The drums of war sound (again) in the House of the Dragon season 2 finale

The drums of war sound (again) in the House of the Dragon season 2 finale

As a seasoned fan with years of watching Game of Thrones and its prequel House of the Dragon under my belt, I must say that the season 2 finale left me feeling like I’d just been served a lukewarm ale at an overpriced tavern in King’s Landing.


As a dedicated fan, I found myself yearning for more after the season 2 finale of House of the Dragon, titled “The Queen Who Ever Was.” In many ways, it evoked the same feelings as the season opener – an eagerness for more content. However, much like the intricate chess pieces being moved on a board, I’ve found myself growing weary of this pattern.

In the previous season, tension reached its peak as Aegon claimed the throne and Rhaenys flew off with her dragon to warn Rhaenyra about the deceitful moves by the Greens for her position. Tragically, Luke met his untimely end at the hands of his uncle Aemond, setting off a chain reaction. The anticipation for the second season was palpable, as everyone waited to see how Rhaenyra’s grief and fury would unfold. There was an underlying sense of immediacy and impending vengeance in the air.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but admire how “The Queen Who Ever Was” galvanizes us all, setting events in motion that significantly impact both sides’ strategies throughout the season. It feels like every action they’ve taken so far is being tested and potentially amplified or undermined.

As a seasoned moviegoer who has seen my fair share of thrillers, I must say that this film was rather underwhelming. It seemed as if the narrative led us down a winding path, only to arrive at an anticlimactic moment that failed to deliver on its promise. The build-up throughout the story, with the protagonist’s hallucinations and HGTV-esque home renovation project, had me hooked, but in the end, it felt like a wasted effort. We invested so much time following his journey, and the payoff just wasn’t there. It’s unfortunate that the film didn’t live up to its potential.

At Dragonstone, Alicent also reconciled with Rhaenyra, admitting her errors and realizing she had misunderstood Viserys’ final words. Instead of Alicent being a passive observer, she made conscious choices that led to confrontations with Rhaenyra. This included accepting the repercussions of her decisions, one of which was sacrificing Aegon’s life for Rhaenyra to claim the throne.

Alicent aimed for a safe journey for herself and Helaena, which she would achieve by providing Rhaenyra with an advantage that could help her win the war without much bloodshed. However, this scheme might fail since Aegon has escaped King’s Landing with Larys Strong, and things are bound to get complicated. Moreover, Tyland Lannister has managed to enlist the Triarchy in the Greens’ campaign, which means trouble for Corlys Velaryon. Lastly, Rhaenyra may have new dragonriders from the common folk, but they’re still inexperienced.

In the final episode of season 2 for “House of the Dragon,” several significant events unfolded, including glimpses into Daenerys’ storyline, Helaena foretelling Aemond’s fate, Aegon’s coronation as king, and an ambiguous ending regarding Rhaena and her dragon expedition. However, “The Queen Who Ever Was” seemed more like a prelude to the climax, leading some viewers to feel that it might have been the penultimate episode instead. I believe that if this had been the case, many people’s opinions – including my own – would have been significantly different.

There are only so many instances where a series can conclude with war looming on the horizon, especially when viewers anticipated that this season would showcase the war itself. Indeed, Season 2 delivered captivating dragon performances and an epic battle, but they served as a prelude to what’s yet to unfold. The majority of the season focused on the psychological, intellectual, and strategic aspects of warfare, which are crucial elements, undeniably. However, the anticipation for the actual war has been palpable throughout the season, and unfortunately, we’re in for more waiting. The Battle of the Gullet is on the horizon, but it seems that we won’t witness it until at least 2026.

To be honest, unlike how I felt when the season 1 finale was released, I’m not on the edge of my seat in anticipation. This season didn’t really spark the excitement within me that it should have. Fingers crossed that season 3 will be more compelling overall, but unfortunately, the second season of House of the Dragon fell short for me.

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2024-08-05 17:53