As a long-time fan of George R.R. Martin’s epic saga, I must admit that my heart is torn between the breathtaking world-building and the often frustrating narrative pacing of House of the Dragon Season 2.
At long last, we’ve reached the end of House of the Dragon Season 2, but instead of feeling triumphant, I find myself feeling disappointed more so than pleased. To be honest, the majority of this season has been rather lackluster compared to my expectations.
Frankly, I was taken aback. I thought this episode would have a grand climax, perhaps a fight or an unexpected turn of events. Yet, Episode 8 seemed more like a mid-point episode rather than the season finale. In a series brimming with dragons, armies, and the imminence of war, it’s perhaps fitting that Season 2 concludes with two characters having a heartfelt conversation in a room.
Anyway, let’s discuss what happened or didn’t happen in House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 8.
What happened in the House of the Dragon Season 2 finale?
Team Green
The story begins as Tyland Lannister endeavors to win over the Triarchy. This unexpected turn of events results in a mud wrestling match between our timid lion and a resilient woman named Lohar. Tyland’s determination catches Lohar’s attention, leading her to offer her army for his use. Hurray!
In a less graphic depiction, Aemond destroys the village of Sharp Point, apparently unwilling to include battle scenes in a series centered around conflict. He’s enraged that Rhaenyra won the dragon race, and as a man, he retaliates against innocent civilians to alleviate his frustration. Later, the one-eyed king nearly coerces his sister, the kind Queen Helaena, to ride her dragon alongside him in an assault on Daemon at Harrenhal.
Helaena’s like, nah, I’m good, and Aemond’s like, “Grrrrr, okay.”
These men on the program often behave more like emotional children, lacking self-control when it comes to expressing their emotions. They tend to cry easily in various situations.
In essence, Alicent is fed up with the silliness surrounding her, so she chooses to extricate herself from the predicament she found herself in during Season 1, as she was a significant character back then.
In simpler terms, Larys Strong persuades Aegon to leave the kingdom, as he suspects that Aemond might kill him once he’s fully recovered from his injuries. I find it puzzling why Aemond didn’t eliminate Aegon when he had the opportunity. Instead, he waits until Aegon is healthy. He could have killed or ordered others to kill Aegon at any point over the past few months, and it wouldn’t have raised many eyebrows. After all, everyone knows that Aemond is responsible for the king’s current situation. Eliminating him would likely have met with little opposition since most people didn’t seem to like Aegon.
Oh, here’s how I’d rephrase it: “Slipping past King’s Landing’s weak defenses like a breeze, Larys Strong and I make our way towards the troublemakers in Bravos. Can’t wait to see what next year holds for us on this epic journey with Strong!”
In a brief moment, Ser Criston Cole makes an appearance, uttering what seems like nonsensical remarks about men’s inherent wickedness, as he clings to Alicent’s handkerchief. I appreciate your insightful thoughts, Criston.
Team Black
Rhaenyra controls a horde of dragons! Hurray! However, she’s steadfastly against war. Boo! She grapples with her recently promoted dragon riders, the humble Hammer and the unruly Ulf. The former seems more like a seasoned warrior, but the latter acts as if he’d consumed too much candy and is surprised when his superiors order him to behave like a mature adult. It’s clear that the less fortunate residents of King’s Landing know better than to place their feet on the Queen’s table or embrace the prince. Does Ulf have to embody Will Ferrell’s Elf character to illustrate how ill-prepared he is for battle?
Instead of charging when Corlys advises, I prefer to hold my ground, Rhaenyra replies.
We know where this is going, HBO. Get on with it!
In the sequence of events, Corlys unknowingly greets his illegitimate child, Alyn, which leads to a harsh reprimand, suggesting his shortcomings as a father. However, one might question if Corlys has any commendable actions in this series.
At Harrenhal, Daemon grapples with the decision of supporting Rhaenyra or seizing King’s Landing for his own rule. Audiences might remember the countless visions he encountered during the season, none of which convinced him to pledge allegiance.
Alys Rivers, a resident witch in our town, swiftly reveals to him seasons 1 through 6 of Game of Thrones. He catches glimpses of Daenerys, the White Walkers, and various scenes, but thankfully misses out on the grim ending. This glimpse is enough to persuade him to join forces with Rhaenyra, leaving us puzzled as to why the spirits of Harrenhal subjected us to endless, seemingly senseless dream sequences instead of just showing us this compelling footage.
Initially, Daemon realizes Rhaenyra’s significance and discards his personal desires to support her instead. This leaves the Queen Consolidated astonished as she encounters a repentant uncle/spouse ready to pledge his loyalty. She pardons him – his vast army undeniably playing a role in this – but neglects to recognize that he, in truth, prefers female companionship now. To be honest, he would likely appreciate this change.
Hey there, I’ve got my gaming gear ready. My allies and I are all set. Rhaenyra’s dragons are on standby. Aemond seems to have some hidden cards up his sleeve. With just ten minutes left in this episode, I can feel the tension building. It’s about time for an exhilarating showdown!
Ah, look at that! Rhaenyra is called downstairs and finds Alicent unexpectedly in her sitting room. For the next ten minutes, they have a detailed chat, which seems more like a recap of the series. Then, Alicent discloses a shocking piece of news: Aemond is heading towards the Riverlands, leaving King’s Landing exposed. She hints that she will instruct the guards to relinquish their arms, allowing “The Pretender” to seize the throne without resorting to violence. (Not cool!) As a condition, she wants to depart with Helaena and live peacefully elsewhere. Moreover, she expects Rhaenyra to put an end to this senseless war.
Instead of saying “Rhaenyra’s like, nah, I want Aegon’s head,” you could rephrase it as “Rhaenyra firmly demands Aegon’s head.” And instead of “A son for a son,” she says, likely having just watched Avatar: The Way of Water” you could say “She calls out for an eye for an eye retribution.” Lastly, “Alicent must put her money where her mouth is and make the sacrifice” could be rephrased as “Alicent needs to follow through with her words and make a difficult decision.”
Sure, she says.
As a die-hard fan of the show, I must admit that this season finale was a bit of a letdown for me. Having invested countless hours following the storylines and character development over the past two years, I found myself yearning for more action and less dialogue in this episode. My life experience has taught me to appreciate a well-balanced mix of action and conversation, but it seems that Season 2 of Rook’s Rest veered too far towards the latter.
Despite that, I’m inclined to believe the creators might postpone the violent scenes for as long as they can, aiming to extend the series to anywhere between six, seven, or even eight seasons. At times like this, I find myself growing weary of television.
Additionally, scenes arise where Lady Rhaena is seen pursuing a dragon close to the Eyrie. One might wonder if she was running tirelessly in her gown for extended periods.
House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 8 thoughts
Alrighty, that’s wrapping up House of the Dragon Season 2, and oh boy, if only I could have marathoned through it all in one go! As it went down, I must say it fell short of my expectations, particularly given the long wait we endured. Don’t get me wrong; I can handle a dash of filler here and there. But Season 2 seemed more like a series of filler episodes, with just enough essential character development scattered about.
Instead of watching Game of Thrones for grand CGI battles, I’m more interested in the political intrigue, compelling character development, and thought-provoking drama with unexpected twists and turns. Despite its eloquent dialogue and richly developed characters, House of the Dragon Season 2 seemed like an extended build-up to a battle that hasn’t happened yet.
It’s acceptable if the hidden conflicts turned out to be significant, but Rhaenyra’s repeated calls for peace became repetitive, along with Alicent’s constant melancholy and Daemon’s continual involvement in otherworldly matters. Aemond remained mostly on the sidelines, Corlys failed to make any progress, and Criston transitioned from a pitiful ex-lover to a slightly less pathetic one who no longer holds any convictions. Characters like Jace were barely utilized, while a storyline about the people of King’s Landing rebelling against their leaders appears to have been dropped completely.
In short, this storyline did not require an eight-episode arc.
In a favorable aspect, the acting was exceptional, with Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, and Matt Smith delivering stellar performances in their assigned roles. The production values were equally commendable, particularly the dragons, which seemed incredibly realistic, reflecting a substantial budget throughout. The dialogue was well-written too, rarely causing a cringe or awkward expository moment. Despite its narrative shortcomings, House of the Dragon stands out from many shows in terms of production quality – it truly feels like being immersed in Westeros.
Absolutely, I’ll catch Season 3. Frankly, I’ve grown so engrossed in the narrative, personalities, and cosmos of this show that abandoning it now seems unimaginable. The journey through Season 2 felt like a challenging hike up a steep mountain. Fingers crossed, Season 3 will crest that peak and deliver the climactic reward I’ve been waiting for. Despite my doubts being tested, I remain hopeful.
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2024-08-05 15:12