Fans have waited nearly two years for House of the Dragon to grace our screens and it has come back with a vengeance. From the first scenes, we were reminded that this isn’t going to be a light season, as Season 2 brings the beginnings of war and all the grim prospects that go along with it.
A Quick Recap
The episode picks up just days after the events of the Season 1 finale. King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine) has passed, his grandson Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) has been placed on the Iron Throne by the council despite Viserys naming his chosen heir as Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy). To compound problems, Rhaenyra went into premature labour and lost the child just hours after she learned of her father’s passing and the crowning of her half-brother, and her other half-brother, Aemond (Ewan Mitchell), proved himself reckless once again when his dragon tore apart Rhaenyra’s second son, Lucerys, and his dragon in flight. If war might have been prevented before, it was certainly on the horizon now.
There will be spoilers from here on out for “A Son For A Son.” You’ve been warned
Team Black
Fans might have felt a sense of nostalgia as the episode opened in the icy realm of Winterfell. Even the appearance of the Wall was a welcome sight, despite knowing what lay on the other side of it. The North is preparing for winter, while the elder of Rhaenyra’s sons, Jace (Harry Collett), is asking touring The Wall and asking Lord Cregan Stark (Tom Taylor) for aid. Cregan’s appearance on screen is the first of the new characters introduced this season, and he’s certainly got the “Ned Stark vibe” we’ve come to associate with those of the North. As can be expected, “winter is coming” and nods to the threats beyond the Wall give a sense of impending doom.
Back at Dragonstone, Rhaenyra is mourning and searching for any sign of her lost son. Daemon (Matt Smith), true-to-form, is ready to attack. While Rhaenys (Eve Best) might understand where Daemon is coming from, she urges him to wait for confirmation of Lucerys’s death. He blames Rhaenys for not killing Aegon II when she had the chance, and Daemon’s thirst for vengeance is palpable.
On Driftmark, Rhaenys’s husband, Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), is maintaining a naval blockade to protect Dragonstone and Driftmark. In a bleak reminder that many of our beloved characters are grieving the loss of young Lucerys, Corlys is presented with a sword hilt he commissioned for his grandson by a crew member named Alyn of Hull (Abubakar Salim). Corlys’s reaction to Alyn’s appearance is another indication that, like Lord Stark, this might be another significant character. This new character brings fresh dynamics to the storyline, hinting at deeper connections and future revelations.
Team Green
Things are in movement in King’s Landing as well. King Aegon II brings his young son Jaehaerys to the small council, the first in his many actions that leave viewers—and his small council—questioning his ability to rule. Aegon II doesn’t seem to recognise the reality of imminent rule and no matter his attempts at being a benevolent rules are constantly curbed by his Hand and grandfather, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans). While Aegon II wasn’t a primary character in Season 1, Glynn-Carney’s portrayal of a king out of his depth has the potential to be a highlight of this season.
Alicent’s (Olivia Cooke) conversations with the conniving Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) reveal the darker undercurrents of King’s Landing politics. He’s dismissed—and murdered—Alicent’s staff only to replace them with his own, leaving Alicent to recognise just how trapped she is.
Meanwhile, Aemond is itching to bring the dragons into battle to end this quickly, despite his family’s attempt at reigning him in. It is interesting to see the parallels to how he wants to handle situations, as it is similar to Daemon’s thought process. This is something that may become particularly interesting as the season develops.
Blood and Cheese
No recap of this episode would be complete without talking about Blood and Cheese. The bloody conclusion of the young prince Jaehaerys’s life was just as brutal as fans feared.
Daemon hires Blood and Cheese to assassinate Aemond Targaryen. These two infiltrate the Red Keep and instead brutally murder young Jaehaerys, perpetuating the cycle of vengeance.
Until Next Week
Even though House of the Dragon takes place 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, it seems like little has changed. The Starks still rule Winterfell, the Lannisters remain wealthy at Casterly Rock, and the Targaryens are as hot-headed and silver-haired as ever.
This season is going to challenge viewers to reconsider their alliances. The line between hero and villain is blurred, and Neither Team Black nor Team Green can be easily considered the “good guys.”
The season premiere of House of the Dragon roared back onto the screen with the kind of depth and darkness we’ve been expecting (and hoping for). With all the avenues for character development and violence, this episode set the bar high.
Truly a dark fantasy, fans and newcomers should expect intense battles and bloodshed, the threat of betrayal on all fronts, and the kind of moral ambiguity only George R.R. Marti can provide.
Random Thoughts:
- Helaena (Phia Saban) is going to be scarred for life.
- It was amazing to see the dragon’s back on screen.
- Rhaenyra is really holding it together considering she lost two children and a father in a few day span.
- Rhaenys is still a boss delivering zingers like, “Would that you were the king.”
