BTN News: The long-awaited opening of season 2 of “House of The Dragon” sees the Starks and Targaryens forge a crucial alliance which lays the groundwork for much of the upcoming drama. Called “A Son for a Son,” the episode also introduces new protagonists and webs of influence, further enriching George R.R. Martin’s “Fire and Blood” epic.
And what a debut it is for Cregan Stark in Ice Meets Fire!
Tom Taylor as Lord Cregan Stark of Winterfell in the opening scene of the premiere Season 2 takes place after the events of Season 1, when Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett) makes his way to the North to rally the support of House Stark for his mother, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy), and her claim to the Iron Throne. The Stark-Targaryen alliance, a focus of much that is to come in the story, is cemented at this defining moment.
A Journey Beyond the Wall
Set to a visually stunning montage of Jacaerys and Cregan making the climb up the Wall while surrounded by the stunning, dangerous countryside below On the surface, it is not a very dramatic scene, yet serves as an important character moment and a fanboy shout-out to viewers familiar with the deep history of Westeros.
The Enigmatic Sara Snow
The nature of the friendship between Jacaerys and Cregan is kept uncertain, with “Fire and Blood” offering conflicting narratives by George R. R. Martin. One account reports they committed ritual blood oaths to support one another, the other that Jacaerys had become romantically involved with a Winterfell bastard named Sara Snow. Though these are interesting backstories, the show’s version is less about the personal and more about the political, what works for their drama.
How optimistic of the fans!
The outpouring of fans’ enthusiasm for these two twinned storylines has not gone unnoticed, as Taylor gives a nod to the meme-worthy images of Jacaerys and Cregan being used humorously online together. Taylor cites “Brokeback Winterfell” as an example that he finds entertaining. This passionate fan engagement demonstrates just how invested audiences are in these characters and the stories they tell.
Storytelling and Adapting
Ryan Condal, the showrunner and co-creator, talked about why Season 2 opens with the Stark-Targaryen alliance. Where the scene at the Wall with Jacaerys and Cregan is very cool to watch and to hear, it is mostly world-rebuilding and scene-setting and foregrounding of conflicts to come. Condal said that setting the scene will help us understand Jacaerys as a skilled political animal, which will pay off later in the series.
Juggling Plot and Character
Lead writer Sara Hess and the rest of the episode’s writing team talk about the challenging of juggling so many different stories. With such an immense cliffhanger to conclude season 1 (Luke murdered), pitting season 2 against an already hefty Westeros opener could have turned fans hands in all the wrong ways, forcing Brienne to head north the better to recapture the pacing from East to West. Because that would maintain the narrative momentum and keep people interested.
Next Time: Cregan Stark Chillin’ And Slain
Given that HBO has already renewed “House of the Dragon” for a 3rd season, it’s possible Cregan Stark’s story is not over yet. Condal suggests where Cregan fits into the larger ‘Dance of the Dragons’ and hopes to work with Tom Taylor further But the actual course of the story is currently top secret, to the delight of fans.
Conclusion
The Targaryen saga enters a thrilling new chapter during ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2, where fresh alliances and conflicts lend an additional layer to this sprawling story. The complex webs that the series begins to unravel can definitely hook an audience and will continue to keep the legacy of “Game of Thrones” alive for a long time.
Watch new episodes of “House of the Dragon” Season 2 every Sunday on HBO and Max.
