Chris Connor reviews the second episode of House of the Dragon season 2…
House of the Dragon’s sophomore season opening proved the show had lost none of its bite since its highly successful first season. Episode two immediately ups the ante with both sides reeling from the loss of heirs, particularly fresh is the loss of King Aegon and Helaena’s son Jaehaerys in retribution for the events in season on. It is this retaliation that seems set to escalate proceedings with Aegon seeking blood of his own.
What makes this episode compelling as is often the case in the world of Westeros is how family dynamics and intrigue factor into the wider picture. Daemon and Rhaenyra are at odds with another about the next course of action and Daemon’s true motives, does he seek the throne for himself or is he as faithful to his wife as he claims. Meanwhile the Queen Alicent and her father Ser Otto Hightower struggle to keep control of proceedings with Ser Otto stripped of his role as hand to the king and replaced by Ser Criston Cole who continues his relationship with the Queen.
Showing how internally fraught relations are on both sides of the divide reminds us that neither side has the upper hand and for all their differences, they are constrained by the same family dynamics and the hot-headedness of youth vs the wisdom of experience.
Cleverly we see how both sides of the conflict are viewed by the folk in King’s Landing as there is a shortage of food and innocent men have been blamed for the king’s loss. This serves as a reminder that neither side can claim the moral high ground with both having committed their share of atrocities.
While much of the action is behind closed doors and internal politics, we are treated to some exhilarating action towards the tail end, reminding us how effective this show and its predecessor are in terms of staging and using set pieces to move the plot along. If brief this is a highly impactful sequence.
This is another strong episode that builds on the platform the opening episode laid with some particularly impressive work from Rhys Ifans, Olivia Cooke and Emma D’Arcy and Matt Smith showing why they are such fan favourites. The familial dynamics are hard to look away from and the tighter focus of the season is reaping rewards with each event, laying the groundwork for an escalating conflict that is slowly brewing in the background.
Chris Connor
Originally published June 24, 2024. Updated June 26, 2024.
