Your House of the Dragon season 1 recap before season 2

aegon
Your House of the Dragon season 1 recapSky - HBO

With just over a week to go, we're beyond excited for a brand new series of House of the Dragon which lands in the UK on 17th June. Bring on the sibling rivalry, blood shed and of course, all the dragons. But before we deep dive into season two, we need a quick refresher on exactly everything that went down in King's Landing in season one.

Let's face it, those Targaryens have no chill, and the first season alone saw numerous deaths, marriages and babies, all while the family battled over the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. And that's only set to increase with season two with a full blown war on the cards.

So before you get ready for that, here's all the important plot points from season one you need to know as we head into season two.

What happened in House of the Dragon season one?

Aegon is king

aegon
Sky - HBO

Following the death of his father King Viserys in episode eight, Aegon II Targaryen now sits on the Iron Throne thanks to the intervention from his mother Alicent and his grandfather Otto Hightower, who claimed he is the rightful heir of the throne.

Much of episode nine was centred on Otto securing Aegon's claim by having houses swear allegiance to Aegon, or risk the consequences aka death.

Aegon is initially resistant to take on his birth right but his coronation goes ahead in episode nine.

Princess Rhaenys joins Rhaenyra's team

rhaenys
HBO

In episode nine Princess Rhaenys is held captive after refusing to support Aegon's claim as king. During Aegon's coronation, Rhaenys is released by Kingsguard brother Ser Erryk and she storms the coronation on her dragon Meleys.

She returns to Dragonstone where she informs everyone of what's gone on, which causes Rhaenya to go into premature stillbirth.

The Kingsguard twins are divided

During the decision to make Aegon king many people disagreed on the rightful heir including twin Kingsguard brothers Ser Erryk and Ser Arryk Cargyll. Erryk helps Rhaenys escape and heads to Dragonstone where he presents Rhaenyra with her father's crown and she is declared queen. While his brother Arryk remains at King's Landing in support of the Hightowers.

Lord Larys is always lurking in the corner

larys
HBO

One of the show's most terrifying villains, let's not forget that in episode six Lord Larys killed his own father and brother in a fire so he could inherit the title of Lord of Harrenhal.

He gets closer to Alicent throughout the series and by episode nine he informs her about the network of spies throughout King's Landing.

In exchange for information about the spies, including her lady in waiting Talya, Alicent shows off her feet to Lord Larys.

The mystery of the White Worm

Following Alicent and Larys' foot exchange, he promises to take out the head of the spy ring aka The White Worm, aka Mysaria. If you remember in episode two Daemon declares he's going to marry her in a letter and she is with child, which she wasn't. Larys has her brothel burnt down, but we've got a feeling this isn't the last we've seen of her.

Rhaenyra is not backing down without a fight

During the final episode of season one, Otto travels to Dragonstone to present Rhaenyra with a set of conditions from Aegon so that she will concede her right to the throne. Otto and Alicent had previously argued about killing Rhaenyra, with Alicent coming to her former friend's defence and wishing for her to be spared.

Rhaenyra considers Aegon's conditions - she keeps her royal title and Dragonstone, but bends the knee - in order to keep the peace because of supposed threat from the North. However, she thankfully changes her mind and begins plotting to build up her supporters.

Lord Corlys pledges his allegiance to her, and Rhaenyra sends her sons Jacaerys and Lucerys to the other houses in order to gain their support.

Lucerys dies

rhaenyra
HBO

Yep, two years later, we're still not over it. After their mother's commands Jacaerys travels North to get support from House Stark, while Lucerys travels to the Baratheons. However, when he arrives he discovers his uncle Aemond is there too, also trying to win the Baratheons over.

When Lucerys leaves on his dragon Arrax, Aemond follows him on his dragon Vhagar. The dragons goes against their riders commands and Arrax burns Vhagar, but Vhagar ones up him, and kills both Arrax and Lucerys.

It appears Aemond did not mean for Lucerys to die, but in doing so, he's now majorly raised the stakes in this war for the throne, and upon hearing the news, Rhaenyra is beyond enraged.

And that's where we last saw the Targaryens, what will happen in season two?

House of the Dragon season two will be available from 17 June on Sky Atlantic and streaming service NOW


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