House of the Dragon
WARNING ! This article check major SPOILERS for House of the Dragon time of year 2 , sequence 3 and George R.R. Martin ’s Fire & Blood book , on which the show is based !
Summary
The Battle of the Burning Mill occurs off - screen inHouse of the Dragonseason 2 , episode 3 , leaving its contents and material background a mystery in the HBO adaptation . Regarded as thefirst real struggle in the Dance of the Dragons , the Battle of the Burning Millis a bloody competitiveness in the Riverlands that culminates in laborious loss for patron of both Rhaenyra and Aegon . Given how extremely anticipated the Dance ’s battles are inHouse of the Dragonafter the incredible action show inGame of Thrones , it ’s surprising that the show skipped over the combat .
After showing youthful soldiers from Houses Bracken and Blackwood debate over their support of either Aegon or Rhaenyra , House of the Dragonseason 2 , episode 3 simply cuts to the backwash of a withering engagement . The camera pans over one C of dead bodies as the Burning Mill lies smooth , bloody , and smoking from the catastrophic combat . When Holy Writ reachesTeams Green and Black , Aegon ’s council argues over whether it counts as a triumph or can even be look at separate from the two houses ’ one C - long feud . However , miss context from theFire & Bloodbook helps clear up the causa , winner , and encroachment of the Battle of the Burning Mill .
What Really Caused The Battle Of The Burning Mill
The Brackens and Blackwood have feuded for centuries
House of the Dragonseason 2 , instalment 3 imply that the Battle of the Burning Mill commence concisely after untested member of the Brackens and Blackwoods begin fighting about Rhaenyra and Aegon , intensify into a full - scale struggle . The real campaign of the struggle is a bitdifferent in George R.R. Martin’sFire & Bloodbook , clarify that the swordfight between the young soldier is more of a preliminary to the full - scale combat than the incident that actually begins the battle . The realbattle is overtop by Ser Amos Bracken and Lord Samwell Blackwood on their various sides .
When commitment to each side were being make up one’s mind afterHouse of the Dragonseason 1 ’s ending , House Blackwood declared for Queen Rhaenyra , while House Bracken allied with King Aegon II . As suggest at in the show , the Brackens and Blackwoods have feud for over 10,000 eld , with the material understanding for their opposition having been lost to meter despite their animosity being increasingly beef up . Their long - standing feud was antecedently suggest at inHouse of the Dragonseason 1 , sequence 4 , when young Willem Blackwood kill Jerrel Bracken while both were vying for young Rhaenyra Targaryen ’s mitt in marriage .
Their long - place upright feud was antecedently hinted at inHouse of the Dragonseason 1 , installment 4 , when untried Willem Blackwood kill Jerrel Bracken while both were vying for young Rhaenyra Targaryen ’s hand in marriage .

Consequently , thefeuding Brackens and Blackwoodsrarely demand a reason to start conflicts with one another . Still , the Dance of the Dragons and controvert loyalties to Rhaenyra or Aegon gave them an excuse for a wide-cut - scale fight . In the Holy Writ , Samwell Blackwood and Amos Bracken also had a protracted personal vendetta against one anothersince they duel and unsuccessfully campaign to marry Rhaenyra , prior to her betrothal to Ser Laenor Velaryon .
HOTD / Fire & Blood ’s Bracken Characters
HOTD / Fire & Blood ’s Blackwood Characters

Custom Image by Jordan Williams
Amos Bracken
Samwell Blackwood
Lord Humfrey Bracken

Taking place about 172 years before the events ofGame of Thrones,House of the Dragontells the tale of the rise of the Targaryens, the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria. The popular HBO spinoff show first starred Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before they were replaced by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke, who play the older versions of the characters. Also starring in the series is Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra’s father, King Viserys Targaryen.
Alysanne " Black Aly " Blackwood
Raylon Rivers
Benjicot Blackwood

Jerrel Bracken
Red Robb Rivers
Willem blackwood tree

concord toFire & Blood , theBattle of the Burning Mill began when Lord Samwell Blackwood sent raiders into the Brackens ’ land , with this conflict over district wrinkle being highlighted in the opening scene of time of year 2 , episode 3 . In return key , Ser Amos Bracken ordered his troop into the Blackwoods ’ land , leading the Blackwoods to waylay their enemy at a riverside mill . When Team Black ’s Blackwoods touch Team Green ’s Brackens in the flying field , the first real ground forces - represent conflict of the Targaryen Civil War get down .
Who Died At The Battle Of The Burning Mill & Who Actually Won?
Commanders from both the Bracken and Blackwood armies were killed
The two biggestdeaths inHouse of the Dragonseason 2 ’s Battle of the Burning Mill are Lord Samwell Blackwood and Ser Amos Bracken . These two death were meaning casualty on both side for the Riverlords , as Amos was the boy of Lord Humfrey Bracken while Samwell was the Lord of Raventree Hall at the clip of his dying . harmonise toFire & Blood , Amos kill Samwell in undivided fighting , with Amos soon being killed by a weirwood arrowduring the conflict . Furthermore , the arrow that killed Amos was said to have been shot by Alysanne Blackwood , the younger babe of the slain Lord Samwell .
House of the Dragonseason 2 , episode 3 also focus on the opening argument ’s young Bracken soldier dead in the river .
It ’s unclear exactly how many human and women died at the Battle of the Burning Mill , but George R.R. Martin’sA World of Ice and Firebook suggest that the battle was a triumph for Rhaenyra ’s Team Black . However , both side bear numerous casualties , withAegon ’s council inHouse of the Dragonbeing hesitating to call it a victory for either side . Since the aftermath of the battle precede to Daemon stamp down Lord Bracken and taking Stone Hedge , on the other paw , it can still arguably be considered a winnings for Team Black in the Dance .

Rhaenyra ’s small council is compose of penis of her phratry , her Queensguard , and several lesser noble . Here are the members of the Black Council .
Why Did House Of The Dragon Skip The Battle Of The Burning Mill?
Director Geeta Vasant Patel discussed the impact of not seeing the battle
Since neither Aegon nor Rhaenyra ’s councils had actually sanction a battle and fighting yet , it makes sense thatHouse of the Dragonskipped over the conflict to make it more of a surprisal for both side ’ rule . Additionally , there were no supporting ormain role fromHouse of the Dragonseason 2 in the Battle of the Burning Mill . With only an minute - long runtime , theseries likely want to bide its apportion minute for the outing with the major player ’ reactions or else .
Since neither Aegon nor Rhaenyra ’s councils had actually sanctioned a struggle and fighting yet , it makes common sense thatHouse of the Dragonskipped over the conflict to make it more of a surprise for both sides ’ ruler .
In anexclusive interview withScreen Rant , House of the Dragonseason 2 , installment 3 director Geeta Vasant Patel gave sixth sense into the missing Battle of the Burning Mill . In response to the question of why the struggle was cut , Patel stated that would have to be serve by “ HBO and Ryan [ Condal , the showrunner ] . ” discuss the scene itself , Patel explain , “ They have a conversation , and then we cut to everyone dead . So , you have to actually experience the engagement that you did n’t get to see . ” While Patel was initially disappointed to not shoot an activity - lowering sequence , the crux of the battle ’s high emotion was effectively let out through the gap scene ’s dynamic debate .

newfangled episodes ofHouse of the Dragonseason 2 expiration Dominicus at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max .
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Cast
Taking piazza about 172 year before the events ofGame of Thrones , House of the Dragontells the tale of the rise of the Targaryens , the only family unit of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria . The popular HBO spinoff show first starred Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before they were replaced by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke , who play the older versions of the characters . Also starring in the serial is Matt Smith ( Prince Daemon Targaryen ) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra ’s father , King Viserys Targaryen .
