WARNING! This article contains minor SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2 episode 1!
Summary
HBO’sHouse of the Dragonseason 2 kicks off with a new opening credits sequence, which weaves through various important moments and rulers and Targaryen history.Game of Thrones’ influence on pop culture and the TV landscape is still greatly felt today, withone of the show’s most iconic features being its unique opening credits sequence. In the original HBO show, the credits would traverse through maps of Westeros and Essos, changing each episode depending on which locations the characters would visit in each outing. WhileHouse of the DragonkeptGame of Thrones’ credits song, the prequel changed up the visuals significantly.
Theopening credits ofHouse of the Dragonseason 1took viewers through the lineage of House Targaryen via a rivers of blood flowing through a grim, stone-like model of Old Valyria.House of the Dragonseason 2 changes the opening credits yet again, this time with a more vibrant way to followHouse Targaryen’s family tree. Thenew credits see a tapestry being woven as it traverses House Targaryen’s historyfrom Old Valyria through the most recent events depicted inHouse of the Dragon, including some significant scenes in the family’s past as the Iron Throne has passed from one generation to the next.
10Daenys' Dream & The Targaryens' Move To Dragonstone
A silver-haired Targaryen, Old Valyria, and flight on a dragon is seen
The first few images of House Targaryen’s history aren’t too clear inHouse of the Dragonseason 2’s opening credits. However, it’s clear that they take place before the family conquered Westeros. Thecredits show a castle and city, which appears to be Old Valyria, and a silver-haired Targaryen holding their hands near the mouth of a dragon breathing out smoke. Behind this Targaryen appears to be a soldier holding a blood-soaked dagger near their back, whose identity isn’t clear.
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It’slikely that this member of the family is Daenys Targaryen, the dragon dreamer who foresaw the Doom of Valyriaand warned her father, Aenar Targaryen, to flee Valyria and move to Westeros. AfterDaenys Targaryen’s prophetic dragon dream, the entire Targaryen family moved with their dragons and settled on what would become Dragonstone, where several generations of the family would live until Aegon’s Conquest. The tapestry also shows two Targaryens flying on a dragon and holding one another at this time, which could be depicting House Targaryen’s move to Westeros.
9The Doom Of Valyria
Old Valyria and dragons are destroyed
Shortly after,House of the Dragonseason 2’s opening credits reveal the threads forming an image of a castle and city in flames and being entirely destroyed, with dragons also seen dying in the air above. Thisseems to be depicting the Doom of Valyria, which Daenys saw in her prophetic dragon dream. The event, which included volcanic eruptions destroying Valyria, killed all historic dragonriding families but House Targaryen, due to their exit 12 years prior.
It should be noted that it’s not entirely clear that thehistorical Doom of Valyriais what’s being woven. But, it makes the most sense given the next event seen inHouse of the Dragon’s opening credits. Daemon and Viserys also both mention the Doom of Valyria inHouse of the Dragonseason 1, so it’s clear that this event still plays an important role in the context of the family’s history for the HBO prequel’s drama.
8Aegon’s Conquest
Aegon, Visenya & Rhaenys' Landing In Westeros
Following what seems to be the Doom of Valyria,House of the Dragonseason 2’s new credits move onto Aegon’s Conquest. Thetapestry shows Aegon the Conqueror and his sister-wives Visenya and Rhaenys flying their dragons(Balerion the Black Dread, Vhagar, and Meraxes) in Westeros, indicating the first steps in his conquest, Aegon’s Landing. Landing at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush, Aegon began building his claim on the Aegonfort (now the Red Keep) while his siblings helped subdue nearby houses with their dragons. Soon after, Visenya placed a crown on Aegon’s head while Rhaenys declared him “Aegon, First of His Name, King of All Westeros, and Shield of His People.”
While not included inFire & Blood,House of the Dragonseason 1 revealed that Aegon’s Landing and his decision to conquer Westeros was preceded byAegon’s Song of Ice and Fire dream. In his prophetic dragon dream, Aegon foresaw the White Walkers invading Westeros and bringing an end to humanity unless a Targaryen sitting on the Iron Throne could unite the realm against them. Of course,Game of Thrones’ endingwould prove his prophecy true, with Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow (Aegon VI Targaryen) uniting Westeros to defeat the Night King and White Walkers.
The Burning Of Harrenhal
Thenext scene in Targaryen history woven into the tapestry is the Burning of Harrenal, one of the biggest moments in Aegon’s Conquest. The opening credits see numerous men and soldiers burned and dead outside of an enflamed and destroyed castle and its towers, with the tapestry putting a greater focus on the deceased Harren the Black. Notably, the swords of these dead ironmen would be used to forge theAegon’s Iron Throneback at the Aegonfort.
Shortly after Harrenhal’s construction was completed, King Harren Hoare and his many ironborn followers rose up against Aegon Targaryen, while numerous houses in the riverlands joined the Targaryens’ forces. These houses surrounded Harrenhal with the Targaryens, and after Aegon warned Harren that his family line would end if he didn’t kneel,Balerion burned the castle, ironmen, and all supplies below him. As Westerosi history reveals, Harren Hoare and his sons died in the castle, with Harrenhal still maintaining its charred appearance inGames of Thrones’ timeline.
House Stark & Westerosi Families Bending The Knee To Aegon I Targaryen
Immediately after showing the Burning of Harrenhal,House of the Dragonseason 2’s opening credits moves to an image of three noble houses bending the knee. The sigils on these figures reveal them to beKing Torrhen Stark, Lord Edmyn Tully, and Queen Regent Sharra Arryn pledging their loyalty to King Aegon I Targaryen. The Submission of the Vale was one of the final legs in Aegon’s Conquest, but the war still wasn’t officially over at this point in Targaryen history.
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House Targaryen’s Sigil Confirms Aegon Has Conquered Westeros
The last chapter in Aegon’s Conquest seen inHouse of the Dragonseason 2’s opening credits is theformation of House Targaryen’s three-headed dragon sigil. After seeing Houses Stark, Tully, and Arryn bend the knee, the tapestry confirms the reign of House Targaryen as Aegon’s heraldry is woven. The red three-headed dragon would still be used by House Targaryen through thedeath of Daenerys Targaryen, with the sigil representing Aegon, Rhaenys, Visenya, and their three dragons.
7Maegor The Cruel’s Death
The king impaled by the Iron Throne is Aegon the Conqueror’s son Maegor
House of the Dragonseason 2’s new credits then move to animage of a Targaryen king with his throat impaled on the Iron Throne. This ruler is King Maegor the Cruel, the son of Aegon I Targaryen and his sister-wife Visenya. Following Aegon the Conqueror’s death in 37 BC, the Iron Throne was succeeded by his eldest son, King Aenys I Targaryen. However, Aenys would only rule for five years before his sudden death, after which time his half-brother, Maegor, usurped the Iron Throne from Aenys’ son, Aegon.
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As depicted in the tapestry inHouse of the Dragon’s opening,King Maegor I Targaryen was found dead on the Iron Thronewith bloodied robes, slashes on his wrists, and one of the swords’ spikes impaling him through the back of his neck. George R.R. Martin’sFire & Bloodbook reveals that the direct cause of Maegor’s death is uncertain, with various theories suggesting he died by suicide, was killed by his wife Queen Elinor, or the Iron Throne itself killed him after deeming him unworthy.
6King Jaehaerys I & Alysanne Targaryen Ruling Over Westeros
King Jaehaerys and his sister-wife Alysanne begin their reign
The next bit in House Targaryen’s history shown in the opening credits is theascension of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and his sister-wife Alysanne Targaryen. Both the children of Maegor’s predecessor, King Aenys I Targaryen, Jaehaerys would rule Westeros for 55 years throughout a reign of general peace. He and Alysanne would go on to have 13 children, but none of them would succeed him on the Iron Throne.
On the tapestry, there are a few symbols woven in by Jaehaerys and Alysanne to represent important developments during their reign. One of these is thesymbol of the Faith of the Seven, as Jaehaerys was instrumental in making amends with the Faith by swearing that the crown would protect and defend them. There also appears to be a bag of gold next to the Targaryen King and Queen, as Jaehaerys was tasked with rebuilding the crown’s funds in the years after the Conquest and Maegor’s rule.
5The Great Council Of 101 AC
This scene was already shown in House of the Dragon season 1
Still during the reign of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen,House of the Dragon’s credits jump to a scene that has already been depicted in the prequel show. The tapestry reveals Old King Jaehaerys I sitting down with Viserys and Aemma Targaryen to his left and Rhaenys and Corlys Velaryon to his right, taking place at the Great Council of 101 AC. This wasthe council where it was decided that Jaehearys’ eldest grandson Viserys I Targaryen would succeed him on the Iron Throneinstead of his eldest grandchild Rhaenys. Notably,Viserys being chosen over Rhaenyswas depicted in the opening scene ofHouse of the Dragon’s season 1 premiere.
4Alicent Hightower’s Green Dress Moment At Rhaenyra & Laenor’s Wedding
Alicent confirmed her feud with Rhaenyra in this moment
Skipping ahead a few more years, the tapestry then moves to an image ofYoung Alicent Hightower during her infamous “green dress” moment. This occurred during the wedding of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon, where Alicent appeared in the Hightower green instead of the Targaryen black and red.Alicent’s green dress symbolizedthe point of no return for the “Blacks and Greens” feud between the Targaryens, dividing the heirs of King Viserys I Targaryen.
3The Greens & The Blacks Officially Split
Rhaenyra and Alicent’s Targaryen families are split at a table
From Alicent’s green dress,House of the Dragonseason 2’s opening credits move to a long table being split between theTargaryen Blacks and Greens. Alicent and Rhaenyra are depicted as sitting on each side, withRhaenyra’s party (Daemon, Rhaenys, Corlys, Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey) at the top and Alicent’s party (Aegon, Aemond, Helaena, Criston, and Otto) on the bottom. This was how the split within House Targaryen was further established duringHouse of the Dragonseason 1, episodes 8, 9, and 10.
2Aegon II Targaryen & Rhaenyra Targaryen Are Crowned
Aegon sits on the Iron Throne & Rhaenyra sits on the Dragonstone throne
The opening credits then depict thewarring coronations of Viserys I Targaryen’s children Aegon II Targaryen and Rhaenyra Targaryen. Since he was crowned first upon usurping his father’s crown, the King is seen sitting on the Iron Throne withAegon’s new golden dragon sigilsewn into his outfit. Next,House of the Dragonmoves to Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen wearing her crown and sitting upon her throne on Dragonstone. The opening credits then zoom out to show the tapestry’s images of the Targaryen factions, the dragons on each side, and the various sigils of noble Westerosi houses surrounding them.
1Vhagar & Aemond Targaryen Kill Arrax & Lucerys Velaryon
The aftermath of Aemond accidentally killing Lucerys concludes the opening credits
The new opening credits ofHouse of the Dragonseason 2 conclude with the tapestry’simage of Aemond and Vhagar killing Prince Lucerys Velaryon and his dragon Arrax. The credits show Vhagar and Aemond near Storm’s End as the dead bodies of Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys and Arrax lay strewn about. Considering this was the last major event inHouse of the Dragonseason 1’s ending, it’s fitting that it’s the final point in Targaryen history woven into the tapestry for season 2, episode 1’s credits.
New episodes ofHouse of the Dragonseason 2 release Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.
House of the Dragon
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
