'House of the Dragon' Recap: Back to Basics
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The following story contains spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 8.
"THIS WAR IS just beginning.” Despite being at the end of its sophomore season, House of the Dragon feels, in some ways, like it’s really just getting started. While last week’s barn-burner of an episode served as the climax to the season, this finale becomes a quieter affair that’s focused on providing some thematic and character-based closure to a season that’s seen the series elevate itself to new heights. Some may feel a little cheated that there’s not one last big battle to close things out, but instead, mostly a bunch of table-setting to prime next season to return with a roar. With the promise of major battles on the horizon—Fire & Blood heads know that the specific mention of “Gullet” is teasing the series’ next bloody conflict—writer Sara Hess and director Geeta Vasant Patel return to the core relationship between Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) and Alicent (Olivia Cooke) one last time.
Call me old-fashioned, but this finale highlights the best aspects of Dragon, the richly lived-in history between these two women, and how, under different circumstances, their lives would be totally different. In a season where this particular pairing is so fleeting, it’s nice to remember what’s been lost as this war continues to tear Westeros apart.
But that’s not to say there aren’t some major events that happen around the fated reunion between the two, including a stunning vision of the future and plenty of other big developments. Let’s get into it and break it all down.
Rhaenyra Triumphant
After a season spent mostly in retreat, Rhaenyra is triumphant. Last week's coup regarding the new Dragonseeds is enough to send the Greens spiraling out of control—more on that in a bit. But there are cracks in the foundation amongst her new dragonriders, as evidenced by Jace’s (Harry Collett) doubts around them, stating, “It’s a scared inheritance of which you know nothing,” when he finds Ulf (Tom Bennett) lounging around with his feet up on the table. Rhaenyra’s slightly concerned too, remarking that they don’t know the strength of their character. While that may come to fruition in the long run, the short-term is what’s most important and with six dragons to the Green’s three, they’re firmly in control.
Combine that with a renewed alliance with Daemon (Matt Smith) and things are pretty good! Although, Daemon’s return comes with a menacing undertone of its own. Having seen quite the vision of the future in the Harrenhal Godswood, Daemon’s arc for the season comes to a close, having firmly realized his place in the larger scheme of things. There’s a lot in that vision fans of Game of Thrones will recognize: White Walkers, Daenerys reborn in flame alongside her trio of dragons, and plenty of dead dragons. But the inclusion of Bloodraven aka Brynden Rivers, the man with the red birthmark who Max Von Sydow plays in Thrones’s sixth season who helps Bran, may throw some folks off. But his inclusion here is intentional; as one of the last defenders of the Targaryen bloodline and as someone who can see the future, he’s got an important role to play in what’s to come, especially as it relates to the larger stakes at play.
The reunion between Daemon and Rhaenyra is a long time coming, and an emotional one at that, as Rhaenyra orders him never to leave. United behind the banner of a leader who aims to unite them all, the past reaches out into the future and rhymes—just like Dany and Jon, two Targaryens with equal claims to the throne, join together in Thrones. “Winter is coming with darkness and doom,” Daemon plainly states. And with it, what’s really at stake during this petty civil war comes into clear view.
The Greens in Retreat, But Not for Long
Do you know who is handling things well? Definitely not Aemond (Ewan Mitchell), who burns an entire city in anger after finding out about Rhaenyra’s new dragon buddies. Not only that, but he then gives Helaena (Phia Saban) an ultimatum to fly her dragon out into battle. The man who was once reminded not to take his anger and frustrations out on the small folk quickly shows his ass the second things don’t go his way. In fact, the fear he cultivates in the process is enough for Larys (Matthew Needham) to convince Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) to get out of dodge—and for Alicent to go to Rhaenyra with terms for a surrender.
The latter is something that’s totally a show invention. Snuck into Dragonstone with help from Maester Orwell, Alicent makes a plea to Rhaenyra to end the war. It’s almost a direct inversion of the conversation between the pair inside the Sept earlier this season. Alicent comes to pled her follies, stating that she clung to her self-righteous beliefs because she thought a sense of order could save her—only to see her children, father, lover, and siblings leave her high and dry. She’s lost it all, and in that process, she can finally see that this war isn’t serving anyone. It’s amusing that amid all this chaos, she can finally see the bigger picture.
And thus, Alicent cuts a deal. She’ll leave the back door, so to speak, to King’s Landing open for Rhaenyra to take. While Aemond and the Green army are away, the city will be rendered defenseless, and Rhaenyra can ride in and play the hero. In exchange, as to ensure there will be no chance of a coup, Alicent will offer Aegon to the sword. The Dance of the Dragons will end before it can get worse. Only, we’re going to have quite a problem when Rhaenyra shows up and Aegon’s absconded to who knows where. What kind of punishment might a hot-tempered Targaryen dole out? Plus, Alicent will have to live with the knowledge that she was in the right, only to fail—much like how Rhaenyra knew all along she was who Viserys wanted.
But that will have to wait for now, as Patel ends the episode with a back-to-back stunner of shots: Rhaenyra, framed against the endless scrolls behind her, evoking the weight of history and the prison of power she’s cultivated for herself, before cutting to Alicent staring over the water (like Rhaenyra’s done time and time again this season) on the cliffside, the expansive green around her. One is free. One is trapped. And yet, the dance of the dragons continues on apace, rendering all in its wake as insignificant as dust.
Odds & Ends
The blue dragon, Tessarion, you see alongside the Hightower army belongs to Dareon Targaryen, Alicent’s youngest son, who we’ll likely see next season. Tessarion is known as the “Blue Queen” and is quite nimble in battle.
After what seems like days of hunting, we end with Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) coming face to face with Sheepstealer, in one of the finale’s many cliffhangers. To quote one of my favorite issues of The Uncanny X-Men, welcome to dragontaming, Rhaena. Hope you survive the experience!
Speaking of cliffhangers, we finally see Otto (Rhys Ifans), and it looks like he’s been captured?
While I’ve been a little disappointed not to have as much of Cole (Fabien Frankel) in the back half of this season, I appreciated the final check-in with him as he realizes the magnitude of the situation. It’s a nice button for the character, even if Gwayne’s (Freddie Fox) accusations about him sleeping with Alicent arrive very abruptly.
Speaking of sleeping: let’s give it up for Tyland (Jefferson Hall), who, despite making a fool of himself, manages to secure the Triarchy’s help and gets propositioned to be a seedbearer for Commander Lohar’s (Abigail Thorn) cadre of brides before they head out to meet the Velaryon fleet at the Gullet.
“You were swallowed up in the God’s Eye and never seen again,” Alys (Gayle Rankin) tells Daemon. I’m sure nothing bad will come of this premonition!
Thanks for reading this season. I hope you enjoyed these as much as I did writing them and hopefully, I’ll be back the next time this series takes flight. In the interim, don’t try to claim any dragons.
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