House of the Dragon season 2, episode 4’s brief focus on House Darklyn and their home of Duskendale sets up a story I’d love to see play out concerning the Mad King. While the Battle at Rook’s Rest depicted in House of the Dragon season 2 episode 4’s ending naturally excited me, the rest of the episode was incredibly compelling. Not only was the death of Rhaenys Targaryen well foreshadowed and thus more tragic, but the continued build-up of the Dance of Dragons remained a highlight of House of the Dragon season 2.

One of my personal favorite elements of both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon is the complex war situations often detailed. I often find the strategy and tactics of the warring factions of Westeros endlessly intriguing, meaning I particularly enjoyed watching Ser Criston Cole’s plan play out in House of the Dragon, despite being a Team Black supporter. Although this plot point led to one of House of the Dragon‘s best battles, it also provided context to House Darklyn and the Sack of Duskendale, bringing to mind a future event tied to Game of Thrones‘ Mad King Aerys II.

Lord Darklyn In House Of The Dragon Connects To The Defiance Of Duskendale

Lord Darklyn Has A Hand In The Events Leading Up To Game Of Thrones

Image via Max

In House of the Dragon season 2, episode 4, Criston Cole takes Duskendale and forces its inhabitants to bend the knee to Aegon II. He does so by decapitating Lord Gunthor Darklyn, the father of Ser Steffon Darklyn who commands Rhaenyra’s Queensguard. While Duskendale and the Darklyns are only mentioned in passing or in a few scenes of House of the Dragon season 2, episode 4, it makes me long to see an event linking to the family and the location play out in future Game of Thrones spin-offs: the Defiance of Duskendale.

The Defiance of Duskendale takes place around 150 years after House of the Dragon during the reign of King Aerys II Targaryen. Aerys II was made infamous in Game of Thrones due to his reputation as the Mad King who somewhat inadvertently began Robert’s Rebellion and ended the Targaryen dynasty. The Defiance of Duskendale, conducted by Gunthor and Steffon’s ancestor, Lord Denys Darklyn, was integral to Aerys II’s lapse of sanity that caused the events of Game of Thrones to unfold.

House Of The Dragon Season 2’s Remaining Episodes

Episode #
Release Date

5
July 14

6
July 21

7
July 28

8

August 4

The Defiance Of Duskendale Should Be Part Of A Robert’s Rebellion Spinoff

If Robert’s Rebellion Is Depicted On Screen, The Defiance Of Duskendale Needs To Be Shown

One of the many Game of Thrones spin-offs that I, along with many others, have desired is one centered around Robert’s Rebellion. Seeing how Ned Stark, Robert Baratheon, and Jon Arryn waged war against the Targaryens and ended hundreds of years of servitude sounds amazing, and would provide a nice bridge between House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones. If such a spin-off were ever to be developed, the Defiance of Duskendale would need to be included.

Although the Defiance of Duskendale takes place five years before Robert’s Rebellion begins, it is integral in leading up to the war. Aerys II’s madness and paranoia led to rash decision-making that caused Robert’s Rebellion, and the Defiance of Duskendale is crucial to Aerys’ declining sanity. The Defiance began when Duskendale stopped paying taxes to the crown due to the adverse effects of King’s Landing on the port town’s wealth and economy. Aerys, distrusting the Hand of the King Tywin Lannister, traveled to Duskendale to resolve the situation himself.

This defiance lasted around six months before Aerys was broken out by Barristan Selmy of the Kingsguard. Afterward, Aerys’ madness drastically worsened…

However, Lord Denys Darklyn captured Aerys and used the king as a hostage to force Tywin into meeting his terms. Tywin besieged Duskendale, unwilling to storm the town to keep Aerys alive. This defiance lasted around six months before Aerys was broken out by Barristan Selmy of the Kingsguard. Afterward, Aerys’ madness drastically worsened. He began to further distrust Tywin and those around him – even his wife – and refused to leave the Red Keep for four years afterward. This madness spiraled into Aerys’ murder of Ned Stark’s brother and father, kickstarting Robert’s Rebellion alongside the kidnapping of Lyanna Stark.

Will A Robert’s Rebellion Spinoff Ever Happen?

Hints At Robert’s Rebellion Have Been Found, Albeit Unconfirmed

Despite my excitement at the potential of Duskendale being involved in a Robert’s Rebellion spin-off, the question remains over whether the latter will even happen. Oftentimes, when spin-offs of Game of Thrones are mentioned, Robert’s Rebellion and Aegon’s Conquest are often raised as the most compelling stories to be told. An Aegon’s Conquest show is reportedly in development, and Robert’s Rebellion has long been a potential story that could be told by HBO.

This possibility has been outlined by Entertainment Weekly, with a report claiming that HBO had considered using Robert’s Rebellion as a basis for another spin-off when House of the Dragon was first ordered. However, since then, nothing has been confirmed about the story. Given the success of House of the Dragon, anything is possible, but a Robert’s Rebellion series is yet to be officially announced.