House of the Dragon: Blood and Cheese explained
HBOAfter House of the Dragon Episode 10, Blood and Cheese are on the horizon – let’s break down these characters and why we should care about their eventual arrival.
House of the Dragon Season 1 has reached its end. As one should expect from a Game of Thrones prequel, blood has been spilled, incest has blossomed into love, and all-out war is here at last.
In the finale, we watched Rhaenyra and Daemon respond to the events of Episode 9, sketching their initial plans after Aegon II’s coronation and the treachery of the Hightowers.
However, a major event with Lucerys and Aemond is responsible for the fast-approaching arrival of Blood and Cheese – but who are they, and why are they important? Let’s dig in.
Warning: huge spoilers for the (likely) future in House of the Dragon to follow…
House of the Dragon: Who are Blood and Cheese?
Blood and Cheese are two assassins responsible for a major, disturbing death in George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood. As per the book, both of their real names are lost to history.
Blood was a butcher in King’s Landing who once served in the City Watch, but his gold cloak was taken away when he beat a sex worker to death.
Cheese worked as a ratcatcher in the Red Keep, and he also spent some time in Flea Bottom.
Neither character’s casting has been revealed at the time of writing, but we can likely expect their arrival in Season 2.
This is your final chance to avoid any major spoilers…
House of the Dragon: What do Blood and Cheese do in the book?
Blood and Cheese are employed by Mysaria, Daemon’s spymaster in the book, to kill one of Aegon II’s sons after Aemond murdered Lucerys Velaryon at Storm’s End.
When they sneak into the Red Keep, they force Helaena – Aegon’s sister and wife – to choose which one of her children she wants to be killed. She offers herself, but they insist it has to be one of the sons, or they’ll rape her daughter, Jaehaera.
When she chooses her youngest son, Maelor, Blood beheads six-year-old Jaehaerys instead, and both of the assassins flee with the prince’s head.
You can find out a bit more about Helaena and Aegon’s children here.
House of the Dragon Season 1 is available to stream now. For more on Season 2, click here.
