‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 Finale Preview Teases Tessarion, the Battle of the Gullet, and More Bloodshed

House of the Dragon Season 2’s penultimate episode, “The Red Sowing,” ends with Prince Regent Aemond Targaryen ( Ewan Mitchell ) realizing, much to his consternation, that his half-sister Rhaenyra ( Emma D’Arcy ) has found riders for three of the largest dragons alive. It’s a move that finally puts Aemond and his dragon Vhagar on the defensive, inspiring Aemond to literally command his massive dragon to flee for their lives. So what’s going to happen next on the HBO show? Well, in the first teaser for the House of the Dragon Season 2 finale, we see signs that the dragons will continue to “dance” and that the war isn’t coming to an end anytime soon.

Although Rhaenyra might believe that assembling a grand group of dragons will end the civil war swiftly, it’s clear from the House of the Dragon Season 2 finale preview that bloodshed — even “annihilation” — is now inevitable. Great armies are on the march sporting the colors of both House Stark and House Lannister, fleets of ships are on the mood, and Aemond is hungry for a fight. In fact, book readers might be shocked to realize that it looks like the House of the Dragon Season 2 finale could feature multiple massive moments from the books. There are signs that Daemon (Matt Smith) might be finally leaving Harrenhal, while there are also glimpses of a very big naval battle coming together. Could we be getting the bloody Battle of the Gullet already?

So will dragons fight again in the House of the Dragon Season 2 finale? Could more Targaryens die? And is that — oh wow — is Daeron going to finally make an appearance on the cobalt blue dragon Tessarion? Let’s breakdown the House of the Dragon Season 2 finale preview…

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The House of the Dragon Season 2 finale preview opens with the sight of two of Rhaenrya’s dragons playfully circling each other in the air as Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) says, “The dragons dance…” There’s then a shot of a Hightower leading a long procession of Lannister forces followed quickly by Stark men crossing the bridge at the twins. During a close up of soldiers’ feet marching, Cole says, “…and men are like dust under their feet.” A small blue dragon screeches above one army — this is Tessarion, aka the mysterious Prince Daeron’s dragon. Ser Criston then says, “We march now towards our annihilation.” There’s then a shot of what appears to be Caraxes roaring at two smaller dragons in the air.

A title card reads, “On the Season Finale House of the Dragon ” and we then hop to Rhaenyra entertaining all of her dragonriders at dinner on Dragonstone. “I’ve entrusted you with a power only few have known,” she says. There’s a montage of dragons soaring in the sky, and above Riverland forces. We then cut to Alyn of Hull (Abubakar Salim) in full armor on a row boat powered by unarmored men. Rhaenyra tells her team: “We must strike while we have the advantage.”

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We then see a shot of Kings Landing in the distance and Ser Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) says, “The Prince Regent is angry. There’s no telling what he will do.” We then see a bedridden Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) looking scared. Alicent (Olivia Cooke) tells Aemond, “You wish to rule the Seven Kingdoms, but you rule ruin and death.” We cut to Aemond on dragonback.

Then we go to Harrenhal. Daemon pushes his way through closed doors and stalks through a group of Rivermen. An unidentified speaker — though probably Ser Alfred Broome (Jamie Kenna) — tells him, “While you have mustered an army, Rhaenyra has faltered.” Back on a moonlit balcony in King’s Landing, Aemond tells Heleana (Phia Saban), “Pretenders raise new riders against us. I need you to fly with Dreamfyre to battle.” We see a dragon growl in the light of the sun. “We will answer outrage with outrage,” Aemond says. He is then on Vhagar, looking on at a city on fire.

A title card reads, “Only One…” before we see the Twins and a close up of soldiers marching. Daemon says, “For every one of us who falls…” We then see Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty) in fancy armor (and contemplation). Another title card appears, reading, “…Episode Left.” There’s a massive fleet of ships and Daemon continues his speech, “…a hundred of them.” We then see a woman in mud cheering and the camera pans back to reveal she’s wrestled a man into the ground. (Note: this looks like actress Abigail Thorn, who has been confirmed as the HBO show’s version of Sharako Lohar, one of the Triarchy’s admirals.) There are ships closing in on an exotic land. Daemon goes on: “There will be no mercy!”

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There’s then a supercut of Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) running through the Vale, then Corlys (Steve Toussaint) in armor on a row boat, Daemon rallying troops at Harrenhal, and Ser Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox) pointing his sword at Ser Criston Cole (out of armor). Rhaenyra looks out from Dragonstone and a dragon soars through the air.

The final title card reads, “HBO original House of the Dragon Sundays 9 PM.”

House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 8 will premiere on HBO and Max on Sunday, August 4 at 9 PM ET. Please note it is the final episode of House of the Dragon Season 2. And yes, HBO has already ordered House of the Dragon Season 3.

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