WARNING! This article contains major SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 2 and George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book, on which the show is based.

Ser Otto Hightower is out as King Aegon II Targaryen’s Hand of the King, with Ser Criston Cole now shockingly replacing him in House of the Dragon. In the aftermath of House of the Dragon season 2’s horrendous Blood and Cheese event, Aegon seeks vengeance against Rhaenyra and Team Black for the murder of his son and heir, Jaehaerys. While Otto is more hesitant to launch an attack with violent retaliations, instead preferring to immediately gain the sympathies of the smallfolk and other houses, Aegon simply wants to take action, leading him to take up Larys Strong’s previous advice to find his own Hand – not his father’s.

After Otto Hightower chastizes Aegon for following Criston Cole’s plan of ordering Ser Arryk Cargyll to pose as his twin brother and kill Rhaenyra, Aegon fires his grandfather as Hand of the King. Noting that at least Criston decided to do something more active, Aegon names him Hand of the King instead. Of course, Aegon doesn’t know about Criston and Alicent’s secret relationship, which will likely throw a wrench in their future dynamic. Regardless, Otto Hightower leaves his daughter and grandchildren for Oldtown in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 2’s ending, mirroring the last time he was briefly fired as Hand by King Viserys.

What Happens To Otto Hightower After Being Removed As Hand Of The King

Otto doesn’t survive much longer after being fired by Aegon

For the third (technically fourth) and final time, Otto Hightower has concluded serving as Hand of the King for a Targaryen ruler, as he outlived both Jaehaerys and Viserys before being fired by Aegon. After being removed, Otto declares that he’ll leave for Oldtown to oversee the instruction of Alicent and Viserys’ youngest son Daeron, who has been living there as a ward for some time. Meanwhile, Alicent suggests going to Highgarden to treat with House Tyrell, leaving his next whereabouts still somewhat ambiguous.

In George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book, Otto doesn’t go to Oldtown or Highgarden after being removed as Hand of the King. Rather, he remains in King’s Landing, with his long-term plans for Aegon’s political strategy with the Triarchy successfully going into motion while Criston is still Hand of the King. However, Otto Hightower doesn’t live for much longer after Aegon fires him. The book reveals that Otto Hightower is executed for treason by Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen when she takes King’s Landing, which could potentially happen as early as House of the Dragon season 2’s later episodes.

Is Replacing Otto With Criston Cole A Smart Move By King Aegon?

Aegon is only thinking with a short-term mindset

Ultimately, this is a big mistake that King Aegon II Targaryen makes in his war strategy for the Dance of the Dragons. While Otto Hightower was a highly flawed Hand of the King, he also had experience of approaching the role politically and with consequences for each choice in mind. At least, more so than Criston Cole before his death. Whereas Otto attempted to conduct his role as Hand of the King with foresight, cleverness, and much consideration, Ser Criston Cole approaches it from a perspective of battle, strength, impulsivity, and urgency.

There’s little to no long-term strategy for Criston Cole’s political decision-making in House of the Dragon. While he’s a strong warrior who has proven his qualifications in leading both the Kingsguard and Aegon’s forces, battle skills aren’t what make an effective Hand of the King. Aegon’s choice to replace Otto with Criston was made out of an intensely emotional and angry response to his son’s death, and those types of decisions rarely lead to positive outcomes in the world of Game of Thrones.

New episodes of House of the Dragon season 2 release Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.