While the first season of House of the Dragon was incredible, it did leave a few plot holes that will need to be filled during the second season.
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House of the Dragons season 1 is at its end, and there will likely be another two years before fans have the chance to see a second season. It’s disappointing, given how great the show is, but the show’s incredible writing means that viewers will certainly be coming back to see the early stages of the Dance of the Dragons.
Yet, while the writing is brilliant, some plot holes in the story left fans scratching their heads, especially as the time jumps didn’t allow fans to grasp the events happening to some characters and dragons. From a Song of Ice and Fire prophecy to dragons, these plot holes will certainly need to be addressed during the second season if the show wants a better ending than Game of Thrones.
The Song of Ice and Fire is one of the most important dreams in House of the Dragon, as it compelled Rhaenyra to accept her crown and convinced Alicent that Aegon deserved the throne. Aegon the Conqueror’s dream was that Westeros needed to be united in order to stop the White Walkers.
Yet what doesn’t make any sense at all is that the Targaryens kept that dream secret. Rather than warning the realm, they were quiet about their prophecy, which put the entire realm at risk. There was no justifiable reason for that, which is why it was such a blaring plot hole that no one but the Targaryen heir was allowed to know.
Not Trying To Marry Starks
Aegon the Conqueror’s dream told the Targaryens that they would need to face off against the forces of ice in order to help their fire win it all. That’s why it was so confusing that the Targaryens never once married a stark, prior to Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark during Robert’s Rebellion.
But, given that the biggest threat that the Targaryens faced was ice demons from the north, it makes sense to bind them to the Starks through marriage. After all, the Wardens of the North would know more about the White Walkers and the attacks than they would. Keeping the Starks isolated was ridiculous, and the show needs to address the awful marriage choices.
Laenor’s Dragon
The bond between a dragon and its rider lasts for as long as they both live. While there are many more book dragons to be seen, one standout was Laenor Velaryon’s dragon: Seasmoke. The dragon appeared several times during the season, and it proved to be devastating in the fight against the Crabfeeder. With Laenor alive and exiled, Seasmoke should not be able to claim another rider.
Yet Daemon counted Seasmoke among Dragonstone’s dragons. It is a strange decision, given that Seasmoke can no longer be ridden until Laenor is dead. The show needs to clarify if Laenor died on his own or if Daemon was merely misunderstanding the dragons’ bond.
Invisible And Unheard Dragons Arriving In Battles
A dragon is a gigantic weapon with loud bounding wings and crackling roars that can horrify their enemies. Given their size, it is impossible for dragons to move unheard. Yet in House of the Dragon, the dragons appear in battles entirely to the surprise of their enemies.
With Seasmoke arriving against Crabfeeder completely to the latter’s surprise, the battle felt completely ridiculous and contrived. The situation only became worse when the lumbering Vhagar managed to sneak up on Arrax and Luke. In season 2, dragons need to be more visible and certainly more audible to their enemies.
Calling Rhaenyra Queen Of The Rhoynar
While Dorne is a major kingdom in Westeros, they are not actually a part of the Seven Kingdoms in House of the Dragon. Aegon the Conquerer failed to conquer them, and it was Daeron II who brought them into the fold through marriage, long after Rhaenyra’s coronation.
While Dorne is a location that could be featured in House of the Dragon, it is not part of Rhaenyra’s or Aegon’s kingdom. That’s why it was so strange to see Rhaenyra referred to as the queen of the Rhoynar, in which most people of this ethnic group live in Dorne. The Rhoynar are not currently part of Westeros, so future seasons need to correct her titles.
Criston Cole Being Left Alive Without Issue
Ser Criston Cole is a man who should undeniably already be in the ground. After murdering a lord’s paramour at the man’s wedding, there is no way that he should be a free man, let alone alive. Considering that he also slept with the Crown Princess and broke his vows, he should have been axed as a Kingsguard.
While book fans know that Criston Cole is important to the Greens, that doesn’t mean he should be entirely above the law. If the show wants to fill in that plot hole, it can show Alicent and Criston reflecting on her defending him after Joffrey’s murder. That would at least make it look somewhat more realistic, but the time jump ruined the opportunity to fix this major plot hole.
Alicent Not Spying On Rhaenyra’s Lovers
One of Alicent Hightower’s worst decisions in season 1 was letting Rhaenyra run free. After all, Alicent was the Queen of Westeros, and she was not without power of her own. After discovering that Rhaenyra had slept with Ser Criston and was passing bastards off as heirs, Alicent could have easily had Rhaenyra shadowed.
If she wanted proof that the Strong boys were not trueborn heirs, that was all it would have taken. Much like her father before her, she could have relied on spies, and she might even have found the chance to have Rhaenyra removed as heir. Alicent should rely more on an information campaign in season 2, especially considering how important the Strong boys are.
The Prophecy Was Wrong
The entire conflict of House of the Dragon revolves around Aegon’s prophecy. Yet, as much as previous Targaryen prophecies came through, like the destruction of Valyria, Aegon the Conqueror’s dream was completely and utterly wrong, given what ended up happening in Game of Thrones. Season 2 desperately needs to address just how wrong that prophecy will eventually be.
After all, the realm was not united when Westeros faced the White Walkers. The Westerlands, the Reach, the Iron Islands, and Dorne all failed to send armies to the fight. Besides, a Targaryen wasn’t even in command of Westeros. Instead, Jon Snow was busy screaming at a dragon, and Daenerys was at risk of death, while a Stark killed the Night King.
Not Preparing For The White Walkers
If the Targaryens needed to be in power to defend the realm from the White Walkers, Jon Snow’s worst enemies, it is notable that they never did anything to prepare for it. Only a single Targaryen, the Good Queen Alysanne, even bothered to visit the Wall. Rhaenyra desperately needs to do more for it.
The Targaryens should have been reinforcing, funding, and visiting the wall on a yearly basis. The Starks should not have been left to defend it alone. If the Targaryens really did care so much, princes should have been sent to serve as Lord Commanders and rangers. It could easily have been a socially acceptable place to send Aegon II and Aemond, so that they would not challenge Rhaenyra’s succession.
Aemond Not Realizing Vhagar Was Uncontrollable
Viserys rode a dragon only once, and he knew that dragons were not controllable. Luke knew that Arrax might disobey him, and so he begged the dragon to listen to him before the two rode away from Storm’s End. Yet Aemond, who had been riding the world’s largest dragon for years, seemingly had no idea.
It seems absurd that Aemond would not know that dragons had a mind of their own. He should have expected that Vhagar could kill Luke, and he certainly should not have been surprised. Going forward, the Targaryens should definitely realize that dragons are sentient beings who will do what they like.
