Includes SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6 and Fire & Blood, the show’s source material.
Summary
Despite the massive dragon sequence at Rook’s Rest,House of the Dragonseason 2 may have one more battle prepared for its finale. Following theBlacks and Greens splitand the start of the Dance of the Dragons in season 2, HBO’sGame of Thronesprequel series has still maintained a relatively slow pace, exploring the internal conflicts of its characters rather than just jumping from battle to battle like the book. The series is based onFire & Blood, which examines the Dance from a zoomed-out perspective, primarily focusing on the key events of the war.
While episodes 5 & 6 have received some criticism for having too much filler, it does seem like the season intends to fulfill the audience’s desire for some more action. With two episodes to go, it still could be too early in the story for the Battle of the Gullet or Rhaenyra’s taking of King’s Landing, butthe Battle at the Red Fork is a potential ending point. With Jason Lannister and his bannermen arriving in episode 6, the foundation is already laid for this to occur. In theHouse of the Dragoncast, Jason and Tyland Lannister are both played by actor Jefferson Hall.
The Battle At The Red Fork Explained
The Lannisters And Riverlords Clash At The Red Fork
The Red Fork is one of the main rivers of the Riverlands, and it’s the host of a pivotal battle in the Dance of the Dragons. Unlike Rook’s Rest, the Red Fork doesn’t actually involve any dragon action but instead sees the Lannister army march forth against lesser noble houses of the Riverlands in an attempt to aid the Greens. While the Lannisters win the battle,Lord Jason Lannister of Casterly Rock is killed in the action, sending the Westerlands into disarray. This causes the Greens to lose a key ally in the war.
WTF, Lannisters?! Why Their Army Has An Actual Lion In HOTD
House Lannister is riding into the Dance of the Dragons with caged lions in their armies, setting up even more brutality in House of the Dragon’s war.
How House Of The Dragon Has Set Up The Battle At The Red Fork For The Season 2 Finale
Both Sides Move Their Pieces Toward The Riverlands For War
Many ofHouse of the Dragon’sslower council scenes notably lay the foundation for future battles and events in the Dance. Jason Lannisters arrival at the Golden Tooth and demand for dragon support prepares audiences for his advance into the Riverlands. In “Smallfolk,” he even says,“By the time we are finished with the Riverland scum, the Red Fork will have earned its name.”
Criston Cole and Aemond begin their march toward Harrenhal, beginning what should be a multiple-episode stretch of conflict in the Riverlands region as both sides begin to amass forces in the area. Daemon’s plot line at Harrenhal has seen him trying to assemble the armies of the Riverlands under House Tully, and though he’s made enemies with the lesser nobles of the region, they’ll still end up fighting for him and Rhaenyra. With two episodes left inHouse of the Dragonseason 2, there’s still more fighting to commence.
House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
