The season finale of House of the Dragon premiered today, concluding its 8-episode run and leaving fans with another long wait until the next season. After the dramatic and cliffhanger ending of season 1, which saw Prince Lucerys Velaryon and his dragon Arrax brutally killed by Prince Aemond and his dragon Vhagar, expectations for season 2 were sky-high.
Season 2 opened with a strong start, featuring a vengeful and grieving Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen seeking justice for her son's murder. The premiere episode delivered on the promise of retribution with the shocking ‘Blood and Cheese’ storyline, where Helaena Targaryen witnesses the murder of her son Jaehaerys. This event sets the stage for the inevitable civil war between the factions of Team Black and Team Green.
That being said, it wouldn't be fair to say that season two was entirely without thrills. At the start of the season, it appeared that Team Black (Rhaenyra and her faction) was at a significant disadvantage, with Daemon Targaryen storming off to Harrenhal to form his own army with the support of the Riverlands. Unfortunately, not much happens to Daemon at Harrenhal aside from his hallucinations and meeting Alys Rivers, a witch and wet nurse. While Daemon experiences some very strange hallucinations, how they contribute to the overall plot remains vague.
Meanwhile, at King's Landing, there is a lot happening. Ser Criston Cole marches to Rook's Rest, leading to a fierce battle where one of the show's beloved characters, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, meets her fate against Aemond, Aegon, and their dragons. In the battle, Aegon gets heavily injured and burnt which eventually makes Aemond the prince regent or rather he makes himself one. The consequences of her actions finally sink in for Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower as she is removed from her duties on the council, and she grasps the horrifying reality that she has started a war.
The highly anticipated season finale left fans with mixed emotions. While it was an impactful episode, it felt more like a teaser for season 3 than a satisfying conclusion. The lack of significant plot developments and surprising twists was disappointing, especially since it was the final episode of the season. By not providing a more conclusive ending, the show's creators took a risk, leaving viewers feeling unsatisfied and wondering what could have been.
The issue with the finale was that it could have served as the first episode of series 3 without affecting the storyline, making the series' end feel lacklustre due to the absence of new twists. This series, Emma D’Arcy had significant screen time and truly immersed herself in her character, portraying the queen’s difficult journey and eventual redemption. While Olivia Cooke's performance as Alicent wasn't exceptional, she convincingly portrayed Alicent’s emotional struggles. It was disappointing to see Matt Smith's character, Daemon, underutilised and confined to Harrenhal for most of the series. The standout performances came from the young cast, including Eve Best, Ewan Mitchell, Phia Saben, and notable cameos from Milly Alcock as the young Rhaenyra and Paddy Considine as King Viserys. Viewers now face a two-year wait to see what the show has in store next.
