August 5, 2024
Courtesy: HBO
The season 2 finale arrived with great intent to set up all the intricate moving parts for "The Battle of the Gullet" in season 3. In The Queen Who Ever Was, Aemond loses control, Daemon proves his loyalty, and Alicent has buyer's remorse.
Leading into the finale, there were high expectations after the previous episode, which was arguably the best of the season; however, instead of showing us more Vermithor, the dragons, and the continued suspense that was prevalent throughout the season, the showrunners opted for a quieter approach to end the season that isn't necessarily bad but felt incomplete. Still, this season was spectacular, even better than season 1, as the show went into great detail to showcase everyone's part in the upcoming war.
Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) has quite the decision to make as Alicent (Olivia Cooke) snuck into Dragonstone, begging her to reconsider the impending war and offering her a truce. She apologizes for getting Viserys' last words wrong and says she now wants peace away from King's Landing and wants to leave with her daughter, Helena (Phia Saban). She offers Rhaenyra to come with her, and Rhaenyra looks at her like any sane person would, incredulity at the ridiculous proposition.
Rhaenyra reminds her that she came to her and asked the exact thing earlier in the season, and she refused. We're not sure what Alicent was expecting here. She offers to have her claim the throne while Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) is away, and she will try to appeal to Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney). Her appeal is getting more ridiculous by the second, and Rhaenyra astutely points out she will have to kill Aegon, "A son for a son," and Alicent relents, agreeing that it's the only way to avoid war. Interestingly enough, the timing of Alicent wanting peace is suspect since she knows that Rhaenyra now has 7 dragons and can obliterate them all if she wants to, so the fact that she chooses this opportune time to reflect on her actions seems overly disingenuous. We believe her, but it's really "too little, too late" for her not to care about her legacy. Watching these two women who were best friends growing up, it's sad how they are now enemies. The love is still there, but clearly, too much has happened.
Courtesy: HBO
Speaking of Alicent's sons, Aemond takes Vhagar and burns the entire town of Sharp Point (House Bar Emmon in The Crownlands). You can hear the screams of innocent people to drive the point home that Aemond is reaching the point of no return in tyrannical madness. A cornered Aemond is even deadlier than he already is, which Heleana was privy to when he literally strong-armed her into taking her dragon Deamfyre into battle with him, knowing Heleana is no warrior. Of course, she says no because Heleana "will not burn anyone," later, he uses the "better to catch more bees with honey " approach and tries to butter her up. Still, she sees right through him and tells him she knows he tried to kill Aemond, and his facade quickly drops. He says it's a lie, and what she's saying is treason. She predicts he will die while Aemond takes the wooden throne, and Ewan is perfect in this scene, portraying the right touch of anger, fear, and indignation. He says he can have her killed, but she says it doesn't change the fact that she's right and walks away. Chills!
Layrs (Matthew Needham) tells Aegon (who is healing rather quickly) that he is not safe in King's Landing. Aegon throws himself a pity party and paints quite a vivid picture of his destroyed anatomy and bodily functions. Layrs tell him he's not alone, and we wonder if he's actually being sincere or disingenuous since he hates Aemond. To ensure Aegon stays alive, he secures his own place in royalty. Larys tells him Rhaenyra and Aemond will kill each other, and when the time is right, the people will declare him the true heir, "Aegon the Victorious." Layrs continues to be the greasy car salesman and convinces him to leave for Braavos.
Corlys (Steve Toussaint) tells Rhaenyra that he's renaming his ship, "The Queen who never was," to honor Rhaenys (Eve Best), and it's about time these two had a conversation, where there was still so much more that needed to be said. In one of the absolute best scenes for Corlys and the viewer, Alyn (Abubakar Salim) rebuffs Coryls' attempts at "help" when he reminds him what it was like growing up as a bastard, poor and in despair while watching him with his claimed son live and eat the very best. Kudos to both actors, who did a fantastic job with these scenes.
Courtesy: HBO
Speaking of help, Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) needs a helping hand because the poor girl ran all over the mountains in The Vale, shivering in the freezing cold, looking the worse for wear, trying to claim Sheepstealer. Talk about determination.
In a more light-hearted moment, Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall) finds himself in Essos, trying to barter for the Triarchy's help, and finds himself in a mud wrestling match with Admiral Sharako Lohar(Abigail Thorn) to gain her favor. If it sounds preposterous, it's because it is, and even more preposterous, she fancies him so much she wants him to impregnate her wives. I guess the show was going for comedy to levy the drama.
It doesn't get any more dramatic than scenes with Daemon (Matt Smith), who has spent most of this season in Harrenhal with Ser Simon Strong (Simon Russell Beale), and creepy Alys (Gayle Rankin), who leads him to Weirwood Tree, where he has premonitions of the future including a white walker and the iconic Daenerys Targaryen. Knowing that Rhaenyra is the right woman for the iron throne, he pledges her loyalty to her along with his rousing speech when she shows up to Harrenhal when Simon sends word of Daemon's possible betrayal. If anything, this arc with Daemon in Harrenal has been tedious, so hopefully, this is the last of Alys.
Courtesy: HBO
What's not tedious are the dragon seeds, particularly Ulf (Tom Bennett), who lacks the decorum and respect for the honor that was bestowed upon him, so when Jace (Harry Collett) finds him with his feet propped at the head of Rhaenyra's table and tells him to move it, Ulf not knowing who he is smugly calls him a boy and continues to goad him. When he does realize who he is and apologizes, it does little to quelch Jace's concerns that Ulf is definitely going to be a problem when they're all seated at the Banquet dinner Rhaenyra hosts for them, and they realize the power that Ulf smugly knows he has. Jace has every right to be concerned since he will obviously make a power grab in season 3.
The finale met all the requirements to showcase each character's part they will play in the Civil War. Daemon finally has an army; Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), who now longs for death and would rather not fight in the war, has his. We see Tyland and Sahrako at sea with Corlys and his fleet as the camera individually pans to Rhaenyra and Alicent as Rhaenyra, who is finally in a position of power, must choose all-out war or Alicent's offer to claim her throne peacefully.
While the season finale lacked the action and suspense from the previous episodes, it did close with a satisfying conclusion.
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"House of the Dragon" currently airs on HBO and streams on MAX.
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