As a lifelong fan of the Targaryen dynasty and a proud citizen of Old Valyria, I’ve long awaited the return of House of the Dragon to our screens. Yet, after five episodes, I can’t help but feel underwhelmed by this season.
Hello again, House of the Dragon viewers, let’s delve into the events of Season 2 Episode 5 in our recap. I regret not being able to provide a recap last week due to unavoidable family obligations. Sadly, I missed some thrilling television in the final 15 minutes. The remainder of the episode mainly featured characters planning at tables, while Rhaenyra and Alicent, the instigators of this conflict, looked on with shocked disbelief.
After five episodes, it’s only Aemond who seems genuinely engaged in the “Game of Thrones,” skillfully laying a trap for his brother, King Aegon. Surprisingly, though, he spares the young monarch’s life instead of eliminating him like King Joffrey would have done without hesitation.
Did Aemond fear that Criston Cole would betray him? It seems unnecessary for Aemond to plan and carry out such a complex ambush, only to back down just before succeeding. Triumph was within your reach, Aemond.
Pay tribute to the Unseen Queen: She made a grand exit. But I have doubts about those who believe it’s sensible for an elderly grandmother to join a decisive battle. And why didn’t she simply retreat when things went south? Rhaenys acknowledged her inability to defeat Vhagar, yet chose to act impulsively and meet her demise with a fatal leap. As the wise saying goes, “He who fights and flees can live to fight another day.”
From my gaming perspective, House of the Dragon’s second season seems to deviate from the complex narrative of the last seasons of Game of Thrones, which I previously enjoyed for their thought-provoking plot twists despite the occasional lapses into extravagant but senseless spectacle. In contrast, the initial season of HOD introduced captivating and authentic characters whose reckless actions unwittingly ignited conflict. However, this current season appears to shy away from the gritty realities, opting instead for a more conventional fantasy series. With dragons in tow!
God, I miss Littlefinger.
In Episode 5 of this season, the writers have shifted the dynamic between Rhaenyra and Alicent from fierce rivals vying for power over the Iron Throne to more subdued figures, grappling with the issue of workplace misogyny instead.
Anyway, let’s get to it.
What happened in the House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 5?
Alicent
In the opening scene of the episode, I find myself right there in King’s Landing, witnessing Criston Cole from House Green leading the head of Rhaenyra’s dragon through the bustling streets. The crowd, made up of commoners, puts on quite the show, overacting with disdain and disapproval to make their feelings clear. Amidst it all, Criston looks exasperated, muttering under his breath, “Good grief, what more do I need to do to earn some respect around here?”
Criston’s wagon trails a perplexing chest with the preserved remains of late King Aegon. However, hold on a moment; contrary to that assumption, the child is in fact alive, but he bears an uncanny resemblance to Anakin these days.
The Maesters laboriously remove fused armor from the burnt skin of the boy, an agonizing process that leaves Alicent looking on in shock and dismay. This scene takes up approximately 12 minutes of the production.
Afterward, Alicent goes before the High Council for a discussion. She expresses a significant worry: “Aegon isn’t well enough to rule yet,” she explains. “I put forth my name as an interim solution.”
The men exchange uncomfortable glances, rotating turns. They all desire Aemond. Notably, even loyal Larys Strong aligns with the council on this matter. “And what about you, Ser Criston?” they ask.
Criston grapples with a significant dilemma: should he prioritize his duties for the Realm or devote more attention to his personal relationships? He hesitates, adding, “Aemond is the one who comes after me in the line of succession.”
Aemond scoffs at the head of the table and gives instructions: shut the gates, no one can enter or exit King’s Landing now, and get rid of those pesky ratcatchers right away.
After being questioned by Alicent regarding his recent choice, Criston recounts the gruesome scenes from the previous week’s battle – men engulfed in flames, fire all around. “We have handed over the war to the dragons,” he clarifies. “A rider of dragons ought to command us.”
“What we have to do now is terrible,” he continues, speaking no lies. “Will you preside over it?”
As a passionate fan of this show, I can’t help but wonder about Alicent’s role in the story beyond aimlessly wandering around the castle. Where is the fiery, headstrong young woman from the early seasons who tried to assassinate Rhaenyra and ignited the infamous Dance of Dragons? So far this season, she has yet to make any significant strides or embark on a noticeable character development journey. Instead, she seems to be portrayed as a hapless victim.
* Didn’t she essentially arrange for Harwin Strong’s death?
Daemon
After five episodes in Season 5, Daemon has failed to make any significant progress. Previously, he had announced his intentions to restore Harrenhal, recruit an army, and seize King’s Landing. However, this week, he’s continued working on Harrenhal’s reconstruction, is still searching for an army, and is preoccupied with odd dreams.
His grip on sanity seems to be weakening, understandably so after such a disturbing and unsettling nightmare involving his deceased mother.
The daemon character is expected to have a significant role this season. However, spending most of the time observing from the sidelines in an otherwise lackluster plot doesn’t do justice to the character.
Rhaenyra
In simpler terms, Rhaenyra often uses her episode time to challenge her exclusively male advisors. This scenario has been repeated frequently throughout the season. Her male colleagues reprimand her for inaction, and she responds with criticism of her own. Eventually, they all take a break for lunch without making any progress. The reason behind their lack of faith in Rhaenyra’s military decision-making abilities is due to her being a woman.
“Women haven’t been involved in the planning or carrying out of military tactics,” Alfred explains, trying to avoid coming off as disparaging.
Rhaenyra is the first woman to assert her right to rule the throne. She understood that shattering this long-standing barrier would bring about some controversy. The outcome remains uncertain. Rather than fueling doubt towards Rhaenyra’s leadership skills, the authors chose to criticize Ser Alfred harshly. He lacks battle experience, just like Rhaenyra. So, why should we listen to him? Take a seat, Sir, and keep quiet.
A short while later, she expresses her dissatisfaction that her role as queen impedes her ability to engage in actions. Desiring to seize the throne of King’s Landing for herself, she proposes the idea. However, the council refuses, asserting that her significance to their cause outweighs this personal ambition.
“What do you want me to do?” she demands impulsively, momentarily overlooking her recent perilous trip to King’s Landing.
An alternative expression for “Rhaenyra’s council brings nothing to the table” could be “Rhaenyra’s council offers no valuable input.” Instead, she seeks guidance from an unlikely source, the White Worm, and devises a scheme to stir unrest among the commoners of King’s Landing against their rulers through underhanded methods.
After some reflection, Rhaenyra realizes that she requires Daemon’s assistance and dispatches Ser Alfred to Harrenhal on a diplomatic mission. Upon arriving, Alfred inquires if there’s a specific message I should convey. I can’t help but imagine Rhaenyra leaning towards Alfred for a kiss, but instead, she instructs him to inform Daemon that she wishes to conclude our last conversation. You remember, the one where I labeled him pathetic. I guess wishing him well after that comment was never on the table.
Ultimately, she wants to know who Daemon fights for — himself or her?
Jace grows weary of exploring Dragonstone and instead chooses to pay a visit to the Freys at their stronghold, The Twins. There, he partakes in a pleasant meal, an unusual one being held in the center of a bridge. In exchange, he secures Harrenhal as his reward by bending the knee.
Nothing bad ever happens when dealing with the Freys, amirite?
Our young Targaryen returns to his mother with exciting news, only to find her in a foul mood. Once more, she expresses her frustration over her powerlessness, mirroring Aegon’s rashness from the previous week. “I have two dragons,” she laments, “but no one to ride them.”
Jace proposes a straightforward remedy: place non-Targaryens on the dragons instead. The Targaryen bloodline is complicated. Fortunately, there are numerous others residing in Westeros under various aliases. All they need to do is locate them.
As the camera pulls back, a vast mound of scrolls and books comes into view. I feel sorry for those unfortunate souls tasked with dealing with such an immense amount of literature.
And that’s it, that’s the end of the episode.
Other Notes
- We briefly return to the Eyrie when Rhaena arrives to deal with Lady Arryn. Once again, we are told this fortress is impenetrable, except by air. Will the apparent foreshadowing pay off this time?
- More time is spent with Hugh Hammer, whose daughter is sick. This war is impacting the common folk. Hammer’s wife says they must leave the city before running out of food. Naturally, they arrive at the gates right as Aemond orders them shut. Methinks the man will fly a dragon against House Green. All together, it’s Hammer Time.
- Corlys continues to do nothing. Hopefully, that goddamned ship is finally built.
- What happened to Larys? The dude was on his way to becoming a legend but has since morphed into a background extra.
House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 5 thoughts
I’ve been feeling quite disappointed with this current season of my favorite show. It’s just not hitting the mark for me. Each episode feels like a repetition of the same old scenes, and the story isn’t moving forward at a satisfying pace. The main characters seem flat and uninteresting to me. Plus, everyone keeps mentioning this impending war, but we never actually get to see it unfold. Instead, conversations constantly revolve around speculation about who will fight for whom. As someone who’s been a dedicated fan for years, I can’t help but feel let down by the lack of depth and substance in this season.
As a long-time fan of Game of Thrones, I must admit that the recent finale left me feeling somewhat underwhelmed. The intrigue and cunning deception that once made the show so entertaining seemed to be missing. Don’t get me wrong, there were still some great moments, but it just didn’t hold a candle to the colorful characters and crafty banter we’ve come to know and love.
Although it pains me to admit this, despite my deep affection for Season 1 and the captivating aesthetic of Season 2, something essential is lacking for me. The production quality and acting are exceptional, yet I find myself unengaged and even feeling bored. The Hammer family plotline holds my interest, but mainly because of the mystery surrounding its destination—it’s the most relatable aspect for me.
In the world of Game of Thrones, several interconnected narratives unfolded at once. Some plots demanded more perseverance, while others provided smaller rewards along the way. Yet none of them became tedious, especially during the first few seasons. The characters of Rhaenyra (at Dragonstone), Alicent (in King’s Landing), and Daemon (at Harrenhal) each displayed their share of distress. None of these figures were developing into significantly improved or worsened versions of themselves.
In the end, the first five episodes haven’t given us enough value to justify investing so many hours watching TV. House of Cards overextends a rather limited concept, making a laborious eight-hour experience instead of a more satisfactory four or five hours.
Alas, that’s TV.
As an old Maester with years of studying history and observing the world of Westeros, I’ve come to believe that we are nearing the climax of this long and arduous journey we’ve been on for the past few episodes. The pieces seem to be falling into place, setting up what I assume will be an epic conclusion.
From my perspective as a devoted fan, Rhaenyra’s hesitancy seems to come back and haunt her at certain moments in the story. However, it’s essential to consider if the authors intend for her caution to be portrayed as a significant mistake or an admirable characteristic. Only time and further reading will reveal the answer.
Ok, enough complaining from me, at least until next week!
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2024-07-15 18:41