HOTD made the most genius (but also heartbreaking) move by veering off Fire & Blood a bit in its latest episode

Nobody is immune to the ashen claws of death in the fabled realm of Westeros, irrespective of their rank and position, and this stupefying plot twist in the new House of the Dragon episode proves that.

House of the Dragon | HBO
Alas, even the venerated princess of one of the most prestigious dragonlord dynasties couldn’t escape from the fetters of tragedy. But unlike George R. R. Martin’s Fire & Blood – the literary inspiration behind the HBO spinoff – this curveball is a bit different from what GoT aficionados must’ve read in the books. And oh boy, you’re not going to be ready for this one.

The Insane Twist Involving Rhaenys Targaryen in HOTD 2

If you’ve devoted yourself to the Game of Thrones universe, you must already be aware of the cataclysmic fate that Princess Rhaenys Targaryen meets in George R. R. Martin‘s Fire & Blood.

To give you a quick recap, Rhaenys – who flies out to the Battle of Rook’s Rest with her scarlet dragon, Meleys – is ensnared by King Aegon II and Prince Aemond along with their respective dragons in the book. This ambush soon turns into a flaming aerial combat, leading to the very literal downfall of the triad and ultimately resulting in Rhaenys’ death. But the show takes on a different path.

In episode 4 of House of the Dragon season 2, which is perhaps the most happening and action-crammed episode so far, the rip-roaring Dance of the Dragon culminates into the staggering demise of Rhaenys Targaryen. And while the chain of events is mostly similar to that of the book, the prequel series takes a smidge of creative liberty with Rhaenys’ end.

Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen in House of the Dragon 2 | HBO
The Queen Who Never Was, first goes head-to-head with Aemond Targaryen and his dragon, Vhagar, perhaps the most experienced of all dragons. But while Rhaenys and Meleys exchange blows against the former pair, Aegon and his dragon, Sunfyre, catch everyone off guard by suddenly stepping into the conflict. That’s not even the most astonishing part, though.

After the initial clash with Aegon and Sunfyre in the new episode, Rhaenys – shockingly enough – has the opportunity to flee and save herself from an otherwise dark fate. She and Meleys even come close to conquering Vhagar before Rhaenys is ultimately taken down in the blazing confrontation, seemingly giving in to the inevitable and meeting her end.

While this holds much more monumental implications for House of the Dragon (especially for the Black faction) than a central character’s death, it goes on to show how Rhaenys – who sacrificed her life in a heartbeat for the greater good – is truly the Queen that Westeros deserved. However, another reason behind her self-resignation can also be speculated as the knowledge about Corlys Velaryon, her lord-husband’s bastard.

At any rate, it will be interesting to see how this bombshell pans out against the bigger picture.

House of the Dragon – Is Aegon II Targaryen Dead?

Princess Rhaenys Targaryen’s fatal loss wasn’t the only plot twist HOTD S2, E4 served fans with the drastic change in Aegon’s role during Rook’s Rest.

Criston Cole’s odious plan wherein he betrays Rhaenys is relatively similar to Martin’s rendition of the civil war in the book, and so is Aemond and Aegon’s involvement in the air-bound fight. But unlike the book, Aegon appears to be devising his own, entirely different machinations, as he enters the battle of his own volition.
Tom Glynn-Carney as King Aegon II Targaryen in House of the Dragon season 2 | HBO
To Aegon’s surprise, however, Rhaenys and Meleys put up quite the fight against the king. What’s more, Aemond ends up stabbing his own brother in the back as he commands Vhagar to spew fire on Aegon, after which the king plummets and falls in the woods.

Contrary to the book, this development is entirely original to the show. While Aegon is found injured and battered after the Battle of Rook’s Rest in Fire & Blood, the character isn’t killed off there. Meanwhile, the latest episode of HOTD leaves audiences simmering in anticipation by leaving Aegon’s fate a secret yet to be revealed.

So, while we’re yet to find out what happens to Aegon after the crash, it’s less likely for the show to steer away so substantially from the source material and kill the king this early amid the storyline. Sure, the on-screen adaptation takes a few creative freedoms here and there but not when it comes to such momentous scenes that could hold severe ramifications for the rest of the show. But of course, never say never.

House of the Dragon S2, E4, can be streamed on Max.