HBO Unveils Dueling ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 Trailers: Green Trailer vs. Black Trailer Breakdown

“All Must Choose!” HBO unveiled two brand new dueling trailers for House of the Dragon Season 2 today — a Black Trailer and a Green Trailer — forcing Game of Thrones fans to choose a side in the upcoming war to come. The Black Trailer positions Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) as the true heir of Viserys Targaryan (Paddy Considine), revealing snippets of Daemon (Matt Smith) threatening to burn noble family’s houses to the ground, young Jacaerys (Harry Collett) courting the Starks at the Wall, and showing the Velaryons offering their counsel. The Green Trailer, on the other hand, insists that Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) is the true king of Westeros, revealing a despondent Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and an Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) eager to bring the fight to Daemon.

Which side will you choose? What secrets do each trailer hide? What are the Black Trailer and Green Trailer Easter Eggs to look out for? And is there a House of the Dragon Season 2 premiere date? Let’s break it down…

House of the Dragon Season 2 Black Trailer Breakdown:

The House of the Dragon Season 2 Black Trailer opens with what appears to be a funeral, or at least some somber ceremony, on Dragonstone. My best guess is it’s a memorial for Lucerys (Elliot Grihault), who was killed by Aemond’s dragon Vhagar in the Season 1 finale. In voice over, Rhaenyra says, “My father chose me, his firstborn child, to succeed him. He held to his decision until death.”

We watch Rhaenyra observing her own dragon, Syrax, from various points on Dragonstone. She then says, “And yet, Alicent’s son sits my throne,” as Aegon saunters up to the iconic Iron Throne. At dinner on Dragonstone, Rhaenyra tells her family, “I mean to fight this war, and win it.” Daemon turns to her and smirks.

We see someone looking up at high windows in a castle; a dragon soars by. Then we watch Rhaenyra march to where attendants have readied her dragon. Jacaerys now says, “The realm will soon tear itself apart if men do not remember the oaths sworn to King Viserys, and to his rightful heir.” There’s a shot of men riding horses in the snow and then we are following Jacaerys and, we assume, Lord Cregan Stark (Tom Taylor) as they walk along the top of The Wall.

There is a close up of Rhaenyra’s face. Then a quickly edited montage of Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower, Alicent’s brother, on the field of battle, a golden dragon flying overhead, and men flying in the air after an explosion.

Aemond is walking in a vast castle that could possibly be Harrenhal — at least, we know we are getting some Harrenhal action this season thanks to Daemon’s strategic plans and the casting of Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin) — and there’s a close up of Otto Hightower. Corlys Velaryon has (Steve Toussaint) just said, “The Hightowers are marching,” He then hobbles with his cane towards a pier. We then see he is talking to Rhaenyra on a dock, saying, “You must crush this beast at its head.”

Then a montage of Rhaenyra, a man in armor, potentially Daemon, climbing castle steps with his sword ready, and finally Daemon turns to the camera with his helmet on. Doors open revealing Alicent and her daughter Helaena (Phia Saban) in full funeral regalia before we get a shot of Aegon stewing.

As this happens, Daemon says, “Our terms are simple: renounce the false king and bend the knee to the queen —” Darkness falls for a quick second and we see Daemon atop his dragon, finishing his threat: “— Or your house burns.”

We see armies on the ground and then Beala Targaryen (Bethany Antonia) riding her dragon Moondancer in battle. Rhaenys (Eve Best) says, “When the desire to kill and burn takes hold and all reason is lost, we will not even remember what began the war in the first place.” There’s a shot of Rhaenyra during this line, Rhaenys speaking, Aegon clubbing someone, and Vhagar flying.

Daemon yells, “We fight for our queen!” as doors open onto a fight in the rain — leading me to think the unidentified soldier from earlier was Daemon. Then it appears that Ser Arryk Cargyll (Elliot Tittensor) or his twin Ser Erryk (Luke Tittensor) are fighting. Rhaenyra walks first outside on Dragonstone, looking at the horizon, and then we see her indoors, in shadow. She says, “I fear what I have begun.” A dragon roars.

We get the title card followed by the House of the Dragon Season 2 premiere date: June 16. 

House of the Dragon Season 2 Green Trailer Breakdown:

The House of the Dragon Season 2 Green Trailer opens instead with Alicent Hightower lighting a candle in prayer, similar to how she did as young teenager in Season 1. She says, “Only weeks ago, my lord husband was alive and the realm was at peace.” She blows out her kindling and we cut to an establishing shot of a city. We see that Alicent is talking to what appears to be her father. 

On the walls of King’s Landing, green Targaryen banners are unfurled. Alicent and Sir Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) enter the Small Council chamber. “On his death bed,” Alicent continues as we see a shot of Rhaenyra from behind, cloaking in ominous shadow, “he knew the realm would never accept a queen.” There’s a close up of Rhaenyra’s eyes.

“Rhaenyra’s supporters will believe what they wish,” Alicent says, as the doors to the throne room open. Aegon climbs the steps to the Iron Throne as his grandfather bows. “But Viserys wanted Aegon to succeed him,” she says in a different scene from before. Aegon sits on the Iron Throne.

We see solders cranking the great gears of a massive scorpion positioned atop castle walls. (You’ll remember from Game of Thrones these are the only effective anti-dragon weapons.) One of the Cargyll twins looks out from the battlements. We watch Daemon overlook a massive camp of black tents. Otto Hightower says, “They wish now not for the good of the realm, but for the satisfaction of vengeance.” Alicent is in the background. We then see a similar close up of Rhaenyra from the Black Trailer.

A yellow-ish dragon, perhaps Syrax, soars in the sky. Men are thrown on the battlefield. Someone holds a purse of money through the grates of a gate. A soldier sees it. We then see someone leading another man through dark tunnels with a torch. (For book readers, do we think this is a prelude to the horrific “Blood and Cheese” event? I’m thinking that is a bribe to get into King’s Landing.) Aegon says, “Plot against the king, and I will pay it back a hundred times over.” 

We see hands holding a bejeweled helmet. Aegon, dressed in armor, says, “I’m as fearsome as any of them.” Then we see Aegon’s gilded dragon Sunfyre in what appears to be the sept above the Dragonpit. Alicent says to Aegon, “You have no idea the sacrifices that were made to put you on that throne.” Aegon doesn’t look particularly happy to hear this (or thankful). 

A dragon soars over a castle at night while soldiers rush on the ground. Daemon, in a state of undress, cautiously moves through a hall. In another darkly lit room, Aemond grins. “My uncle is a challenge I welcome,” Aemond says to Ser Criston Cole in another scene set in the Small Council chamber. “If he dares face me.”  

Mourning civilians toss something at a royal carriage below. A grieving Alicent sheds a tear under her black veil. Otto says, “We will prevail and bring forth peace, but you must accept that the path to victory now is one of violence.” Someone is rolling golden coins on their fingers, Alicent looks worried at Aemond during a Small Council meeting, Ser Criston Cole walks battlements, and a palace maid rushes back with a blood soaked linen. “Good,” Aegon says, grinning. “To war then!”

Note, in the middle of Otto’s last line, we see a young woman in armor wearing House Bracken’s sigil pull out a sword on a group of young men wearing black and red. In the books, House Bracken declared for the Greens and their enemy house, the Blackwoods, declared for the Blacks. There is a very well known female Blackwood warrior in Fire & Blood named Alysanne “Black Aly” who fought during this war, but it’s unclear who this Bracken warrior maiden is supposed to be.

Vhagar soars through the clouds, Ser Criston Cole rides towards a forest during a battle, the same shot of one of the Cargyll twins dueling that’s in the Black Trailer appears. We get an overhead shot of King’s Landing as Alicent says, “All my life I’ve endeavored to serve both my house and my realm.” There’s a shot of her in a great hall or sept and then she is speaking by a curtained window. There is a shot of a castle and then we see Alicent duck under water in her bath. “And somehow none of it matters.”

A dragon flies over a forest as Criston yells, “Hold to your courage! For the one true king, Aegon!” We then see Aegon strutting into the throne room and then a glimpse of Vhagar roaring at Dragonpit attendants.  There is a title card, followed by the House of the Dragon Season 2 premiere date: June 16. 

When Does House of the Dragon Come Back? House of the Dragon Season 2 Release Date:

House of the Dragon Season 2 will premiere on HBO and Max on Sunday, June 16 at 9 PM ET.