EntertainmentTVFantasy ShowsHouse of the DragonHouse of the Dragon season 2 episode 4’s big battle is even more brutal in George R.R. Martin’s bookWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
EntertainmentTVFantasy ShowsHouse of the DragonHouse of the Dragon season 2 episode 4’s big battle is even more brutal in George R.R. Martin’s bookWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: HBO/Sky)
Well,House of the Dragon season 2 episode 4certainly upped the ante, didn’t it? Now, before we go any further, we’re getting intohuge spoiler territory from here on outsomake sure you’ve seen right to the very end before reading on.
Still here? Well, then you’ll know that not everyone makes it out of the latest episode of the Game of Thrones spin-off alive. Sadly Rhaenys and Meleys are the big casualties of the Battle at Rook’s Rest in theDance of the Dragons.
In the episode, we see the Queen That Never Was fight valiantly on her dragon against Aemond and Vhagar as well as Aegon and Sunfyre. However, they’re simply too strong for her, as Vhagar claims another victim, biting Meleys’ neck, and sending the dragon plunging to the ground.
It’s a heartbreaking farewell to the beloved character, and it’s a pretty gruesome death too. However, in George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood, there are some even worse details that we don’t see here.
How does Rhaenys die in the books?
(Image credit: HBO)
The three dragons fight and become entangled, falling to the ground in the chaos. Meleys is killed, and it is said that a corpse is found beside her that is so blackened that no one could be sure it was the Queen That Never Was. The TV adaptation spares us from that horrific detail. One that may still be on its way though is the fact that Aegon parades Meleys’ head through King’s Landing on a cart in the novel, boasting of the greens' victory over the blacks. Eek.
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
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3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3
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4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2
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3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
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4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4
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5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”