After almost two years, House of the Dragon season 2, episode 1 is finally here, and it’s mostly worth the wait. Picking things up just days after House of the Dragon season 1’s ending, the season 2 premiere is about dealing with the fallout from Lucerys Velaryon’s death, getting various pieces back in place, and properly beginning the Targaryen civil war. Although I felt there were a couple of missteps, it’s a solid return and a promising sign of things to come.
House Of The Dragon Season 2, Episode 1 Does Good Work Setting Up The Civil War
The Dance Of The Dragons Can Now Properly Begin
For much of its runtime, House of the Dragon season 2, episode 1 operates in similar fashion to many a Game of Thrones season premiere. It’s about the slow build, setting up the board for the chess game to begin, and it largely does a good job of that. The pace could be a little frustrating to some viewers after so much set up for the Dance of the Dragons already, but patience and caution are embedded into the story as some urge it and others demand swifter action.
I particularly liked Aemond Targaryen and Criston Cole planning out the war and what locations to target, which felt like getting into the kind of detail George R.R. Martin loves.
That helps the premiere, because we do get some enjoyable scenes of strategy and battle tactics. I particularly liked Aemond Targaryen and Criston Cole planning out the war and what locations to target, which felt like getting into the kind of detail George R.R. Martin loves. The same is true for the brief scene with the smallfolk, too, which I hope it can find more room for amid the warring of the nobles. It makes the world feel so much deeper and more lived in, with a better sense of the consequences of the actions we’re witnessing.
Emma D’Arcy Is Heartbreakingly Good As Rhaenyra In House Of The Dragon’s Season 2 Premiere
Most Of The Cast Is Good, But D’Arcy Is The Early Standout
House of the Dragon’s cast is impressive across the board, but there’s one clear star in “A Son for a Son,” and that’s Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra. They did excellent work in season 1, of course, but take it to another level in the season 2 premiere. Rhaenyra’s grief is palpable, her pain so clearly etched into every fiber of D’Arcy’s performance, even as the Queen tries to keep it together, that you feel it through the screen.
Rhaenyra has to balance being a mother-in-mourning with trying to rule, juggle vengeance with logic, and it results in a powerful performance from D’Arcy.
Rhaenyra has to balance being a mother-in-mourning with trying to rule, juggle vengeance with logic, and it results in a powerful performance from D’Arcy. That it’s so often silent, their face saying more than words could, just makes it even more impressive, and means when Rhaenyra does really have a statement to make – such as “I want Aemond Targaryen” – it lands perfectly.
Things are a little more mixed with the rest of the cast. Olivia Cooke brings a lot of nuance to Alicent Hightower, which is much-needed given her surprising relationship with Criston Cole and her own role in starting the civil war. Matt Smith as Daemon and Ewan Mitchell as Aemond remain two devilishly magnetic sides of the same coin, though neither quite shines here like they did in season 1. And Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon makes a leap too.
However, the large cast means some are underserved. In particular, Corlys (Steve Toussaint), Rhaenys (Eve Best), and Baela (Bethany Antonia) are three of the show’s coolest characters, but found wanting in terms of screen time. That’s not a balance that can be perfected in just one episode, but is hopefully something it can find going through the season.
The Return To Wintefell & The Wall Was Nice, But Too Brief
More Of Cregan Stark & Jacaerys Velaryon’s Story Would’ve Been Great
I was excited for the return to Winterfell and the appearance of Cregan Stark in House of the Dragon season 2, but came away from the premiere feeling a bit short-changed. That’s not to say I was expecting Cregan to be a main character, but I think there was room for more than the 3–4 minutes of screen time he gets, which would’ve better fleshed out his character and shown more of Jacaerys too. The latter would be important, as he should be taking on a more prominent role this year with the war beginning.
None of it is bad, but it was all a little bit Starks-by-numbers, without anything unique to it.
Sadly, we don’t really get much of a sense of Cregan and Jace’s relationship. None of it is bad, but it was all a little bit Starks-by-numbers, without anything unique to it. I think showing scenes of the pair, say, hunting and drinking at Winterfell, could have helped it stand out, given it more room to breathe, and allowed for that greater character development.
Blood & Cheese Lacked The Expected Impact Compared To The Book
BookThe Show’s Version Was Toned Down, And Worse Off For It
House of the Dragon season 2, episode 1’s ending sees Blood and Cheese kill Prince Jaehaerys, a moment that’s long been… well, anticipated doesn’t quite feel right given what happened, but certainly talked about a lot by book readers. It could and should have been one of the biggest moments of the entire show, at any rate, but unfortunately it felt rather underwhelming to me.
House of the Dragon toned down the horror and intensity, but the result is a lack of emotional impact.
The problems are partly rooted in adaptation choices. In the book, Helaena has three children and is forced to choose between her two sons, all while pleading for Blood and Cheese to kill her instead. House of the Dragon toned down the horror and intensity, but the result is a lack of emotional impact.
That’s also true because they’ve made Helaena into such a mysterious character. Phia Saban’s performance is good, but by design feels too removed. This should’ve been a visceral, unforgettable scene, and while what happens is harrowing and will have a major impact on the future of the show, it ended the otherwise pretty solid premiere on a bit of a disappointing note.