Warning: This article contains spoilers for Fire & Blood and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George R.R. Martin, and thus, future seasons of House of the Dragon.House of the Dragon is the first Game of Thrones spinoff to debut after the original series, but its four-season plan ensures it won’t end for some time — and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight is poised to spoil its conclusion. A Knight of the Second Kingdoms is the second Game of Thrones spinoff coming to HBO, and the series is slated to premiere in late 2025. The Hedge Knight‘s release window confirms what those familiar with George R.R. Martin’s books already suspected: that the show will reveal the outcome of HOTD before it happens.
Although viewers know some of the aftermath of the Targaryen civil war from Game of Thrones — most notably that it diminished the power of House Targaryen and the number of dragons in Westeros — the entire ending may not be clear to every viewer. Joffrey Baratheon does spoil Rhaenyra’s fate in Game of Thrones, but it’s during a conversation that’s easy to overlook, especially without any real investment in Targaryen history. The Hedge Knight will also reveal what becomes of the Blacks and the Greens, but two seasons into HOTD, this will be more noticeable.
The Hedge Knight Book Spoils How Rhaenyra Dies & Who Becomes King
A Passage From George R.R. Martin’s Book Confirms Aegon III Becomes King
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is based on Martin’s book of the same name, and it’s set between House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones. This alone sets the show up to spoil House of the Dragon, as the details of its timeline will offer clues about how the Dance of the Dragons turns out. However, Martin’s book also outright states the outcome of Targaryen civil war. For one, it confirms that Aegon II becomes king again. When Dunk learns Egg’s true identity, he asks him, “How many Aegons have been king?” The squire tells him, “Four Aegons.”
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Since Egg is only the fifth Aegon Targaryen, it stands to reason that every Aegon thus far has been king — including Viserys’ son in House of the Dragon. Of course, he does claim the Iron Throne during the early days of the Dance of the Dragons, so this line alone could be glossed over. But A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms also contains a passage referencing Rhaenyra’s fate, though it doesn’t mention her by name. When Dunk remembers how Ser Arlan would tell him stories of the last dragon, he recalls the man saying, “Some say King Aegon poisoned her.”
Arlan clarifies that he’s talking about the third Aegon, who “was afraid of dragons, for he’d seen his uncle’s beast devour his own mother.” The fact that he needs to specify between the two King Aegons indicates that the second one will be on the throne again later on. It also reveals how he manages to reclaim power: by feeding Rhaenyra, Aegon III’s mother, to her own dragon. It may confuse viewers that Rhaenyra’s son ends up on the Iron Throne, too, but that’s the result of him marrying Aegon II’s daughter, Jaehaera, in an attempt to reunite House Targaryen.
Assuming
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’
adaptation includes these conversations, it will be obvious how
House of the Dragon
ends well before its final season.
Assuming A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ adaptation includes these conversations, it will be obvious how House of the Dragon ends before its final season. After all, these scenes will show up in The Hedge Knight‘s one and only outing in 2025. Based on the two-year gaps between seasons of House of the Dragon, its final episodes won’t arrive until 2028 at the earliest.
A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Shouldn’t Worry About Spoiling House Of The Dragon
Although some viewers may be frustrated if A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms gives away House of the Dragon‘s ending, the next Game of Thrones spinoff shouldn’t worry about spoiling things. The original series gives away the outcome of House of the Dragon anyway, and it’s even more crucial that The Hedge Knight does so. The references to Targaryen history are critical to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and that includes those discussing the Dance of the Dragons and the absence of dragons that follows.
Including these details sets up the world the Targaryens find themselves in during
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
Including these details sets up the world the Targaryens find themselves in during A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. It also contributes to Egg’s individual character arc. Egg becomes determined to bring the dragons back, and the Targaryen history established in House of the Dragon adds necessary context to his obsession. It would be a shame to lose that just to avoid spoilers.