A House of the Dragon writer teases a revenge killing that ranks among the most merciless in George R.R. Martin’s literary lore for Season 2.

Potential spoilers ahead for House of the Dragon Season 2.

House of the Dragon Season 2 is far off on the horizon, but a writer is teasing how it will showcase one of the most egregious assassinations put to pen by author George R.R. Martin.

The Game of Thrones prequel series, which adapts Martin’s 2018 quasi-historical chronicle, Fire & Blood, already delivered a fair share of callous killings to a franchise famous for them. Yet, as writer Sara Hess implied to Variety, the second season will up the ante with one death in particular. The duo of assassins depicted in the book, known as Blood and Cheese, are apparently poised to make their claim-to-fame killing, specifically of Prince Jaehaerys, the young son of newly-crowned King Aegon II Targaryen. The slaying, a direct retaliation for the Season 1 finale’s shocking, dragon-delivered death of Rhaenyra Targaryen’s son, Lucerys Velaryon, is a memorable sequence in the book, leaving fans anxious to see it depicted onscreen. On that notion, Hess teased with brevity, “I don’t think you will be disappointed.”

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House of the Dragon Teases Blood and Cheese

Blood and Cheese’s infamy in Fire & Blood doesn’t just stem from the brazen manner in which they sneak into the castle King’s Landing’s Red Keep. Rather, it is the sadistic, psychologically torturous manner in which they deliver their deadly recompense. Calling themselves “debt collectors,” the duo break into the Tower of the Hand, where Aegon’s wife, Queen Helaena Targaryen, is visiting with her three young children Jaehaerys, Jaehaera and Maelor. There, the assassins present Helaena with a Sophie’s Choice moment, forcing her to choose a son to be slain. After tearful consideration, she chooses the youngest, Maelor. However, it was a false choice since Blood immediately swipes his sword at the older royal heir Jaehaerys, decapitating him in one fell swoop, taking the head as a trophy.

The killing was carried out in retaliation for Rhaenyra’s loss, but it was made on behalf of her bellicose husband, Daemon Targaryen, who declared “An eye for an eye, a son for a son.” While it was Aemond Targaryen’s dragon that set this deadly chain in motion, the move was actually directed at Aemond’s mother, Alicent Hightower. As the Queen Mother of the fraudulently crowned King Aegon, Alicent was one of the primary instigators of the royal coup that resulted in the usurpation of Rhaenyra’s title as lawfully declared heir to the Iron Throne, as depicted in House of the Dragon Season 1. Thus, with Season 2 set to pick things up immediately after Lucerys’ Season 1 death, the conflict between the Targaryen factions known as the Blacks (Rhaenyra’s loyalists) and Greens (Alicent’s), called the Dance of the Dragons, is likely set for an early escalation.

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When Will House of the Dragon Season 2 Arrive?

Unfortunately for fans, the wait for House of the Dragon Season 2 is destined to be lengthy. That’s because HBO and HBO Max chief content officer Casey Bloys recently projected a 2024 release for the hit show’s sophomore frame. “We’re just starting to put the plan together [for Season 2], and just like last time, there are so many unknowns,” he said. “It’s not to be coy or secretive, but you don’t want to say it’s going to be ready on this date, and then you have to move it.”

However, when the second season ultimately does manifest, it will do so under slightly modified leadership. While House of the Dragon was initially conjured under the creative purview of co-showrunners Ryan Condal and distinguished directorial GoT alum Miguel Sapochnik, the latter stepped down from the series back in September. Consequently, Condal will serve as sole showrunner going forward, joined by incoming director — and another distinguished franchise alum — Alan Taylor, who is reportedly set to helm “multiple episodes” in Season 2.

Additionally, despite previous expectations that House of the Dragon was destined to be joined by an array of Thrones spinoff shows, author Martin recently revealed substantial cuts to those plans. It seems that after a behind-the-scenes shakeup at HBO Max, the lineup of projects may be whittled down to just the untitled Jon Snow spinoff series, which will see Kit Harington reprise his Game of Thrones role.

House of the Dragon Season 2 has yet to reveal its HBO release date or release window.

Source: Variety