Full spoilers follow for House of the Dragon season 2.
House of the Dragon season 2 episode 2 is out now – and the hit show’s latest chapter all but answers one of its source material’s biggest lingering mysteries.
The Max show’s latest entry, titled ‘Rhaenyra the Cruel’, follows hot on the heels of its predecessor’s gruesome finale, with Houses Targaryen and Hightower dealing with the fallout of the heinous act committed in episode 1’s last scene. Unsurprisingly, that event leads to further escalations between the warring families – all of which comes to another blood-soaked head in episode 2’s final minutes.
I cannot stress this enough: I’m about to get into heavy spoiler territory for House of the Dragon season 2‘s second episode right after this paragraph. Do not proceed past this point if you’re not caught up.
The demise of Ser Arryk and Ser Erryk
Born together. #ErrykandArryk pic.twitter.com/GzmwLTamSnJune 24, 2024
Following Prince Jaehaerys’ death at the hands of the Daemon-funded duo known as Blood and Cheese, Ser Arryk Cargyll – one of the two Cargyll Twins – is sent to kill Rhaenyra Targaryen. He’s put up to the task by a vengeful Ser Criston, who not only feels guilty over his failure to protect Jaehaerys, but who also wants Arryk to prove his loyalty to House Hightower by murdering their enemy’s commander-in-chief.
As mentioned, Arryk has an identical twin – Ser Erryk, who, despite his brother swearing fealty to the Hightowers, swore allegiance to Rhaenyra in season 1. Using the pair’s indistinguishable likeness, Arryk infiltrates Dragonstone with the aim of slaying Rhaenyra. Unfortunately for Arryk, Erryk is forewarned of his brother’s treachery by Mysaria, leading to the twins fighting to the death in Rhaenyra’s bed chamber as the usurped Queen of Westeros watches on in horror.
Considering that House of the Dragon, aka of the best Max shows, is set in Game of Thrones‘ (GoT) barbaric universe, it’ll come as no surprise to learn that plenty of blood is shed during The Battle of the Cargyll Twins. In short: both men die – Erryk ends up killing Arryk, before committing suicide in front of a stunned Rhaenyra; a decision likely born out of his grief for having to kill his twin brother.