Hello, my lords! House of the Dragon’s first season premiered nearly two years ago, and I’m excited to return to Westeros. Retrospectively, the Game of Thrones prequel’s first season was mixed. The tempo was rushed, there were three too many bloody birthing scenes, and the time skips recast performers so fast we scarcely recognised anyone. After seeing season 2’s first episode, those issues are gone.
Over the past two weeks, I recapped House of the Dragon and George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood. I’m an expert on a fantasy realm and its dragon-riding, sibling-marrying royal family. I’m glad season 2’s debut is here—it was worth it. This season will have some of the most stunning TV incidents. Knowing we’re talking about Game of Thrones means you’re in for a treat.
First, a quick recap. Season 2 begins a few days after the season 1 finale, which set up the series. Above all, remember that King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine) is dead. His council plotted to install his grandson Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) on the Iron Throne instead of his daughter Rhaenyra Targaryen. Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), Rhaenyra’s ex-friend and stepmother, thinks Viserys said Aegon’s name before he died. His parting breath implied that he wanted Aegon to succeed Rhaenrya on the Iron Throne. She would preserve her family’s legacy, right or wrong. Rheenyra escapes to Dragonstone and gathers an army to reclaim her reign.
Dragonstone
Season 2 begins with Rhaenya’s son Jacaerys (Harry Collett). He soars north of Winterfell to align with Tom Taylor’s Cregan Stark near the Wall. Starks have returned! Jacaerys supports Rhaenyra’s throne claim despite Cregan’s warning about “Winter is coming”. The Northern soldiers strengthen her army. No time to rejoice, unfortunately. Jacaerys learns that Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) killed her brother Lucerys (Elliot Grihault) in the season 1 finale.
Rhaenyra mourns at Dragonstone. Rhaenys (Eve Best) and her dragon stop Daemon (Matt Smith) from retaliating at King’s Landing. “A raven has told Rhaenyra that her son is dead,” she reiterates. She must know for sure.” Rhaenyra finds Lucerys’ garments and a torn dragon wing on the beach. Daemon is willing to take “a son for a son” despite the danger of vengeance during wartime. He tells Rhaenys that if she had slain Aegon II by crashing his coronation, none of this would have happened He continues, “If you had acted when you had the chance, Aegon’s line would be extinguished.” Agreed! Her arrival at episode 9’s coronation is one of the biggest deviations from the novel, and I cant help but blame her for all that follows.
A naval blockade by Rhaenys and her husband, Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), protects Dragonstone and Driftmark. Corlys, the former Master of Ships and royal fleet commander, opposed the crown. He’s also recovering from an off-screen pirate battle in season 1. We’re meeting Alyn (Abubakar Salim), a crew member who saved him. Since Lucerys became Driftmark’s heir last season, he gives Corlys a sword hilt he commissioned for her before his death. Remember the arc where Corlys’s brother Vaemond (Wil Johnson) questioned Lucerys’s claim and Daemon killed him in front of everyone? That was crazy.
Kings Landing
In contrast, King Aegon II wants to bring his infant son Jaehaerys to a modest council meeting. This episode, we must remember and spend time with little Jaehaerys—wait. “He’ll be king one day,” Aegon II says. Not so sure!
At the meeting, King’s Landing soldiers are counted. The Storm Lands Baratheons, Casterly Rock Lannisters, and Old Town Hand of the King Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) family have all surrendered. As Jaehaerys plays with the large stone marbles each council member holds, the council is distracted. These are what? Are huge marbles required to speak in these meetings? Need more info.
Aegon II is impatient. War is coming, therefore no time to explain the marbles. Despite his desire to ride out and attack Rhaenyra, the council reminds him that the realm cannot risk him leaving King’s Landing. Glynn-Carney is great thus far. One scene tells me he’ll dominate this season like Milly Alcock did in season 1.
Before returning to her room, Alicent talks to Larys Strong (Matthew Needham). No one should talk to this scumbag. He informs Alicent he killed several untrustworthy employees. The heck?!? Later, he suggests the king name him instead of his grandfather as his Hand. Poison! Everyone, stop talking to him. Remove this dude!
Aegon II sits on the throne to hear the people’s pleas. He’s surrounded by jerk knights. (For now, call them the Lads.) This Joffrey-esque ruler isn’t always a tyrant—just most of the time. Despite his grandfather’s constant restrictions, he wishes to help his people. Hugh, a blacksmith, wants extra funding to create their gigantic dragon-killing crossbows as the third commoner. He feels important—he gets good lighting. We may see him again…
House of the Dragon season 2 feels like a huge improvement by now. The story is moving faster, the secondary characters are as interesting as the leads, and a conflict is brewing. No one wants or is ready for this conflict. It’s too late to turn back; horrible horrors await.
Cheese and Blood
Sonoya Mizuno returns as Mysaria. Last season, her plot was as convoluted as her accent. House of the Dragon will try to get rid of both this season. Daemon instructs her to find him two vital idiots using her illegal spy network. She acquires a Kingsguard turncoat and Red Keep rat-catcher for Daemon to surprise and kill Aemond Targaryen. “A son for a son,” he repeats. The books call these nighttime assassins Blood and Cheese. Cheese is a rat-catcher. Bad news. Cheese even kicks a dog to show how evil they are.
After sneaking through the castle’s rat-infested dungeons, the two men encounter Queen Helaena (Phia Saban) and her sleeping children. They kill young Jaehaerys while he sleeps, believing their goal is over. I might add ruthlessly. I’ll be blunt: The head was hacked off. “A son for a son,” Blood repeats. Damn! I imagined House of the Dragon would end season 1 with this moment, but it works better as season 2’s catalyst.
The horrified Queen Helaena flees and finds her mother having sex with Ser Criston Cole (Fabian Frankel). Oh crap! Why haven’t I mentioned this? Alicent and Ser Criston hooked up. This is a huge departure from the source material, but Ser Criston’s character needs the drama. That person swaps sides literally. Imagine his derangement when he discovers Blood and Cheese committed this on his watch. All hell is going to break loose.
Source : Esquire.com