Warning: This article contains massive SPOILERS for the Fire & Blood book.

This article contains descriptions of graphic violence and suicide.

Summary

• House of the Dragon, based on George R. R. Martin's book Fire & Blood, explores the destruction of House Targaryen and the personal cost of a bloody civil war.
• Season 1 features brutal deaths of main characters, such as Lucerys Velaryon, showcasing the violent nature of the story.
• The Dance of the Dragons results in the deaths of multiple characters, some of whom die in the most horrific ways.

House of the Dragon, based on the book Fire & Blood by George R. R. Martin, recounts how House Targaryen is nearly wiped out at the height of its power. House of the Dragon is about how the hubris and pride of House Targaryen would lead to its destruction and the mounting personal cost of a bloody civil war. Unlike Game of Thrones, which was based on the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, House of the Dragon is based on the in-universe "historical treatise" that offers an overview of the Targaryens' history and reveals the fate of dozens of characters that predate the likes of Daenerys.

Game of Thrones is known for brutal deaths, and the Targaryen prequel is no different. House of the Dragon cast will meet their ends before watching it.

Jacaerys Velaryon

Shot down by crossbows in battle

The pride of the senior of House Targaryen results in the deaths of most of their children. After losing Lucerys (Luke) in the season 1 finale, Rhaenyra's eldest son Jacaerys (Jace) will likely also die in House of the Dragon season 3. Jacaerys dies in battle in the book, and is one of many key Targaryen casualties that has a significant impact on the Dance of the Dragons.

The death of Jacaerys Targaryen was a shocking one for the rest of his family, and the blacks as a group, since it occured when an easy victory seemed all-but-assured. At the Battle of the Gullet, when his dragon Vermax is wounded by crossbows, Jace leaps from the dragon's back, only to be shot down himself. Before his death, Jace secures a key alliance for the blacks by recruiting Lord Cregan Stark of Winterfell.

Criston Cole

Shot By Archers In Battle

While he may be the subject of many memes following some of his scenes with Alicent in House of the Dragon season 2, Ser Criston Cole isn't destined to make it to the end of House of the Dragons alive unless the show deviates significantly from the source material. Ser Criston Cole is one of the most divisive characters in House of the Dragon, and his desire to spite Rhaenyra never wanes.

He serves King Aegon II loyally until his death, becoming Hand of the King when Aegon grows tired of his grandfather Otto Hightower's conservative strategies. That said, a satisfying death for Cole does happen; he dies at the battle known as the Butcher's Ball, where he is shot by Robb Rivers and two other archers. Rivers, whose surname suggests that he is a bastard of House Blackwood, is regarded as the most skilled archer in Westeros during his time.

Aegon Targaryen

Poisoned By An Unknown Assassin

House of the Dragon season 2 has spent a lot of time establishing Aegon Targaryen as a character but, like many of his family, he's almost guaranteed to be dead by the time the Game of Thrones prequel conclude. In the A Dance with Dragons novel, Aegon is shown to be incredibly complacent once he ascends the Iron Throne, which costs him his life.

After "winning" the civil war, King Aegon II does nothing about the approaching armies, spending his time contemplating his future marriage to Cassandra Baratheon and commissioning statues of his late brothers. With the green armies depleted and more enemies coming, the small council realizes too late that Aegon is a terrible king. Aegon is then found dead with blood on his lips. His killer is never confirmed, although Larys Strong and Corlys Velaryon are among the suspects.

However, the show does seem to be taking a different route with Aegon II. In House of the Dragon season 2, he ends up significantly injured after an encounter with Aemond. Aegon manages to make it back to Kings Landing still alive, but barely. While he sustains similar injuries in the books, they do appear far worse in the show. It's entirely possible that by the time House of the Dragon concludes, Aegon would have succumbed to these wounds rather than being poisoned like he was in the source material.

Larys Strong

Executed By Cregan Stark

Larys is one of the main suspects in Aegon's murder. When Cregan Stark arrives at King's Landing, various conspirators are convicted. Many chose to the Night's Watch to avoid execution, but Larys chooses death instead. He is beheaded by Cregan, using his blade Ice. His last request is that Cregan remove his bad foot from his corpse, which is granted. The sword Ice is ed down to Eddard Stark and later reforged into two blades: Widow's Wail, possessed by Joffrey Baratheon, and Oathkeeper, by Brienne of Tarth.

However, while this is how Larys Strong dies in the book, the possible change to the death of Aegon II in House of the Dragon may also mean that the fate of Larys Strong is altered too. If Aegon does die from the wounds he sustained in House of the Dragon season 2, then it's unlikely that Larys Strong will be blamed as a conspirator (since there's no conspiracy). If this is the case, then he may even end up surviving — although there are still plenty of ways he could die.

Mysaria

Killed In The Streets Of King's Landing

Mysaria appears to die in season 1, episode 9, "The Green Council" in a fire. However, she survived since she was supposed to play an important role in the war, and returned once again in House of the Dragon season 2. During the Dance of Dragons, she serves as Rhaenyra's unofficial Mistress of Whisperers (the equivalent of Lord Varys, the Master of Whisperers).

If the show follows the same plot as the books, then Mysaria will have one of the most brutal deaths in House of the Dragon. When Rhaenyra flees King's Landing Mysaria remains, and is taken prisoner when the greens' forces return. She is told if she can walk through the streets of the city naked while being whipped, she will be allowed to live. Mysaria dies before completing the journey.

Corlys Velaryon

Dies Of Natural Causes

Whether Corlys Valaryon dies in House of the Dragon depends on how much further after the Targaryen civil war the show chooses to explore, as he es away a couple of years after it concludes. Corlys survives the Dance of Dragons and acts as a regent for Rhaenyra's son, King Aegon III, when he inherits the throne at a young age. Corlys dies of old age and is buried at sea. In House of the Dragon season 1, he expresses his regret to his wife Rhaenys for spending so long trying to put a member of his family on the Iron Throne.

His granddaughters Baela and Rhaena are the only of Corlys' immediate family to live through the war, and he feels survivor's guilt, dedicating the rest of his life to protecting the family's legacy. The death of Corlys Valaryon may well arrive in House of the Dragon, but if it does it will likely be in season 5, and only if the show continues the narrative into the reign of King Aegon III.

Rhaenys Targaryen

Dies In Combat On Dragonback

Rhaenys has already died in House of the Dragon, perishing in season 2, and the show stayed relatively faithful to how she meets her end in the A Dance With Dragons novel. In both the book and the HBO show, Rhaenys rides into battle on her dragon Meleys and engages in a fight against both Aemond and Aegon on their dragons.

Outnumbered, Rhaenys and Meleys are both killed, but Aegon is severely injured, and Aemond rules Westeros in his place while he recovers. Rhaenys knew that she would not survive the battle but forged ahead anyway. There is an interesting parallel between the deaths of Rhaneys and her daughter, Laena. Laena wanted to die "a dragon rider's death" and ordered Vhagar (then her dragon) to burn her to ash rather than die in childbirth.

Joffrey Velaryon

Falls From Dragonback Riding Into Battle

While he may share a name with one of the most hated characters in Game of Thrones, Joffrey Velaryon in House of the Dragon grows to be a far braver and less sadistic character. Unfortunately, being nothing like Joffrey Lannister isn't enough to saved Joffrey Velayron, and he's one of the House of the Dragon characters who will die before the end of the show (provided his narrative remains true to the source material, of course).

Rhaenyra's son Joffrey dies during a riot in King's Landing. He is afraid for the safety of his dragon and tries to help turn the tide by riding his mother's dragon Syrax, but falls 200 hundred feet. His dragon Tyraxes and several other dragons are killed by rioters. Since Joffrey's older brothers both died before him, he is briefly heir to the Iron Throne. Joffrey and his brothers' deaths emphasize the tragedies brought by the war. ​​​

Aemond Targaryen

Dies In Combat On Dragonback

Aemond Targaryen is coming into his own in House of the Dragon season 2, becoming the significant presence his on-page counterpart is in the A Dance With Dragons novel. Unfortunately, he's also one of the characters destined to die in House of the Dragon. Those hoping for a showdown between Aemond and Daemon are getting their wish. With Aemond riding Vhagar and Daemon riding Caraxes, they battle each other above the God's Eye, the largest lake in Westeros.

Both dragons are heavily wounded before Daemon leaps from Caraxes and stabs Aemond through his remaining eye, sending both riders and dragons plunging into the water. Aemond and Vhagar's bodies are found years later. Aemond is as morally culpable as the rest of his family, but he sees himself as dedicated to them and rides into battle multiple times to protect his brother's claim to the throne.

Helaena Targaryen

Dies By Suicide

Of all the deaths in House of the Dragon, one of the most tragic and emotional will likely be that of Helaena Targaryen, who has already been at the center of several of the hardest to watch scenes in the show. Given that her decline has already begun in House of the Dragon, it's also possible her death will come before the end of season 2. In the novel, Daemon Targaryen sends assassins to murder one of Aegon and Helaena's sons, hoping to avenge Luke's death.

Their other son is later killed after escaping King's Landing with his father and sister. After her sons' deaths, Helaena becomes depressed and eventually throws herself from one of the castle's towers. Helaena is depicted as a sweet, introverted young woman, who was beloved by the people of King's Landing, and her children were mere toddlers when they died. Their deaths are among the most horrific events in the ASOIAF universe.