HBO’s fantasy drama TV series House of the Dragon season 2 fifth and latest episode, titled “Regent”, was deceptively eventful, even if there was no actual action. There were several decisions taken by important players that would have a significant impact on the course of the ongoing war for the Iron Throne. It was also a welcome change of pace from the last episode, “The Red Dragon and the Gold”, which featured a massive dragon battle that left one major character dead and one severely incapacitated. Let’s talk about how the House of the Dragon episode, and the show as a whole, differs from its book, Fire & Blood (also written by George R. R. Martin, the architect of this entire universe) — which recounts the history of House Targaryen from Aegon’s Conquest.
Set more than a century after the Targaryens conquered Westeros, House of the Dragon is a spinoff of HBO’s Game of Thrones — hopefully, one of the many upcoming spinoffs of GoT. The show depicts the Dance of the Dragons, one of the bloodiest wars in Westeros’ history after which the Targaryens were severely weakened, thousands upon thousands died all across the Seven Kingdoms… oh, and dragons became extinct — until, of course, Daenerys Targaryen somehow hatched them (as you saw in Game of Thrones), earning the title: Mother of Dragons. While House of the Dragon season 1 set up the war, season 2 starts it in earnest.
Spoilers ahead!
What happens in House of the Dragon season 2 episode 5?
“Regent” deals with the aftermath of the Battle at Rook’s Rest. The battle involved both ground troops and three of the most powerful dragons in existence at this point: Vhagar, the greatest of them all, Meleys and Sunfyre. Sunfyre, ridden by King Aegon Targaryen II (Tom Glynn-Carney), arrived even as Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) and Vhagar were stirring to ambush Rhaenys (Eve Best) and Meleys. The dragon battle became three-way as Aemond and Vhagar attacked both Aegon II and Rhaenys. Rhaenys and Meleys (also called the Red Dragon or Red Queen) fought valiantly, but both died. Aegon II survived, but barely and may still end up dying of his burns. In the new episode, Aemond has been chosen as the Regent to rule in his stead.
At Dragonstone, Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) is miffed, as she cannot fly out on Syrax and fight her enemies herself, as she is too important to just die in an ambush by another dragonrider or soldiers with scorpion bolts. Meanwhile, Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) is still at Harrenhal and unable to control fractious Brackens and Blackwoods. Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett), Rhaenyra’s son, flies out on his dragon Vermax to parley with the Freys, who say they want Harrenhal in return.
How does House of the Dragon season 2 episode 5 differ from the book?
Right from the beginning, House of the Dragon has made significant changes from the book, as opposed to Game of Thrones, which was pretty faithful at least until the first few seasons. The main reason is that the show’s source material is not the whole Fire & Blood book but a massive section within it that is as big as a novel: The Dying of the Dragons. The story of the war between the Greens and the Blacks it narrates is through the framing device of Archmaester Gyldayn, a Westerosi who quotes different sources, some primary some not, to build a coherent narrative. So the show’s writers had to fill in a few details and invent new ones.
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The Daemon in the show is very different from the Daemon in the book
In “Regent”, we are shown Daemon terrorising (or at least trying to) the Brackens to convert them into his (and not necessarily Rhaenyra’s) cause. He threatens them with dragonfire of Caraxes. Yet, they are undeterred, preferring to be roasted rather than ally with the Blackwoods. In the book, while Daemon is dangerous, dashing and daring (indeed these are some of the adjectives used to describe him), there is no mention of him trying and failing to raise a host for Rhaenyra.
Oh, and in the book, he and the Queen do not quarrel; she just sends him to Harrenhal to convert the Tullys and other riverlords to her cause. He does become a source of pain for her, but that comes later. He is written as fairly loyal in the book and uses diplomacy, rather than brute force, to gain allies.
Additionally, Daemon’s disturbing visions are inventions of the show. While the old Lord Tully is sickly and old, his great-grandson Oscar Tully (Archie Barnes) declares for the Blacks. In the show, he is a grandson and does not share a friendly equation with Daemon, who, in the book, is successful in turning the Tullys against the Greens.
What are the Dragonseeds?
“Regent” hinted at Rhaenyra and Jacaerys to consider finding Dragonseeds who can be potential dragonriders and fight their foes on powerful dragons chained beneath Dragonstone like Vermithor. In the book, too, it is Jacaerys who introduces the idea, but much earlier. Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew), a blacksmith who is struggling to feed his family, is one of them. Nettles, a major character that will have repercussions later on in the war, is another. She has not yet been introduced in the show, though.
What Sunfyre’s death means for Queen Rhaenyra
In the show, it indeed looks like he is. However, he was too injured and unable to fly in the book. Since he was too heavy to be taken to King’s Landing for recuperation, he was kept at Rook’s Rest, where he fed on the fallen soldiers. But after a few days, he disappeared and found his way to Dragonstone. At that point, the Greens had occupied it (and the King’s Landing had fallen to the Blacks). Sunfyre eventually reunited with Aegon II, who remained twisted throughout his life but had recovered enough. After a series of events too detailed to go into here, Aegon II fed none other than Rhaenyra to Sunfyre. But those who are on the side of the Blacks and fear this might come to pass in the show, rest assured. Sunfyre is definitely dead, and Rhaenyra, in the book, is not the one in the show (she is much kinder, for one).
(Hero image: Courtesy of Theo Whiteman/ HBO; Featured image: Courtesy of Ollie Upton/ HBO)
This article first appeared on Lifestyle Asia India
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Indeed, 'House of the Dragon' is based on a book called 'Fire & Blood'.
It already differs vastly from the book, thanks to the fact that the source material is not very detailed. It will move away from the book further in the upcoming seasons.
