Warning! This article contains spoilers for House of the Dragon.
Summary
House of the Dragonseason 2 is only making me more upset about the show skipping a massive storyline. AlthoughHouse of the Dragonis based onFire and Blood, the prequel to George R. R. Martin’sA Song of Ice and Firebook series, I am not blind to the fact that changes to the source material are necessary. Translating any book to TV or film is impossible to do with 100% fidelity, especially with a book as dense and narratively unreliable asFire and Blood.
As such, I was not shocked to find thatHouse of the Dragon’s book changeswere plenty when watching season 1. EvenHouse of the Dragonseason 2 episode 2’s endinginvolving Otto Hightower is slightly altered, if only in terms of the order of events fromFire and Blood’s timeline. That said, this change is minor, yetHouse of the Dragonhas made several in the major category. One instance of the latter involves an entirely skipped storyline that is crucial to fleshing out two characters, whichHouse of the Dragonseason 2 is making even more bitter.
House Of The Dragon Timeline Confirmed & Explained
House of the Dragon is set before Game of Thrones, but time jumps left some confused about how long it will cover. Here’s the HotD timeline explained.
Rhaenyra & Harwin’s Relationship Is House Of The Dragon’s Biggest Missing Story
Rhaenyra’s Connection To The Father Of Her Children Is Mostly Absent In House Of The Dragon
The skipped story in question surrounds Rhaenyra Targaryen and Harwin Strong.In the earlier episodes ofHouse of the Dragonseason 1, Rhaenyra and Harwin’s relationship was teasedwhen the former was played by Milly Alcock, later replaced by Emma D’Arcy inHouse of the Dragon’s cast. Harwin, played by Ryan Corr, was a member of the City Watch and had several moments that hinted at his feelings for Rhaenyra. From allowing her to explore King’s Landing to dancing with her at a wedding and saving her from a hostile crowd, Harwin and Rhaenyra formed a close, albeit unspoken, bond.
Harwin’s obvious delight and respect for Rhaenyra slaying a boar during a hunt in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 3 was the earliest hint of his admiration for her.
These hints are a big reason as to why I was shocked atHouse of the Dragonseason 1, episode 6’s 10-year time jump. Of course, I expected time jumps given thatFire and Blood’s story spans such a wide timeline. Nevertheless,those missing 10 years completely skipped over Harwin and Rhaenyra’s relationship. We were treated to the first teases of their romance before being thrown into the future where the duo has three kids, they care for each other, and Harwin is a good, if secret, father. Even more shockingly, the show killed Harwin Strong that very episode.
House Of The Dragon Season 2 Makes Harwin’s Missing Story Worse
The Hints Towards Harwin Would Be Better If His House Of The Dragon Story Was Shown
Harwin’s untimely death inHouse of the Dragonseason 1 only made his lack of development even worse.I was upset that a character whose introduction was so compelling had so little storyregarding his importance to Rhaenyra, the show’s main character. Now, this bitterness is only being made worse byHouse of the Dragonseason 2. Not only are Harwin’s children playing major roles in the sophomore season, which alone makes his absence worse, but references to Harwin highlight his lack of story.
These references to Harwin only make his absence more difficult to take, asHouse of the Dragondid not show me any of these things about Harwin…
House of the Dragonseason 2, episode 2 featured a scene between Jacaerys and Baela, the former Rhaenyra and Harwin’s oldest son. Jacaerys, or Jace, is shown reminiscing about his supposed father, Laenor Velaryon. Baela then asks about Harwin Strong leading Jace to say that Harwin was gentle and that he loved Jace, Lucerys, and Joffrey. These references to Harwin only make his absence more difficult to take, asHouse of the Dragondid not show me any of these things about Harwin, instead content only to tell me what such an important character was like.
House Of The Dragon Confirms One Devastating Truth About Jacaerys Velaryon
A sweet moment between Jacaerys Velaryon and Baela Targaryen in HOTD season 2, episode 2 reveals a sad truth about Rhaenyra’s eldest son.
These references to Harwin only highlight how little we saw of the character before his death. Similarly, they provide a stark contrast to Rhaenyra’s other relationships. Her connection to Daemon is strained at best, and Laenor’s sexual orientation saw his marriage to Rhaenyra be romantically lacking. As audience members, we are told that Harwin’s connection with Rhaenyra was genuine and full of love, a major difference from Daemon and Laenor. This is another reason whyHouse of the Dragonskipping over Harwin Strong’s character arc pains me, despite the time jump’s necessity for the wider story.
House of the Dragon
Cast
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.
