Chris Connor reviews the first episode of House of the Dragon season 2…
House of the Dragon’s first season proved a winning return to Westeros, some years before the events of Game of Thrones, cleansing the poor taste many felt towards the ending of the original show. Telling a tighter, more family driven story, it focused on an escalating all out war between supporters of Alicent Hightower and Rhaenyra Targaryen. It told the story of their initial friendship turning into hatred and lust for the iron throne. Season two picks up in the immediate aftermath of the first season, following the death of Paddy Considine’s Viserys Targareyn and Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys.
The opening episode should quell any worries fans might have about a dip in quality for the show’s sophomore season. We open with the Night’s Watch and an ancestor of the Starks being drawn into the conflict. While only a brief sequence it brings additional forces into play with so much of the first season solely taking place within the confines of King’s Landing and darkened rooms, it is refreshing to see more of Westeros at this earlier stage in its history. We will no doubt see more of the Starks and indeed the other prominent houses throughout the course of this season as the conflict escalates.
While the first season took place over a number of years, it appears the scope is narrower here with it picking up in the immediate aftermath, lending events urgency as Rhaenyra and Daemon (Matt Smith), plot revenge for their loss. Without much actual action, the show continues to do a good job of making the machinations of war and politics fully engrossing as all sides plot to keep/take the Iron Throne. It’s clear neither side is fully on top and it is setting up some no doubt thrilling sequences later on in the season.
The performances keep us invested with a perhaps surprisingly small role for Emma D’arcy stealing every second she is on screen, raw with grief, while the ever scheming Daemon plots his revenge, Olivia Cooke meanwhile continues to impress as Alicent trying to retain control over her family who are becoming overly comfortable with the power at their disposal. Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower also continues to be one of the most intriguing elements in the show. As the canvas expands the shows ensemble will no doubt become larger but one of the strongest elements it has in its favour at present is the investment in these characters as we are able to spend more time than we did with the disparate heroes and villains in Game of Thrones.
‘A Son for a Son’ starts House of the Dragon’s second season on the right foot as the pieces move into place for an escalating conflict and we get a sense of the depths both sides will sink to in an effort to win. It may not have the scale of Game of Thrones but the performances and tighter nature work in its favour as it continues to be a worthy successor.
Chris Connor
Originally published June 17, 2024. Updated June 20, 2024.
