Chris Connor reviews the third episode of House of the Dragon season 2…
The third episode of House of the Dragon’s second season enlarges the chess board considerably as we venture into the wider world of Westeros, with the prospect of an all out conflict growing ever more likely by the second. While the first season was largely contained to King’s Landing and Dragonstone, here we see how the rivalry between the greens and blacks affects wider communities. Opening with a dispute between the Brackens and Blackwood’s that escalates quickly into a bloodbath sews the seeds of the brewing conflict and how it will split communities.
The war council elements on both sides and the importance of managing the alliance of smaller and larger houses echo Game of Thrones perhaps more than House of the Dragon has previously. It never feels simply like a rip off however with the political motivations of all sides of course different to how we find them in the original series. There may not be a red wedding moment yet but there is a thrill in seeing how all sides look to shore up their position with a vulnerability to both.
We get a real sense from Alicent and Rhaenyra that they desire to prevent an escalating from breaking out. Their advisors meanwhile look to shore up their alliances in key regions such as the Riverlands and Harrenhal, both key areas in George RR Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels and Game of Thrones.
New additions to the series, Freddie Fox as Gwayne Hightower and Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong, add gravitas and class. In truth this episode is one of the most humour filled in the show to date, perhaps a surprise. Scenes between Matt Smith’s Daemon and Ser Simon are particularly enjoyable with Smith on his usual scenery chewing form. Emma D’arcy and Olivia Cooke also continue to stand out with Alicent losing her grip over the crown while Rhaenyra looks to reclaim it.
House of the Dragon’s second season continues to expand its scale with more and more of Westeros featuring as the series progresses and we move towards an inevitable all out conflict. Again there are clever parallels between the black and green forces as both cast their gaze to similar territories. Without spoiling the intimate plot details there are some sequences here sure to delight fans and tantalisingly setting up where we are headed next. With no side holding a trump card like Daenerys in the original series, it is unclear who will come out on top at this stage, and there are no doubt twists and turns aplenty to follow as the tensions continue to rise.
Chris Connor
Originally published July 1, 2024. Updated July 3, 2024.
