Wait, is [SPOILER] dead in House of the Dragon? What happens next, according to George R.R. Martin's book
Jul. 8, 2024Is that major character really gone?
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House of the Dragon season 2, episode 4is certainly a big one. So much happens that it’s clear theDance of the Dragonsis about to get even more intense – but one development in particular might have you desperate to know what’s going to happen next.
Now, before we go any further, consider this yourmajor spoiler warning. The following is diving into the ending of the episode as well as George R.R. Martin’s Fire and Blood, so turn back now if you don’t want to know what might happen next!
If you’re still reading, then you’ll know Aegon Targaryen and his dragon Sunfyre plummeted from the skies over Rook’s Rest and are in pretty terrible shape. We’ve got the lowdown on whether Aegon survives and what happens next in Martin’s source material right here.
For even more on episode 4, check out ourspoiler breakdown of the episode with Aemond Targaryen actor Ewan Mitchell.
Is Aegon dead in House of the Dragon?
Aegon joins the battle above Rook’s Rest and takes everyone by surprise – including Criston Cole and Aemond Targaryen, the masterminds behind the plot.
Rhaenys and Meleys soon engage Aegon and Sunfyre in combat, and things don’t go well for the king and his smaller dragon. Aemond and the immenseVhagarsoon join the fight, and Aegon is cheered to see his brother… for a moment, anyway. Aemond orders Vhagar todracarysand the fire hits Aegon and Sunfyre, sending them careening out of the sky and crash-landing.
Aemond and Vhagar kill Rhaenys and Meleys, then Criston catches up to Aemond standing over the fallen king, sword mysteriously drawn. Aemond leaves his brother alone, though, and the episode ends before we find out the fate of the king.
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Depending on your allegiances in theGreens vs. Blackscivil war, you’ll either be relieved or disappointed to learn that Aegon survives the fall in Fire and Blood. Sunfyre also lives.
But, both of them are badly injured. Aegon is seriously burned and breaks multiple ribs and his hip, with his armor fused to one arm thanks to the dragonfire. He essentially falls into a coma, helped by Westeros’s version of painkillers, milk of the poppy, and sleeps most of the time. He spends an entire year bedridden – and, while he’s out of action, Aemond takes over as Prince Regent.
Sunfyre, meanwhile, has a wing damaged so greviously that he can’t fly. He remains at Rook’s Rest for some time to recover, but eventually is able to take to the skies again.
House of the Dragon season 2continues weekly on Sky and NOW in the UK and HBO in the US. For even more on the show, check out our deep dives on:
I’m a Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering all things film and TV for the site’s Total Film and SFX sections. I previously worked on the Disney magazines team at Immediate Media, and also wrote on the CBeebies, MEGA!, and Star Wars Galaxy titles after graduating with a BA in English.
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