WARNING! This article contains major SPOILERS for House of the Dragon’s season 2 finale & George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book, on which the show is based!
Summary
Otto Hightower’s brief appearance inHouse of the Dragon’s season 2 finale opened up plenty of questions about where he is and why, with this twist also working to make his season 3 story more brutal. AfterAegon removed Otto as Hand of the Kingand replaced him with Criston Cole, Alicent’s father revealed his intentions to go back to Oldtown and guide his grandson Daeron Targaryen or travel to Hightower to win the loyalty of the Tyrells.House of the Dragonseason 2’s endingreveals neither happened – instead,Otto is being held in a cage in a mysterious location.
While Otto Hightower was missing from the latter half of season 2 until his blink-and-you’ll-miss-it return in the finale, rest assured that he’ll be back inHouse of the Dragonseason 3. It’s unclear where he is, as Otto’s captivity wasn’t included in George R.R. Martin’sFire & Blood, but the book confirms thathe’ll be in King’s Landing when Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen finally claims the Iron Throne. However, Otto is met with a swift, brutal punishment when Rhaenyra takes King’s Landing, which is now made even worse by his seemingly lengthy entrapment in the dungeons.
Otto Hightower’s Death Will Likely Happen Immediately After Being Freed From The Dungeons
Otto Will Likely Go Straight From The Dungeons To His Execution
Otto Hightower pays the ultimate price for his decades of scheming, betrayals, and political hunger when Rhaenyra takes King’s Landing.Upon taking her rightful seat on the Iron Throne, Rhaenyra orders the execution of Otto Hightowerfor his treachery and organization of the Greens usurping the crown. In fact,Fire & Bloodreveals that Otto is the first traitor beheaded when Team Black exacts their revenge, with the execution of Alicent’s father being followed 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 some time now, so it’s devastating that the next time she sees him could very well be at his execution.
It seems likely thatRhaenyra will take King’s Landingat the very beginning ofHouse of the Dragonseason 3, more likely by the second or third episode. Consequently, considering Otto Hightower has presumably been held in the dungeons somewhere unknown sinceHouse of the Dragonseason 2, episode 4, it’s all themore harsh that he’ll be executed directly after seeing the light of day again. Alicent Hightower has been trying to get in touch with her father for some time now, so it’s devastating that the next time she sees him could very well be at his execution.
House Of The Dragon Insults Otto Hightower’s Best Act In The Targaryen Civil War
House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6, sets new strategies in motion for the Greens, including one critical Otto Hightower book decision.
With Otto now being caged for a significant portion ofHouse of the Dragon’s timeline, it’s curious as to why he’s 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’s being held by Team Green, then the questions remain about why his own side is keeping him captive and what they hope to get out of it. Regardless, after being absent for such a long time,Otto’sHouse of the Dragonseason 3 return will be cut brutally short.
Where Is Otto Hightower Being Held In House Of The Dragon’s Season 2 Finale & Why?
Otto Hightower’s Location & Reason For Captivity Is A Mystery
There’s no clear indication as towhere Otto Hightower is inHouse of the Dragon’s season 2 finale. Furthermore, sinceOtto’s captivity wasn’t included inFire & Blood, the book doesn’t give any clues about his location or who is holding him either. While Otto is clearly being held in a cage with a mysterious figure’s torchlight coming up to him in the season 2 finale, his small appearance begs more questions about his fate than it answers.
However, given what happened just before he intended to leave King’s Landing, there are two likely options for where Otto is being held.One possibility is that Otto never left King’s Landing and is being held in the dungeons of the Red Keep. Of course, that would mean Otto is secretly being caged by Team Green without Alicent’s knowledge. The other most probable option is that Otto is being held at Honeyholt by House Beesbury, perhaps as retribution for permitting Lord Lyman’s murder inHouse of the Dragonseason 1.
When seeking a new Hand, Aemond requests that Larys Strong bring him Otto Hightower, but he never does – making it more probable that Larys secretly knows Otto’s location.
If he is being held in the dungeons at King’s Landing, then it’s possible that Larys Strong decided to keep Otto captive after revealing his doubts about Aegon being king. Larys is the Lord Confessor and essentially has the most control over the dungeons, so he could be manipulating Otto there for his own benefit as a power play. Alternatively,Larys could be keeping Otto in the dungeonsin order to prevent Aegon’s grandfather from scheming against the Green Council.
What Happens To King Aegon & Larys Strong In House Of The Dragon Season 3
House of the Dragon season 2’s finale sees Aegon and Larys Strong fleeing the capital. Here’s where they’re headed and what’s in store for them.
Otto Hightower being held by Team Black also makes sense, as he previously told Alicent about his intentions to travel through the Reach to Highgarden. If he did end up leaving King’s Landing, thenOtto may have been intercepted by House Beesbury at Honeyholt on his way to the Reach, as Maester Orwyle revealed to Alicent that House Beesbury rebelled against Oldtown afterCriston Cole killed Lord Lyman. As such, House Beesbury could be holding Otto prisoner until Rhaenyra takes King’s Landing, at which point they may 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 The Dragons
WhileAlicent is prepared to let Rhaenyra kill Aegonfollowing their meeting inHouse of the Dragon’s season 2 finale, she isn’t prepared for thestreak of devastation to come after Team Green loses the Iron Throne. Otto Hightower’s execution may be among the first heartbreaking blows she experiences as Team Black punishes Team Green’s treachery, but he’ll be far from the last.
What Happens To Alicent Hightower After House Of The Dragon Season 2
Alicent Hightower answers an ultimatum in the House of the Dragon season 2 finale, setting up a complicated season 3 character arc for her.
In fact,Fire & Bloodreveals thatAlicent loses both her father, Otto, and her brother, Gwayne Hightower, during the upcoming Fall of King’s Landing. In the book, Gwayne is killed by Gold Cloaks who help to open the city gates for Team Black, with Otto subsequently being executed on Rhaenyra’s orders. After her father and brother die within mere hours of each other, Alicent goes on to lose everyone she loves in quick succession during the Dance of the Dragons:
Alicent watches her entire world crumble; although she survives, she certainly doesn’t win.
All the while, she lives for another two years after the Dance before dying alone of an illness, coming to loathe the color green. Alicent watches her entire world crumble; although she survives, she certainly doesn’t win. Both sides ofHouse of the Dragon’s war experience tragedy after tragedy, leaving no true victors in the Dance.
House of the Dragon
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim.
