The Role of the Starks in House of the Dragon Season 2

By M Muzamil Shami

In the Season 1 finale of "House of the Dragon," Jacaerys Velaryon (portrayed by Harry Collett) embarked on a mission with his dragon, Vermax, to forge alliances with the Arryns and Starks in support of his mother's claim to the Iron Throne. Nearly two years later, we finally learn the outcome of his efforts in the Vale and the North.

The Season 2 premiere of House of the Dragon continues directly from the previous episode, with Jace reaching the northernmost border of the Seven Kingdoms, the Wall. Accompanying him is Lord Cregan Stark (Tom Taylor), the head of House Stark, also known as the Wolf of the North. As they ascend the 700-foot ice barrier via a lift, Jace—and the viewers—receive a crash course on the Wall's crucial role and its guardians, the Night's Watch, in keeping "death" (the White Walkers) at bay from Westeros.

Anyone who watched Game of Thrones knows how that ultimately turned out. However, the context Cregan provided about his Stark ancestors was helpful in understanding why the North supported Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) for the throne over her younger half-brother, Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney).

As Game of Thrones fans know, the Starks are deeply committed to duty and honor. Thus, it makes sense that Cregan Stark would honor the oath his father, Lord Rickon Stark (David Hounslow), made to King Viserys I (Paddy Considine) in Season 1 to support Rhaenyra as the rightful heir. Jace also reminded him that while Cregan may feel his primary duty is to the Wall, there was a reason his ancestor, Torrhen Stark—the last Stark to rule as King in the North before Robb Stark reclaimed the title following Ned Stark's death in Game of Thrones—pledged loyalty to Aegon I Targaryen when he conquered Westeros and established the Targaryen dynasty nearly 130 years earlier.

"Surely the great Torrhen Stark would have chosen death over kneeling," Jace remarked. "Unless he truly believed that the Conqueror could unite the Seven Kingdoms."

While Cregan eventually agreed to pledge thousands of seasoned (read: old) Northern soldiers, nicknamed graybeards, to Rhaenyra's cause, he also recounted how his father had once brought King Jaehaerys Targaryen, Viserys' predecessor, and his queen, Alysanne, to see the Wall. They witnessed their dragons, the most formidable power in the known world, refuse to cross it. This served as a reminder that, although the Starks were unaware of Aegon the Conqueror's prophetic "A Song of Ice and Fire" dream, they remained steadfast in their commitment to guarding Westeros against the unknown threats beyond the Wall.

Cregan will ultimately play a significant role in the Dance of the Dragons, details of which you can explore in George R. R. Martin's book Fire & Blood. This companion novel to A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for House of the Dragon. However, Sara Hess, a lead writer on the show, has advised fans not to expect an extensive Season 2 storyline focused on House Stark.

"Expect very little," she told Entertainment Weekly. "Our perspective is focused on the Targaryens, divided between King’s Landing, Dragonstone, and when Daemon goes to Harrenhal. We simply can't be everywhere at once."