Why Aegon Executed the Rat Catchers in ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2

The mass execution of the rat catchers is a moment that ‘House of the Dragon’ fans frequently discuss when reflecting on Aegon II. This brutal event, which took place early in season two, continues to resonate as viewers revisit the scene in the current season.

The order for this horrific act came from a king consumed by grief and rage, and understanding the context reveals a twisted rationale behind the cruelty.

The killing spree can be traced back to the assassination of Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen, the young son of King Aegon II and Queen Helaena. Two hired assassins infiltrated the Red Keep, utilizing knowledge of secret passageways constructed generations earlier by King Maegor Targaryen.

These assassins, known only as Blood and Cheese, were able to navigate the castle undetected thanks to their specific skills.

The rat catchers, who are typically poorer citizens of King’s Landing, work in the sewers to control the rat population. Their familiarity with the palace’s tunnels made them ideal for sneaking in unnoticed, but one of them would soon be involved in something far more sinister.

Cheese, one of the assassins, was not an outsider; he was a rat catcher from the Red Keep who also spent time in Flea Bottom. The hidden doors and secret tunnels built by King Maegor were as familiar to him as the rats he hunted. He and his partner Blood were hired to avenge Prince Lucerys Velaryon’s death, who was killed by Prince Aemond Targaryen.

Cheese guided Blood into the Red Keep through a forgotten passageway. After binding the Dowager Queen and strangling her bedmaid, the assassins awaited the arrival of Queen Helaena and her children. The resulting murder of young Jaehaerys plunged King’s Landing into chaos and left Aegon desperate for revenge.

Following Blood’s capture and interrogation, he revealed information linking the crime to Cheese. In a fit of rage, Aegon ordered the execution of all rat catchers in the Red Keep. Since the assassins had disguised themselves as rat catchers to infiltrate the castle, Aegon’s wrath escalated into a citywide purge of anyone associated with that profession.

In his fury, Aegon II commanded the hanging of all rat catchers in King’s Landing, and Ser Otto Hightower later brought one hundred cats into the Red Keep to replace them. This was less a targeted investigation and more a brutal act of retribution aimed at ensuring that those who wronged him would face consequences.

Cheese and the other rat catchers were hanged and displayed along the city walls for the smallfolk to witness, with Cheese’s body left hanging for weeks until Prince Aemond ordered their removal after becoming prince regent. This public display served as a stark warning against defying the crown.

The brutality of this moment has lingered with viewers into ‘House of the Dragon’ season three, with many fans still considering it one of the show’s most disturbing choices. Some have noted that while Jaehaerys’ body was paraded through the streets and the rat catchers were hanged, the characters in King’s Landing seem to move on from Rhaenyra’s connection to a child’s death surprisingly quickly.

This criticism has become part of a broader discussion regarding how ‘House of the Dragon’ addresses consequences and memory among its extensive cast. The show ultimately confirmed Cheese’s death among the hanged bodies in Flea Bottom, with his dog’s visible distress in the scene serving as undeniable proof that Cheese did not escape Aegon’s wrath. This resolution closed the book on a mystery that had remained ambiguous since the source material.

The purge of rat catchers stands as one of the clearest insights into Aegon II’s character when pushed to his limits, prompting fans to consider whether this single act defines his reign more than any other actions he has taken since.