WARNING! This article contains major SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 7 and George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book, on which the show is based!

Summary

• House of the Dragon introduces dragon vs. dragon battles, reminiscent of Game of Thrones’ epic war sequences.
• The dragonseeds, led by Rhaenyra, set the stage for intense battles between bastards, mirroring Game of Thrones’ iconic Battle of the Bastards.
• The Second Battle of Tumbleton marks a pivotal moment in the Targaryen civil war, promising devastation and dragon deaths.

Game of Thrones’ battles have included some of the most spectacular war sequences ever put on the small screen. Events like the Battle of the Blackwater and the Battle of the Bastards rank high among the show’s best and biggest moments, and House of the Dragon follows suit with similar battle concepts. As the Targaryen civil war commences in House of the Dragon season 2, introducing dragons vs. dragons makes for even more awe-inspiring battles, with the Battle at Rook’s Rest already proving how drastically different the war’s landscape and potential for utter devastation are from Game of Thrones.

Rhaenyra Targaryen’s new team of dragonriders officially sets up House of the Dragon’s replacement for Game of Thrones’ iconic Battle of the Bastards moment. The Battle of the Bastards saw Ned Stark’s bastard Jon Snow and his army face Roose Bolton’s bastard Ramsay Snow and his army face off outside Winterfell in Game of Thrones season 6, episode 9. It’s still considered one of the greatest episodes and battles of the entire franchise, with House of the Dragon now having the opportunity to parallel that fight with similar themes and cinematic spectacles in the upcoming Second Battle of Tumbleton.

Targaryen Bastards Being Dragonriders Sets Up The Second Battle of Tumbleton

House Of The Dragon Has Its Own Bastards Vs. Bastards Battle Coming Up

Before the Targaryen bastards arrive at Dragonstone to claim the family’s available dragons, Rhaenyra remarks to Mysaria in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 7 that she will “build an army of bastards.” Rhaenyra does exactly that with the “dragonseeds,” as her army now has four dragonriding bastards to lead the charge: Prince Jacaerys on Vermax, Addam of Hull on Seasmoke, Hugh Hammer on Vermithor, and Ulf on Silverwing. While he hasn’t been seen flying his dragon yet, there’s also Rhaenyra’s bastard son Joffrey on her side with Tyraxes.

While Rhaenyra has her own army of bastards on one side in House of the Dragon season 2, this won’t always be the case. Later in the war, Hugh Hammer and Ulf betray Rhaenyra at the First Battle of Tumbleton, as they turn their dragons on Team Black’s own army while defecting to the Greens. This leads to Rhaenyra being suspicious that Addam of Hull will do the same, so Corlys Velaryon’s bastard son tries to prove his loyalty by flying to Tumbleton and facing the betrayers on his own.

With Addam of Hull on one side and Hugh Hammer on the other, the bastards and their dragons engage in a catastrophic battle that culminates in the deaths of not only the dragonriders, but also each of their dragons.

Consequently, much like the battle in Game of Thrones, the Second Battle of Tumbleton serves as House of the Dragon’s own “Battle of the Bastards.” With Addam of Hull on one side and Hugh Hammer on the other, they engage in a catastrophic battle that culminates in the deaths of not only the dragonriders, but also each of their dragons. Furthering the comparisons between Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon’s battles, Addam is legitimized as a Velaryon by this time in George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book, similar to Ramsay being legitimized as a Bolton.

When Will The Second Battle Of Tumbleton Happen In House Of The Dragon?

There Are Plenty More Battles To Come Before HOTD Reaches The Second Battle Of Tumbleton

The Second Battle of Tumbleton is the last large-scale battle in the Dance of the Dragons, so there will be quite a bit of exposition to still cover before it arrives. Before the Second Battle of Tumbleton, House of the Dragon must adapt the Battle of the Gullet, Battle of the Honeywine, the Fishfeed, the Fall of King’s Landing, the Butcher’s Ball, the First Battle of Tumbleton, the Battle Above the Gods Eye, and the Storming of the Dragonpit. Several are massive battles that each could take up entire episodes, so it’s unlikely they’ll all be covered in season 3.

House of the Dragon will likely require five seasons to cover the entire Dance of the Dragons and its immediate aftermath.

In order to fit it into the very end of season 3, House of the Dragon’s timeline could be adjusted to have the Second Battle of Tumbleton occur before the Battle Above the Gods Eye and Storming of the Dragonpit. However, it’s more likely that season 3 will end with a big event like the Battle Above the Gods Eye, the duel in which both Daemon and Aemond Targaryen and their dragons die. As such, the show may save the Second Battle of Tumbleton for early season 4, with Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen’s death occurring shortly after.

House Of The Dragon Has A Big Challenge Beating GOT’s Battle Of The Bastards

The Battle Of The Bastards Set Very High Standards

Considering how highly regarded the Battle of the Bastards is among Game of Thrones’ best battles, surpassing it with another bastard vs. bastard conflict will be difficult in House of the Dragon. Importantly, the Second Battle of Tumbleton lacks a major beloved character as one of the combatants. Addam is a very likable character and Hugh’s story has been made more tragic in the show, but it doesn’t pack the same punch as one of Game of Thrones’ main characters and the primary “bastard” Jon Snow facing one of the worst villains to avenge his sister, brother, and home.

While Addam flies to Tumbleton to attack Hugh and Ulf, Fire & Blood explains that Hugh dies early on when he’s killed by members of Team Green and Ulf drunkenly sleeps through the entire battle.

Introducing dragons into the bastard vs. bastard battle makes House of the Dragon’s conflict very intriguing, but the emotional weight of the fight won’t be the same as in Game of Thrones. However, the Second Battle of Tumbleton will certainly feature far more devastation and ruin than Game of Thrones’ Battle of the Bastards given multiple dragons are involved. Additionally, seeing the deaths of three big Targaryen dragons will be quite the spectacle as House of the Dragon sees the beginning of the end of the Dance.