House of the Dragon season 2

The second season of the American fantasy drama television series House of the Dragon premiered on HBO on June 16, 2024, in the United States and concluded on August 4, 2024. It consists of eight episodes, each of approximately one hour. Like the first season, it covers the events of the book Fire & Blood, a prequel novel in the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin. The season was ordered on August 26, 2022, five days after the premiere of the series. Miguel Sapochnik, a showrunner on the first season, departed after the season, leaving Ryan Condal as the sole showrunner. The second season was filmed from April to September 2023, filming alongside the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike and the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike due to its largely British cast working under British Equity rules.

The season follows in the aftermath of the first season finale, in which Aegon II Targaryen was planted on the Iron Throne after the death of his father King Viserys I Targaryen, causing House Targaryen to become divided. Aegon II rules from King's Landing, supported by the Green Council and his mother Alicent Hightower, while his half-sister Rhaenyra Targaryen and the Black Council plot in exile from Dragonstone. Both sides seek allies from the great houses of Westeros, fighting for the support of their armies to claim their rightful positions to the Iron Throne.

House of the Dragon features a large ensemble cast, including established actors such as Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Rhys Ifans, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Fabien Frankel, Matthew Needham, and Sonoya Mizuno. Milly Alcock, who portrayed a younger version of D'Arcy's character in the first season, appears in a guest role. Critics praised the character development, visual effects, writing, Ramin Djawadi's score, and performances (particularly Smith, D’Arcy and Cooke). The second season won Best Fantasy Television Series at the Saturn Awards, while Emma D'Arcy earned a Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama nomination. The season premiere was watched by over 7 million viewers across the linear channels and HBO Max upon its release. A third season was ordered in June 2024.