The season 2 finale of “House of the Dragon” was packed with dramatic twists, visions, and prophecies. However, one of the most surprising moments involved Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), the former Hand of the King. After being dismissed by his grandson, King Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney), in episode 2, Otto’s fate had been a mystery until the final episode.
Otto Hightower’s Brief Appearance
In the final moments of the season, viewers catch a fleeting glimpse of Otto Hightower. The scene shows him in a cramped jail cell, looking disheveled and confused as light filters through the bars. This brief shot leaves many questions unanswered, including where exactly Otto is being held and how he ended up there.
Why is Otto Hightower in a Jail Cell?
The primary question is: Who captured Otto Hightower and why? To understand this, let’s recap Otto’s journey in season 2. After being fired by Aegon II, Otto decided to leave King’s Landing and head to the Hightower stronghold.
“I’ll return to Oldtown,” Otto tells his daughter, Alicent (Olivia Cooke). “The Hightowers still have strength, and you have a son there who’ll take more kindly to instruction. Daeron may yet help us in the weeks to come.”
However, Alicent suggests he go to Highgarden to secure the Tyrells’ support. This is the last we see or hear from Otto until the finale.
The Mystery of Otto’s Capture
Alicent later reveals that her letters to Otto have gone unanswered, and Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) tasks Larys (Matthew Needham) with finding Otto to reinstate him as Hand. This implies that Otto never reached his destination. The likely scenario is that Otto was captured en route to Highgarden, possibly by House Beesbury, who are waging war against the Hightowers, or their allies.
Another possibility is that Larys might have orchestrated Otto’s capture to prevent his return to power. Given Larys’ close ties to Aegon II, he could have had a motive to keep Otto out of the picture. It’s even conceivable that the cell we see Otto in is part of a moving convoy, possibly the same one transporting Larys and Aegon II to Essos.
The season finale of “House of the Dragon” leaves viewers with more questions than answers regarding Otto Hightower’s fate. Whether he was captured by enemies of the Hightowers or betrayed from within, his imprisonment adds another layer of intrigue to the already complex web of political machinations in the series. As we await further developments in the next season, Otto’s situation remains one of the many cliffhangers keeping fans eagerly anticipating what’s next.
