House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6 might have set up a key antagonist in one quick, gory moment.
The following will contain spoilers for the new episode, as well as light spoilers for George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood, so turn back now if you're not up to date!
In the latest episode, after Rhaenyra sends food to the starving smallfolk, they revolt against Alicent and Helaena as mother and daughter are praying in the Sept. One person tries to grab hold of Alicent, though he seems to be trying to help her – and promptly gets his hand cut off by the Kingsguard.
"The Shepherd?" asks one fan, referring to a major character from Martin's book.
In the book, the Shepherd is a religious preacher, who, crucially, has only one hand. He dresses simply and is a beggar in the novel, which is very similar to how this smallfolk character looks in the show.
The Shepherd is also extremely anti-dragon and preaches against Rhaenyra in the book, ultimately inciting a devastating riot in King's Landing.
Considering the amount of unrest in King's Landing in the show at the moment, and the fact that this random man is not only pro-Green but also loses his hand, it certainly looks like this could end up being the Shepherd himself. We'll just have to wait and see.
House of the Dragon season 2 continues weekly on HBO in the US and Sky and NOW in the UK. For more on the show, check out our deep dives on:
- House of the Dragon season 2, episodes 1-4 review
- House of the Dragon season 2 showrunner on why Blood and Cheese is nothing like Game of Thrones' Red Wedding
- House of the Dragon season 2 showrunner doesn't feel the pressure of following the controversial Game of Thrones season 8: "Our challenge comes from within"
- House of the Dragon showrunner teases season 3: "You don't want to end up in that place where you're doing the same thing again and again"
- House of the Dragon season 2 showrunner breaks down the complicated relationship between Daemon and Rhaenyra: "Conflict is the order of the day"
- House of the Dragon season 2 showrunner says Rhaenyra and Alicent's bond is still the heart of the show: "We understand that these two women are connected"
- Aemond Targaryen actor Ewan Mitchell breaks down that House of the Dragon season 2, episode 4 ending: "He very much knew what he was doing"
- House of the Dragon star Ewan Mitchell on why Aemond Targaryen lives to the same code as Robert De Niro in Heat
- House of the Dragon star Ewan Mitchell talks Aemond and Daemon's rivalry: "There's almost a romantic element to it"
- House of the Dragon star Ewan Mitchell explains how Michael Myers inspired Aemond Targaryen
- House of the Dragon season 2, episode 1 recap and Easter eggs
- House of the Dragon season 2, episode 2 recap and Easter eggs
- House of the Dragon season 2, episode 3 recap and Easter eggs
- House of the Dragon season 2, episode 4 recap and Easter eggs
- House of the Dragon season 2, episode 5 recap and Easter eggs
- Hugh Hammer explained
- How Blood and Cheese is different from the book
- How Rook's Rest is different from the book
- Cregan Stark explained
- Addam of Hull explained
- Daeron Targaryen explained
- Alys Rivers explained
- The dragonseeds explained
- The House of the Dragon dragons, listed and explained
- Greens vs. Blacks, explained
- The White Worm, explained
- The Targaryen family tree
- The House of the Dragon timeline
- Who wins the Dance of the Dragons?
- The history of Vhagar
- The Song of Ice and Fire prophecy
- House of the Dragon season 2 release schedule
