Movies News Talk
House Of The Dragon season 2, episode 3, finally introduces Alicent Hightower's older brother, Gwayne Hightower, played by Freddie Fox. Gwayne was briefly shown in the season 1 premiere, but his face wasn't visible. This episode sees him properly introduced, with a character arc that's only just begun.
After Otto Hightower is fired by Aegon as Hand of the King, his son arrives at King's Landing to lead an army with Ser Criston Cole to the Crownlands. Gwayne's presence gives the Hightowers a stronger voice in the war strategy of "Team Green". It also shows how the Hightowers have more influence over the war than might be expected, particularly since they didn't appear to be so involved at the start of the Dance Of The Dragons.
Fire & Blood, the book on which House Of The Dragon is based, shows Gwayne as a member of the Gold Cloaks (the city watch) in King's Landing. He's placed there by Otto as a way of keeping an eye on Ser Luthor Largent, the Commander of the City Watch, and ensuring his loyalty to Aegon.
However, in the show, Gwayne doesn't join the Gold Cloaks. Instead, he's a soldier on the battlefield, marching with Criston Cole. This makes a big change to Gwayne's character in the series, and gives him a more direct role in the events of the war.
The show's divergence from the books means that Gwayne's death may be different. In Fire & Blood, Gwayne dies when Rhaenyra Targaryen takes King's Landing. Luthor Largent, loyal to Daemon Targaryen, stabs Gwayne to death after he accuses Luthor of being a turncloak.
But since Gwayne is not a Gold Cloak in the show, he'll likely die differently. He could be killed in battle alongside Ser Criston Cole, or he may die during the Fall of King's Landing. However, the latter is unlikely as Criston's army is still marching south from Harrenhal at that time. Given that Gwayne's story is expanding in House of the Dragon, his death is likely to be just as brutal as it was in the book.