The House of the Dragon’s second season is almost upon us, and with it the chance to see the Targaryen family knock seven bells out of each other while riding 200-ton dragons.
The show, which is based on Game of Thrones author George RR Martin’s book Fire & Blood, covers the events of the Dance of the Dragons, a civil war among the ruling Targaryen family which took place hundreds of years before Jon Snow ever slew a White Walker.
While the first series explored the lead-up to war breaking out, the second season is set to begin with daggers drawn, and the rival Green and Black factions at each others’ throats.
But wait: who are the Greens and the Blacks, and what do they stand for? We break it down.
What are they fighting about?
Essentially, over who gets to rule Westeros. After her mother died in childbirth, King Viserys named Rhaenyra his heir (she being his only surviving child). However, when he married Alicent Hightower and had children with her, he didn’t change the line of succession – sparking incredulity among the nobles, who believe that the crown should go to a male heir.
This becomes an ever-larger bone of contention in the years that follow, and when Viserys dies, Alicent seizes her chance and puts her son, Aegon, on the Iron Throne, claiming that Viserys wanted him to rule rather than Rhaenyra.
Though initially reluctant to plunge Westeros into turmoil, the end of season one sees Rhaenyra finally commit to all-out war when her son Lucerys is killed by Alicent’s other son, Aemond, in an airborne dragonback battle.
Now, Rhaenyra and her forces are camped out on the legendary fortress of Dragonstone, while Alicent (whose son Aegon is still king, for the time being) and her family continue to live at the Red Keep in King’s Landing.
The Greens
Members: Alicent Hightower, Ser Otto Hightower, Aegon, Aemond and Helaena, Ser Criston Cole and Maester Orwyle
Allied Houses: the Hightowers, the Baratheons and the Lannisters
Firepower: Aemond claimed Vhagar, the largest living dragon, in the events of season one. There are also two other adult dragons, Sunfyre (Aegon’s) and Dreamfyre (Helaena’s).
In the show, Alicent (arguably the leader of the faction) first dresses in green for Rhaenyra’s wedding. Making a late entrance, she arrives in an emerald dress – which we quickly learn is the colour that her house, the Hightowers, use to call their bannermen to war.
From then on, Alicent makes a point of wearing green, championing the Hightowers’ interests arguably above those of the nation. And, as we learn, she is willing to kill to make sure her sons sit on the Iron Throne.
The Blacks
Members: Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen, their children (Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey Velaryon and Baela and Rhaena Targaryen), Rhaenys and Ser Corlys
Allied Houses: Houses Velaryon, Celtigar, Staunton, Massey, Darklyn, and Bar Emmon, as well as the Stark and Arryn families
Firepower: there’s Syrax, Rhaenyra’s dragon, Caraxes (Daemon’s dragon) and Vermax, Jacaerys’ dragon. There’s also Moondancer, Baela’s dragon, and Meleys, who dramatically escaped King’s Landing with Rhaenys in the season finale.
Though the books and show differ about why the Blacks are named what they are, Rhaenyra is repeatedly associated with the colour. In the books, she wears a red and black dress to the King and Queen’s fifth wedding anniversary, while Alicent wears green – thus pitting themselves on two opposing factions. In the show, it seems to be more of an aesthetic choice.
In the trailer for season two, the banner of a three-headed red dragon on a black background is repeatedly shown, signalling dark times ahead.
