Ever since the premiere of the second season of House of the Dragon, fans have been eagerly waiting for one character to appear. Many want to know who would play this crucial character in the looming war, but others speculate that the show has already featured him in one way or another. The said character is Benjicot Blackwood, the future Lord of Raventree Hall and the Head of House Blackwood. Since the show has made changes from George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, fans have been asking questions about whether Ben’s story in the show will be true to his in the book. For those who aren’t familiar with Fire & Blood, the question still remains: who is Benjicot Blackwood, and why is he important in the Targaryen civil war?

Although Benjicot Blackwood is still technically a child at the current time in House of the Dragon, the character will later become a driving force for the Blacks and a major player in the Dance of the Dragons. Not only does he survive the civil war in Fire & Blood, but his impact continues into the events that come after. Benjicot Blackwood will likely play a huge part in the later seasons of House of the Dragon.

Why Is Benjicot Blackwood Important in the Targaryen Civil War?

Benjicot Blackwood is one of the most anticipated characters in House of the Dragon, and for good reason. Fans have been dying to see him on the show, knowing how important Benjicot will be later on as the Targaryen civil war continues to escalate. The character has a role to play in the war and the peace that comes after. While the show has teased fans with several appearances from the Blackwoods, it’s unclear whether this specific Blackwood has been featured.

Known for his excellent military skills and swordsmanship, Benjicot is set to become a leading force for Team Black. Fire & Blood portrayed him as a tall and slim person with a warm and sensitive personality, who leaves his nice side behind as soon as he puts on his armor. While the character doesn’t appear until later in the war, he plays a huge role in several major battles, including the Battle of Lakeshore and the Battleof the Kingsroad. Following Aegon III’s reign, Benjicot Blackwood returns to his tenure role as Lord of Raventree Hall.

Has Benjicot Blackwood Appeared in House of the Dragon Yet?

The first battle of the Targaryen civil war has taken place in the House of the Dragon, though it had no direct connection to either Aegon II or Rhaenyra. The beginning of Season 2, Episode 3 saw a discord between the Blackwoods and the Brackens escalating into war where blood was spilled in Rhaenyra and Aegon II’s names respectively. Many fans suspected that Benjicot Blackwood is in the opening scene of Episode 3, since the appearance of Kieran Burton’s character resembles the illustration of Benjicot Blackwood in the book.

However, Ben Blackwood didn’t take part in the Battle of the Burning Mill in Fire & Blood. His father, Samwell Blackwood, did. Benjicot Blackwood’s father is supposed to be killed in said battle, according to Fire & Blood. Benjicot would then become the head of his house at the age of 11 and join the civil war a year later. He’d earn the nickname “Bloody Ben” in the Battle of the Lakeshore, one of the last battles in A Dance With Dragons.

Interestingly, many fans believe that Benjicot Blackwood has already appeared in House of the Dragon. In Season 1, one of the young suitors for Rhaenyra seems to be from Raventree Hall. Fans suspect that the child who’s too young for Rhaenyra might be Benjicot Blackwood himself. It would explain why he’d remain a faithful supporter of the Blacks later on. However, there’s a 20-year time jump in Season 1 of House of the Dragon. Benjicot Blackwood wouldn’t have been born during that time. It’s more likely that the child in the show is Benjicot’s father, Samwell Blackwood.

How Does House of the Dragon’s Version of the Battle of the Burning Mill Affect Benjicot Blackwood’s Introduction?

It turns out that the boy who died in the Battle of the Burning Mill isn’t Benjicot Blackwood, but Davos Blackwood. It’s unclear why House of the Dragon chose to invent a brand-new character just to have him killed in the Battle of the Burning Mill. Fans have theorized that Davos is an older brother to Benjicot, and with both Davos and Samwell gone, young Benjicot is forced to become Lord of Raventree Hall at the age of 11. It seems that the minor alteration won’t have a significant impact on future events. Benjicot Blackwood will be one of Rhaenyra’s supporters and fight along with the Blacks throughout the war.

Where Did The Battle of the Burning Mill Leave House Blackwood?

The Battle of the Burning Mill ended on a tragic note with ashes and corpses. Both House Blackwood and House Bracken suffered great losses, with commanders from both armies dead. The biggest loss from House Blackwood is Samwell Blackwood, the Head of House Blackwood, but hundreds of soldiers also died in the battle. The Battle of the Burning Mill leaves House Blackwood vulnerable.

Benjicot Blackwood is left to deal with the aftermath. Undoubtedly, the event would have shaped Benjicot significantly. In Fire & Blood, after winning a battle, he wept as he saw the thousands of dead bodies on the battlefield. It also says that even as a warrior and a great swordsman, Benjicot’s decision to join the Blacks and win wars didn’t come from a place of vengeance, which is why he later on would be the one in charge of keeping peace after the civil war is over.

However, at this point in House of the Dragon, things are just beginning to heat up. There’s no turning back at this point, even though the Battle of Burning Mill had very little to do with the Greens and the Blacks, given that none of the major characters took part in the conflict. Many even debated if the battle would count as the first fight of the civil war. It seems to have more to do with the centuries-old rivalry between House Blackwood and House Bracken tracing back to a time before the Andals.

The Blackwoods and the Brackens have been rivalries for centuries. They rarely needed a reason to kill each other. In Season 1 of House of the Dragon, it appears that young Samwell Blackwood killed Jerrel Bracken to prove himself worthy of young Rhaenyra’s hand in marriage. The lurking backdrop of war gives them a reason to start killing each other in a battle. The stand-off between the Blacks and the Greens has given other houses the opportunity to fully examine their old feuds. A war is coming, and soon no one will remember what started the war in the first place.