House of the Dragon season 2’s Rotten Tomatoes is here, and it’s almost the same as season 1’s. Based on Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin, the hit Game of Thrones spinoff premiered in summer 2022, bringing to life the story of the Targaryen civil war, including its origins, escalation points, and its many casualties. After a well-reviewed season 1, House of the Dragon season 2 is now poised to premiere later this month, picking up the story of characters like Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), Alicent (Olivia Cooke), and Daemon (Matt Smith).
House of the Dragon season 2 has now debuted on Rotten Tomatoes, and the new season sits, as of this writing, at a strong 92% with 25 reviews. This score will almost certainly fluctuate as more reviews are added, but, as it stands, it falls just shy of season 1’s 93%. It won’t be clear how season 2’s audience score compares until after the show actually begins airing.
What’s The Critical Consensus For House Of The Dragon Season 2?
The Game Of Thrones Spinoff’s Season 2 Has Plenty To Like
The House of the Dragon season 2 reviews, for the most part, praise the show for much of what season 1 was praised for. The sophomore outing features strong writing, with episodes chronicling the hidden character motivations, back-stabbings, and political maneuverings that make the quest for power so entertaining. This, incidentally, is also what made earlier seasons of Game of Thrones so beloved.
Like season 1, the House of the Dragon cast also gets to really shine again this time around. With no more time jumps in season 2, the action happens firmly in real time, meaning audiences get to spend more time with D’Arcy’s Rhaenyra and Cooke’s Alicent as the dynamic between them becomes increasingly contentious. Overall, reviews suggest that most characters are explored with greater depth than in season 1, with season 2 really getting more into the weeds on how everyone is dealing with the fallout from the season 1 finale.
Of course, like Game of Thrones before it, House of the Dragon season 2 has also been praised for its big set pieces. While these big moments of action perhaps take a while to get to, they’re evidently worth it when they do arrive, offering up the kind of spectacle that audiences have come to expect from the franchise. It remains to be seen how general viewers will respond to House of the Dragon season 2, but the initial reviews certainly suggest HBO will be serving up another strong season of television.