How A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Secretly Spoils House of the Dragon’s Ending

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A quick scene in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms unexpectedly hints at how House of the Dragon will end. The shows take place nearly 80 years apart – A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms begins after the events of the Dance of the Dragons. Although HBO’s newest Game of Thrones prequel is distinct, it shares common ground with its predecessor, notably the prominent role of House Targaryen, as several Targaryen princes are present – and competing – at the Ashford Meadow tourney.

Both Valarr and Aerion, sons of different Targaryen princes, participated in the jousting tournament, along with members of prominent families like the Lannisters, Baratheons, and Tullys. A member of House Hightower also appeared briefly at the end of Episode 2 – identified by their emblem of a stone tower with a green flame. This character, Abelar Hightower, challenges Valarr in the tournament, and that small role hints at what’s to come in House of the Dragon.

What Happens To House Hightower At The End Of & After House Of The Dragon

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The Hightower family suffers greatly during the Dance of the Dragons. When Rhaenyra Targaryen seizes King’s Landing, Otto and Gwayne Hightower are both killed, and Alicent is captured, later dying within the Red Keep. Lord Ormund, who will appear in Season 3 of House of the Dragon, dies at the First Battle of Tumbleton, along with a cousin, Ser Bryndon. Another cousin, Ser Hobert, falls at the Second Battle of Tumbleton, leading to the retreat of the Hightower army, which is then commanded by Lord Unwin Peake.

We can expect to see these storylines play out in the third and fourth seasons of House of the Dragon, though the show might not follow the books exactly. For example, the show has Otto Hightower imprisoned by an unknown person, and his location—which could be King’s Landing, House Beesbury, or somewhere else—remains a mystery. Similarly, Gwayne’s role differs from the books; he’s already departed with Ser Criston Cole, while in the source material, he commands the City Watch when Rhaenyra takes King’s Landing. While both characters are still likely to die, the circumstances and timing of their deaths might be altered.

Watching A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, it really struck me how distant the Hightowers have become from the royal family. If Alicent were still queen, their position would be so much more obvious – they wouldn’t just seem like another noble house with a knight tilting at a Targaryen. But honestly, that’s kind of the point. After the Dance of the Dragons, they deliberately shifted gears, choosing to build their power through trade and wealth instead of constantly fighting wars. It’s a smart move, really, and explains why they feel so different now.

During the Blackfyre Rebellion, which happened thirteen years before the events of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, this group remained neutral, offering support to both the Targaryens and Blackfyres without fully committing to either side. They will maintain some level of influence going forward, and we’ll see familiar faces like Ser Gerold Hightower, who served as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard under the Mad King Aerys II and died at the Tower of Joy. However, they’ll never regain the same level of political power they held during House of the Dragon.

You can watch new episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms on Sundays at 10 PM Eastern Time on both HBO and HBO Max. The third season of House of the Dragon is currently planned for release in the summer of 2026.

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2026-01-30 17:11