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Blood and Cheese finally find themselves in the room with Helaena and her twin daughters, Jaehaerys and Jaehaera, after finding their way inside the royal apartments successfully and following a few near-misses. Not to mention the promise of wealth, Cheese holds a knife to Helaena's throat and orders from Daemon ringing in their ears (as Team Green sees it, at least). Blood beheads Prince Jaehaerys, the heir to the Iron Throne.
Blood and Cheese had entered so deeply and were leaving without killing someone, hence there was no chance for them to depart without causing a tiny infant to die. Until Helaena discovers Alicent and says "they killed the boy," 100% confirming Blood and Cheese did indeed murder Jaehaerys, it was first unclear who they would have killed—with the two men themselves unsure. That therefore begs a more general issue: why did Helaena decide to save Jaehaera? There is no one straightforward response to it, particularly because Helaena herself is, Aegon notes, "an enduring mystery." Maybe it was anxiety about double-checking and then killing both of her kids. But earlier in the episode, Aegon begs Jaehaerys to show up for the Small Council meeting; Helaena queries "what if he doesn't want to be King?" Knowing one of her children is about to pass away, Helaena gives up the one who would be forced into a position that, to her, only results in either suffering or cruelty. It is not to "save" him from it; rather, given the alternatives she has in this Sophie's choice scenario, she might view it as the "better" one. Rather of having the girl die to save the boy and heir, it is also maybe the one most suited for the themes of the play.
The other main mystery regarding Blood and Cheese is just what Daemon ordered from them. He is fairly clear that he wants Aemond dead, but the show abruptly breaks away when he asks what they should do should they not find him. Did Daemon mention just Aemond was to die? Alternatively did he instruct them to murder someone else, maybe even mentioning Aegon's son?
Although Cheese does claim they were told to make it "a son for a son," which is likely the point—that would create a mystery for viewers and for Rhaenyra—never entirely sure of how far Daemon took things. Daemon may be a father himself, but he has also been shown to be ruthless, nasty, and not above killing those who have offended him. Of course, this would be a jump even for him, so there may be temptation—especially for supporters of his—to assume he didn't do it, which is itself an interesting manner of the program fitting with Fire & Blood? The novel is narrated from several historical points of view, hence the truth is not always clear. Usually, the program has been more decisive, but this is a way it might have its own perspective on things.
Following Lucerys' passing in the novel, Daemon pays Lady Mysaria Blood and Cheese to exact retribution. Mysaria is especially more involved and still in King's Landing than she is in Dragonstone, where she is a hesitant and more passive participant from. Blood and Cheese slip inside the Red Keep and into Alicent Hightower's quarters (not, she is not having sex with Criston Cole). She is chained and choked; her maid killed.
Blood and Cheese grabs Helaena's three children, Jaehaerys, Jaehaera, and Maelor (who doesn't yet show up in the episode), when she brings them to meet their grandma. Blood and Cheese advise Helaena, who is at knifepoint, to decide which of her boys would be slain, therefore guiding her into an impossibility decision. Helaena begs them to murder her instead, thereby attempting to resist. Blood and Cheese, however, insist she chooses one despite making nasty threats of attack at Jaehaera. Eventually, Helaena chooses Maelor to die because he is the younger child and less likely to grasp anything that is happening. Blood instead kills Jaehaerys, therefore severing the prince's head. After they flee the Red Keep, Helaena is left utterly devastated and effectively carries out the vengeance Daemon had desired to be carried out.
Blood and Cheese marks yet another turning point in the Dance of the Dragons; while there was no turning back already, this guarantees there will be no compassion and nothing too low for either side. Regarding the immediate aftermath, Blood was discovered in the book just a few days later and was subjected to information-gassing. He perished from torture and dropped the names Daemon and Mysaria. Cheese apparently fled King's Landing and vanished; Aegon ordered every ratcatcher in the city slain instead. That is still to be seen whether that is the case on the episode.
With both sides yearning blood and cheese, Blood and Cheese helps the Dance of the Dragons into hyperdrive. Both by armies and dragons, the Riverlands will host most of the battling in House of the Dragon season 2. Still, the most influence is probably on Helaena personally. After Jaehaerys dies, she descends into sadness; later in the narrative she kills herself; Aegon himself starts depending more on alcohol. Pictures and videos from House of the Dragon season 2 have shown Blood and Cheese will be utilized to try and convert people against Rhaenyra. With Helaena and Alicent both there and a person leading the procession instructing the residents of King's Landing to "look upon the work of Rhaenyra the cruel," they highlight the burial of Jaehaerys. Though it's obvious this would be used to support Aegon's claim as the legitimate King in House of the Dragon, there is no proof she really has anything to do with it.
In one of the most horrific death scenes ever on House of the Dragon season 2, Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen is killed by blood and cheese. Long since, the Game of Thrones prequel has shown it won't hold back when it kills characters in startling fashion, including Lucerys Velaryon's death in the ending of House of the Dragon season 1. That itself directly motivated Jaehaerys' killing, with Daemon Targaryen desiring retribution, or "a son for a son."
Though the episode doesn't specifically name them, the cast of House of the Dragon season 2 introduces Cheese (Stobbart; Line of Duty, The Devil Outside) a ratcatcher and Blood (Sam C. Wilson; Hanna, Dodger), a member of the Goldcloaks. Originally hired to assassinate Aemond Targaryen, they kill Jaehaerys instead on the episode. Their names have become shorthand for the event itself to book readers, being stated as "Blood and Cheese," and it's not just a significant moment but one that really starts the Dance of the Dragons.
Since then, the promotion for season 2 included other hints as well. The marketing and trailers for House of the Dragon indeed displayed glimpses of Blood and Cheese and its aftermath, including some direct sequences from it:
House of the Dragon chronicles the rise of the Targaryens, the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria, around 172 years before the events of Game of Thrones. Milly Alcock and Emily Carey originally starred Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke, who play the adult versions of the characters, took front stage. Along with King Viserys Targaryen, Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra's father also feature in the series.
Sundays at 9pm ET on HBO and Max mark the start of fresh House of the Dragon season 2 episodes.