The position of Hand of the King (or Queen) is one of importance in House of the Dragon, not to mention granting incredible power. Anyone who holds the position is the second most powerful person in Westeros, the king or queen being first. Otto Hightower was Viserys’ Hand originally but was removed from his position. So, how did Otto become Hand of the King again in House of the Dragon?
Why IS Otto Hand of the King Again in House of the Dragon?
Otto Hightower became Hand of the King again due to the death of Lyonel Strong in episode 6 of House of the Dragon. It’s unclear as to who suggested the idea for Otto to return as the Hand, but the decision would have been pushed by either Alicent Hightower or King Viserys.
With Lyonel Strong dead, very few individuals are even qualified for the position, and considering how weaker Viserys is getting, the decision is likely out of familiarity. Either way, Otto being reinstated as the Hand is a dangerous one; it’s through Otto’s self-serving actions that gave rise to much of the conflict in House of the Dragon.
Although Otto Hightower had very few vocal scenes in episode 7, there’s something different about him, an arrogance that he likely picked up in Oldtown. In the past, Otto was far more tight-lipped about the intention behind his decisions. Once he sees that Alicent is willing to play the game of thrones, Otto is completely open about his plans of usurping Viserys.
And that’s how Otto became Hand of the King again in House of the Dragon. It’s only a matter of time before we see just how far Otto will go with his powers in the next episode. For more on House of the Dragon, now more than ever, it’s important to understand who the greens are and why the deaths in episode 7 are significant.
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