryon, Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria, Fabien Frankel as Criston Cole, and Graham McTavish.