Editorial

18 details you might have missed in House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6

Hidden references and subtle hints you might have missed.

Published

5 months ago

July 23, 2024

Ved Prabhudesai

Credit: Liam Daniel/HBO

House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6 was filled with easter eggs and references to George R. R. Martin’s Fire and Blood. The episode teased storyline changes and introduced anticipated characters from the books. While the main plot captivated viewers, several smaller moments and references may have gone unnoticed. Here are the biggest details you might have missed.

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Contents

8 Minutes Read

Updated intro sequence

Credit: HBO

The intro now shows events since the start of the war. We see the dueling thrones of Aegon and Rhaenyra, Lucerys and Jaehaerys’ deaths, and the ratcatchers’ hanging.

As a new addition, the Battle of Rook’s Rest is depicted with soldiers lying dead and aflame. A man, possibly Aemond, stands holding Blackfyre with Vhagar flying above him. Beside him lie two dragons, Meleys and Sunfyre, showing their injuries.

Rains of Castamere theme

Credit: HBO

The episode features the Rains of Castamere theme, playing in the background when Jason Lannister amasses his forces at the Golden Tooth. This music is synonymous with House Lannister. The destruction of House Reyne, which prompted the song, won’t happen for a few more centuries since Tywin Lannister did it.

Reference to the Triarchy’s blockade teasing the Battle of the Gullet

Credit: HBO

The blockade has been mentioned several times since the beginning of the season. Aemond and Aegon are set on smashing it. With Aemond in charge, he is finally about to take action.

This foreshadows a major battle in the Dance of the Dragons known as the Battle of the Gullet, in which some important characters may die.

The second mention of Dalton Greyjoy

Credit: HBO

Dalton Greyjoy is mentioned for the second time, signifying his importance. Lord Dalton raided the Westerlands and had a huge conflict with Jason Lannister’s wife, Johanna Lannister.

She has not been introduced yet, but she was a Westerling before becoming a Lannister, making her the niece of Harrold Westerling, the previous Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.

Daemon shouting “Open the door,” echoes Hodor’s death

Credit: HBO

During Daemon’s vision at Harrenhal, where he sees Viserys, Viserys scolds him for mocking his son’s death. Viserys start crying at the end, and a traumatized Daemon tries to leave the throne room.

He repeatedly shouts, “Open the door,” echoing Hodor’s death in Game of Thrones. Bran tells Hodor to hold the door when the wights attack. Hodor dies screaming, “Hold the door,” which becomes “Hodor.”

Rhaena’s encounter with burned sheep teases a new dragon

Credit: HBO

Rhaena finds sheep killed by a dragon, similar to the sheep Drogon killed in Meereen in Game of Thrones. There is a dragon in the Vale, confirmed by Jeyne Arryn. There is talk that Rhaena may claim this dragon.

Due to the burned sheep, people think it is Sheepstealer from the book. This means Rhaena’s character may be merged with Nettles, a poor shepherd girl and the rider of Sheepstealer.

The Dragon Keepers sing the hymn from Season 1

Credit: HBO

The Dragon Keepers sing a hymn to calm Seasmoke when Steffon Darklyn tries to claim him. This is the same hymn Daemon sang to Vermithor in Season 1.

It explores whether dragonriders need to know Valyrian to claim a dragon. Aegon does not command Sunfyre in Valyrian. Future dragonriders may also claim dragons without knowing Valyrian.

Baby Aegon’s dragon Stormcloud

Credit: HBO

We see baby Aegon’s dragon, Stormcloud. Aegon the Younger is Rhaenyra’s son, destined to be important later. Both Aegon and Stormcloud are much younger than in the books.

At this point, Stormcloud should be old enough to ride. Aegon and Stormcloud were part of an event in Fire and Blood where Aegon rode his dragon. How their ages will affect the storyline is unknown.

Sylvi is spreading rumors about Aemond

Credit: HBO

Madam Sylvi is the brothel owner Madam Aemond confesses to. She spreads rumors about Aemond, discussing how her girls were sent to the Red Keep. There, they saw nobles feasting while the smallfolk starved. Sylvi is likely part of Mysaria’s network of spies.

Gwayne mentions Daeron

Credit: Debustee on X

When she asks about him, Gwayne mentions Alicent’s youngest son, Daeron. Alicent has never known Daeron, who grew up in Oldtown. Gwayne says he is sixteen, adept with the sword, lute, and kind. Daeron rides a dragon called Tessarion the Blue Queen and participates in major battles in the book canon.

Rhaena at the Vale mirrors Sansa

Credit: HBO

Rhaena watching the kids in the Vale is similar to Sansa watching Robin Arryn in Game of Thrones. Littlefinger took Sansa from King’s Landing to protect her from the Lannisters. She lived in the Vale after changing her name to Alayne Stone. Sansa’s relationship with her aunt Lysa Arryn is similar to Rhaena’s relationship with Jeyne Arryn.

The Gay Abandon

Credit: Tomasz Jedruszek

Jeyne Arryn tells Rhaena she received a reply from Prince Reggio. Prince Reggio hosted Rhaena, Laena, Baela, and Daemon in her youth. Rhaenyra asked her to write to Prince Reggio to see if they could stay with him and be away from the war. Jeyne mentions the ship called the Gay Abandon could take them there. In the book Fire and Blood, this ship took Rhaenyra’s sons Aegon and Viserys to Pentos. They faced trouble on the way.

Alyn shaving his head

Credits: HBO

As Alyn and Addam of Hull talk about Lord Corlys, Alyn shaves his head. As opposed to Fire and Blood, Alyn sports a bald head, whereas in the book, he has long locks. It’s now revealed that Alyn shaves his head because he has silver hair like Lord Corlys and the other Velaryons. He shaves his head to disguise his identity. This resembles what Aegon V, aka Egg, did in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

Hugh and Cheese’s dog

Credit: HBO

When Hugh goes out and sees a riot forming due to Rhaenyra sending supplies, he notices Cheese’s dog in the marketplace. He pats it before being distracted by the people’s cries. Many fans thought that Hugh would end up killing the dog and eating it due to the lack of meat in the kingdom. Given the dark tone of the show, it would not be surprising. Thankfully, Rhaenyra’s supplies prevent such a drastic event from occurring.

Helaena leaning against spikes foreshadows her death

Credit: HBO

During the riot in King’s Landing, Helaena leans against spikes as the smallfolk rush toward her and Alicent. Helaena fell from a window and was impaled on spikes in the book. One version says she jumped. Another says she was pushed. The spikes in the show seem to foreshadow this event.

Larys and Aegon mirror Tyrion and Jon Snow

Credit: HBO

Larys speaks to Aegon as he lies injured, saying people will look at him differently now. He talks about his own life as a cripple and mentions his father thought he was cursed. This scene mirrors Tyrion speaking to Jon in Game of Thrones.

Tyrion related to Jon, telling him never to forget what he is because others won’t. Tyrion said he had a soft spot for cripples, bastards, and broken things. The scene is almost a mirror of Larys speaking to Aegon.

House Mooton sent to Rook’s Rest

Credit: HBO

House Mooton is sent to Rook’s Rest to take the castle back from the Greens. Lord Walys Mooton led this campaign in the book and took back the castle. Aegon’s dragon, Sunfyre, lay injured nearby. Lord Walys led his army against the injured dragon, but they did not have good luck against Sunfyre.

Martin Reyne dies, and there is a foreshadowing of the Shepherd

Credit: HBO

During the riot, Alicent orders her Kingsguard to sheathe their swords. One of Aegon’s friends, assigned to the Kingsguard, dies. It is Martin Reyne, a member of House Reyne. This makes the Rains of Castamere song at the start fitting, as the only Reyne in the series dies.

An old man’s hand is cut off during the riot, possibly a reference to the Shepherd, an old, one-armed man who turned the common people against the Targaryens.

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12/23/2024 05:52 am GMT

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