The last and eighth episodes of House of the Dragon season 2 did not include war, as most anticipated. Like many previous episodes, it set up the fights that will come later in season 3. Some viewers who enjoy the show’s mystery and politics may not mind, but others hoping for more action—especially with dragons—will undoubtedly be let down. It is based on the first volume of George R. R. Martin’s two-volume history of the Targaryens, Fire & Blood.
This is how the events in House of the Dragon: Season 2 Episode 8 differ from those in the book.
Otto Hightower’s Imprisonment
In the Season 2 finale, Otto Hightower made his on-screen debut following his dismissal from Aegon II’s Hand of the King post in the second episode of the season.
Surprisingly, he was seated in a prison or dungeon cell, not participating in any devious political maneuvering.
Although Otto’s exact whereabouts in the Season 2 finale are uncertain, it is obvious that someone has him.
Just like in the show, Otto was dismissed by Aegon in the book. But he remained in King’s Landing following his dismissal when Rhaenyra and Daemon took off, ransacked the city, and therefore precipitated the Fall of King’s Landing, wherein Rhaenyra eventually ascended the Iron Throne.
Rhaenyra made an example of Otto Hightower at this point. Rather than pitying him, she gave the order to have him beheaded, which was executed, but it was not apparent who actually did the cutting.
Otto’s destiny in the show will be very different from what it was in the book because he is imprisoned and not at King’s Landing.
Alicent’s Journey to Dragonstone
Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower’s relationship was the most major shift House of the Dragon took from Fire & Blood since the series premiere in 2022. The age difference between Rhaenyra and Alicent in the novel and the program was significantly greater, and they were never really close.
But even before their families’ conflict drove them away, it was always clear in House of the Dragon that Alicent and Rhaenyra were as close as two people could be.
When the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms was shown that she was secretly meeting with Alicent in King’s Landing, it was already clear that Rhaenyra wished to end the war without any casualties.
For the record, it never occurred in the book, so readers won’t be shocked to hear that Alicent never went to Dragonstone and didn’t return Rhaenyra’s favor in the novel.
To further clarify, there is not a single instance in the book of Rhaenyra and Alicent trying to meet in secret and work out a plan to stop the war, much less twice.
Having said that, it is also clear that Alicent never went up to Rhaenyra and requested to be spared from her and Helaena’s wrath.
She also kept Rhaenyra in the dark about Aemond’s scheme to abandon King’s Landing and head for the Riverlands, which is essentially how Rhaenyra came up with the plan to conquer the city and ascend to the throne.
Daemon’s Vision in Harrenhal
Daemon’s character development in House of the Dragon Season 2 was mostly defined by visions/hallucinations while he was at Harrenhal.
As for Alys Rivers, who in the show seemed to have caused Daemon’s visions, the book makes it clear that Daemon was not at all troubled by visions, and in fact, many thought Daemon was “immune” to her because it appeared as though her powers had no effect on him at all .
Therefore, Daemon’s constant conflict with being at Harrenhal was probably very off-putting for some viewers.
He had no visions in the book, so he had no visions of the future. So, Daemon has never heard of or seen the White Walkers, Bloodraven, or Daenerys Targaryen.
Rhaena and Sheepstealer
Finding the dragon prowling the Vale, burning and devouring every sheep in sight, was one of the most exciting scenes in the House of the Dragon Season 2 finale for Rhaena.
The two other wild dragons in Westeros are the Cannibal and the Grey Ghost. This dragon is known by the name Sheepstealer.
After the Sowing of the Seeds, Sheepstealer is claimed immediately in the book. Hence it is not possible to see him flying around the Vale riderless.
Jacaerys’s Hatred for the New Dragonriders
Jacaerys was visibly furious with Rhaenyra’s new Dragonriders in the House of the Dragon Season 2 finale. Seeing as how he was also a bastard, he saw them as bastards, and it felt that their ability to ride dragons devalued him.
Not Rhaenyra and Mysaria, but Jace himself devised the plan for bastards to claim the dragons on Dragonstone in the book, so naturally, he wasn’t upset when they succeeded—quite the contrary.
In the book, Jace led them proudly in Rhaenyra’s name when Hugh, Addam, Ulf, and Nettles claimed their dragons. For instance, he led the new Dragonriders into battle at the Battle of the Gullet, one of the first significant events following the Sowing of the Seeds.
Jace does not behave that way toward them in the novel; thus, his contempt for them on the show is a little off-putting.
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.
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