“House of the Dragon” season 2 comes with new opening titles sequence
The Targaryen family history is woven into the fabric of the show's new opener.
Adding to the surprises that came with the debut of House of the Dragon season 2, the premiere episode, titled "A Son for a Son," confirmed that the show has another new opening titles sequence.
Season 1 of the Game of Thrones prequel featured an animated opener that channeled the stone model of Old Valyria owned by the now-late King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine). It served as a literal representation of the Targaryen bloodline. Streams of red ran through the streets of Valyria, connecting the sigils of key figures from Targaryen history.
Season 2's opening titles sequence now takes a different approach to that history. The animation depicts a Bayeux-style tapestry weaving itself together, with the various panels depicting notable scenes from the past.
Courtesy HBO Matt Smith's Prince Daemon Targaryen and his dragon Caraxes on 'House of the Dragon' season 1
It begins in Old Valyria. As the tapestry constructs itself, with blood stains giving it pops of red, we see the Valyrians forging bonds with dragons. The mages of the land were said to work blood magic, which may explain one particular scene showing a man holding a dagger as another kneels before a dragon surrounded by candles.
The proceeding volcanic eruption marks the Doom of Valyria, in which every hill across the former home of the Targaryens simultaneously exploded in ash and flame, destroying humans and dragons alike. The tapestry continues to weave together scenes depicting Aegon the Conqueror and his sister-wives, Visenya and Rhaenys, riding their dragons across the Narrow Sea to conquer and unify Westeros.
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More recent moments in the timeline of Game of Thrones become visualized, including the Great Council of Harrenhal, where the aging King Jaehaerys Targaryen (Michael Carter) presided over the naming of Viserys as the next ruler of the realm, as well as the start of the Dance of the Dragons.
Courtesy of HBO Caraxes roars at Harrenhall on 'House of the Dragon' season 2
We see a depiction of Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) — the two women both credited and blamed for sparking this devastating civil war that crippled the Targaryen empire — rendered at opposite ends of a great feast. Then we see Rhaenyra's half-brother and Alicent's son Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) crowned king on the Iron Throne, as Rhaenyra is crowned queen out of Dragonstone.
The final scene of the tapestry is a vision of the death of Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault), Rhaenyra's son who was killed by Vhagar, the dragon ridden by Aegon's brother Aemond (Ewan Mitchell), in the skies above the stronghold of Storm's End. Presumably, the opening titles sequence will continue to add more scenes as we get deeper into the events of House of the Dragon.
HBO Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen on 'House of the Dragon' season 2
The season 2 cast also includes Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen, Rhys Ifans as Hand of the King Otto Hightower, Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon, Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole, Matthew Needham as Lord Varys Strong, Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria, Harry Collett as Jacaerys Velaryon, Bethany Antonia as Lady Baela Targaryen, Phoebe Campbell as Lady Rhaena Targaryen, Phia Saban as Queen Helaena Targaryen, and Jefferson Hall as Jason Lannister.
Among the new characters we're getting this season are Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull, Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers, Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower, Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong, Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull, Jamie Kenna as Ser Alfred Broome, Kieran Bew as Hugh, Tom Bennett as Ulf, Tom Taylor as Lord Cregan Stark, and Vincent Regan as Ser Rickard Thorne.
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