If you were to pick one episode in House of the Dragon Season 2 which helps make the semblance of things, it has to be the recently dropped Episode 3 which helps make sense of the chaos, and confusion that follows both teams at war – the Blacks and the Greens. With both sides at err with their war choices, it’s difficult to pick a side and you find yourself at odds finding favour with any team at all times but this episode helps.
As calls for war grow within both factions with Daemon Targaryen (Team Black) and King Aegon II Targaryen (Team Green) leading the tirade for violence in the name of justice on several occasions, it is the women who show restraint and poise. Both Queen Dowager Alicent Hightower and Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen are seen giving in to reason even when choosing the path for death was much easier.
Key changes in the House of the Dragon Season 2 episode include Daemon Targaryen having flown on Caraxes (dragon) to Harrenhal to stake a claim. Ser Criston Cole (who is now the new Hand of the King) marching to Harrenhal to defend King Aegon II Targeryan’s “rightful” claim. Otto Hightower leaves King’s Landing after being removed from the King’s council (as was shown in episode 2) and Cole tries living up to the large shoes of the senior Hightower.
What we loved in House of the Dragon S2 Ep 3: *Spoilers ahead
The scene between Queen Alicent and Princess Rhaenyra is nothing but magical. You love them or hate them but you can’t ignore how good it feels to see the two best friends sit, chat and cry together. Of course, there is the looming truth (that we audiences know about) that befalls them but will Alicent acknowledge it? That’s an answer we will have to wait for in the next episode or maybe later!
The part where Rhaenyra cajoles Alicent to grasp and says, “There’s been a mistake,” to which Alicent shrugs away her hand and says, “There has been no mistake” wants to make you wail for their friendship and all that was lost to politics and the lust for the Iron Throne.
We are especially happy for what this would mean to Rhaenyra because now her resolve to claim her “rightful” stake on the Iron Throne would be unhinged and hopefully help the pace at which things are unfolding in season 2 of House of the Dragon.
We also get to see the young Rhaenyra who haunts Daemon on his doing (ordering a small child to get brutally murdered in his crib). Daemon can be seen losing his sanity, almost a poetic reference to the curse that runs in the Targaryen family (of suffering from mental illness).
Watching aunt and niece Rhaenys and Rhaenyra bond is also soothing. Rhaenys comes as the only voice of reason for Rhaenyra while all men around her cheer for violence and chaos. She explains how wars never make sense and at the end of it all, you never remember how or why it started. We love it when she tells Rhaenyra, “There is no war so hateful to the gods as a war between kin. And no war so bloody as a war between dragons.”
What could have been better in House of the Dragon S2 Ep 3:
The pace, the pace, the pace. It’s season 2 and the show is about the House of Dragons but we don’t see much of them honestly (just give us more dragon moments frankly). The dreary pace at which everything is unfolding in the show could have been better. Also, we need more Game of Thrones moments in the show which is a spinoff of the master series that hooked us through and through.
Don’t come at me with “The show’s ending was bad”, or “The last season of GoT was disappointing” because whatever was said and done, you couldn’t wait to watch the next episode after one was dropped. House of the Dragon misses evoking that sense of urgency. But we are ready to give it more time to marinate and get juicier.
Watch Exclusive Interview with John Krasinski here:
House of the Dragon Season 2 is available to stream on Jio Cinema.
zeba khan
Zeba is a fashion and lifestyle reporter who has a keen eye for literature and everything vintage. She dreams of writing travel stories from every part of the world.viewMore
