Warning: Spoilers for House of the Dragon Season up until the Season 2 finale to follow.
House of the Dragon has officially pulled in three new dragon riders in the lead-up to the Season 2 finale, but we still haven’t seen one important Targaryen even interact with her dragon. That could change very soon – although it also has fans worried for Helaena.
HBO released a teaser for this week’s Season 2 finale after last night’s penultimate episode, which previews all-out war between the Greens and the Blacks. Now that Rhaenyra has found riders for Seasmoke, Vermithor, and Silverwing (Addam of Hull, Hugh the Hammer, and Ulf the White respectively), Aemond needs backup. To that end, we see the Prince Regent approach Helaena and tell her, “I need you to fly with Dreamfyre to battle.”
Aemond to Helaena “I need you to fly Dreamfyre to battle” for final episode of House of The Dragon season 2
GUYS!!!!! 🥹 pic.twitter.com/eGfMKN85hb
— Helaena “The Sweet” Targaryen (@Helaenathesweet) July 29, 2024
This is potentially a big deal for a few reasons: for one, as mentioned, we’ve barely even seen fan-favorite Dreamfyre on the HBO series to begin with, and we’ve not even gotten one interaction between her and Helaena. “The fact that we're already close to the end of the second season of HOTD, and we still haven't seen a single Helaena and Dreamfyre scene is criminal,” one popular Reddit thread bemoaned recently.
If Aemond is successful in his plea to what looks like a terrified Helaena, fans might finally get to see the normally pacifist Targaryen take to the skies on her famously gorgeous white-and-blue she-dragon. Needless to say, some are extremely here for the possibility.
the person i’ll become if i see helaena on dreamfyre pic.twitter.com/O6LNovPeTR
— soph ✩ (@aemondstar) July 29, 2024
DREAMFYRE APPEARANCE NEXT EPISODE??? HELAENA ON DRAGONBACK?? WE WON!!! pic.twitter.com/RzMhaGiAmX
— græcie (@med1evalwarfare) July 29, 2024
But others have more mixed feelings about it – or, as one fan put it, “I want to see Dreamfyre so bad but I also want Helaena to stay in the house.” Basically, after a horrific season for Helaena that began with her newborn son being killed in front of her, some are worried that it’s setting her up for a tragic death, echoing Lucerys’ demise in the Season 1 finale.
i don’t understand why helaena stans are happy for this pls that girl is gonna die if she actually goes pic.twitter.com/rRpA21tt2t
— roxy ⚔️ // TB (@aemondsdragon) July 29, 2024
wtf is helaena gonna do in a battle… leave that girl alone☠️ pic.twitter.com/PEmSyEa7PJ
— soraya (@nyralover) July 29, 2024
HAS HELAENA NOT SUFFERED ENOUGH??? pic.twitter.com/CyjKge2HuB
— elia ˎˊ˗ tom glynn carney's defense attorney. (@msglynncarney) July 29, 2024
Others, meanwhile, are predicting Mama Alicent will put a stop to Helaena going to war anyway. Alicent is fiercely protective of Helaena, shielding herself between her and a mob of angry smallfolk in last week’s House of the Dragon episode, and she’s seen scolding Aemond and his violent approach in the trailer.
While it would keep fans from getting their wish of seeing Helaena on Dreamfyre, Alicent stepping in might just save our most timid Targaryen.
i know y’all are getting excited about helaena riding dreamfyre, but i think mama alicent will be putting a stop to that pic.twitter.com/WLEFhxZoGd
— nia ✧ (@alicenting) July 29, 2024
Alicent returning from touching grass the second she heard Aemond summon Helaena on Dreamfyre to battle:pic.twitter.com/BgChIeR7ho
— lexi hotd spoilers ‼️ (@cuntyrhae) July 29, 2024
It’s also worth mentioning that it would mark a deviation from George R. R. Martin’s Fire and Blood. While Helaena was cited as enjoying riding her dragon for recreation, she never rode Dreamfyre into war in the book. However, House of the Dragon hasn’t been shy about making changes from the source material, particularly in regards to Helaena.
Regardless, we’ll learn a lot more when House of the Dragon airs its Season 2 finale on Sunday. For more in the meantime, check out our review of last night’s episode.
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.