War is often not just one single event but a culmination of events. It’s the final destination on a road littered with little incidents that feed into one larger flashpoint, a crossing of the Rubicon that ends in dissolution, destruction and death. When “House of the Dragon” starts its sophomore season Sunday, June 16, on HBO, the “Game of Thrones” prequel isn’t quite at this point of no return. But it’s pretty damn close.
Season 2 picks up in the immediate aftermath of the first season finale, which saw the death of Queen Rhaenyra’s (Emma D’Arcy) son Luke at the hands of Prince Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell), the realm of Westeros is bracing for the impending Targaryen civil war.