House of the Dragon’s second season debuts with intricate opening title sequence … Game of Thrones’ prequel’s sophomore slate includes eight episodes

The second season of House of the Dragon debuted on HBO Sunday, when the first episode of the second season’s eight-episode frame, titled A Son for a Son, hit the airwaves.

The second season storyline picks up at the end of the show’s first season, where Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and his dragon Vhaegar slaughtered Lucerys (Elliot Grihault) – the son of Princess Rhaenyra (Eve Best) – and his dragon Arrax.

The deadly series of events increases tension between the Targaryens and Hightowers, eventually culminating in a civil war called The Dance of the Dragons.

The show’s second season began with a revised opening credits sequence that was noticeably different from the one that aired in the show’s first season.

The first season of House of the Dragon featured an animated opening that incorporated Old Valyria into a stone model, as it was presided over by the late King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine). It involved red blood flowing through the streets of Valyria, with symbolism referencing the Targaryen leaders.

The opening of season two focuses on a Bayeux Tapestry with references in art to past events in the storyline.

The tapestry scene depicts bloodshed in ancient Valyria, as well as Valyrians bonding with dragons. One sequence shows a man holding a dagger, while another man knelt before a dragon while flanked by candles.

Viewers then saw an active volcano that signaled the demise of Valyria – an event in which the former Targaryen homeland saw humans and dragons perish as every hill exploded in a fiery blaze.

In another sequence, Aegon the Conqueror was depicted on a quest to rule Westeros while flanked by sister wives Visenya and Rhaenys as they rode dragons crossing the Narrow Sea.

Other notable storyline events that formed on the tapestry included events from the hit series Game of Thrones, which ran for eight seasons on HBO from 2011 to 2019.

In one area, a reference was made to King Jaehaerys Targaryen (Michael Carter) heading the Great Council of Harrenhal, declaring Viserys the future leader of the realm, alongside the beginning of the Dance of the Dragons.

Also seen on the tapestry are Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) seen at a party.

Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), Alicent’s son and Rhaenyra’s half-brother, is depicted as king of the Iron Throne in the revised opening, while Rhaenyra is called queen in Dragonstone castle.

Closing the credits, there is footage of the death of Lucerys Velaryon (played by Elliot Grihault) by the dragon Vhagar in the skies above Storm’s End.

The ensemble cast members returning for the show’s second season include Best, Matt Smith, who plays Prince Daemon Targaryen; Emma D’Arcy as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen; Olivia Cooke, who plays Queen Alicent Hightower; Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys ‘The Sea Snake’ Velaryon; and Rhys Ifans, who plays Ser Otto Hightower.

The cast also includes Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole, Matthew Needham as Lord Varys Strong, Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria, Harry Collett as Jacaerys Velaryon and Bethany Antonia as Lady Baela Targaryen.

Phoebe Campbell plays Lady Rhaena Targaryen, Phia Saban plays Queen Helaena Targaryen and Jefferson Hall plays Jason Lannister in the show’s second season.

New characters added to the prequel storyline include Abubakar Salim playing the role of Alyn of Hull, Gayle Rankin playing Alys Rivers, Freddie Fox playing the role of Ser Gwayne Hightower, Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong and Clinton Liberty playing Addam of Hull. and Jamie Kenna in the role of Ser Alfred Broome.

The new cast is joined by Kieran Bew playing the role of Hugh, Tom Bennett playing the role of Ulf, Tom Taylor playing Lord Cregan Stark and Vincent Regan as Ser Rickard Thorne.

Sunday’s episode opened with a raven in flight heading towards Winterfell and the Wall to start the episode.

The Lord of Winterfell, Cregan Stark, speaks with Jacaerys, brother of the recently deceased Lucerys, son of Queen Rhaenyra.

Jacaerys, encouraging Cregan to defend the area, asks for northern soldiers, to which Cregan sends a group of older soldiers. Jacaerys then hears of his brother’s death.

At Dragonstone, Princess Rhaenys returns with her dragon Meleys after conducting an air patrol of Team Black’s bay blockade.

Daemon requests that she prepare to go to King’s Landing in an attempt to decimate Vhagar, the dragon involved in the slaughter of Prince Lucerys.

Daemon tells Rhaenys that Rhaenyra appears to be missing, as Rhaenys says she thinks Rhaenyra is investigating Luke’s death and explains her extended absence.

Daemon subtly taunts Rhaenys about her ill-fated failure to decimate the Greens sooner, but she retreats to her chambers with little response.

Queen Rhaenrya discovers Arrax’s wing and a piece of cloth near a beach at Storm’s End, on her way back to Dragonstone, focused on retribution.

Lord Corlys is seen on Driftmark – home of House Velaryon – discussing the state of a naval flagship with ship worker Alyn, who notes he has a brother named Addam in a cryptic but powerful conversation.

Ser Arryk is seen at the Red Keep, and he and his forces prepare to line up behind Team Green with their crossbows, until they realize it is Aemond and his dragon Vhagar. In the storyline, Arryk stands behind Aegon while his twin brother Erryk supports Rhaenyra.

King Aegon the Aess and his sister-wife Helaena are seen talking in her room, where she expressed her concerns about the rats circulating in the Red Keep. Their twins Jaehaera and Jaehaerys are spotted in the scene, with the former playing near a fire.

Queen Alicent and Criston Cole witness a sexual exchange while in her bedroom.

During a meeting of the Small Council, it is revealed that they have support from House Baratheon of the Stormlands, House Lannister of the Westerlands, and House Hightower of the Reach; while the Riverlands appear to be a hostile area.

Aegon plans to approach the Riverlords aggressively – starting at Riverrun with an effort aimed at Lord Tully – while Alicent and Otto try to reduce hostilities in an already tense situation.

Sunday’s season two debut was written by showrunner Ryan Condal and directed by Alan Taylor, who previously directed episodes of Game of Thrones, as well as HBO classics like Boardwalk Empire, Sex and the City, The Sopranos and the prequel film, The Many Saints . of Newark.

The latest installment of the franchise, created by George RR Martin, runs through August 4.

House of the Dragon begins airing new episodes on Sundays at 9 PM ET/PT HBO; the episodes can also be broadcast in 4K on Max.