Home of the Dragon switches issues up in Season 2, debuting a brand-new opening credit sequence proper out of the gate.
The brand new titles take the type of a tapestry spelling out the historical past of Home Targaryen, from the Doom of Valyria all the best way to occasions of Home of the Dragon Season 1. The primary season’s credit took a considerably comparable strategy, utilizing gears, blood, and a backdrop of Outdated Valyria to take us by way of the Targaryen household tree. Whereas these credit tied into the present’s deal with bloodlines and succession, they have been additionally dimly lit, with barely legible symbols representing every member of Home Targaryen. Due to this, the tapestry in Season 2 is already a step up — plus, it is simply as thematic as its predecessor!
The tapestry imagery has its roots in episode 7 of the Home of the Dragon Season 1, when Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban) utters the next unusual prophecy: “Hand turns loom; spool of green, spool of black; dragons of flesh weaving dragons of thread.” It is a intelligent little bit of foreshadowing to the Dance of the Dragons (the identify for the royal succession civil battle between between Aegon II and Rhaenyra), in addition to a nod to Helaena’s prophetic desires. However the references to looms, spools, and weaving additionally play into the concept that Home of the Dragon‘s story will sooner or later be considered as historical past, an idea rendered literal within the new Season 2 opening credit.
From nice conquests to instances of prosperity, this title sequence is stuffed to the brim with particulars from Home Targaryen’s previous, all drawn from George R.R. Martin’s Targaryen historical past Hearth & Blood. Let’s break down what every part of this large tapestry means — and why it issues.
The Doom of Valyria
The Doom that began all of it.
Credit score: Screenshot: HBO
Home of the Dragon‘s new titles open with foreboding pictures of erupting volcanoes, dying dragons, and a metropolis on hearth that appears similar to King Viserys’ (Paddy Considine) Outdated Valyria mannequin from Season 1. That may solely imply one factor: That is the Doom of Valyria, the cataclysmic occasion that wiped virtually all of the dragonriders from the face of the earth.
The one dragonriding household to outlive was, after all, Home Targaryen. That is as a result of 12 years earlier than the Doom even occurred, Daenys Targaryen — a dreamer like Helaena and Aegon the Conqueror — informed her father Lord Aenar Targaryen of a imaginative and prescient she’d had of the tip of Valyria. He heeded her warning and moved the household to Dragonstone. Mainly, the Doom and its destruction of all the opposite dragonriders is why the Targaryens are in Westeros within the first place. It is also why their connection to dragons is so uncommon and provides them a lot energy.
Aegon’s Conquest
Behold, the Subject of Hearth!
Credit score: Screenshot: HBO
Subsequent up on our Home Targaryen historical past lesson is Aegon the Conqueror’s invasion of Westeros, which takes place a few century after the Doom. The opening credit tapestry exhibits us Aegon in addition to his two sisters/wives Rhaenys and Visenya flying on their dragons. Whereas Aegon’s Balerion and Rhaenys’ Meraxes are gone by the point Home of the Dragon rolls round, Visenya’s Vhagar remains to be very a lot round. In the beginning of Season 2, her rider is Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell).
The credit proceed Aegon’s Conquest with a picture of Vhagar and Balerion respiration hearth over a fortress and crowds of dying troopers, which collapses a number of key battles into one tableau. The fortress is Harrenhal, which, regardless of being thought of impenetrable, proved no match for Balerion’s hearth. In the meantime, the hordes of charred corpses symbolize the casualties within the Subject of Hearth, a large battle throughout which the three Targaryen armies laid waste to the hosts of Home Lannister and Home Gardener. Should you look intently within the credit, you can also make out the sigils of each Homes — a hand for the Gardeners, a lion for the Lannisters — on shields on the battlefield.
Within the face of the sheer may of dragons (consider them because the nukes of Westeros), it is no shock the Nice Homes bent the knee to Aegon. The opening credit symbolize these pledges of fealty with kneeling figures decked out within the colours and sigils of some acquainted households: the blue and white falcon and moon of Home Arryn; the black and white direwolf of Home Stark; and the silver, orange, and blue trout of Home Tully. In a little bit of historical past repeating, all three Homes may very well be gamers in Season 2 as nicely, as Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) and Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) will search their allegiance within the battle to come back.
Maegor the Merciless
What a solution to go.
Credit score: Screenshot: HBO
Aegon the Conqueror was a tricky act to comply with, and neither of his sons fairly lived as much as his identify throughout their successive reigns. Aenys I used to be considered as indecisive and weak, whereas Maegor I, aka Maegor the Merciless, was a complete tyrant. We’re speaking executions, kinslaying, and tons and tons of burning. He additionally oversaw the completion of the Pink Maintain, after which he had everybody who labored on it beheaded with a purpose to preserve its secrets and techniques. General, not an awesome dude!
Maegor did exit in memorable trend although, incomes him a spot in Home of the Dragon‘s new title sequence. We pan down from the Pink Maintain to see him seated on the Iron Throne, impaled by way of the neck by one of many throne’s swords and together with his wrists minimize. Hearth and Blood retains whether or not Maegor died by suicide or homicide ambiguous. Nevertheless, the dying units a sample of Targaryen Kings being harm or killed by the very Iron Throne they rule from. Bear in mind how Viserys stored getting cuts from sitting on the Iron Throne? Seems lethal furnishings is a number one reason for dying amongst Westerosi monarchs.
Jaehaerys and Alysanne
Incest apart, these two have been a reasonably good pair.
Credit score: Screenshot: HBO
The place Maegor was a tyrant, his successor and nephew Jaehaerys I got here to be often called the “Conciliator.” His reign of 55 years is the longest in Targaryen historical past, which definitely deserves him a piece of the Targaryen tapestry.
The Home of the Dragon credit present Jaehaerys alongside his sister/spouse Alysanne, in addition to a picture of a pot of gold and a seven-pointed star, representing the Religion of the Seven. The previous factors to Westeros’ prosperity throughout his reign, and the latter to how Jaehaerys mended the contentious divide between the crown and the Religion that began throughout Aenys’ reign. They do not name him the Conciliator for nothing!
The Nice Council
This seems to be acquainted.
Credit score: Screenshot: HBO
After exhibiting Jaehaerys and Alysanne, the Home of the Dragon opening credit dive into territory we have already coated in Season 1. First up is the Nice Council of Harrenhal, the place Jaehaerys and the lords of the Seven Kingdoms selected his successor from a crop of 14 potential heirs.
Viserys ended up on the throne, with the Council passing over Jaehaerys’ granddaughter Rhaenys (Eve Greatest). The choice set a precedent for girls not being permitted to rule, resulting in Viserys’ preliminary hesitation about making Rhaenyra his inheritor. Think about all of the mess we might have saved had the Council simply gone with Rhaenys.
Mashable High Tales
The Greens and the Blacks
It is Targaryen smackdown time!
Credit score: Screenshot: HBO
Subsequent, Home of the Dragon‘s new opening credit bounce proper into the battle between Rhaenyra and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke). We see Alicent standing at one finish of a banquet corridor, resplendent in a inexperienced robe that calls again to her modern energy transfer at Rhaenyra’s marriage ceremony. (Additionally, discover how the torches flanking her resemble Home Hightower’s fiery sigil). On the opposite finish of the corridor is Rhaenyra, equally wonderful in a black costume.
The banquet tables on reverse aspect of the corridor lay out the members of Staff Inexperienced and Staff Black. On Staff Inexperienced, we see Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), Aemond, Aegon II, and Helaena. Discover how Helaena wears gold as an alternative of inexperienced, distancing her from the remainder of her household. On Staff Black, we see Daemon (Matt Smith), Rhaenys, Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), Jacaerys (Harry Collett), Lucerys (Elliot Grihault), and Joffrey (Oscar Eskinazi).
Rhaenyra and Aegon II on their separate thrones
Two rulers enter. One ruler leaves.
Credit score: Screenshot: HBO
Within the richest tableau these credit have to supply, Aegon II and Rhaenyra take their locations as dueling rulers of the Seven Kingdoms. Aegon sits atop the Iron Throne, whereas Rhaenyra sits on the throne at Dragonstone.
The 2 are surrounded by a body of crimson and gold — a nod to Home Targaryen’s colours and home phrases, “fire and blood.” Arms emerge from beneath each of their thrones to ship messages to potential allies. Ravens flock from the inexperienced hand underneath Aegon II, representing Otto’s diplomatic techniques in the beginning of the battle. As we see within the Season 2 premiere, this strategy already chafes the war-ready Aegon.
Aegon and Otto’s inexperienced hand and ravens distinction with the black hand and dragons extending from Rhaenyra’s part of the tapestry. Of the a number of dragons at Rhaenyra’s disposal, solely three are pictured right here. The smaller ones resemble Jacaerys’ Vermax and Lucerys’ Arrax, equivalent to the younger princes’ missions to safe allies within the Season 1 finale. The longer crimson dragon is probably going Daemon’s dragon Caraxes.
Rounding out this tapestry is a border of sigils framing Rhaenyra and Aegon. Primarily based on placement, we will inform which of the Nice Homes have declared for which aspect. Of the main Recreation of Thrones and Home of the Dragon gamers, Homes Lannister, Baratheon, and Hightower are on Staff Inexperienced, whereas Homes Arryn, Stark, Tully, and Velaryon are on Staff Black.
Lucerys Velaryon’s dying
RIP.
Credit score: Screenshot: HBO
It is solely becoming that these new credit shut with the tragedy that closed out Season 1: the dying of Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys. Right here, we see the intertwined figures of Aemond, Vhagar, Arrax, and Lucerys, reminding us all of one of many first casualties of the Dance of the Dragons.
From right here, the now-blank tapestry unfolds in direction of the ominous silhouette of the Iron Throne. The message is evident: For the previous minute and a half, we have witnessed centuries’ price of bloody battles and the devastating energy of dragons, all unleashed within the identify of ruling Westeros. And with the schism between Rhaenyra and Aegon, these occasions — largely tragedies — will not be stopping anytime quickly. The Targaryen historical past remains to be being written; the tapestry is way from carried out.
Jaehaerys’ homicide and the dying of the ratcatchers
As of Home of the Dragon‘s third episode, the opening credit tapestry replaces the picture of Lucerys’ dying with new additions primarily based on the occasions of Season 2’s first two episodes.
First up is the funeral procession of Jaehaerys Targaryen, who was brutally beheaded by assassins on the finish of the season premiere. We see the toddler prince mendacity on a bier lined in inexperienced, a bloody gold thread weaving throughout his neck to symbolize each the character of his homicide and the best way by which his head was sewn again on for show to the general public.
From there, the tapestry transitions to the fallout from Jaehaerys’ loss, exhibiting us all of the Pink Maintain ratcatchers Aegon had hanged with a purpose to kill the one who had a hand in murdering his son. Blood seeps from their toes in direction of the Iron Throne, a reminder of the various casualties to come back because the battle between Rhaenyra and Aegon continues.
Rook’s Relaxation and the rise of Aemond Targaryen
Home of the Dragon updates its intro tapestry as soon as once more in episode 6, giving us a take a look at the aftermath of the Battle at Rook’s Relaxation. Right here, fallen dragons Sunfyre and Meleys lie curled up beside one another. An armored determine between them raises a sword, whereas a inexperienced dragon circles overhead.
Primarily based on the lengthy Targaryen hair, that determine is probably going Aemond Targaryen, which means the dragon might be Vhagar, the one different dragon at Rook’s Relaxation. The tapestry’s perspective makes her look smaller than she actually is. We’re positioned on the bottom, up near the large our bodies of Sunfyre and Meleys, whereas Vhagar flies excessive above, the one one in all these three dragons who can nonetheless take to the skies.
Rhaenyra Targaryen wants extra dragonriders. Listed here are the three most probably candidates.
This tapestry part additionally highlights Aemond’s triumph at Rook’s Relaxation, as he gained probably the most from the battle. Not solely did he and Vhagar remove Meleys and Rhaenys, additionally they gravely injured Aegon, paving the best way for Aemond to change into prince regent.
However this new addition to the title sequence saves its most foreboding element for final. We zoom in on Meleys’ head and see her black blood mixing in with the crimson blood of the various troopers who perished at Rook’s Relaxation. It is now dragon’s blood that creeps in direction of the Iron Throne to shut out the credit, emphasizing that dragons are simply as more likely to change into casualties as people, and that even Targaryen gods might fall.
Vhagar towards Staff Black’s many dragons
Home of the Dragon‘s Season 2 finale provides yet one more spectacular tableau to its opening credit: a real dance of the dragons. Vhagar — Staff Inexperienced’s final remaining dragon till Tessarion and Dreamfyre be part of the fray — faces down all of Staff Black’s dragons, new and outdated.
Rhaenyra’s dragon Syrax leads the cost, however you can too see Vermax, ridden by Jace; Vermithor, ridden by Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew); Seasmoke, ridden by Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty); Moondancer, ridden by Baela (Bethany Antonia); and Silverwing, ridden by Ulf the White (Tom Bennett) rising from Dragonstone. A big seventh dragon can be current. This could be Sheepstealer, the Vale dragon pursued by Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell). Notably, Daemon’s dragon Caraxes, together with his lengthy crimson neck, seems to be lacking, as by the beginning of the Season 2 finale his allegiance to Rhaenyra remains to be unclear.
Not solely does this final new tapestry picture give us some nice dragon motion, it additionally reminds us which dragons are on which aspect as we head into Season 3. As of now, it looks as if Staff Inexperienced is at a draconic drawback — however realizing Home of the Dragon, something might occur.
Home of the Dragon Season 2 is now streaming on Max.
UPDATE: Aug. 4, 2024, 10:10 p.m. EDT This text was first printed on June 16, 2024, and has been up to date commonly with additions to the opening credit sequence.
