First trailer for HOTD Season 2 just dropped, so here are my thoughts—especially regarding this screen grab ⬇
Side note: I haven't really heard any leaks about the contents of each episode, timeline of the season, whatever—my knowledge is mostly what I can remember from the book. I have seen a few behind the scenes leaks though, so customary SPOILERS AHEAD warning!
Honestly, I'm still gunning for them to do a bait & switch between Leanor, Addam and Seasmoke. Mostly because I want them to keep the lore about dragons only taking on new dragon riders after their previous riders have died. And it kind of defeats the purpose of Leanor faking his death only to be killed off screen between seasons.
Fact is I don't think the above photo is Rhaenyra meeting Addam and Seasmoke. I'm fairly certain this is not Seasmoke.
Seasmoke and Addam are featured briefly in the trailer. And here is a behind the scenes shot of Clinton Liberty as Addam—so Addam will definitely be in the show.
However, from a narrative standpoint, I think it would be really great if Leanor did come back (just for like an episode or something) maybe after hearing of Luke death—because that man did love Rhaenyra's boys as his own. Or... OR... maybe he returns towards the end of the season after hearing of Rhaenys' death (and the majority of the season is just Addam trying and failing to claim Seasmoke).
I think the Velaryons were a bit too maligned in Season 1 and used too often to prop up the Targaryens. I think it would be a great character moment for Corlys that whilst grieving Rhaenys, he can reunite with Laenor and they can properly resolve the tension between them.
Anywho, back to the screen grab.
I don't think that that is Seasmoke mostly because the wings are the wrong colour—Seasmoke does appear elsewhere in the trailer with the pinkish wings, so this can't be a random creative inconsitancy. And this dragon seems to be lacking the horns Seasmoke had in Season 1—that is also the one and only official photo of Seasmoke that HBO website is using.
Personally, I think it is actually Nettles and Sheepstealer. I know that in the books Sheepstealer is "muddy brown" in colour—and really this is the only chink in my theory—but maybe they wanted to change the colour since I doubt we'll be seeing Grey Ghost.
Anyway, from a narrative standpoint, I think it would make for an interesting character dynamic between Rhaeynra and Nettles (alluding to the Rhaenyra-Daemon-Nettles love triangle) that maybe this "confrontation" happens just after Nettles has claimed Sheepstealer.
Hell, maybe it is Rhaenyra and Leanor reuniting. IDK.
