The Dance of the Dragons: Rhaenyra vs. Aegon II - The Infamous 'Blood and Cheese' Murder in House of the Dragon Season 2

Event adds complexity to Rhaenyra vs. Aegon II power struggle.
Infamous 'Blood and Cheese' murder occurs, killing Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen instead of intended target.
Rhaenyra Targaryen declared as heir by King Viserys I, leading to power struggle with Aegon II and Alicent Hightower.
Season 2 of House of the Dragon premieres with the infamous Dance of the Dragons civil war.
The Dance of the Dragons: Rhaenyra vs. Aegon II - The Infamous 'Blood and Cheese' Murder in House of the Dragon Season 2

The upcoming second season of the critically acclaimed series 'House of the Dragon' is set to premiere, bringing with it the infamous and controversial 'Dance of the Dragons' civil war. Based on George R.R. Martin's novel 'Fire & Blood', this prequel to 'Game of Thrones' delves into the Targaryen family's decline and their struggle for control over Westeros.

In Season 1, we saw King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine) declare his daughter Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) as his heir, breaking the male-only tradition. This decision led to a power struggle between Rhaenyra and her cousin Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), ultimately resulting in the 'Dance of the Dragons' civil war.

Season 2 picks up where we left off, with Rhaenyra and Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) at odds over who should sit on the Iron Throne. The conflict between these two factions, known as 'Team Black' and 'Team Green', will take center stage in this new season.

One of the most notable events from Season 2 is the infamous 'Blood and Cheese' murder. In an attempt to avenge his nephew’s death, Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) hires assassins, known as 'Blood and Cheese', to kill Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell). However, these assassins end up killing a child instead - Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen (Wil Johnson), the son of Alicent Hightower and Aegon II.

This shocking turn of events adds another layer to the already complex power struggle between Rhaenyra and Aegon II. The consequences of this murder will ripple through the rest of the season, leading to further conflict and chaos in Westeros.

As we delve deeper into Season 2, we'll see how these events unfold and how they impact the characters we've come to know from Season 1. With a strong cast, intricate storyline, and stunning visuals, 'House of the Dragon' promises to deliver another captivating season for fans of 'Game of Thrones'.

Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting new season!


Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image

Confidence

85%

Doubts
  • Is it confirmed that Daemon Targaryen hired the assassins personally?
  • Was Prince Jaehaerys truly an innocent victim?

Sources

72%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

'House of the Dragon' changes the books in shocking controverial 'Blood and Cheese' murder

New York Post Lauren Sarner Monday, 17 June 2024 02:01
  • Unique Points
    • Daemon hires assassins, called 'Blood and Cheese', to retaliate by killing Aemond for killing Rhaenyra's son.
    • The assassins end up not killing Aemond but instead kill his nephew, a child named Aegon's son with Heleana.
  • Accuracy
    • Helaena flees in terror after witnessing the murder and runs into her mother's bedroom where she finds Alicent having sex with Criston Cole.
  • Deception (30%)
    The article contains selective reporting as it only mentions details that support the author's position. The author states that 'Daemon hires assassins to take out Aemond to retaliate for Aemond killing Rhaenyra's son.' However, she fails to mention that Daemon specifically orders them to kill Aemond's nephew instead. This misrepresentation of the events is deceptive and manipulative. The author also uses emotional manipulation by expressing her shock and disgust towards certain plot choices in the show, such as a sex scene during a traumatic moment for one of the characters.
    • The assassins end up not killing Aemond, but instead killing his nephew, a child.
    • Exasperated, he tells his collaborator, Does she look like a f---ing son to you?
    • The author expresses her shock and disgust towards the inclusion of a sex scene during Heleana's traumatic moment.
  • Fallacies (75%)
    The author makes an appeal to authority by referencing the books and stating that the show deviates from them. However, they also make inflammatory statements about certain writing choices in the show, such as including a sex scene during a traumatic moment for one of the characters.
    • The author states, 'Unlike the novels that Game of Thrones was based on, it's written like a fictional history textbook - so, it's more like a Wikipedia entry than a novel with fleshed out characters.'
    • The author states, 'But, they went there. Although Alicent seems mortified that her daughter caught her, Heleana is so traumatized that she barely seems to register the hanky-panky playing out in front of her.'
    • The author states, 'It's a wild writing choice for the show to throw a sex scene into this moment - really, now?!'
  • Bias (80%)
    The author expresses disapproval towards the show's writing choices in the 'Blood and Cheese' murder scene, implying that it softens Daemon's character and makes him seem less monstrous than he does in the books. The author also mentions that this plot goes awry onscreen, which could be seen as an implicit criticism of the show for deviating from the source material.
    • The assassins end up not killing Aemond, but instead killing his nephew, a child.
      • This makes him seem like less of a monster for this atrocity than he does in the book.
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      98%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      'House of the Dragon' Season 2 premiere: Date, time, cast, where to watch and stream

      USA Today Saturday, 15 June 2024 00:00
      • Unique Points
        • The upcoming season of the Targaryen spin-off of 'Game of Thrones', titled 'House of the Dragon', will premiere this weekend.
        • Season 2 of 'House of the Dragon' covers an infamous and controversial murder known as 'Blood and Cheese'.
        • The conflict, known as the 'Dance of the Dragons', eventually leads to the end of Targaryen rule over Westeros.
        • The premiere date for 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 is June 16 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on Max the same day.
        • Returning cast members include Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen, Olivia Cooke as adult Alicent Hightower, Emma D’Arcy as adult Rhaenyra Targaryen and more.
        • New characters and actors will be introduced in the upcoming season, such as Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull and Jamie Kenna as Ser Alfred Broome.
        • The series is adapted from George R.R. Martin’s novel 'Fire & Blood', set 200 years before the events of 'Game of Thrones'.
        • In Season 1, King Viserys I Targaryen declared his daughter Rhaenyra next in line to the Iron Throne, breaking the male-only tradition which led to the 'Dance of the Dragons' civil war.
      • Accuracy
        • Rhaenyra Targaryen is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne but her half-brother Aegon and his supporters have usurped her.
        • The new season will follow the war between two factions of the Targaryen family led by King Aegon II and Queen Rhaenyra in their fight for control of Westeros.
        • Daemon hires assassins, called 'Blood and Cheese', to retaliate by killing Aemond for killing Rhaenyra’s son.
        • In Fire & Blood, Daemon knows the more devastating play is taking out one of Aegon’s heirs as Aemond took Rhaenyra’s.
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      81%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      House of the Dragon: Blood and Cheese Murder Explained

      Vulture Magazine Roxana Hadadi Monday, 17 June 2024 02:00
      • Unique Points
        • House of the Dragon’s child-murder scene in ‘Son for a Son’ should have been more base and barbaric.
        • Daemon sends Blood and Cheese to kill Aemond in retaliation.
        • Blood and Cheese make Helaena choose which of her sons is going to live and then kill the son she opted to save instead in Fire & Blood.
        • Cheese whispers to Maelor that his mother wants him dead before killing Prince Jaehaerys with a single blow.
      • Accuracy
        • Blood and Cheese make Helaena choose which of her sons is going to live and then kill the son she opted to save instead.
        • The assassins end up not killing Aemond but instead kill his nephew, a child named Aegon's son with Heleana.
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (70%)
        The analysis found several instances of anticlimactic storytelling and deviations from the source material that diminished the emotional impact of a key scene. The show failed to re-create the reckless cruelty and emotional agony present in Martin's Fire & Blood, resulting in a lack of villainous portrayal for Daemon. Additionally, Helaena's character was underserved, with her reaction to the attack not accentuating the magnitude of her loss. The show also omitted key details from the original text that would have provided a more nuanced understanding of Blood and Cheese's viciousness.
        • The war between Teams Black and Green heats up, HOTD has deviated from Martin's books to suggest that the conflict’s major moments were a series of accidents. [...] This man murdered his first wife in cold blood, and you’re making one of his most heinous decisions a “whoops”?
        • In Fire & Blood, Daemon isn’t interested in going after Aemond (at this point, anyway), nor does he go to King’s Landing himself. [...] From Harrenhal, Daemon sends a message to the Black Council on Dragonstone (“An eye for an eye, a son for a son. Lucerys shall be avenged”) and taps Mysaria, who is still in the capital, to find two appropriate mercenaries.
        • In Martin's writing, Helaena and Aegon have three children: 6-year-old twins Jaehaerys and Jaehaera and 2-year-old son Maelor. [...] There will be intentional decisions made within Teams Green and Black that will tear families apart and haunt them for generations.
      • Bias (50%)
        The author expresses a desire for the scene to be more graphic and barbaric, indicating a potential bias towards violence and gore. However, this is not enough to definitively label the article as biased. The author also criticizes the show for toning down certain aspects of the source material, suggesting a potential bias against censorship or watered-down content.
        • But it also makes these characters look like they don’t know what they’re doing, an approach that undermines Daemon in particular,
          • ]The changes HOTD made to the source material when it comes to Blood and Cheese’s attack on the royal family are anticlimactic[
          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication

          98%

          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

          Emilia Clarke Says She 'Still Can't' Watch Game of Thrones Prequel Series House of the Dragon (Exclusive)

          People Magazine Monday, 17 June 2024 03:56
          • Unique Points
            • Emilia Clarke continues to refuse to watch House of the Dragon.
            • House of the Dragon is a prequel series to Game of Thrones, set around 200 years before its events and focusing on House Targaryen’s decline.
            • Emilia Clarke starred as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones.
            • Game of Thrones ran from 2011 to 2019.
            • Emilia Clarke has taken on a new role as Pegasus Distillerie’s global brand ambassador.
            • Clarke expresses feelings of contentment and happiness with her Game of Thrones experience, but finds watching the prequel odd.
            • House of the Dragon premiered in August 2022.
          • Accuracy
            • Emilia Clarke continues to refuse to watch 'House of the Dragon'.
            • Rhaenyra Targaryen is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne but her half-brother Aegon and his supporters have usurped her.
            • The first season of House of the Dragon consisted of 10 episodes, while season 2 will have 8.
          • Deception (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Fallacies (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Bias (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication

          98%

          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

          House of the Dragon Season 1 Recap: What to Remember for Season 2

          The Wrap News Inc. Jacob Bryant Saturday, 15 June 2024 20:00
          • Unique Points
            • House of the Dragon Season 2 is finally here and the Dance of the Dragons civil war is taking center stage.
            • The series begins 200 years before Game of Thrones with the death of Old King Jaehaerys I Targaryen.
            • Viserys’ rule is largely peaceful until his latest attempts at producing a male heir ends with the death of both the son and his wife Aemma Arryn.
            • Rhaenyra’s messy love life includes a bond with her uncle Daemon, which eventually leads to her refusal to leave Westeros with him and her relationship with Criston Cole.
            • A time jump 10 years into the future finds Rhaenyra and Laenor still married but now with three kids, who are actually a product of Rhaenyra and her secret lover Harwin Strong.
            • Daemon and Rhaenyra are finally free to marry which helps strengthen her claim to the throne right as things are reaching a tipping point between herself and Alicent.
            • Viserys gives a rousing speech at what would be his last supper about the family coming together, but largely, it seems to work as Alicent and Rhaenyra cheer.
            • Alicent informs her father Otto and the two convene The Green Council. In it they plot to place Aegon on the throne, pushing out or outright killing anyone loyal to Rhaenyra and forcing her to flee King’s Landing.
            • Rhaenyra continues to claim herself as the Queen, backed by the fact that the crown was secreted out of King’s Landing and brought to her on Dragonstone where she and her own council planned their next move.
            • The Dance of the Dragons civil war is beginning in earnest in Season 2, with people picking sides as the war takes the main stage.
            • Team Black: Rhaenyra Targaryen, Daemon Targaryen, Rhaenys Targaryen, Lord Corlys ‘The Sea Snake’ Velaryon, Jacaerys ‘Jace’ Velaryon, Baela Targaryen, Rhaena Targaryen, Mysaria – 'The White Worm', Erryk Cargylle.
            • Team Green: Alicent Hightower, Otto Hightower, Aegon II Targaryen, Helaena Targaryen, Aemond Targaryen, Ser Criston Cole, Larys Strong, Tyland Lannister, Borros Baratheon
          • Accuracy
            • Rhaenyra Targaryen is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne but her half-brother Aegon and his supporters have usurped her.
            • Daemon hires assassins, called ‘Blood and Cheese’, to retaliate by killing Aemond for killing Rhaenyra’s son.
            • In Season 1, King Viserys I Targaryen declared his daughter Rhaenyra next in line to the Iron Throne, breaking the male-only tradition which led to the ‘Dance of the Dragons’ civil war.
          • Deception (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Fallacies (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Bias (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication