For all our grumbling about House of the Dragon’s first season—its elongated windup to events obvious from the jump, its textbook-plotted storyline, its delay of all things interesting and consequential—we have to say: when Ramin Djawadi’s score kicks in each week, we’re just happy to get another hour in Westeros. It takes us back to a simpler time, when we were sweet summer children in the spring of 2011. May the franchise go on. May it last generations and always give us something to complain about.
When we last left the divided Targaryen royal family, the long-awaited civil war, the “Dance of the Dragons” had finally finally finally almost just about begun. While we thought the conflict between Aegon II and Rhaenyra over Viserys’ vacant throne would be more of a centerpiece to the season, we’ve instead come to see the show’s slower arc: Season 1, like a prologue of sorts, merely sets the stage for the two-year war that will decide the King of Westeros. (If you want to avoid Season 2 spoilers, stay away from articles summarizing the Dance of the Dragons.)
With such deliberate pacing, House of the Dragon is poised for at least one more season and in all likelihood many more. It’s worth remembering that the events of the series, even after the time jumps, still puts the date over one hundred years before Daenerys Targaryen is even born—allowing for decades more of Targaryen drama, inbreeding, and dramatic conversation-ending hmmms.
Here’s what we know about the future of the series.
Is House of the Dragon Returning for Season 2?
Is milk of the poppy the best remedy for a king’s pain? The answer is yes.
Shortly after the Season 1 premiere, HBO announced its plans to renew the series for a second season, noting its almost instant popularity; the series brought in the largest new series audience in HBO’s history. (But can we really call it a new series?)
There are also rumors the series will continue past Season 2 and into Season 3—rumors stoked by its star Matt Smith, who let plans slip on an episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast for after the Episode 6 time jump: “Once we make the jump, we’re in. I’m pretty sure from then on there’s not any big huge time jumps, particularly next season and the one after.”
The one after. Hell yes.
When Will House of the Dragon Season 2 Come Out?
Despite the Hollywood strikes, House of the Dragon has carried on as filming was not affected by the SAG-AFTRA strike and the script for the second season was already completed before the WGA strike. According to Variety, the season will kick off in Summer 2024.
That’s still a little far away, but having at least a season to look forward to is enough to keep us going. House of the Dragon Season 2 will no doubt be bigger than Season 1, and knowing what’s on the horizon based on the series’ lore makes Season 2 all the more exciting.
Is There a Trailer Yet?
HBO has just released our first sneak peek at Season 2 in the form of a teaser trailer which immediately reminds us of the scope and stakes of the conflict between the Greens and the Blacks.
All of the other major characters from Season 1 can be seen here, including Rhaenyra Targaryen, Alicent Hightower and her machiavellian father Otto Hightower, the newly-crowned King Aegon, Ser Criston, Rhaenys Targaryen, and Corlys Velaryon.
What Will Season 2 Be About?
“There is no war so hateful to the gods as a war between kin,” says Rhaenys in the teaser trailer. “And no war so bloody as a war between dragons.”
Season 2 is expected to get right to the meat of the Dance of the Dragons after all that table-setting in Season 1. Alicent’s son Aemon is responsible for the death of Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys, and the fallout from that fateful moment will impact all of Westeros. In Targaryen terms in particular, it means two things: fire, and blood.
Thus far, the series has been working loosely off author George R.R. Martin’s doorstopper textbook Fire & Blood, a history book of sorts for Westeros and the Targaryens. The book includes all major events of Season 1 and the subsequent history, the events following the death of King Viserys I, including the ensuing civil war.
Season 2 will likely cover all or some of the next two years, 129-131 AC. That period will decide the successor to the Iron Throne. While it’s unclear how much of the civil war Season 2 will get through, we can likely expect, however, a more standard chronology, without time jumps. The characters and actors should be more or less set for the next season.
Who Will Return in Season 2?
Expect the same players as Season 1, representing the Targaryens, the Hightowers, and the Velaryons.
Season 2 is expected to also feature the Starks, with the northern family expected to play in important role in the upcoming civil war.
Joshua St. Clair
Assistant Editor
Joshua St Clair is an Assistant Editor at Men’s Health Magazine.
Milan Polk is an Editorial Assistant for Men’s Health who specializes in entertainment and lifestyle reporting, and has worked for New York Magazine’s Vulture and Chicago Tribune.
