So much occurs within the season 2 finale of “Home of the Dragon,” so it is simple to miss a throwaway line in an early scene with Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) and Larys Sturdy (Matthew Needham). In between speaking about their plans to desert King’s Touchdown, Aegon mentions that his dragon Sunfyre is useless, presumably succumbing to its wounds shortly after the Battle of Rook’s Relaxation.
For show-only viewers, this line is important in the way it emphasizes Aegon’s newfound disconnect from his Targaryen roots. An enormous a part of a Targaryen’s declare to the throne is their potential to journey a dragon into battle, and Aegon can now not do this. Sunfyre’s demise is a symbolic dying, much like what occurred with Sansa’s direwolf Girl in “Recreation of Thrones.” The direwolves had been principally the Starks’ equal of dragons, so when Sansa misplaced hers it served as an sick omen for what her time in King’s Touchdown would convey. Aegon goes by an analogous disaster in id as Sansa’s, this time with extra grotesque outcomes.
However for followers of the ebook, “Hearth & Blood,” this line is important in that it looks like a significant departure from the supply materials. Both Aegon hasn’t been instructed the reality about Sunfyre’s situation, or the present’s embarking on one more dangerous adaptive flourish.
Spoilers beneath for “Hearth & Blood,” and certain the remainder of “Home of the Dragon.”
Sunfyre within the ebook: nonetheless alive!
The excellent news is that the numerous dragons within the ebook do not die out fairly so shortly. After the battle at Rook’s Relaxation, Sunfyre lives to roar one other day, permitting Aegon to have a minimum of one good friend who will help him unconditionally. The dangerous information is that Sunfyre is additionally closely wounded by the battle, with one entire wing torn from his physique. Because the ebook describes it:
“The king’s dragon, Sunfyre, too large and heavy to be moved, and unable to fly along with his injured wing, remained within the fields past Rook’s Relaxation, crawling by the ashes like some nice golden wyrm. Within the early days he fed himself upon the burned carcasses of the slain. When these had been gone, the lads Ser Criston had left behind to protect him introduced him calves and sheep.”
Issues appear to be somewhat totally different within the present, which establishes (by Rhaenys’ dragon Meleys) that dragons are the truth is mild sufficient to be taken again to King’s Touchdown. Meleys’ physique is paraded by the town’s streets, which raises the query of what precisely the present characters did with Sunfyre. Did they create him again too, however extra privately? Or did they determine to go away him by Rook’s Relaxation as properly?
That is all necessary as a result of, though Aegon won’t ever be capable to journey once more, his dragon will possible play a significant function in season 3 or 4. Close to the tip of the warfare, Ebook Rhaenyra arrives at Dragonstone to find a entice’s been laid earlier than her: the presumed-dead King Aegon is ready there along with his still-crippled Sunfyre. He has Sunfyre burn and eat Rhaenyra, as her ten-year-old son watches helplessly. It is a bleak second, however it’s additionally a vital one within the narrative.
Possibly Sunfyre’s ‘dying’ is not a lie in any respect
Rhaenyra’s dying is not simply necessary as a result of it alerts the tip of the warfare, however due to the loaded symbolism of her being killed by her home’s personal sigil. In relation to making the thematic level about how Targaryen energy is a double-edged sword, there is not any higher metaphor the present may use.
However given the finale’s different game-changing occasions, like the key newfound alliance between Rhaenyra and Alicent, maybe “Home of the Dragon” actually has killed Sunfyre off. Possibly the writers produce other plans for the way they will go about killing Rhaenyra, or possibly they will not kill Rhaenyra in any respect. Sure, which may contradict the ebook considerably, and it will additionally undermine a line from “Recreation of Thrones” the place Joffrey laughs about Rhaenyra’s dying. However possibly “Home of the Dragon” is not serious about being a simple prequel to the unique collection. Possibly this present exists in an alternate timeline. Possibly it is going for its personal separate factor, books and former present be damned.
Given how miserable the street forward is for ebook Rhaenyra, and the way a lot it frustratingly mirrors the downslide of Daenerys in season 8, a complete shake-up from the supply materials won’t be so dangerous. In spite of everything, it positive could be good if a feminine Targaryen obtained to benefit from the crown for as soon as.
