What Happened to Otto Hightower in House of the Dragon? Does Otto Hightower Die?

What Happened to Otto Hightower in House of the Dragon?

In "House of the Dragon" Season 2, Episode 2, King Aegon II fires Otto Hightower as Hand of the King after Aegon's son is killed. Aegon wants quick revenge, but Otto wants to be more careful. Aegon gets angry and replaces Otto with Criston Cole, who likes to act fast and fight. After being fired, Otto says he will go to Oldtown. But in the book "Fire & Blood" by George R.R. Martin, Otto stays in King’s Landing. Later, Queen Rhaenyra takes over the city and executes Otto for treason.

Otto worked as Hand of the King for three Targaryen kings: Jaehaerys, Viserys, and briefly Aegon II. Replacing Otto with Criston is a bad idea because Criston doesn't have political skills and makes quick, risky decisions. This can cause more problems for King Aegon.

Does Otto Hightower Die?

In "House of the Dragon," Otto Hightower is fired as Hand of the King by King Aegon II Targaryen after Aegon’s son is murdered. Otto prefers careful planning, but Aegon wants quick revenge. After being fired, Otto plans to go to Oldtown. However, in George R.R. Martin's book "Fire & Blood," Otto stays in King's Landing. When Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen takes over the city, she executes Otto for treason. This marks the end of Otto Hightower's life in the story.

Who is Otto Hightower in House of the Dragon?

Otto Hightower is an important character in "House of the Dragon." He comes from House Hightower and is the younger brother of Lord Hobert Hightower. Otto is married to Alyrie Florent, and they have two children, Gwayne and Alicent Hightower.

Otto serves as the Hand of the King to three Targaryen rulers: Jaehaerys I, Viserys I, and Aegon II. He is a key leader of the Greens, a faction involved in the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. Otto believes Prince Daemon Targaryen, the king's brother, is a major threat to the realm. He was first appointed Hand of the King by Jaehaerys I in 101 AC, after the death of Prince Baelon Targaryen. Otto is known for his strategic thinking and plays a big role in the political games of the royal court.

Who Plays Otto Hightower in House of the Dragon?

Rhys Ifans plays Otto Hightower in the HBO series "House of the Dragon." Rhys Ifans is a Welsh actor born on July 22, 1967. He is well-known for various roles in movies and TV shows. Some of his famous movie roles include Spike in "Notting Hill" (1999), Xenophilius Lovegood in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1" (2010), and Dr. Curt Connors/The Lizard in "The Amazing Spider-Man" (2012) and "Spider-Man: No Way Home" (2021). He also played Grigori Rasputin in "The King's Man" (2021).

House of the Dragon

"House of the Dragon" is an American fantasy TV series created by George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal for HBO. It's a prequel to "Game of Thrones," set nearly 200 years before its events, focusing on the Targaryen family and the civil war known as the "Dance of the Dragons." The show is based on parts of Martin's book "Fire & Blood."

The series was ordered in October 2019, casting began in July 2020, and filming started in April 2021 in the UK. It premiered on August 21, 2022, with ten episodes in the first season. After the first season, Miguel Sapochnik left, making Ryan Condal the sole showrunner for the second season, which premiered on June 16, 2024, with eight episodes. The show was renewed for a third season in June 2024.

"House of the Dragon" received positive reviews for its characters, visual effects, and music but faced criticism for its pacing and dark lighting. The premiere was HBO’s biggest, with over 10 million viewers. It won Best Television Series – Drama at the Golden Globes and received nine Emmy nominations.