Courtesy of HBO
After last week's House of the Dragon fantastic premiere, the show looks to continue its success with episode 2. Before we get into this episode, I want to say how great it is to have a show like this on television again. Appointment television is finally back. The show gives the audience a sense of community because everyone has been talking about it on social media as the episode airs. The last show to gives us that experience was Game of Thrones. It makes the show feel more important when everyone is talking about it. With that being said, does episode 2 continue the success of the premiere? Let's break it down.
Episode 2 of House of the Dragon is slower than its premiere but it delivers. This episode sets up future episodes and future conflicts. We start with a time jump. The time jump is 6 months after the death of King Viscerys' wife and son. A council meeting is held and Lord Corlys is pissed. Corlys argues for war against a man known as the "Crab Feeder." The Crab Feeder is wrecking the shores of Westeros. King Viscerys downplays this threat and has other things on his mind. This includes his relationship with Rhaenyra. They haven't talked since her mom's death. Viscerys talks to Alicent and their relationship continues to grow. Alicent encourages Viscerys to talk to Rhaenyra about everything that has happened. She ensures Viscerys that Rhaenyra loves him and wants to talk as well.
Lord Corlys and Rhaenys talk with Viscerys. They tell Viscerys that he needs a new wife. They propose their 12 year old daughter Laena to be his new wife. Viscerys seems uneasy about the idea as he misses his wife and doesn't want to move on. Corlys and Rhaenys want to unite both families together to show everyone that the crown is stronger than ever. Viscerys meets with Laena and has a talk with her. Laena spits out some line her parents told her to say and Viscerys recognizes this. As this meeting happens, Rhaenyra and Rhaenys have their own little meeting. Tension is there between the two. Rhaenys says the best thing a woman can do is spread her legs and produce babies for the man. Rhaenyra is trying to change that by becoming Queen and being on the throne.
Trouble arises in Dragonstone as it is discovered that Daemon has stolen a dragon egg. This causes concern in King's Landing that Daemon is preparing for war. Viscerys sends Otto to Dragonstone to retrieve the dragon egg back and calm Daemon. Otto arrives in Dragonstone with the King's Guard and meets with Daemon. Tensions seem to almost boil over until Rhaenyra arrives with her dragon. Rhaenyra talks with Daemon and Daemon gives the dragon egg back. Daemon seems to have a soft spot for Rhaenyra. Whether that is an uncle loving his niece or a potential incest relationship, we will have to wait and see. Viscerys is mad at Rhaenyra for going to Dragonstone. He says that she could have been killed. But Viscerys starts to realize that Rhaenyra is growing into a woman and is the rightful heir to his throne.
Viscerys meets with with his council. He has announced he will be taking up at a new wife. He announces Alicent Hightower as his new wife. Lord Corlys is disgusted by this news and claims that the king has made a mistake. Rhaenyra is digusted by this news as well and walks out of the room. Alicent and Otto are happy with the news and a bigger plan might be unfolding between the two. The episode ends with Corlys talking with Daemon. A potential partnership seems to be happening with the two and the throne will be at stake.
This was a classic thrones episode. The politics and the backstabbing is being put in motion. Next week's episode seems to be action packed with a lot of things happening. I predict King Viscerys will fall in the next couple of episodes and Daemon will be on the throne.
What did you think of Episode 2 of House of the Dragon? Leave it in the comments below.