The Dragon Demands

Redanian Intelligence is suddenly claiming that Danish actress Amanda Collin, Mother on Raised by Wolves, has been cast as Jeyne Arryn. I had no advanced word on this and there’s no confirmation

Thinking on it, credit where credit is due, I think it's really a stereotype that the Greens didn't make intelligent military decisions in the war - we often joke that the Battle of the Red Fork was the ONLY time they ever did something clever, but that's really an exaggeration if you go down the list: Battle of Rook's Rest - Aegon & Aemond successfully lay a trap for an enemy dragon, killing the formidable adult dragon Meleys. Rook's Rest also falls to the Greens. Aegon and his dragon WERE badly wounded as a result but that's not due to lack of intelligence or anything. Battle of the Gullet - a surprise attack by Green allies in the Free Cities, who DID know to use anti-dragon weapons like hooks / scorpions and not panic at the mere sight of one....it's just that they weren't facing ONLY one, big SIX. Even then the Blacks took such grievous losses I'd hardly call the battle a "blunder" by the Greens/Triarchy. They even realized Dragonstone was too well defended to attempt a landing, so surviving ships bypassed it to sack Driftmark. Battle of the Honeywine - Ormund Hightower's scouts revealed the Rowans and their allies had a host of comparable size to his own advancing from the north, while their retreat was cut off by the smaller Tarly forces to the south. Instead of rushing against one or the other he dug in at a defensive position and called for dragon reinforcements. Aegon was injured and Aemond heading to Harrenhal, but Daeron did come with Tessarion and turn the tide. Moreover, Daeron is smart enough to use young Tessarion as essentially light cavalry; she can't wade into battle like Vhagar but she's the maneuver element, used to hit the enemy rear or in flanking attacks, and as they advanced north through the Reach he continued to intelligently use her as a scout IN THE AIR who the enemy couldn't reach, to find enemy traps before they got there. Battle of the Red Fork - everyone agrees this was sound tactical action; repulsed several times from the Fords, 100 picked Green knights discarded their heavy armor to swim across the river upstream, and hit the enemy's undefended rear completely by surprise, causing them to panic as the main force attempted another crossing. First Battle of Tumbleton - Ormund Hightower had some of his men disguise themselves and intermix with refugees fleeing into the castle, who opened the gates to the Greens after the battle ended so there was no need for a lengthy siege. Both sides also effectively used combined arms: when the Blacks' cavalry charged the Greens they were repulsed by archers, though the Blacks' won archers similarly covered their cavalry's retreat. Second Battle of Tumbleton - admittedly a surprise attack, but worth mention is that the cunning Unwin Peake managed to finish off Ulf the White with poison, and had the sense to take what was left of the Hightower army and retreat in good order back into the Reach to live to fight another day. Battle of the Kingsroad - admittedly kind of dumb, but not inexcusably so. On paper, Borros Baratheon had a fresh full strength army against the rags and remnants of the riverlords' armies. He didn't factor in that his army was unblooded while the riverlords were battle hardened. Then Borros attempted a cavalry charge uphill. In the mud. At dusk. Not a total folly as after the Baratheon cavalry was lost their infantry nearly broke through...until flanked from the forest. Okay, Borros Baratheon isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer.... The real issue with "the Greens made stupid decisions" is the central and inter-related switcheroo with the Fall of King's Landing and the Battle by the Lakeshore: On paper, Aemond's strategic plan was sound enough: hit Harrenhal in a pincers movement with the Lannisters from the west and the royal army from the east (smaller but with Vhagar shadowing it). Daemon's plan was to lure Aemond away from King's Landing, left with only a skeleton force, then have the Velaryon fleet quickly arrive...backed up with new dragon-riders. And then the Gold Cloaks were still loyal to him so six out of seven gates opened without a fight. Was it reckless for Aemond to leave KL with only a skeleton defense force? 1 - Did he know the Gold Cloaks would mutiny en masse? SHOULD he have known? 2 - Did he know the Blacks had gained four more Dragonriders? SHOULD he have? (probably...if word had reached of the Battle of the Gullet) As for the Blacks' land army at Harrenhal, they couldn't possibly face Vhagar alone, so faced with double pincers they focused on the non-dragon one to the west, while harassing Aemond's pincer with guerrilla warfare and scortched earth. For their part, the Lannister army to the west had some indecision but this was due to the deaths of commanders in rapid succession. Even then, when they found out they'd been outmaneuvered, they dug in at a defensive position with their backs to the lake and waited for reinforcements. They inflicted SIGNIFICANT casualties on the Blacks, who had to force a quick end to the battle with grievous losses - if they didn't rush the Lannisters' strong defensive position, Vhagar would eventually arrive. So no, the Lannisters did not act stupidly at the Lakeshore. Aemond of course then flew into a rage and *abandoned his army* - not that the dragon would have been much good against harassment attacks that bled them dry, but that MIGHT have prevented the Butcher's Ball. Criston himself behaved intelligently. Conclusions: The Hightower army consistently used intelligent tactics (no stroke of genius, but "assume a defensive position when surrounded", "use combined arms with archers and cavalry", "use scouts" - though sending men disguised as refugees as pretty clever). They only stopped functioning well when their commander was killed (but even then, had Addam not attacked, Unwin and Daeron would have killed the Two Betrayers and continued on to King's Landing) The Lannister army consistently used intelligent tactics - maybe not Jason himself (killed in the third attempt to force a breaching action across a ford), but the "Westerlands" army as a whole did with other commanders; problem was again that they lost commanders TWICE and were on their third commander by Lakeshore; even then, they wisely assumed defensive position and had to be ground down by attrition. Aegon himself wasn't particularly stupid, as the trap at Rook's Rest worked ( maybe not his idea), though he rushed to fight after his son was assassinated instead of waiting for the Triarchy, overall not the worst idea. Borros Baratheon was an overconfident fence-sitter, not bothering to join the fight until the end then totally underestimating his enemies. That's more a point against him than "the Greens" as a whole. Aemond lost King's Landing by leaving it with a skeleton force. I keep coming back to that; why didn't Aemond fly directly against the surviving Riverlords army after the Lakeshore? Vhagar could have done a lot of damage. Did he fear arrowfire? They didn't have Caraxes with them anymore. He both lost King's Landing AND abandoned his own men to later die at the Butcher's Ball. Well, bit of a ramble Point is that it's really Aemond and Borros who made stupid decisions, but there's plenty of intelligent military actions by the Greens.

SHORT VERSION: the easier to "quote" short outline: 1 - Alan Taylor (apparently); reintroductions, Daemon bloodlessly takes Harrenhal without a fight Speculation: we'd probably see Jace's trip north in the first half of Season 2, unclear for how long or if he'd miss the premiere. But he goes to the Eyrie first then Winterfell. Possible Eyrie in episode 1 or 2, Winterfell in episode 2 or 3. 2 - Clare Kilner (confirmed); Blood & Cheese. Speculation: Battle of the Burning Mill between Blackwoods & Brackens (some battle photos that didn't have sigils but which were separate from Rook's Rest filming; plus Kilner's the one who introduced the Blackwoods/Bracken feud in episode 1.4) 3 - Geeta Patel (confirmed); aftermath of Blood & Cheese; an invented subplot in which the Greens hold a funeral procession for young Jaehaerys through the streets of King's Landing (Caceres) but when they reach Flea Bottom food riots break out due to the Velaryon naval blockade. Patel said she's directing two episodes out of 8. Speculation: it's possible that Daeron the Daring and Ormund Hightower are introduced at the funeral, as the war hasn't begun in earnest and the highways aren't blocked YET (until right after they return to Oldtown). Spy photos do indicate 3 prominent Green vassal lords / lieutenants introduced at funeral as well, among them Martyn Reyne (and a black lord, possibly a Hightower bastard?) 4 - Taylor or Patel (probably Taylor) - Battle of Rook's Rest (confirmed). A LOT of catapult props seen at Dinorwig Quarry. 5 - Clare Kilner: Rook's Rest aftermath, Meleys's head is paraded through the streets of KIng's Landing (Caceres) (confirmed). Aemond takes command in King's Landing and devises their grand strategy to catch Harrenhal in a pincer movement. 6 - Andrij Parekh - story unconfirmed, possibly introducing the Dragonseeds first Speculation: main Lannister army passes into the Riverlands after forcing the fords at the Battle of the Red Fork commanded by Jason Lannister and "Martyn Reyne" among others. War hits the Riverlands in earnest as it's a drawn out campaign, both sides burning out towns to deny their crops to the other side. 7 - Loni Peristere - the Sowing of the Dragonseeds (confirmed by spy photos) Speculation: episode 7 or 8, Daeron saves the main Hightower army using his dragon Tessarion at the Battle of the Honeywine, a heavy blow to the Blacks which basically secures the rest of the Reach for the Greens (in the books it was right after the Gullet, but could easily be right before it; the point is it was a one-two punch) 8 - Taylor or Patel (probably Patel, process of elimination) - Cliffhanger that Triarchy fleet is heading towards Dragonstone? (makeup department accidentally leaked that "Triarchy" members are in Season 2) This leaves the Battle of the Gullet for the Season 3 premiere.

Season 2 outline as best we can discern it so far, as of the short summer break in production that started July 14th: 1 - Alan Taylor (apparently); reintroductions, Daemon bloodlessly takes Harrenhal without a fight 2 - Clare Kilner (confirmed); Blood & Cheese 3 - Geeta Patel (confirmed); aftermath of Blood & Cheese; an invented subplot in which the Greens hold a funeral procession for young Jaehaerys through the streets of King's Landing (Caceres) but when they reach Flea Bottom food riots break out due to the Velaryon naval blockade. Patel said she's directing two episodes out of 8. 4 - Taylor or Patel (probably Taylor) - Battle of Rook's Rest (confirmed) Second half a little fuzzier: 5 - Clare Kilner: Rook's Rest aftermath, Meleys's head is paraded through the streets of KIng's Landing (Caceres) (confirmed) 6 - Andrij Parekh - confirmed by an IMDB leak 7 - Loni Peristere - the Sowing of the Dragonseeds (confirmed by spy photos) 8 - Taylor or Patel (probably Patel, process of elimination) - Cliffhanger that Triarchy fleet is heading towards Dragonstone? (makeup department accidentally leaked that "Triarchy" members are in Season 2) Notes: We have absolutely no idea how they're intercutting the A or B plots involving Jace's trip to the Eyrie and Winterfell (though that's PROBABLY in the first half of the season) We have no idea how Daeron the Daring's campaign in the Reach figures in (speculation he'll appear at Jaehaerys's funeral before heading back to Oldtown - the war hasn't begun in earnest yet, closing the highways). Neither Jace nor Daeron subplots seem to have filmed yet. It's pure speculation based on flimsy news that Triarchy characters show up this season that it ends on a cliffhanger that their fleet is on the way, pushing Battle of the Gullet to the Season 3 premiere (I thought it would be the Season 3 finale but evidence increasingly points the other way). The Dragonseeds might be introduced in episode 6, but the actual trials to claim dragons are in episode 7. Speculation: Based on filming reports, I somewhat suspect that the Battle of the Burning Mill is in episode 2 or 3 (more probably 3 ), the first real battle, between the Blackwoods and Brackens, ending with Daemon cutting off the Brackens' retreat. Using Daemon as a "bridge" to introduce the Blackwood characters. We know less about the second half of Season 2 or what the Greens are doing in it. The next phase of the war would be Aemond's plan for the main Lannister army to invade the Riverlands from the west while the main royal army in KL under Aemond and Criston invade from the south, trying to catch Harrenhal in a pincer movement. Not just a battle but a full-on campaign. So the opening battle of this, "the Battle of the Red Fork", might be around episode 6 or so? Or some variation on it. One of the times the Greens employ intelligent tactics instead of just relying on superior numbers (picked knights dismount, shed their heavy armor, and swim across the river upstream to attack the defenders in the rear completely by surprise and force the passing of the ford). The ONE hint at this, if you can call it that, is that casting news indicates a "Martyn Reyne" is introduced in Jaehaerys's funeral (ID'd in spy photos), probably a condensation character with Lefford et al from books, who will be the right hand lieutenant of the main Lannister army. But that's just a guess. Also possible Battle of the Honeywine might happen in the blank spaces we currently have for episodes 6, 7, or 8. In the book, Honeywine happened after Rook's Rest so Aegon couldn't help, but also right after the Gullet. I wouldn't mind if it happens slightly before the Gullet as they're on other sides of the continent. The point was that this one-two bunch of defeats for the Blacks led some in Rhaenyra's faction to wonder if the time had come for peace negotiations while they still at least had some bargaining strength left. It would follow through on the introduction of Daeron in episode 3. I don't think Battle by the Lakeshore will have time to happen in Season 2 itself, though it MIGHT if they want a big action finale to Season 2. But it doesn't ring right to me: they want the Season 2 finale to be "Rhaenyra's darkest hour" right? Wouldn't make sense to have a crushing victory over the Lannister army in the west only for a direct attack in the east. Plus the Lannister invasion isn't one battle but a long campaign of several battles CULMINATING in the Lakeshore. Personally I hope they save it for Season 3 to give it the breadth it deserves. The combined effect would be: episode 4 the Blacks lose at Rook's Rest, episode 6 they lose Red Fork as Lannisters invade, episode 7ish Honeywine, and episode 8 the Triarchy fleet is bearing down on Dragonstone. Only partially offset for the Blacks by 1 - Aegon badly injured (arguably a good thing for the Greens as Aemond is a better fighter), 2 - assassination of Aegon's elder son, 3 - early Black victories at Harrenhal and Stone Hedge. Then in Season 3 we'd start with Battle of the Gullet, followed by string of Black victories as they fake-out at Harrenhal resulting in Fall of King's Landing AND the Battle by the Lakeshore (destroying the Lannister army). Assuming an 8 episode season the Lakeshore would be around episode 4 ish. Episode 5 or 6, the Butcher's Ball - Rhaenyra triumphant. Only for episode 7 and 8 for the Blacks to realize their money is exhausted while fresh Green armies remain in the Hightowers and Baratheons, with Hightowers moving up. Season 3 finale is First Battle of Tumbleton. PURE speculation territory but while I'm here;;; Season 4 covers Storming of the Dragonpit, Battle Above the God's Eye, Second Battle of Tumbleton, ends with Rhaenyra's death at Dragonstone (perhaps showing the Fall of Dragonstone in quick flashback). Then Season 5 - they've admitted they're considering a Season 5 - is the Baratheons retake King's Landing afer the Moon of the Three Kings, then the Lads gathering, and the climactic Battle of the Kingsroad. Yeah...I can see this working out.

HBO social media channels just released a SECOND behind the scenes clip of GRRM explaining story points, which really seem like they should have been released DURING the active airing season of Season One. Late in Season 1, on October 2nd - LONG after the Stepstones storyline had wrapped up in the first half of the season - they released the first, "GRRM explains the Stepstones". Bizarrely, they didn't release this through their YouTube or Twitter channels, only Instagram. I saved a copy and loaded it to my own YouTube channel (I can't change the Instagram aspect ratio): They just released a second one today, "GRRM explains the Triarchy and Disputed Lands" (this one WAS put out on Twitter, so at least the aspect ratio is right, but not on YouTube) I get the feeling this was meant to be a series of tie-in clips for every episode. Well, "series" - no doubt GRRM filmed all his behind the scenes clips in one sitting. He did other recordings for those introduction videos premiere week, on the Hightowers and Velaryons; but those are introduction videos, clearly intended to be released with the premiere. Why make only TWO clips like this talking about storyverse details? How many MORE of these things is HBO just sitting on, unreleased?

@Ran hey, have you noticed that the front page top news section of Westeros dot org keep displaying the Alys Rivers casting news, instead of more current news posts like this one?

This is a nice 5 minute video worth the watch though there's nothing drastically new in it - except a REALLY good look at the live-action TV version of House Stokeworth's heraldry.

It’s nice to see Simon Brindle back, he’s been around since GoT season one. Hey did you meet him on your set visit?

They wanted a bigger tourney but they were filming at the height of COVID lockdown, they talk about that on the behind the scenes video. Well “later” in the tourney, same day - Aemma wasn’t in labor for 2 days. Frankel actually is a quarter Indian from Mumbai. oh the statues are there just really high up the columns

I started a separate forum post about this, I'll merge it here: Deadline just released the script for House of the Dragon episode 1, as part of a "Page to Screen" series: https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/House-Of-The-Dragon-It-Starts-On-The-Page.pdf It's not quite "the" pilot script, as there's no such thing: scripts go through multiple versions and revisions. So this is a snapshot. Interestingly, it does have color-coded pages for each version: White, Blue, Pink, Yellow, Green, Gold. For example, the Harrenhal pages at the beginning kept being revised so they're Gold to indicate a recent revision; but the next page with Rhaenyra's introduction is in Pink, indicating that it stayed that way for a while. The Rhaenyra & Alicent in the godswood scene is in Blue, indicating it was even older. GRRM did corroborate on this script with Condal, both their names are on it, though we're not sure how much. I went through the whole thing scene by scene with an open copy of the finished episode - which is free online on YouTube as a preview of the whole TV show, link if you need it: 1 - The voiceover in the Great Council Prologue was slightly changed: subtitles confirm that it's actually Jaehaerys who announces the result of the vote, but that's not in the script (it's off-screen so they added it in post-production). In the original script, there's an extra line by Rhaenyra's VO saying "the vote was twenty to one". I wondered about this because the Rhaenys actress Eve Best remarked in behind the scenes videos that she lost twenty to one, and I wondered how she knew that because it wasn't a line in the finished episode. It's from the script. This is one of the few points I think they should have kept in the final version. 2 - The original titlecard doesn't mention Daenerys, instead it frames it as "171 years before Robert's Rebellion and the death of Aerys the Mad King" - final version is "172 years before the death of the Mad King and the birth of his daughter Daenerys Targaryen" (good change) 3 - We were horrified when we got our hands on D&D's Game of Thrones scripts as they break several basic rules of screenwriting; as they've ranted at length in videos, "we think we're capable of making scenes where actors don't speak and just convey exposition through their facial expressions" ...which is...not true. HotD's script doesn't do that at all, there aren't lengthy script notes. There's a line here or a line there indicating the tone a character delivers a line with, but it looks like a NORMAL script. The only time it gives paragraph long instructions are when it introduces a new group of characters or a new location: a full paragraph explaining what the Dragonkeepers are because we haven't seen them before. A short paragraph explaining that Flea Bottom is a dangerous slum district. This is just info it's not micromanaging the actors' performances. 4 - The script repeatedly mentions that it is Spring in King's Landing, all the trees and plants are in bloom, warm colors. I checked this seems to be new info, the book doesn't say what season it was (plus episode 1 is set in the year 112 AC due to aging up Rhaenyra). 5 - Rhaenyra & Alicent walking arm in arm into Red Keep actually had dialogue, and you can tell they're talking if you look closely at the final version which just had the music swelling. It had "flirty" playful dialogue. Of course the internet ate that up, but I think it's just them joking around with mock-flirtyness. "Oh no my mother will be angry I'm late; can you be my Sworn Protector?" (they're joking). This re-ordered some of the Aemma dialogue in the immediately following scene; Aemma says she can smell the dragon on Rhaenyra because pregnancy enhanced her sense of smell. 6 - A few more lines here and there in the first small council meeting, trimmed for time; Corlys is a little more forceful in it, though not unreasonably. They're ALL eating breakfast with plates and cups everywhere, not just Viserys, and Corlys has to physically push their plates aside to set down his map of the Stepstones; Beesbury ineffectually tries to interject a little more about the City Watch before they finally discuss it. It's more about "blocking" than dialogue differences; maybe they thought this makes Corlys look a little TOO brusk? 7 - MOVED scene: in script, it goes from the Rhaenyra & Alicent godswood scene to Aemma in the tub; final version puts Viserys's infected wound between these scenes; that scene is in the original script but happens later; after Daemon at the small council but before Mysaria's introduction. Script notes after that also indicate a little more that Viserys's hidden illness is one of the things motivating/concerning Otto and Mellos - at the later small council scene discussing the succession the notes explain that when they say "should something happen to you" all three (Viserys, Otto, Mellos) know that they're privately referring (as the rest of the council doesn't know) that they actually have reason to worry about his health, so this isn't just a hypothetical but he needs to address it. Moving the scene earlier affects the context, makes it clear during the tub scene that Viserys wants a son because he's worried about his own health and wants to make sure the succession is secure. 8 - Daemon at Small Council cut dialogue about Rhea Royce: "We understand from Lord Yorbert that [ you've not been seen in the Vale for some time ], Queen Aemma was very proud to have arranged your union with Lady Rhea." A - This sets up Yorbert much earlier, though I guess they cut this because they don't want to barrage the audience with too many new names just yet, B - ....I don't think the books ever explained whey Daemon was married to Rhea. This script says it was Aemma Arryn's idea - GRRM did work on this script. Maybe a favor to her Arryn relatives to find a match for a powerful vassal? 9 - "The Heir's Tourney": trimmed scenes and dialogue: Note mentions it has "200 knights from every house and hedge great and small"; Notes that TV Laenor is older than Laena, 14 to 12 - was his age stated on-screen? hers was) There was a SHORT deleted moment setting up Borros Baratheon: right after Boremund is introduced, Rhaenyra and Alicent: "I hear Boremund's heir can't read even though he's 23 years old" "yeah they call him Dumb as Thunder"; Most smallfolk love Daemon, but there's a deleted moment we heard of when someone from the stands jeers "Lord Flea Bottom!" and he shoots him such an "I'm going to kill you" look that he sits down. (We'd heard rumors of this "Lord Flea Bottom" line from leaks that came months before the episode aired) Deleted dialogue where Alicent says Daemon will probably pick a knight from one of the Great Houses to joust with, then surprised when he picks her brother. Some of the stuntwork is different, of course, as this is just a script. It says Daemon doesn't strike Gwayne's horse, but deftly deflects Gwayne's lance downward so it drives into the ground, and Gwayne's own momentum drives him into the ground and sends him sprawling (maybe they weren't sure if they could do a more complicated stunt; it's a prop horse that flips, artful editing, safety with live animals, etc.) 10 - Heir's Tourney REORDERED scenes: there are 8 scenes in the whole thing, and while the dialogue is the same the order got slightly reshuffled, changing the context. FINAL order in aired episode: Criston Cole unhorses a Tarly Boremund Baratheon is introduced Rhaenyra & Alicent gossip about Elinor Stokeworth Boremund unhorsed by Criston, Rhaenyra asks Harrold who he is Daemon vs Gwayne Hightower a maester arrives who whispers to Otto, who then whispers to Viserys, that something's wrong with Aemma, and he leaves "The Day Turns Ugly" montage, as Rhaenys explains that there hasn't been a real war in almost 70 years. This intercuts with Aemma screaming. Criston vs Daemon (also intercutting with Aemma's C-section) ORIGINAL order (in this version of the script, at least): Criston unhorses a Tarly Rhaenyra & Alicent gossip about Elinor Stokeworth THEN Boremund Baratheon is introduced Daemon vs Gwayne (final version this happens AFTER Boremund is unhorsed) Criston unhorses Boremund Criston vs Daemon (Viserys is STILL PRESENT for this) maester comes to whisper that Aemma is in trouble, Viserys leaves "And the Day Turns Ugly" (THIS is in montage with Aemma's bloody C-section; later changed so most if it happens in montage with Daemon vs Criston) 11 - A rather major difference: in the script, Aemma is barely conscious when the C-section begins and not coherent enough to plead "No! Please!" -- They make this clear, Viserys asks if she's better because the screams have stopped; Mellos says no, it just means she's so exhausted she's barely alive and doesn't have the energy to scream anymore, this is very bad. Also emphasizes in script notes that she's medicated with milk of the poppy as much as possible so she's "looking through drugged eyes" and groggy etc. She DOES scream when the C-section begins but it notes it's more "animalistic" thrashing, she's hovering on the edge of consciousness. It DOES have her ask "what's happening?" and Viserys says "they're going to take the babe out" but after that she's incoherent. The final version made her a LOT more cognizant and coherent of what's going on. 12 - Deleted scene we know they filmed: Rhaenyra comes to the empty bed chamber, Aemma's body has been removed but the white sheets are soaked with blood ("it looks like an animal was slaughtered in it"), and Viserys sitting there stunned and ashen faced. They exchange no dialogue, she can't bring herself to cross the door's threshold into the room, leaves. Mellos returns, Viserys asks how Baelon is doing, but Mellos is stone-faced. Don't hear what he says, because it then cuts to the funeral. 13 - The funeral was on Rhaenys's Hill, apparently at the Dragonpit, with hundreds of spectators, not outside the city. They might have changed this due to COVID restrictions - they HATED the exterior location they used for this in the final version, a remote seaside cliff in Devon, took hours to get there on muddy roads. 14 - Deleted scene we know they filmed: Rhaenyra coming back from the funeral to Alicent in her chambers, finally bursts into tears and they crumple to the floor sobbing. No dialogue. The actors said this was the first scene they filmed (or maybe Alicent's first scene? I thought Rhaenyra & Viserys at Balerion's skull was her first scene. Was it their first scene overall or first scene together?) 15 - Third small council scene, discussing the succession: no mention that Daemon is listening from a secret passage. Several longer pieces of dialogue. Beesbury asks why they can't just hold another Great Council. Mellos says that most lords would vote for Daemon because of the precedent of the last council, Lyonel Strong insists "yeah, because it's the precedent we set!" 16 - Daemon's a lot more violent and MERCURIAL, unpredictable, in a way that doesn't translate well on screen. Throughout the entire script. In the brothel earlier, when Mysaria puts a hand on him he smacks it away but then leans into her hug; and at the end of her consoling him, it says he gives her a look that he doesn't know whether to slap her in the face or burst into tears, because he DOES feel bad, should he be ashamed that she's consoling him? Even he doesn't know. Little bits like that throughout. He's a hard character to write for. Practically bipolar - though in real life people with bipolar disorder don't switch moods ON A DIME within mere minutes like this. 17 - Daemon's "Heir for a Day" speech is shown in full and not presented in montage. It's more the WAY he says it. That he's so unpredictable and unreadable; that for a moment none of the gold cloaks can tell if he's saying this with bitter sarcasm or if he's really being flippant about the baby's death, and then they sort of just roll with it and INTERPRET it as him being flippant when that's not the way he said it. I think it works better to leave it off screen. NO, the actor's face and delivery can't convey something that subtle. And they wrote this WITH Matt Smith in mind, he was hand-picked. THEN the small council reports it, and this extends a little longer; Viserys is so upset he sweeps his wine cup off the table. 18 - The final montage wasn't intercut quite as much (this is just script, the director added in better cinematography elements); Alicent helps Rhaenyra put the robes on, then we see the first half of the swearing in, then the rest of the prophecy, then the final shot. It intercuts a little more in the final version (for the better). 19 - A little point lost is that Boremund VERY reluctantly kneels and Rhaenyra has to shoot him a look. They DO keep it in the climax of the final version, but it's a blink or you'll miss moment; as scripted it was supposed to be like 10 seconds longer of him just standing there and pretending to hesitate as a show of defiance, because of how unfair this is to the half-Baratheon Rhaenys. At first she smiles, but then for the first time shoots him a cold, "queenly" look of command, then finally he kneels. Also, DAEMON is present for the investiture, at least at first; he stands in the far back of the throne room (it takes a long time for every lord to swear the oaths) and at some point halfway through she can't see him anymore because he's left to saddle up Caraxes. 20 - The final shot would have been of Syrax rousing in her den in a match cut with Rhaenyra, in the final version we just hear a roar as it fades to black. And this would have mirrored the original intention for the finale, the final shot of the finale would have intercut Rhaenyra's look of rage with Syrax rousing. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ***21 - The FULL text of the deleted scene where Viserys and Daemon are in the throne room discussing Daenys the Dreamer, Old Valyria, and prophecy. We know they filmed this. I think they just cut it for time, they did mention why they cut it - it wasn't to "remove magic" but it's a long scene it affects the flow. Two pointer here under "Prophecy"; the full text of Viserys's explanation to Rhaenyra about the prophecy of "The Song of Ice & Fire" is slightly longer. VISERYS: The histories tell us that Aegon looked across the Blackwater from Dragonstone and saw a rich land ripe for the capture. But ambition alone is not what drove him to conquest. It was a Dream. Deleted lines: Since the days of Old Valyria, a precious few in the Targaryen line [have been] gifted with prophetic Dreams. Like the one which saved our house from the Doom. And just as Daenys foresaw the end of Valyria, Aegon foresaw the end of the world of men." Script note: Shock overtakes Rhaenyra’s features. Aegon was a Dreamer? "It is to begin with a terrible winter gusting out of the distant north. Aegon saw absolute darkness riding on those winds. And whatever dwells within will destroy the world of the living" Script note: Rhaenyra gapes at her father as he unburdens himself of the secret that he has carried alone for so long. Deleted lines: RHAENYRA: "What is it? What’s in the darkness?" KING VISERYS: If Aegon knew, he never said. But he saw that there would be a light brilliant enough to stand against it: the fire of dragons. Script note: Viserys rests his hand on his dagger’s dragonbone hilt. KING VISERYS (CONT'D) Whenever this Great Winter comes, Rhaenyra, all of Westeros will have to stand against it. And if the world of men is to survive, a Targaryen must be seated on the Iron Throne. A king -- or queen -- strong enough to unite the realm against the cold and dark. (then) Aegon called his Dream “The Song of Ice and Fire. Rhaenyra stares back at her father, now feeling for herself the weight of the crown and the isolation of the Iron Throne. KING VISERYS (CONT'D) This secret has passed from king to heir since Aegon’s time. You must promise to now carry it and protect it. Promise me this, Rhaenyra... -------------------------------- So there were deleted lines that the prophecy as handed down to Viserys makes no specific mention of the White Walkers. However, it's phrased in a tantalizing way; "If Aegon knew what the threat was he never told anyone" - leaving it open that he actually did. Of course the debate that Aegon's prophecy is real in the books but the idea that it was passed down for a time until becoming lost knowledge in the Dance of the Dragons was the idea of this TV show. To which I counter....wouldn't they be able to put two and two together? A great threat from the north? Why does THE WALL exist? The Night's Watch? Surely they'd put together "he probably had a dream about the White Walkers returning".

I don't know where it's appropriate to post this, but reliable news site Redanian Intelligence just claimed to have identified one of "the trio" of Green lords at the funeral of Jaehaerys in episode 3. We spotted these 3 actors on Instagram hanging out with main cast members, then on closer inspection noticed them in full costume, apparently as lords, riding directly behind the carriage with Alicent & Helaena (well, behind the Kingsguard). Even managed to identify the actors: Ralph Davis - medium height, brown hair Tok Stephen - black Barney Fishwick - tall and ginger/strawberry blonde? I made a 30 minute video summarizing the whole thing with slides - I talk about the lords, with spy photos, in the first ten minutes (and they're in the title card image behind Criston Cole) Well I theorized that they might be important new Green lords and commanders not just speer-carriers. Somewhat confirming this suspicion, Redanian Intelligence now claims that Barney Fishwick is credited as "Martyn Reyne". I checked, while there is a "Lord Reyne" as a prominent commander in the main Lannister host during the Dance, he doesn't have a name and isn't a distinctive character. I suspect there may be some condensations going on with the Lannister host - rather than Arian Tarbeck and the aging Lord Humfrey Lefford, we might just get "Jason Lannister, and his right hand lieutenant Martyn Reyne" - because you need two characters to have a conversation. I'm fine with this - yeah some of the VERY minor characters in F&B you condense around (like, have "Lord Caswell's son" as a stand-in for half a dozen Reach Houses that declared for Rhaenyra). We're not unreasonable we know time is limited. This touches on a bigger issue: the increasing suspicion that Jaehaerys's funeral is being used as a big meeting of all the Greens and their commanders, because the war only just began and the highways aren't closed yet. Increasingly speculated that Daeron AND Ormund Hightower might be introduced at the funeral. Also raises the question of who the other two lords are. Particularly...why is one black? I think there are two major options: He's a bastard Hightower whose mother was a Summer Islander. Given that Oldtown has been receiving Summer Islander merchant ships since the *Dawn Age*, this is quite plausible (like Oberyn and Sarella) ...he might be Marston Waters, pre-Kingsguard. I looked it up, Marston is "from Driftmark" so they might be using that as rationale. OR, he might be a condensation character of sorts with the many, many (shudder) "Minor Velaryon Cousins" from Fire & Blood. Maybe they even CONDENSED them all together, to essentially make Marston Waters the bastard son of TV-Vaemond, who will later be in the Kingsguard? Possible.

Everything’s turning up dragons…

I don’t think Dalton Greyjoy would appear on-screen until Season 3

Mayhaps it’s a blessing in disguise that Blood and Cheese killed young Jaehaerys: after all, had the boy lived, he’d have grown up to be a Green.

You sound surprised - we all know how low the Greens are capable of stooping.

Also I hesitate to mention this, but uh... a major new location in King's Landing in Season 2 will be the..."Cock Inn". There's a plaque of a rooster on the front door. That's what the boxes of props for it are labeled.

(sorry if some of this is a repost) Spain Filming Days 1 & 2: Day 1 was a practice run for the horses, no one in full costume, then they filmed the actual scenes in full costume today Day 2. There are two big "procession through the streets of King's Landing" scenes they're filming: One is a funeral procession for Jaehaerys Targaryen. We even have spy photos labeled "JAH funeral". Slight invention from the books - apparently the Greens are hyping up "Rhaenyra is the new Maegor, she had my six year old son killed" etc. It's a big propaganda piece for the Greens to have this big funeral procession. Second is more straightforward and straight from the books: the severed head of the dragon Meleys being carted through the streets after the Battle of Rook's Rest (which was itself retaliation for the death of Jaheaerys). There's a bluescreen dragonhead prop with spikes on it like her head. Notably, it's being accompanied by Crownlander lords who bent the knee during the campaign, or their knights, displaying their heraldry banners: Stokeworth, Rosby, Darklyn of Duskendale, Staunton of Rook's Rest. Interesting as Rosby hasn't appeared in live-action before. These street scenes also prominently display Aegon II's book-accurate personal sigil of a GOLD version of the Targaren sigil, for his dragon Sunfyre. Otto used a GREEN three-headed dragon in Season 1 (mentioned off-screen, "there's a ship flying a three headed green dragon that just arrived"). So this foreshadows that Aegon is going to decide he's not Otto's puppet anymore at some point. Massive leak from reliable sources on Season 2 structure: Reliable sources who did good digging on Season 1 to fine the season outline back then are back at it on Season 2 - not the same leak sources they had to find new ones. People like HotD Greek (aka Realm of Dragons) and HotD Croatia, among others. According to their sources: Geeta Patel is directing the Jaehaerys funeral procession. No big surprise as we saw her cinematographer there. Clare Kilner is directing the Meleys head procession. Andrij Parekh is doing episode 6 but we have no idea as to its contents yet. Moreover, they found out which episodes these are based on their schedules: The Jaehaerys funeral procession is episode THREE, meaning Blood & Cheese are in episode 2. I half-hoped they'd push that back to mid-season. ....Meleys's severed head parade is in episode FIVE (Kilner said she's doing episodes two and five)...meaning Rook's Rest must be episode FOUR...HALFWAY POINT of an 8 episode season? That's...going a bit too fast. What the heck would they be doing in episodes 5, 6, 7, and 8 if Rook's Rest is episode 4? Even if episode 5 is mostly "fallout from the battle of Rook's Rest". Other spy sources said with clarity that the big battle moved to Season 3 is the Battle of the Gullet....but did they move it to the END of Season 3? Or are they indeed pushing it to the start of Season 3 and....having the fall of King's Landing happen OUT OF ORDER in the Season 2 finale? Because we have word that Emma D'Arcy has come to Spain to film King's Landing scenes....not confirmed what the specific scenes are yet....THEN AGAIN, if the fall of KL was happening this season, they would ALSO be large scale external scenes we'd have seen spy photos for. We haven't yet.

Rumor that Lydia Wilson has been cast as Jeyne Arryn. Based on that other actors plus an assistant director are following her on Instagram. Combined with 1 - she’s the right age and appearance, 2 - an actor of her prominence probably isn’t playing a background character https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydia_Wilson

That’s what I hope one of the three animated projects is: an anthology covering all sorts of things. Like a high budget version of the Histories & Lore videos.

What I can't figure out is why did they give the older actor the younger one's name? I wish they'd announced Alys Rivers separately a few days ago so we could just enjoy that controversy-free. We'll have Alys for...a while. Who knows how many chapters it will take in Fire & Blood Volume 2 to cover the remaining 20 years of Aegon III's reign. We assume "well I guess not much happened" but that's what we said about Jaehaerys before Fire & Blood gave us all those new chapters.

why must we be tormented with doubt and hope? I wish they'd just tell us what changes they're doing in advance and be done with it. Softens the blow.

Unless of course...they cast Salim with an eye towards him being more age-appropriate for Regency-era Alyn Velaryon? And they'll just have him "play down" for a scene or two this year, before coming back in 3 years?

Can a mod please lock this thread and redirect to the official news post thread on the same announcement.

Well on the other hand....there are prominent rumors, even being entertained by Redanian Intelligence, that actor Clinton Liberty has been cast as Addam Velaryon: https://redanianintelligence.com/2023/04/12/house-of-the-dragon-season-2-adds-cheese-and-more-casting-news/

We don't need to resort to extreme measures, Colonel Green.