WARNING! This article contains major SPOILERS for the season 2 finale of House of the Dragon and the book Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin, on which the series is based!
Summary
- Otto Hightower’s return to House of the Dragon sets the stage for his brutal fate in season three.
- The mysteries surrounding Otto’s imprisonment add further depth to the drama unfolding in the series.
- Alicent Hightower faces a devastating series of losses, starting with her father’s execution.
Otto Hightower’s brief appearance in House of the DragonThe season two finale opened up a lot of questions about where she is and why, with this twist also helping to make her season three story more brutal. After Aegon removed Otto as Hand of the King and replaced him with Criston Cole, Alicent’s father revealed his intentions to either return to Oldtown and guide his grandson Daeron Targaryen or travel to Hightower to gain the Tyrells’ loyalty. House of the Dragon the season two finale reveals that neither of these things happened, instead, Otto is held in a cage in a mysterious location.
While Otto Hightower was absent from the second half of season two until his return in the blink of an eye in the finale, rest assured he will be back in House of the Dragon season 3. It is unclear where he is, as Otto’s imprisonment was not included in George R.R. Martin’s series Fire and Bloodbut the book confirms it will be in King’s Landing when Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen finally claims the Iron ThroneHowever, Otto is swiftly and brutally punished when Rhaenyra conquers King’s Landing, a situation made even worse by his seemingly long imprisonment in the dungeons.
Otto will likely go straight from the dungeons to his execution.
Otto Hightower pays the ultimate price for decades of intrigue, betrayal, and political greed when Rhaenyra conquers King’s Landing. After taking her rightful place on the Iron Throne, Rhaenyra orders the execution of Otto Hightower. for his betrayal and the organization of the Greens who usurp the crown. In fact, Fire and Blood reveals that Otto is the first traitor to be beheaded when Team Black takes revenge, with the execution of Alicent’s father followed by Jasper “Ironrod” Wylde, Lord Rosby, and Lord Stokeworth, the latter two of whom had defected from the Blacks to the Greens.
Alicent Hightower has been trying to get in touch with her father for a long time, so it’s shocking to know that the next time she sees him may be at his execution.
It seems likely that Rhaenyra will take King’s Landing early in the House of the Dragon season 3, most likely from the second or third episode. Consequently, considering that Otto Hightower has presumably been held in the basement somewhere unknown by House of the Dragon season 2, episode 4, that’s it tougher who will be executed soon after seeing the light of day againAlicent Hightower has been trying to get in touch with her father for some time, so it’s devastating to know that the next time she sees him might be during his execution.
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With Otto now in the cage for a significant portion of House of the DragonIt is curious why he has been kept alive for so long. If he was taken by Team Black, then it would make sense for them to contact Rhaenyra and see what she wants to do with him as a traitor. If he is being held by Team Green, then the questions remain as to why his own faction is holding him prisoner and what they hope to gain from this. In any case, after being absent for so long, Otto’s House of the Dragon Season 3’s return will be brutally cut short.
Where is Otto Hightower being held prisoner in the House of the Dragon season 2 finale and why?
The whereabouts of Otto Hightower and the reason for his imprisonment remain a mystery.
There are no clear indications as to the whereabouts of Otto Hightower House of the Dragonseason 2 finale. Also, since Otto’s imprisonment was not included Fire and BloodThe book provides no clues as to his whereabouts or who is holding him captive. While Otto is clearly being held in a cage by the flashlight of a mysterious figure approaching him in the season two finale, his brief appearance raises more questions about his fate than it answers.
However, considering what happened shortly before Otto intended to leave King’s Landing, there are two likely possibilities as to where he is being held prisoner. One possibility is that Otto never left King’s Landing and is being held prisoner in the dungeons of the Red Keep.. Of course, this would mean that Otto is secretly being caged by Team Green without Alicent knowing. The other more likely option is that Otto is being held at Honeyholt by House Beesbury, perhaps as punishment for allowing the murder of Lord Lyman in House of the Dragon season 1.
When seeking a new Hand, Aemond asks Larys Strong to bring him Otto Hightower, but he never does, making it more likely that Larys secretly knows Otto’s location.
If he is being held in the dungeons of King’s Landing, then it is possible that Larys Strong decided to keep Otto prisoner after revealing his doubts about Aegon being king. Larys is the Lord Confessor and essentially has ultimate control over the dungeons, so he could be manipulating Otto there for his own gain as a power play. Alternatively, Larys could be keeping Otto in the dungeons to prevent Aegon’s grandfather from plotting against the Green Council.
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The fact that Otto Hightower is being held by Team Black also makes sense, as he had previously told Alicent of his intentions to travel through the Reach to Highgarden. If he did end up leaving King’s Landing, then Otto may have been intercepted by Beesbury House in Honeyholt on his way to the Reachas Maester Orwyle revealed to Alicent that House Beesbury rebelled in Oldtown after Criston Cole killed Lord Lyman. Therefore, House Beesbury could hold Otto prisoner until Rhaenyra takes King’s Landing, at which point they could hand him over.
Otto Hightower’s death begins a devastating streak for Alicent in House Of The Dragon
Alicent loses everyone she loves in the dance of dragons
While Alicent is ready to let Rhaenyra kill Aegon after their meeting in House of the Dragonseason 2 finale, she is not prepared for the series of devastations coming after Team Green loses the Iron ThroneOtto Hightower’s execution may be one of the first heartbreaking blows he suffers as Team Black punishes Team Green’s betrayal, but it certainly won’t be the last.
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Indeed, Fire and Blood reveals that Alicent loses both her father, Otto, and her brother, Gwayne Hightower, during the impending fall of King’s Landing.. In the book, Gwayne is killed by the Gold Cloaks who help open the city gates for Team Black, with Otto subsequently executed on Rhaenyra’s orders. After her father and brother die within hours of each other, Alicent continues to lose everyone she loves in quick succession during the Dance of the Dragons:
- Alicent’s lover, Criston Cole, dies in the Battle of Butcher’s Ball
- Alicent’s son, Aemond Targaryen, dies in the Battle above the Gods Eye
- Alicent’s daughter Helaena Targaryen commits suicide
- Alicent’s son, Daeron Targaryen, dies in the Second Battle of Tumbleton
- Alicent’s friend Rhaenyra Targaryen dies on Aegon’s orders
- Alicent’s son, Aegon Targaryen, is fatally poisoned by his own men
- Alicent’s granddaughter, Jaehaera Targaryen, commits suicide shortly after the Ball.
Alicent sees her world collapse; even if she survives, she certainly does not win.
Meanwhile, she lives for two more years after the Dance before dying alone from an illness, coming to hate the color green. Alicent watches her entire world collapse; even if she survives, she certainly doesn’t win. Both sides of House of the DragonThe war saw one tragedy after another, leaving no real winners in Dance.
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House of the Dragon
Set approximately 172 years before the events of game of Thrones, House of the Dragon tells the story of the rise of the Targaryens, the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria. The popular HBO spin-off series originally starred Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower, before being replaced by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke, who play older versions of the characters. The series also stars Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra’s father, King Viserys Targaryen.
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game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is a media franchise created by George R. R. Martin. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire was the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which ran for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim.