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Lead Critic for the site, as well as serving as an editor when needed.
Following last week’s dragon claiming and army raising, HBO’s House of the Dragon concludes its second season on a typical note, as audiences will now lay in waiting for what will come at the beginning of Season 3.
“The Queen Who Ever Was” is written by series executive producer Sara Hess (Deadwood, House, Orange Is the New Black) and directed by the finale’s co-executive producer Geeta Vasant Patel (Superstore, Marvel/Hulu’s Runaways, Disney+’s Ahsoka).
In the season finale, the Green Council’s Master of Ships Lord Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall) travels to Essos to ally with the Triarchy. In an odd showing, he mud-wrestles Admiral Sharako Lohar (Abigail Thorn) and wins, thus securing more ships and men for the Greens. The whole sequence feels like a placeholder more than anything. The writers seemed to want to build anticipation for the next major event of the war, The Battle of the Gullet. With how the finale ends, this is presumably what will be seen during the Season 3 premiere.
Meanwhile, Queen Rhaenyra I Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and her dragon Syrax confront King Consort Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) over his actions in Harrenhal. In Dragonstone, Prince Jacaerys “Jace” Velaryon (Harry Collett) attempts to keep the new teammates from growing too arrogant. Likewise in King’s Landing, Queen Dowager Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) tries to keep the peace, to no avail.
Regret
Several of the HBO series’ major characters are really dealing with their regret now. That seems to be a major theme in the final moments of Season 2. Hand of the Queen Lord Corlys “The Sea Snake” Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) reinforces the Queen’s claim and his navy’s allegiance in a great scene between the two. Later, he speaks with his younger bastard son, Alyn of Hull (Abubakar Salim). Corlys expresses a half-handed apology for never having anything to do with the two until now. Alyn quickly, and even sternly, like a father would, rebuffs Corlys and makes it clear he wants to continue his current course, with no help.
The simple juxtaposition of their relationship at this moment is kind of telling for their whole dynamic. It also reminds the audience how bastards can oftentimes be extremely important within the stories of this world. In fact, many of Rhaenyra’s most powerful soldiers are bastards.
The Targaryens
Prince Regent Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) seems to suffer a bit of a psychological break and burns the town of Sharp Point down atop his she-dragon Vhagar. It’s as if he regrets his own status of being a second son, except now he finally has the power he has always wanted. He is even willing to rule over a kingdom of ashes.
Aemond attempts to order his sister, Queen Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban) to ride with him into war, atop her dragon Dreamfyre. In a harrowing moment, Alicent has to defend Helaena from him. Later on, he manages to ask again, but threatens that he could have her killed. Being that she is some form of a Seer, she mentions that she saw him burn their older brother, King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney). She even predicts his death in the God’s Eye, stating simply that killing her will not change what is already decided. Aemond is really losing it at this point.
The Hightowers
Towards the episode’s final moments, arguably having suffered the most regret of the entire show, Alicent sneaks onto Dragonstone. She essentially pleads for mercy with Rhaenyra, trying to save herself and Helaena. She boldly predicts surrender for her and an easy march on King’s Landing for Rhaenyra. However, to ensure a smooth transition, Aegon must die as well, and Alicent seemingly chooses general peace instead of allowing her demented sons to live. Whether this is even done or not, Alicent’s sneaking onto Dragonstone reinforces her immense regret and guilt, clinging to a desperate ideal of a friendship, which is now long gone. Alicent’s actions are unquestionably sad at this point.
Ser Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox) challenges Lord Commander Ser Criston Cole (Fabian Frankel). They, too, both seemingly express their own regret and guilt. Gwayne finally sees Criston for how challenged he is internally. Criston expresses that “the dragons dance, and men are like dust under their feet… march[ing] toward our annihilation.” It is such a drastic turn for Cole, and to see him accept his actions for once is great. He clung to a weird ideal of love, which turned more into desire and obsession for both Rhaenyra and then Alicent. At least for him, death could be a relief, as he even remarks to Gwayne. Gwayne also seemingly sees where this war will end for many: in dragonfire, or by the sword. Gwayne almost begins to see things on the same level as Cole.
More of the Same
In a scene between Jace and his cousin, Lady Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia), the latter simply reminds him of their royal importance and uniqueness. Baela rides Moondancer and doesn’t seem to mind the actions of Rhaenyra. Jace continues to feel slighted and unenthusiastic about Ulf the White (Tom Bennett), Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew), and Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty) now being dragonriders for the Blacks. Ulf also demonstrates much impotence about his status and begins to show his true colors. As a character, Ulf is quite a comedic relief but also annoying in his actions towards the royals. However, while he is on Team Black for now, it will be interesting to see whether some of the new dragonriders become turncoats. Overall, the dynamic of these things will be an interesting internal subplot for the Blacks next season.
Harrenhal
Meanwhile, in Harrenhal, Daemon is shown the prophecy of Aegon the Conqueror by Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin). As it goes, Aegon called his dream the Song of Ice and Fire. This predicts a vast Long Night and Winter. The Night King and his undead White Walkers will rule over all the world. Only a Targaryen King or Queen can unite the realm and stop it. That is really what it is all about. Aegon had his dream inscribed on the Catspaw dagger, which passes to each King.
Daemon realizes that he is but a small part of the story. He sees a vision of the Night King and Daenerys Targaryen with her three dragons, two of which eventually die. (These are some of the events that take place during Game of Thrones 200 years after House of the Dragon.) He also sees Rhaenyra sitting on the Iron Throne, realizing that Daenerys is descended from their line. Daemon also sees his death with Caraxes atop the God’s Eye.
Ser Simon Strong (Simon Russell Beale) alerts Rhaenyra to Ser Alfred Broome (Jamie Kenna) and Daemon’s short conversation about treachery. This leads her to show up at Harrenhal with Addam and their two dragons. Strong is enthusiastic about the show of force, and Daemon quickly bends the knee to remind the Queen of his fealty. Somehow, due to the strangeness of Harrenhal, he accepts Viserys’s decision of naming Rhaenyra heir rather than him. As odd as it may have been, it is nice to see him finally accept the cold hard truth. He also reminds his army of their strength in their leader, while Alfred can be seen running away, almost pathetically. The best part of this sequence is realizing the challenge that the Blacks face against the Greens.
The Vale
Meanwhile, in the Vale, Lady Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell) has now completely forgotten about her original task, in favor of tracking the wild dragon there. It’s great to see her potentially gain a dragon, although that is yet to be known. She can be seen facing off with the dragon, presumably Sheepstealer. However, the next season will truly reveal Rhaena’s fate as she is never seen mounting it. As she is the only adult Targaryen without a dragon, she will make an even more valuable member of the Blacks having claimed one.
Technical Details
The entirety of this second season has featured some amazing shots of dragons particularly. The battle sequences are epic all on their own. In the finale, Hess’s screenwriting is quite typical of season finales for the Game of Thrones universe. Many season finales are built towards what would happen at the beginning of the next season. On that note, this is exactly how this finale ends. Aegon is smuggled out of King’s Landing, and the armies of Westeros prepare for war. The final moments of this episode also granted a look at Prince Daeron Targaryen’s she-dragon Tessarion, the Blue Queen. Overall, each dragon is epic to look at on their own.
Patel’s direction in “The Queen Who Ever Was” features a great one-take sequence of Daemon inspecting his army throughout Harrenhal. The direction throughout this season of House of the Dragon has been some of the best fantasy direction lately. The characters and their actions are even further amplified on the screen due to the directors in Season 2. Production designer Jim Clay’s set pieces are superb as well. Next to that, the visual effects of the dragons feel as real as possible. None of the details on this show feel lazy and half-handed.
Final Thoughts on HBO’s House of the Dragon Season 2
Over the entirety of Season 2, the dynamics of power between nearly everyone has changed into the finale. As it has been all season, the wheels are in motion for all-out war as the story progresses. Some highlights of this second season: the Battle of Rook’s Rest in Episode 4, Rhaenyra sending food to the people of King’s Landing in Episode 6, the claiming of Vermithor and Silverwing in Episode 7, and the final preparations for total war here in the finale. There has also been great thematic material at play, as is usual for a Game of Thrones series. Moreover, it was nothing short of amazing to see each army prepare for the inevitable battles to come.
The ideals of grief and regret should be long gone as House of the Dragon Season 3 begins. It will nonetheless be extremely interesting to see where the characters begin the next phase of the story there, with a presumable release date of somewhere in 2026. In 2025, however, the next spin-off releases, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, based on George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg. It will focus on Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg, who becomes King Aegon V Targaryen, nicknamed “Aegon the Unlikely.” These events are set about 100 years before Game of Thrones.
4.5/5 stars for Season 2.
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Lead Critic for the site, as well as serving as an editor when needed.
This article was edited by John Tangalin.