WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6 and George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book, on which the show is based!
Summary
This article contains mentions of suicide.
A subtle moment inHouse of the Dragonseason 2, episode 6 foreshadows the most agonizing Targaryen death to come in the Dance of the Dragons.Game of Throneshad no shortage of devastating deaths, with some of the most emotionally brutal being thedeaths of Princess Shireen Baratheon, Hodor, and a few Starks at the Red Wedding.Many of the saddest demises were characters who were innocent casualtiesin the intersectional brutality of war, greed, and power, which happens to be the case forHouse of the Dragon’s saddest upcoming Targaryen death.
Following the tragic fate of Viserys and Lucerys at the end of season 1, thedeaths inHouse of the Dragonseason 2so far have been increasingly brutal as the Targaryen war escalates. From the beheading of Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen to the deaths of Princess Rhaenys Targaryen and Meleys in the Battle at Rook’s Rest, the titular family is swiftly losing some of its most important members. As can be expected,House Targaryen’s fatal tragedies are far from over, with season 2 subtly preparing audiences for some devastating deaths by including clever foreshadowing in small details.
How House Of The Dragon Season 2 Foreshadows Helaena Targaryen’s Death
Helaena’s Escape From The Riot Features A Clever Foreshadowing Detail
The chaos of the smallfolk of King’s Landing rioting inHouse of the Dragonseason 2, episode 6leads Queens Alicent Hightower and Helaena Targaryen to frantically flee the sept. While trying to descend the steps and make it to the wheelhouse, Helaena and Alicent are backed up on a wall with large spikes sticking out of it. Tragically, thenext time Helaena is pinned to large spikes inHouse of the Dragon, she won’t make it out alive.
Helaena and Alicent are kept in King’s Landing under the watch of Team Black, with Helaena’s mental health becoming increasingly worse as she’s racked with guilt over Prince Jaehaerys’ death.
George R.R. Martin’sFire & Bloodbook reveals that Queen Helaena Targaryen dies not too long afterRhaenyra Targaryen takes King’s Landingfrom the Greens. During this time, Helaena and Alicent are kept in King’s Landing under the watch of Team Black, with Helaena’s mental health becoming increasingly worse as she’s racked with guilt over Prince Jaehaerys’ death. Interestingly,House of the Dragondoesn’t depict Helaena with the “madness” the book describes after Jaehaerys’ death, so a separate upcoming tragedy may more directly influence the changes in her mental state.
House Of The Dragon’s Blood & Cheese Moment Makes A Huge Change To Another Major Targaryen Death
House of the Dragon’s Blood and Cheese sequence made some changes from the book that could subsequently alter another major Targaryen death.
Regardless,Fire & Bloodclaims that Helaena dies by suicide after jumping from the window of her room, mirroring thedeath of King Tommen Baratheon inGame of Thrones.According to the book, Helaena is fatally impaled by the spikes below, with her body being found in this gory state. Following Helaena’s death, there are rumors that she was murdered on the orders of Rhaenyra, with Alicent cursing Rhaenyra for her daughter’s demise. SinceHouse of the Dragonoften departs from certain claimed details inFire & Blood, the full context of Helaena Targaryen’s death is apt to be even more devastating to see play out.
Why Helaena’s Death Will Be So Sad
Helaena’s Death Will Be The Most Agonizing Of The Targaryens
Out of the more developed living Targaryen characters inHouse of the Dragon, Helaena is undoubtedly the most innocent and genuinely kind-hearted member of the family. Helaena feels guilty for grieving her own son when the smallfolk lose their children so much more often, keeps to herself and stays out of the politics of the Dance, confrontsAemond for trying to kill Aegon, and is often not taken seriously by her family members when she should know by now to heed her cryptic warnings. Despite having no direct or intentional contributions to the war,Helaena experiences some of the most harrowing consequences of its brutality.
Does Helaena Know Aemond Tried To Kill Aegon?! What Her Question Really Means
House of the Dragon season 2, episode 5, sees Helaena ask Prince Aemond a vague question, implying that she may know of the events at Rook’s Rest.
Consequently, after experiencing so much heartbreak, injustices, and tragedies, the innocent Helaena Targaryen taking her own life will become one of the show’s most upsetting moments. The majority of the remaining Targaryencharacters who die inHouse of the Dragonare knowingly risking their lives to fight for the throne, engage in battle, betray one another, and disregard the impact on innocents in the name of familial feuds, power plays, and politics. This doesn’t apply to Helaena’s death – rather,hers is a tragic culmination of House Targaryen’s power struggle leaving a wake of unjustifiable casualtiesoff and on the battlefield.
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When Will Helaena’s Death Happen In House Of The Dragon?
Helaena’s Death Likely Won’t Arrive Until The End Of Season 3
It’s still unclear exactly when Rhaenyra will take King’s Landing inHouse of the Dragon, but Helaena’s death arrives approximately half a year after that event inFire & Blood. Rhaenyra will likely ascend the Iron Throne at the beginning ofHouse of the Dragonseason 3, which could mean that Heleana’s death will arrive toward the end of that same season. However, the deaths of Aemond and Daemon Targaryen occur directly before Helaena’s demise, soHouse of the Dragonmay choose to delay her death until the start of season 4.
House of the Dragoncould feature Helaena’s death as the season 3 finale’s cliffhanger ending, with the response to her fate and smallfolk riots commencing in season 4.
Helaena’s death is also followed by the Storming of the Dragonpit, in which the smallfolk riot in King’s Landing before attacking and killing the dragons held in the Dragonpit. This event leads to several major developments happening in quick succession, such as Rhaenyra fleeing to King’s Landing and being killed by Aegon soon after. Therefore,House of the Dragoncould feature Helaena’s death as the season 3 finale’s cliffhanger ending, with the response to her fate and smallfolk riots commencing in season 4.
House of the Dragon
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
