House of the Dragon Season 2 Review

House of the Dragon (2022-)
Season 8 - episodes (2024)

Rent House of the Dragon on Amazon Video (paid link)
Created by: Ryan Condal, George R. R. Martin
Starring: Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Rhys Ifans, Harry Collett, Ewan Mitchell
Rated: TV-MA
Watch the trailer

Plot
House Targaryen faces an internal succession war at the height of its power, two hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones and Daenerys Targaryen.

Verdict
This show has yet to achieve the level of intrigue Game of Thrones did. At the conclusion of this season, it feels like a teaser. We're brought to the brink of war only to get the unstated message to tune in next season to see if anything happens. Without anything resembling resolution or conclusion, even for this chapter, it's difficult not to point to a few episodes and call them filler. I'll watch next season, hoping to see what this season lacked, but this has never been a series where I was eager to tune in every week. If next season is impressive, this season will have set the stage. If next season disappoints, this season offers little.
It depends.

Review
Two years have passed since season one. Here's a quick recap. Without a male heir and after the death of his wife, Viserys controversially names his daughter Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'arcy) to the throne. Rhaenyra's best friend was Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) until Alicent later married Viserys at the scheming of her father, the Hand of the King Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans). Rhaenyra married Laenor Velaryon in a sham wedding to keep up appearances. Ten years and three kids later Rhaenyra's husband leaves and she marries her uncle Daemon (Matt Smith) to strengthen her claim to the throne. Viserys mutters a number of things on his deathbed with Alicent interpreting them to mean her son Aegon II should sit on the throne. Thus ensues Team Green (Alicent Hightower) versus Team Black (Rhaenyra Targaryen). The season one finale ended with one of Alicent's son, Aemond, killing Rhaenyra's son Lucerys while both families were securing allies in the upcoming war.

This hits a lot of the same notes as Game of Thrones. It's more medieval fantasy infighting. It's not a bad show and the production value is certainly impressive, but due to the setting and themes it doesn't feel as fresh as the original series. With Game of Thrones I tuned in to see what happen, with this show I tune in to see if maybe something will happen. Season three has already been confirmed.

Olivia Cooke plays Alicent Hightower

Despite how Game of Thrones ended, there's something about that music. This uses the same theme song. The first episode starts with the Night Watch and The Wall where Jacaerys (Harry Collett ) is recruiting, while Alicent and her son Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) strategize. They aren't very likable with this need to put others down and exert their power. Alicent can't speak any sense to Aegon II. He wants to charge forward and attack, ready for war.

Rhaenyra and family are mourning the death of her son Lucerys. She wants revenge. Daemon pays someone off to do just that and kill Aemond (Ewan Mitchell). His two hires instead kill Aegon's son Jaehaerys. I guessed that would spur some action from a king that's ready to fight. Both team's have dragons and the deciding factor may come down to who acts too impulsively.

In episode two madness sweeps the court after the events of episode one. Team Green reels from the death in the family. Otto Highower (Rhys Ifans) suggests they should have a grand funeral so that the people can see what the imposter to the throne, Rhaenyra, has done. This only strengthens their claim. Otto's never one to let death get in the way of opportunity. He proved that in the first season. Otto thought he'd be in control with his grandson as the king. He underestimated just how thoughtlessly Aegon would act.

Episode 2: Emma D'arcy plays Rhaenyra Targaryen

While there is a family rift between Green and Black, this rift between Rhaenyra and Daemon only spells trouble for the future. She has someone on her team that will continue to undermine her while professing allegiance.

Aegon II is eager for war and Ser Cole presents an idea to overtake Harrenhal, the key to the River Lands. Daemon has the same idea for Team Black and is further along. Is Harrenhal haunted? Daemon's experience seems to indicate it is. I was curious how that fit into the plot. Was it just a way to unpack Daemon's thoughts? Unfortunately, the Harrenhal haunting ultimately feels like filler.

Episode 4

Half way into the season Rhaenyra realizes peace is impossible while Alicent wonders if she was wrong to appoint her son as king. If you wanted a dragon battle, episode four fulfills that wish. We get Rhaenys's, Aemond's, and Aegon's dragons at one location. I find it ridiculous the riders are only singed despite the amount of fire they face, seems like plot armor.

Episode 7: Emma D'arcy plays Rhaenyra Targaryen

Rhaenyra is concerned she won't win the war. They need another dragon rider, but those aren't in great supply. She beseeches anyone that thinks they have Targaryen blood to play the lottery of whether you can ride a dragon. If you lose, it isn't pretty. While a lot of people died hoping to win the royal lottery, Rhaenyra now has additional riders which gives Team Black a boost. Her son questions the method. If any commoner can ride a dragon, does it lessen his claim to the throne?

The season come down to the last episode. There's been a back and forth as to who should be the queen; Rhaenyra or Alicent. Rhaenyra has tried to develop a dragon army with middling success. Alicent realized earlier in the season that her son may not have been promised the throne, but it was too late to undo the war at that point. I didn't expect a victor at the end of this episode, but if not what has this season delivered?
Three additional dragon riders is not enough of a boast to generate a surrender from Team Green. Rhaenyra must strike, but she's hesitant as many innocents will perish in the war. Alicent makes a final plea for Rhaenyra to stop the war. Rhaenyra states she can't. At this point she has to vanquish her foes, and she's not wrong. This season takes us to the brink of war before ending. It's difficult to feel like we were not slighted. Looking back on the season it feels like we got a few filler episodes, especially with Daemon's arc. We see snippets of little fights, the lead up to what would come, but this season is just a teaser for the real battle.