As a long-time fan of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, I have grown accustomed to the intricate political machinations and epic battles that define Westeros. So when House of the Dragon was announced as a prequel, I eagerly anticipated the return of dragons and the complex dynamics of the Targaryen dynasty.
Pondering if House of the Dragon Season 2 Falls Short: Is It a Letdown for You Too?
What happened in the House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6?
Alicent
As I ponder over this section of the article, I’m considering renaming it “Aemond” since Alicent seems to have taken a back seat with minimal actions. The real drama unfolds with her cunning son, Aemond, who skillfully seeks revenge against those who wronged him in the past. For instance, during an intense war council meeting, Alicent is dismissed by her dragon with one eye, and Ser Criston is dispatched to confront Daemon at Harrenhal.
“My uncle is a challenge I welcome,” he snarls.
Later on, Aemond accuses Larys Strong of being a deceitful weasel and even calls him a toad during an heated argument about who should be appointed as the new Hand. Aemond is wise to Larys’ manipulations, but it remains to be seen if he has underestimated his opponent. Similar to Littlefinger, Larys excels in the art of deception and can eliminate his enemies without resorting to physical violence. This becomes evident when Larys visits a weakened Aegon and advises him about Aemond’s treacherous actions. At this moment, Aegon is Larys’ best asset, and he must ensure the young king recovers from his injuries.
It’s either that or Round 3 of Otto Hightower.
In this scene, the Greens have a minimal impact. While Alicent takes her daughter, whose name escapes me, to pray for Aegon at the Scepter, she encounters a threatening mob of hungry commoners. This close encounter with death is a narrow escape for her.
Among the plots in House of the Dragon, the rebellion has the most significant impact, considering today’s political scenario. The people of King’s Landing seem to tolerate a 70-year-old woman killing their friends while fleeing on a dragon. However, they draw the line at living without meat. Rhaenyra and the White Worm fan the flames from a distance by disseminating malicious rumors about the opposition through messengers. In an ingenious move, Rhaenyra sends ships adorned with her emblem to King’s Landing shores, laden with provisions, to win their favor.
Not too shabby.
If not, Alicent prefers tranquil chats with her brother (he’s in a bad place!), ignores Ser Criston, and passes the rest of her screen time mournfully wandering the castle in the same green dress she’s had on for a decade.
Daemon
I’ve been really disappointed with Daemon’s character development on the show lately. He used to be such an intriguing and complex prince, but now, as King Daemon, he’s just a shadow of his former self. His brief appearances have mostly consisted of arguments with Rhaenyra, where she labels him as pathetic, and bizarre dream sequences ending with him waking up in strange places, yelling at Lord Strong, and then collapsing into tearful heap. It’s sad to see such a once captivating character reduced to this pitiful state.
It’s likely that the dream sequences I assumed you were referring to will prove significant later on. However, a few more would have been enough to convey the message. We understand Daemon’s regret for how he treated his brother, but seeing the same scenario repeated multiple times feels unnecessary.
Daemon’s tale can be summarized as an unyielding sense of pride clashing with Rhaenyra’s will. Which of them will back down first is a question that intrigues me.
Rhaenyra
I once again find myself standing before the High Council, my beloved Queen Rhaenyra’s latest audience. But alas, just as before, no progress is made during this assembly of supposedly wise men. Instead, the queen voices her frustration over being denied the right to wield a sword in battle. Her advisors, who dare to treat her with respect befitting a woman, are met with sharp words and scornful glances from Rhaenyra. And in a moment of anger, she even slaps one of her loyal followers for daring to speak his mind too freely.
Based on my understanding of the text and my personal interpretation, I believe that when Aemond disrespects or mistreats his High Council, it is a clear display of unacceptable behavior and arrogance – in other words, he’s an asshole. However, when Rhaenyra exhibits similar actions towards her council, it seems to be more complex than just being an “asshole.”
At the recent gathering, Rhaenyra proposes a solution: Building on last week’s conversation with Jace, she aims to recruit additional dragon riders. However, only those with Targaryen lineage can command the dragons, making finding one on Dragonstone as elusive as spotting a secret agent on a rooftop. Rhaenyra considers Ser Steffon as a candidate for the dragon Seasmoke, but complications ensue in an amusing manner.
At the ceremony, Seasmoke sets Ser Steffon on fire. In response, Ser Steffon tries to put himself out by stopping, dropping, and rolling. However, none of these actions are effective. Essentially, there are just two possible outcomes: either Ser Steffon manages to tame Seasmoke and rides off triumphantly, or Seasmoke consumes Ser Steffon completely. Can you believe no one considered bringing a bucket of water to put out the flames?
Disappointed by the failed outcome of her plans, Rhaenyra surprises us all by choosing an unexpected path. With the White Worm, whom she barely knows and who is quite unlike any other being in my experience, she finds herself drawn into a private moment of intimacy. Amidst the chaos of war raging across the Seven Kingdoms, here’s Rhaenyra taking such a risk. Good heavens, it seems her unconventional choices are exactly what have the High Council up in arms against her.
As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the intricate world of Game of Thrones, I can’t help but feel a sense of disappointment when it comes to the character of Mysaria, the White Worm. Don’t get me wrong, her cunning and deception have certainly earned her a place in the annals of Westeros politics. But after witnessing her rise through the ranks to become a successful brothel owner, I had hoped for more complexity from her character.
Give credit where it’s deserved: her ideas are the sole source of support for Rhaenyra’s campaign, making one ponder why the queen doesn’t dismiss her current staff and completely trust the White Worm instead.
As a seasoned reader of epic fantasies and having delved deep into the world of “House of the Dragon,” I must admit that the latest turn of events has left me utterly intrigued. Anyway, it seems that just as Rhaenyra was about to witness some pivotal moments, a guard burst in with news that Seasmoke had arrived back at Dragonstone, bearing a new rider. The tension was palpable, and the unexpected interruption could only mean one thing: drama was on the horizon.
Who could this be?
Previously, we came across Alyn and Addam from Hull frequently visiting that supposedly unready-to-sail ship. In an unexpected moment during a bathroom break, they revealed a significant piece of information: they are the illegitimate offspring of Corlys. This explains why Alyn keeps his head bald and harbors no intention to work under Corlys during the impending campaign.
Later, Addam explores a beach and comes across Seasmoke. He approaches the trees for cover as the colossal creature appears. The scene unfolds reminiscent of How to Train Your Dragon, with Seasmoke relentlessly pursuing Addam. Just as Addam is about to utter “hiccup,” Seasmoke halts and fixates on him, much like men do when admiring Sydney Sweeney. Although we don’t witness Addam mounting the dragon, it’s evident that he and Alyn possess the necessary skills to represent House Black in aerial combat. Good times indeed!
House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6 thoughts
- There are at least two hundred Targaryen bastards roaming around King’s Landing. Will they join Rhaenyra’s cause and fly atop dragons or make a bid for the throne? Or maybe they’ll lead a quick rebellion and die in obscurity. The show focuses a lot on these wayward souls, so they must come into focus at some point.
- If it’s so hard for women in Westeros, why does it seem like a woman runs every kingdom?
- I’m actively rooting for Aemond. The dude was picked on as a kid, lost his eye, had the balls to ride Vhagar, and is the only character who seems to understand he’s on a Game of Thrones spinoff. Also, he looks cool.
- Please give Alicent something to do. She went from behaving like a petty brat to a bland side character with nothing of interest to say or do. That may be the point, but eliminating her scenes wouldn’t change the show.
- Ser Criston has taken a backseat ever since Rook’s Rest. Has he given up his quest to destroy Rhaenyra after seeing the cost of victory?
- A massive dragon lives near the Eyrie. Interesting.
In the sixth episode of House of the Dragon Season 2, some intriguing details emerged. Unfortunately, these elements were overshadowed by a character-driven storyline that moved sluggishly and featured unengaging characters and lackluster drama. Despite being marketed as a war story, House of the Dragon dedicates an unusual proportion of its screen time to issues surrounding misogyny rather than the intricacies of warfare. While we catch glimpses of military strategies early on, the episodes mostly delve into these social problems instead of exploring the complexities of war.
As a gamer, I can’t help but share my perspective on Rhaenyra’s council and their reasons for disliking her. So far, she hasn’t shown us what a capable leader looks like. From where I stand, she seems to be indecisive, reckless, and struggles with delegating tasks effectively. And let me tell you, the fiery Rhaenyra we saw at the end of Season 1 is just waiting to make an appearance, possibly alongside Dameon. But we’ve got eight episodes left to explore this story, so I guess the writers will be stretching things out as much as they can!
With only two episodes left in this season, will House Green and House Black finally clash in a full-blown war? Or are we in for another tantalizing preview of Season 3? At this point, my interest is unwavering. I’m committed to seeing this through, no matter the outcome. Even if I find myself growing restless, I can’t help but anticipate the thrill of watching dragons engage in battle.
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2024-07-22 15:13