House of the Dragon's second season debuts with ongoing deadly power struggle - as warring factions target family in battle over the Iron Throne

House of the Dragon's second season debuted on HBO Sunday, with the first of eight episodes, ominously titled, A Son for a Son.

The action picked up from the finale of the show's first season, in which Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and his dragon Vhaegar slaughtered Lucerys (Elliot Grihault) - the son of Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) - and his dragon Arrax.

The deadly series of events ramp up the tension brewing between the Targaryens and Hightowers, eventually culminating in a civil war called The Dance of the Dragons.

Among the members of the ensemble cast returning for the show's second season include Best, Matt Smith, who plays Prince Daemon Targaryen; Emma D'Arcy as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen; Olivia Cooke, who plays Queen Alicent Hightower; Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys 'The Sea Snake' Velaryon; and Rhys Ifans, who plays Ser Otto Hightower. 

The cast also features Fabien Frankel playing Ser Criston Cole, Matthew Needham portraying the role of Lord Varys Strong, Sonoya Mizuno playing Mysaria, Harry Collett as Jacaerys Velaryon, and Bethany Antonia in the role of Lady Baela Targaryen.

Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) holds the Iron Throne as the season gets underway 

Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett) and Cregan Stark (Tom Taylor) are seen conferring in the first edition of the new season

Phoebe Campbell plays the part of Lady Rhaena Targaryen, Phia Saban portrays Queen Helaena Targaryen and Jefferson Hall is in the role of Jason Lannister in the show's second season.

New characters added to the storyline of the prequel include Abubakar Salim playing the role of Alyn of Hull, Gayle Rankin portraying Alys Rivers, Freddie Fox in the part of Ser Gwayne Hightower, Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong, Clinton Liberty playing Addam of Hull and Jamie Kenna in the role of Ser Alfred Broome.

Rounding out the new cast include Kieran Bew playing the role of Hugh, Tom Bennett in the part of Ulf, Tom Taylor portraying Lord Cregan Stark, and Vincent Regan as Ser Rickard Thorne.

Sunday's episode began with a raven in flight headed toward Winterfell and the Wall.

The Lord of Winterfell, Cregan Stark, is seen speaking with Jacaerys, the brother of the recently-deceased Lucerys, who is Queen Rhaenyra's son.

Jacaerys, encouraging Cregan to defend the area, requests Northern soldiers, to which Cregan sends a group of older soldiers. Jacaerys subsequently learns of his brother's passing.

At Dragonstone, Princess Rhaenys comes back with her dragon Meleys after conducting an aerial patrol of Team Black's bay blockade.

Daemon requests she prepares to head to King's Landing in an effort to decimate Vhagar, the dragon involved in the slaughter of Prince Lucerys.

Sunday's episode began with a raven in flight headed toward Winterfell and the Wall 

Jacaerys, encouraging Cregan to defend the area, requests Northern soldiers, to which Cregan sends a group of older soldiers 

At Dragonstone, Princess Rhaenys comes back with her dragon Meleys after conducting an aerial patrol of Team Black's bay blockade 

Daemon subtly taunts Rhaenys about her ill-fated inability to decimate the Greens earlier, but she retires to her chambers with little reaction

Lord Corlys is seen on Driftmark - the home base of the House Velaryon - discussing the condition of a naval flagship with the shipworker Alyn

Alyn notes he has a brother named Addam in a cryptic-yet-powerful exchange 

Daemon tells Rhaenys that Rhaenyra appears to be missing, as Rhaenys says she thinks Rhaenyra is investigating the death of Luke, explaining her expanded absence.

Daemon subtly taunts Rhaenys about her ill-fated inability to decimate the Greens earlier, but she retires to her chambers with little reaction.

Queen Rhaenrya discovers Arrax's wing and a piece of cloth near a beach at Storm's End, heading back to Dragonstone focused on retribution.

Lord Corlys is seen on Driftmark - the home base of the House Velaryon - discussing the condition of a naval flagship with the shipworker Alyn, who notes he has a brother named Addam in a cryptic-yet-powerful exchange.

Ser Arryk is seen at the Red Keep, and he and his troops are seen gearing up to stand behind Team Green with their crossbows, until realizing that it is Aemond and his dragon Vhagar. In the storyline, Arryk is behind Aegon as his twin Erryk backs Rhaenyra.

King Aegon the Aess and his sister-wife Helaena are seen chatting in her room, where she noted her concerns about the rats circulating the Red Keep. Their twins Jaehaera and Jaehaerys are noted in the scene, with the former playing by a fire.

Queen Alicent and Criston Cole are witnessed in a sexual exchange while in her bedchamber.

During a meeting of the Small Council, it is revealed that they have support from the House Baratheon of the Stormlands, the House Lannister of the Westerlands and the House Hightower of the Reach; while the Riverlands appear to be a hostile territory.

Ser Arryk is seen at the Red Keep, and he and his troops are seen gearing up to stand behind Team Green with their crossbows 

The potential attack ceases when Ser Arryk realizes that it is Aemond and his dragon Vhagar 

King Aegon the Aess chat with his sister-wife Helaena  in her room

Helaena noted her concerns about the rats circulating the Red Keep

Aegon wants to take an aggressive approach toward the Riverlords - beginning at Riverrun with an effort aimed at Lord Tully - while Alicent and Otto seek to pull back the hostilities amid an already-tense situation.

Lord Larys speaks to Alicent in a private discussion in which he lets her know he is aware about the situation pertaining to her and Cole; and that he has killed the loose-lipped servants who had been leaking info to Mysaria.

On Shipbreaker Bay, Rhaenyra comes across the physical remains of Lucerys and Arrax.

Aegon II's mandates are undermined by Otto, which gets Larys conspiring against Otto.

A blacksmith named Hugh asks Aegon to remit payment for a cache of weapons he and the smiths have constructed, which Aegon agrees to, citing the necessity of weapons amid wartime.

Alicent calls out Otto over his conduct at the Small Council and schemes with him over the events revolving around Aegon and Aemond in a tense discussion.

On Team Black, Lord Erryk recovers Mysaria in the stowaway section of a ship. He takes her to Daemon, who expresses his anger at her over her past betrayals involving Otto, but she denies having had any political motives in her actions.

Daemon rips Erryk for his failure to assassinate Aegon (after he urges him to be nice to Mysaria) at which point Erryk notes that objectives in the oath he initially took to protect the royals was unclear amid family betrayals.

During a meeting of the Small Council, it is revealed that they have support from the House Baratheon of the Stormlands, the House Lannister of the Westerlands and the House Hightower of the Reach; while the Riverlands appear to be a hostile territory 

Aegon wants to take an aggressive approach toward the Riverlords - beginning at Riverrun with an effort aimed at Lord Tully - while Alicent and Otto seek to pull back the hostilities amid an already-tense situation 

Lord Larys speaks to Alicent in a private discussion in which he lets her know he is aware about the situation pertaining to her and Cole; and that he has killed the loose-lipped servants who had been leaking info to Mysaria 

On Shipbreaker Bay, Rhaenyra comes across the physical remains of Lucerys and Arrax 

Rhaenyra and her dragon petrify people on the shore as they make a swift arrival

Rhaenyra weeps at the death in her family in an emotional sequence 

Rhaenyra arrives at the Painted Table and informed of Daemon's desire to garner backing from the Riverlords. In the meantime, a blockade from Corlys is causing gridlock for weapons to arrive in King's Landing.

Rhaenyra says, 'I want Aemond Targaryen' in convincing fashion to her inner circle.

Daemon persuades Mysaria to provide information about the Red Keep to free her, with a bit of tension alluding to their past relationship.

Jacaerys arrives at home and tells Rhaenyra that Vale and the North are on their side, after which they show their sadness amid Lucerys' death.

Rhaenyra and her inner circle grieve Lucerys' death at a funeral pyre. Jacaerys is seen holding his younger brother Joffrey Velaryon.

Daemon makes his way into King's Landing by bribing a soldier whose name is Blood; they employ a ratcatcher named Cheese to take the soldier into the castle via clandestine corridors.

Cheese is seen asking Daemon how they should proceed if they cannot catch up to Aemond, but his response is not revealed.

Aemond and Criston Cole plot in the Red Keep to take a host away from King's Landing incorporating Vhagar, in a move that would urge the surrounding kingdoms to show King Aegon II support.

Aegon II is seen holding court at the Iron Throne, with Otto advising him 

Aegon II is seen hearing out locals asking for favors as he acclimates to supreme power 

Alicent calls out Otto over his conduct at the Small Council and schemes with him over the events revolving around Aegon and Aemond in a tense discussion 

On Team Black, Mysaria is found in the stowaway section of a ship

Daemon rips Erryk for his failure to assassinate Aegon 

Erryk notes that objectives in the oath he initially took to protect the royals was unclear amid family betrayals 

Aemond is concerned that Alicent and Otto will betray him, and tells Daemon to keep his composure.

Cheese and Blood make their into the Red Keep in the Great Hall, where King Aegon II is at the helm of the Iron Throne.

They use secret paths to access the floor of the royals, with Cheese holding Queen Helaena at knifepoint. Blood tells Cheese that Daemon was focused on Aemond, and noted that the twin heirs Jaehaera and Jaehaerys are present.

After asking Helaena who the male heir is, they slaughter and behead Jaehaerys in an off-camera slaying.

Helaena takes Jaehaera and runs into Alicent's chamber, where she tells her that Jaehaerys was killed: 'They killed the boy.'

Sunday's season two debut was penned by showrunner Ryan Condal and directed by Alan Taylor, who previously directed episodes of Game of Thrones, as well as HBO staples such as Boardwalk Empire, Sex and the City, The Sopranos and its prequel film, The Many Saints of Newark. 

The show's second season kicked off with a revised opening titles sequence that was noticeably different than the one broadcast in the show's first season.

The first season of House of the Dragon featured an animated opening that incorporated Old Valyria in a stone model, as it had been presided over by the late King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine). It included red blood streaming through Valyria's streets, with symbolism alluding to the Targaryen leaders. 

Rhaenyra arrives at the Painted Table and informed of Daemon's desire to garner backing from the Riverlords

Rhaenyra says, 'I want Aemond Targaryen' in convincing fashion to her inner circle 

Jacaerys arrives at home and tells Rhaenyra that Vale and the North are on their side, after which they show their sadness amid Lucerys' death 

Rhaenyra and her inner circle grieve Lucerys' death at a funeral pyre 

Jacaerys is seen holding his younger brother Joffrey Velaryon 

Queen Alicent (Olivia Cooke) is seen lighting a series of candles 

Season two's opening focuses on a Bayeux Tapestry with references in the art to past events in the storyline.

The scene on the tapestry depicts bloodshed in Old Valyria, as well as Valyrians bonding to dragons. One sequence shows a man with a dagger in hand, as another man in knelt in front of a dragon while flanked in candles.

Viewers then saw an active volcano to signify the Doom of Valyria - an event in which the one-time Targaryen homeland saw people and dragons perish as every hill exploded in a fiery blaze.

Another sequence depicted Aegon the Conqueror on a quest to rule Westeros as he was flanked by sister-wives Visenya and Rhaenys as they rode dragons crossing the Narrow Sea.

Other notable happenings in the storyline seen forming on the tapestry consisted of events seen on the hit series Game of Thrones, which ran across eight seasons on HBO from 2011-2019.

One area referred to King Jaehaerys Targaryen (Michael Carter) at the head of the Great Council of Harrenhal, proclaiming Viserys as the realm's future leader, in addition to the commencement of the Dance of the Dragons.

Also seen in the tapestry is Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) seen at a feast.

Daemon makes his way into King's Landing by bribing a soldier whose name is Blood; they employ a ratcatcher named Cheese to take the soldier into the castle via clandestine corridors 

After asking Helaena who the male heir is, Cheese and Blood slaughter and behead Jaehaerys in an off-camera slaying 

Helaena takes Jaehaera and runs into Alicent's chamber, where she tells her that Jaehaerys was killed: 'They killed the boy'

House of the Dragon's second season debuted on HBO Sunday, as the first episode of the second season's eight-episode frame, titled A Son for a Son, hit the air. 

Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), the son of Alicent and half-brother of Rhaenyra, is depicted in the revised opening as the king of the Iron Throne, while Rhaenyra is named queen at the castle Dragonstone.

To conclude the opening credits is imagery depicting Lucerys Velaryon's (played by Elliot Grihault), death by the dragon Vhagar in the sky over Storm's End. 

The latest in the franchise created by George R.R. Martin runs through August 4.

House of the Dragon begins airing new episodes Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO; the episodes can also be aired in 4K on Max.