Spoiler Alert: The following content contains spoilers for House of the Dragon.
There is no way for Rhaenyra Targaryen to escape her most gruesome and painful death in the House of the Dragon series, but this tragic fate will not unfold until season 3. One of the challenges of watching this Games of Thrones prequel is knowing the fates of our favourite characters in advance.
No, Rhaenyra Targaryen will not die In House of the Dragon season 2. There are many more important plots to be brought onto the screens. One of the most important events is Rhaenyra's capture of King’s Landing. Several battles and other character deaths need to happen before the story reaches the tipping point of Rhaenyra Targaryen's tragic end.
House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6, titled “Smallfolk”, teases a brutal moment where Rhaenyra Targaryen witnesses the death of Ser Steffon Darklyn along with one of the dragon keepers who slits his throat in a harrowing scene after being set ablaze by dragon fire. Though no harm is brought to Rhaenyra, we get a small glimpse of her destiny, which will end on a similar note.
How will Rhaenyra Targaryen die in House of the Dragon?
![Emma D'arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon (Image via HBO)](https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/1bcfb-17223420890825.jpg?w=190 190w, https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/1bcfb-17223420890825.jpg?w=720 720w, https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/1bcfb-17223420890825.jpg?w=640 640w, https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/1bcfb-17223420890825.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/1bcfb-17223420890825.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/1bcfb-17223420890825.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/1bcfb-17223420890825.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/1bcfb-17223420890825.jpg 1920w)
Die-hard fans of Game of Thrones have already heard about Rhaenyra Targaryen’s death through Joffrey Baratheon's description in Game of Thrones season 3, episode 4, titled “Now His Watch Is Ended.”
She will have the most trauma-inflicting death out of all the other characters. Ironically, her downfall begins the moment she ascends to the Iron Throne.
![A battle for power (Image via HBO)](https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/0b7ae-17223425042158.jpg?w=190 190w, https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/0b7ae-17223425042158.jpg?w=720 720w, https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/0b7ae-17223425042158.jpg?w=640 640w, https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/0b7ae-17223425042158.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/0b7ae-17223425042158.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/0b7ae-17223425042158.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/0b7ae-17223425042158.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/0b7ae-17223425042158.jpg 1920w)
Rhaenyra travels across Westeros after being forced to flee King's Landing by rioters. Aegon's men capture her at Dragonstone, and her half-brother feeds her to his dragon Sunfyre, while her son Aegon, The Younger, watches the scene in horror.
The scene is said to be so gruesome, that one of the handmaids witnessing the scene plucked her eyeballs to forget the horrific scene her eyes witnessed.
Which characters in the House of the Dragon look forward to Rhaenyra’s death?
![Rhaenyra Targaryen's enemies (Image via HBO)](https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/469a9-17221958393882.jpg?w=190 190w, https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/469a9-17221958393882.jpg?w=720 720w, https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/469a9-17221958393882.jpg?w=640 640w, https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/469a9-17221958393882.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/469a9-17221958393882.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/469a9-17221958393882.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/469a9-17221958393882.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https://static.soapcentral.com/editor/2024/07/469a9-17221958393882.jpg 1920w)
Multiple characters in House of the Dragon want the Black Queen dead. Alicent Hightower, her ex-best friend, and now her stepmother takes the first spot, followed closely by Alicent’s father, Otto Hightower, who served as Hand of the King to Rhaenyra's father, King Viserys I, and her half-brother, Aegon II.
Rhaenyra Targaryen is the central character in House of the Dragon, and fans are rooting for her survival. Though the ending will remain the same as the books, fans can remain satisfied that their favorite character will not leave their screens just yet.
Stream the latest episode of House of the Dragon only on HBO. You can also watch the show on different online streaming platforms, like Prime Video.