The following contains major spoilers from House of the Dragon season 2 and beyond.
As Cersei Lannister once said, "When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die." The Game of Thrones fan favorite didn't have any dragons, but she still understood that Westeros takes a toll on the median lifespan of its townsfolk. Fans of the prequel series, House of the Dragon, saw exactly what she meant after the shocking events of season 2, episode 4—which sent both King Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) and Rhaenys (Eve Best) plummeting to their supposed deaths.
The battle took place over Rook's Rest, a meaningless castle if not for the trap set by Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) and Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel). Luring one of Rhaenyra's (Emma D'Arcy) dragons to the location, Aemond planned to both take Rook's Rest and wipe an opposing dragon off the map. When King Aegon II flew in unplanned, Aemond seized the opportunity to claim the throne as well. Rhaenys and her dragon Melys were most certainly killed after their fight with Aemond and Vhagar, but Aegon's fate is a different story. Read on below to find out how House of the Dragon may handle King Aegon II's story moving forward.
King Aegon II Lives!
Believe it not, our king survives the fall. We've yet to see how House of the Dragon will adapt the precedent set in George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood novel, but both Aegon II and his dragon Sunfyre live on in the story. Sadly, Rhaenys and Melys are not so lucky. The "Queen Who Never Was" perishes at Rook's Rest along with one of Rhaenyra's most formidable dragons. Well, at least we won't confuse Rhaenyra with Rhaenys anymore.
Miraculously surviving the battle, King Aegon II returns to King's Landing as a burnt and crippled mess. In his stay, his brother Aemond rules as Protector of the Realm and Prince Regent. Though he refuses the crown officially, Aemond states in the book, "It looks better on me than it ever did on him." It's possible that House of the Dragon will find Aemond a bit more throne-ready than in the novel, especially since his brother's near-death experience came from his sibling's doing in episode 4. In one of House of the Dragon's largest changes yet, Aemond orders Vhagar to burn the entangled mess of Rhaenys and Aegon II's dragons—sending Aegon II to the ground on the back of Sunfyre.
What's Next for Aegon II?
Surprisingly, Aegon II lasts a significant time throughout "The Dance of the Dragons." Still, it's possible that House of the Dragon takes a different approach. As actor Tom Glynn-Carney told Esquire before the season 2 premiere, "The books are the foundation of where we're going narratively, but things are tweaked." Would the series take such a swing as to end his time on House of the Dragon now? We don't want to spoil the entire story from the books just yet. For now, just know that Aegon II is nowhere near finished with his reign.
