SUPER SPOILERS AHEAD!
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This is an article written solely for “book readers” who know how “Dance of the Dragons” will turn out for Rhaenyra and her family. If you want to continue enjoying House of the Dragon by going in blind, turn back now.
At the time of this article, HBO’s House of the Dragon‘s next season is well into production and we will likely debut next summer with a possible teaser by the end of this year (2023).
While we wait for the next installment of this decade’s new big show, here is a list of characters that must make an appearance (or at the very least be teased) in order to fully incorporate the source material of George R.R. Martin’s “Fire and Blood”.
Related Article: The Biggest Differences Between “House of the Dragon” and “Fire and Blood”
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#1: Alice Rivers
The Dance of Dragons has a slew of characters that are meant to be archetypes of characters from the Song of Ice and Fire Novels. Rheanyra is meant to be an older, more mature Deanarys, and even Viserys is meant to reflect Ned Stark.
She has the appearance of a young lady in her 20s. However, the inhabitants of the castle claim she’s twice that age or more. She’s believed to be a bastard of Lynol Strong.
Alice Rivers is somewhat of a stand-in for “The Red Woman”, Melisandre. Much like the Red Woman, Alice is something of a sorcerous who frequents the castle of Harrenhal. She becomes something of a concubine to Prince Aemond.
#2: Ser Harrold Westerling
Harold is Prominently played by Graham MacTavish in season 1 and surprisingly still alive when we last saw him. I say surprisingly because he was supposed to die long before the Green Council seized power.
Hopefully, he’s still alive next season and will put his successor, Ser Cryston Cole, in his place.
#3: Adult Samwell Blackwood
You may remember this scene from episode 4 where Rheanyra was looking at the quotes and this 12-year-old Blackwood would duel another sutor from House Bracken whose families have been bitter rivals. He would later be mentioned prominently when the war escalated in the Riverlands.
Prince Daemon said in the finale that he plans to fly to the Riverland to treat with the Tullys, so it is likely through Daemon’s perspective that we see Blackwood Again as an adult and more formidable warrior than ever.
Should this character return, it would be interesting to see him play a prominent role as Daemon’s right-hand man. His most prominent role was the battle of the Burning Mill, where he and his sister faced the Brackens again.
#4: Daeron Targaryen
When we think of the green children, we think of King Aegon the Elder, Aemond One-eye, and Halena. However, one missing sibling that has yet to make an appearance or even a mention is Alicent’s youngest son, Daeron Targaryen.
There is, however, a good reason why he’s been absent for the first season, as during most of this time period, Daeron was being fostered in the Reach to Squire for his uncle, Lord Hobert Hightower.
He doesn’t play a more prominent role in the conflict until the dance becomes an all-out war. If there is an opportunity to bring in a suspiciously absent. Let us hope we see not just Daeron but also his dragon Tessarian, known as the Blue Queen.
#5: Dalton Greyjoy (The Red Kraken)
His story may be too divorced from the dance to be featured, but it does deserve a mention. The Red Kraken is the lord of the Iron Islands whose name requires no introduction.
In the book, his fleet was initially being courted by the Greens but eventually sided with Rheanyra’s cause solely out of the desire to raid the Lannister’s mines, even kidnapping lord Jason Lannister’s daughters and mistress. With Jason’s twin brother Tyland playing a prominent role in Otto’s inner circle, it’s inconceivable that such character and event not be mentioned.
#6: Cregan Stark
One character that we’re sure to meet this season, albeit briefly, is the current Lord of Winterfell, Cregan Stark. The first season ended with the “strong boys” parting ways on dragon-back to win the allegiances of the other houses.
Prince Jacary’s mission was to win the allegiances of his grandmother’s heritage, the Vale and the North. The book describes in detail how Jace was able to quickly befriend the young Lord and even signed a marriage pact for future suitors called the Pact of Ice and Fire.
Stark would also play a large part during the Dance of Dragons’ conclusion and rearing of Rhenyra’s surviving son, Aegon. Considering that we last saw Jace flying North, seeing Cregan Stark is practically a certainty.
#7: Blood and Cheese
The absolute must-see duo of season two is the infamous killers known only as Blood and Cheese.
Cheese got his name for being a rat catcher in the red keep that knows the secret pathways. Blood got his name for his brutish nature working for Daemon under the city watch. These two will commit what is likely one of the most horrific scenes in this series that is almost on par with the shock of the Red Wedding.
Related Article: How Long Should “House of the Dragon” Last?
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