Which Side Does Each Great House Choose in ‘House of the Dragon’?

The Big Picture

• The Dance of the Dragons continues in
  House of the Dragon
  Season 2 as alliances are tested between Team Green and Team Black.
• House alliances are crucial to Rhaenyra Targaryen, who leads the Blacks, and Aegon II, who leads the Greens.
• Although the war is between Targaryens, all of the Grand Houses of Westeros will be dragged in and be forced to pick a side.

Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for all of Season 1 of House of the Dragon and the book Fire & Blood.The Dance of the Dragons will officially begin when House of the Dragon returns for its second season. After a season of tension building within the Game of Thrones prequel series, the first season ends with the death of Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault) after Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) chases him down on his dragon, Vhagar, who kills him and his dragon, Arrax. Once Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) receives word from Daemon (Matt Smith) of her second son’s untimely death, any hope for peace has died.

Now that the time of peace is over in Westeros, both Rhaenyra and Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) are eager to establish their alliances as they head into battle. Based on the new dueling trailers, the lines have been drawn, and the noble houses of Westeros, as well as the audience, must pick a side — Team Green or Team Black. Let’s see where the alliances stand at the end of the first season, as well as where they might head with the knowledge we have from George R.R. Martin‘s Fire & Blood book.

3 The Greens’ Allies Include House Lannister, House Baratheon, and House Strong

Standing firm with the Hightowers is House Lannister. Though Jason Lannister (Jefferson Hall) offers a marriage suit to Rhaenyra in Episode 3’s “Second in His Name,” she and Viserys I reject the offer. Later, Jason’s twin brother, Tyland (Hall), serves on the small council alongside the Hand of the King, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans). When Viserys I dies, Tyland is part of the council that planned to place Aegon II on the Iron Throne. The Lannisters and Casterly Rock are firmly planted as Team Green, offering a strategic location and a wealth of Lannister gold to the effort.

In addition to the Lannisters, the Greens have landed the support of House Baratheon. When Viserys I declares Rhaenyra his heir at the end of Episode 1’s “The Heirs of the Dragon,” Boremund Baratheon (Julian Lewis Jones) represents his house and declares fealty to her. In the book, he is half brother to Jaehaerys I (Michael Carter), and he has family ties to the Targaryens. However, by the time Aegon II usurps the throne, his son Borros (Roger Evans) is the Lord of Storm’s End. With his father dead and the promise that Aemond would marry his daughter, the timing worked in the Greens’ favor with House Baratheon.

Even though Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey Velaryon are the true-born sons of Rhaenyra’s sworn protector, Harwin Strong (Ryan Corr), what’s left of House Strong is firmly Team Green thanks to his younger brother, Larys Strong (Matthew Needham). One night during Episode 6’s “The Princess and the Queen,” Harwin and his father, Lord Lyonel Strong (Gavin Spokes), die during a mysterious fire at Harrenhal. It’s revealed that Larys is responsible for his father and brother’s death. As the new Lord Strong, Larys not only has a close (though problematic) bond to Alicent (Olivia Cooke), he is also later appointed the Master of Whisperers.

2 Rhaenyra and the Blacks Find Support From the Vale to Winterfell

Although Team Green is currently stacked with more allies from the powerful houses of Westeros, Team Black is not without its family allies. Because of this, both House Velaryon and House Arryn are on Rhaenyra’s side. In the case of House Arryn, Aemma (Sian Brooke), first wife to Viserys I (Paddy Considine) and Rhaenyra’s mother, was originally an Arryn. Because of this family connection, Rhaenyra believes it’s unlikely that the Vale would not turn their back on one of their own. Still, she sends her son Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett) during Episode 10’s “The Black Queen” there first on dragonback to convince Aemma’s cousin, Lady Jeyne, to keep to the oath. In Fire & Blood, not only does she keep true to her oath, Jeyne also proves to be a fierce ally by sending men to aid Rhaenyra in her claim to the Iron Throne.

Based on the latest trailer, Jacaerys also makes a trip up to the Wall and the North to meet with the current Lord of Winterfell, Cregan Stark (Tom Taylor) to ensure the Starks’ loyalty. When Rhaenyra is initially named Viserys I’s heir, Rickon Stark (David Hounslow) swears fealty to her, so there is precedence for House Stark to stand with Team Black. According to Fire & Blood, Cregan and Jacerys become good friends and forge their alliance with the Pact of Ice and Fire. And, because Starks are known for their honor, it is not likely that Cregan will break the oath even if it was his father who swore it.

1 House Tully & House Velaryon Might Not Be Stable Allies For Either Team

In the world of Game of Thrones, alliances only matter until they are no longer beneficial to the house. They shift and change like the tides of the Narrow Sea. Such is the case with two great houses that have planted their loyalties, but according to Fire & Blood will shift as time goes on. For example, House Tully was once an ally of Viserys I; now that he’s gone, time is of the essence. Daemon has sent ravens to the current Lord of Riverrun, Lord Grover Tully, but Rhaenyra fears that he is too easily swayed. It turns out, her fears are founded because in Fire & Blood, Grover initially sides with the Greens but his grandson, Ernie, and his great-grandson, Kermit, want to support Rhaenyra. Because of this divide within the family, don’t be surprised when the alliances begin to shift later on.

Throughout the course of Season 1, the relationship between House Velaryon and House Targaryen has been inconsistent. The two houses should be the strongest allies because they’re both Valyrian, but there are pivotal mistakes made in Season 1 that make the alliance uneasy. Not only does Viserys I slight Corlys (Steve Toussaint) when he marries Alicent instead of his daughter, Laena (Nanna Blondell), but he believes that Rhaenyra and Daemon have something to do with Laenor’s death (John Macmillan), Daemon killed Corlys’ brother Vaemond (Wil Johnson), and it’s plain to see that Rhaenyra’s Velaryon sons are not actually Velaryons by blood.

During Episode 10’s “The Black Queen” he suggests to his wife, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best), that they should just declare for no one and retire in High Tide. However, since their grandchildren are threats to Aegon II because Rhaenys betrothed Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) and Baela (Bethany Antonia) to their cousins, this is also their fight. Corlys and Rhaenys declare for Team Black and offer their impressive fleet to Rhaenyra, which gives them complete control of the Narrow Sea. However, as the war continues, this might not be the case any longer according to Fire & Blood. Time will tell if the TV series will include these twists in their upcoming seasons.

House of the Dragon Season 2 premieres on June 16. Season 1 is available to stream on Max in the U.S.

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