Warning! Spoilers ahead for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 5.
Summary
House of the Dragonstar Harry Collett explains Jacaerys' ending in season 2, episode 5. After appearing in season 1, Jacaerys returns in the critically-acclaimedHouse of the Dragonseason 2to play an even more prominent role. Season 2, episode 5, picks up after the devastating events of the Battle at Rook’s Rest, with Jacaerys taking it upon himself to meet with the Freys at The Twins to secure their allegiance to Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy). The episode ends with Jacaerys earning his mother’s respect and, seemingly, a place at her war-planning table.
In a recent interview withTheWrap, Collett explains howHouse of the Dragonseason 2, episode 5, leaves things for Jacaerys. The actor touches on the evolving dynamic between Jacaerys and his mother, Rhaenyra, and his character’s state of mind. Check out his comment below when asked about how Jacaerys sees the fallout from Rook’s Rest and his desire to play a bigger role in the war:
I think it scares him obviously, but the one thing he wants is revenge for Luke. I think he’s happy after Episode 5 that he’s been given this sort of seal of approval from Rhaenyra when she says ‘I’m proud of you Jace.’
I think he’s less an anger-heavy, sword-heavy at the end of Episode 5 because he feels like now he’s kind of welcomed into the council. Before he felt like he wasn’t welcome anywhere so he was thinking “I need to fight now because that’s the only way that people are going to believe that I’m actually capable of doing something.”
Jacaerys Could Be Crucial To The Rest Of House Of The Dragon Season 2
How Season 2 Episode 5 Changes Harry Collett’s Role In The Show
After Rhaenys (Eve Best) and Meleys meet their end at Rook’s Rest, Rhaenyra finds herself down one crucial ally. Rhaenys herself was a strong fighter and a level-headed advisor, and Meleys was the Blacks' most experienced dragon. With Daemon (Matt Smith) off at Harrenhal seemingly planning for his own ascension to the throne,Rhaenyra was in need of a new confidant and allyfrom theHouse of the Dragoncastof characters, and Jacaerys is now poised to become just that.
Though Rhaenyra previously saw Jacaerys only as her son, theHouse of the Dragonseason 2 episode 5ending suggests he could become an important figure in her council. After Jacaerys takes it upon himself to secure an alliance with House Frey, the episode’s final moment see him and Rhaenyra devise a plan to bring more dragon-riders to their cause. There remain a number of riderless dragons around Westeros, after all.
Silverwing & Vermithor Explained: Who Rides Them In House Of The Dragon, History & How They Compare To Vhagar
Silverwing and Vermithor are two of the biggest dragons in the Dance of the Dragons, and have an important role in House of the Dragon’s story.
While there are no more Targaryens Rhaenyra can call upon, she and Jacaerys decide to attempt to recruit more Velaryons to their cause as dragon-riders.The remaining episodes of season 2, then, could see Jacaerys serving as a recruiter of sorts as he bolsters the Blacks' forces, and potentially also becoming a fighter himself as the war escalates. It remains to be seen how exactly Jacaerys will factor into the remainder ofHouse of the Dragonseason 2, but he is now poised to play a bigger and more important role.
New episodes ofHouse of the Dragonseason 2 air on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.
