Did House Of The Dragon Just Replace A Great Book Character In A Disappointing Way?

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 3, “The Burning Mill.”

House of the Dragon season 2, episode 3, “The Burning Mill,” introduces Davos Blackwood, however it leaves an enormous query mark over one other member of the household, Benjicot. The Blackwoods and the Brackens have lengthy feuded, going again 1000’s of years, and it is now making its impression on House of the Dragon season 2.

A disagreement over markstones leads into the 2 sides revealing who they’ve declared for within the Dance of the Dragons – the Blackwoods supporting Rhaenyra Targaryen, the Brackens Aegon II Targaryen. Eventually, that leads into the Battle of the Burning Mill, with heavy losses on each side, although the motion occurs off-screen. Davos seemingly dies within the battle, however what does his look imply for the present?

Related

THAT Return In House Of The Dragon Season 2, Episode 3 Explained

House of the Dragon season 2, episode 3 options an necessary return, and it has a deeper which means for one principal character’s story going ahead.

House Of The Dragon Season 2, Episode 3 Introduced Davos Blackwood Instead Of Benjicot Blackwood

Davos Blackwood Doesnt Exist In Fire & Blood

Leading as much as House of the Dragon season 2, episode 3, there had been hypothesis on social media that Benjicot Blackwood can be showing. It was clear the feud between the homes was going to be an element in a roundabout way, however the look of actor Kieran Burton steered we would see Benjicot. He definitely appeared the half (based mostly on artwork from George R.R. Martin’s companion guide The Rise of the Dragons), and the actor himself teased it when quoting a query about him being Benjicot on Instagram tales [via Collider]. However, subtitles revealed his title is definitely Davos.

There isn’t any Davos Blackwood in Fire & Blood, so the character is a present creation. Benjicot, in the meantime, is the son of Lord Samwell Blackwood. In the guide, Samwell was slain on the Battle of the Burning Mill, although does not seem like current within the present’s model. Benjicot turns into Lord of House Bracken after his father’s dying, and goes on to be a key a part of the Blacks’ marketing campaign within the Riverlands, preventing in (and successful) a number of vital battles, and changing into often called Bloody Ben for his fierce nature within the conflicts regardless of his younger age.

Benjicot Blackwood Can Still Appear In House Of The Dragon

Season 3 Could Introduce The Character, But The Great Casting Likely Won’t Be Kept

Although using Davos Blackwood as a substitute of Benjicot causes some issues that the character has been changed, there is a good likelihood that is not the case. Davos is seemingly killed within the Battle of the Burning Mill, however may fairly simply be revealed to have been an older brother of Benjicot. In the guide, Ben was solely 11-years-old when the combat occurred, and he took over House Blackwood and began preventing within the warfare after that time. This may properly imply it is establishing his introduction, doubtless in House of the Dragon season 3.

It is a disgrace that Burton presumably will not get to play Benjicot, except they do make the choice to convey him again and simply say he is a unique character (which would not be the worst choice, regardless of some potential confusion). Even with a unique actor, Ben getting old up a couple of years would not be a shock, because the present could not need an 11-year-old preventing in a number of battles. However they do it, there’s motive to be hopeful Bloody Ben will nonetheless seem in House of the Dragon, even when it wasn’t the introduction that had been hoped for on this episode.

New episodes of House of the Dragon launch Sundays at 9pm ET on HBO and Max.

House of the Dragon

Taking place about 172 years earlier than the occasions of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon tells the story of the rise of the Targaryens, the one household of dragonlords to outlive the Doom of Valyria. The common HBO spinoff present first starred Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower earlier than they have been changed by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke, who play the older variations of the characters. Also starring within the sequence is Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra’s father, King Viserys Targaryen.

Cast

Jefferson Hall , Paddy Considine , Fabien Frankel , Ryan Corr , Eve Best , Gavin Spokes , Graham McTavish , Steve Toussaint , Olivia Cooke , Sonoya Mizuno , Bill Paterson , Matthew Needham , Emma D’Arcy , Matt Smith , Rhys Ifans , David Horovitch

Release Date

August 21, 2022

Seasons

2

Network

HBO Max

Showrunner

Ryan Condal

Expand