The internet is awash with dissatisfaction this week. The final episode of House of the Dragon, Season 2, "The Queen Who Ever Was," was good, but not great. It would have made the perfect penultimate episode, with a build-up to heighten excitement for the final showdown. But as that lengthy closing montage rolled out with Alicent’s long walk back to King’s Landing, armies on the march, and warships setting sail, all with a backdrop of dramatic music, the grim realisation set in – not much actually happens in this finale.
So what does happen?
Sharako Lohar: forget Tyland, does she measure up?
I haven’t read the entirety of A World of Ice and Fire and Fire and Blood – a decision I made deliberately to heighten my enjoyment of the series spoiler-free. But I’m considering reversing that decision before the next season. I’m curious about the introduction of the new character, Triarchy admiral, Sharako Lohar. Her scenes attempted some slapstick comic relief, and Tyland was a good sport in being the butt of her jokes, but for me at least, there was something unconvincing about her. Was it the acting (which seemed a bit wooden), the character, or the casting? I can’t put my finger on it, but for me, she didn’t measure up to a Brienne of Tarth, or an Asha Greyjoy. Perhaps she will grow on me. I hope so, for a solid chunk of this final episode was dedicated to this character's introduction.
Certainly, there were satisfying closures and even a reveal. Daemon’s long-suffering anguish finally reaches a head. He has amassed that army, and Ser Alfred Broome, sent to Harrenhal by Rhaenyra herself, whispers those sweet words he’s been longing to hear, “What we need now is a king.” But Alys is not finished with Daemon, and she uses her influence one last time, connecting him directly to the weirwood tree and its network of insights. This visioning is his most direct and profound yet. He sees the future: whitewalkers, a Targaryen woman with newly hatched dragons, and he communicates with Helaena, ever seer-like, who tells him, “You know what you must do.” He does and promptly bends the knee to his niece-wife, the rightful queen, and I was very glad to see it. Off to battle, he shouts to the men who have sworn fealty to him. Swords are thrust upwards. Off we go! But no battle plays out in this finale.
Rhaenyra’s season-long torment continues to the very end. “I had hoped,” she implores to her Hand, “my advantage may be in deterrence.” But the Sea Snake sets her right on this. He outlines for both Rhaenyra and the viewer exactly what she is up against. Not only does the volatile Aemond have the biggest, deadliest dragon this side of the Stepstones, but Team Green also has Daeron’s Tessarion and Helaena’s Dreamfyre. With Daemon's loyalties still unknown at this point, Corlys convinces her she must go to battle with all seven dragons. But rather than showing us dragon-training and battle-prepping scenes, which would have given finale-worthy viewing in my opinion, what we’re served up is an odd dinner with Ulf carrying on as though he’s in a Flea Bottom inn while the queen schools him on etiquette. This scene added little, relying on Ulf’s crass comportment to deliver jokes that didn’t land.
The final detente. Already we know their agreement is broken.
Twice before in previous reviews, I’ve mentioned the parallels and mirror images this season plays with, and here we go again with a scene that mirrors an earlier one in which Rhaenyra visited Alicent in the sept. This time Alicent calls on Rhaenyra in one of my favourite sets on Dragonstone (what do we call that room?). Alicent offers Rhaenyra a chance at what she has been trying to achieve this entire season – saving innocent lives, but not without cost. And this is where we see the stronger leadership of Rhaenyra. Unlike Alicent, Rhaenyra knows making the hard decisions is a part of the role of rule. For Alicent, the horror of agreeing to her son the king’s life is perfectly written on her face. She foolishly deludes herself that such a thing could be avoided, but it is Rhaenyra who brings her back to reality. A son for a son is the only deal they can make. Alicent will deliver a peaceful transition of power, but Aegon’s head must be the prize. It is a fascinating discussion between these two powerful women, and I’m glad it was left for the finale, but even it doesn’t lift us to the heady heights of "wow" a final episode should deliver.
And, as that long ending begins, with Alicent returning to her fate, we see Aegon escaping with Larys who squirrels the king away to his hoard of gold somewhere in Essos. Effectively negating Alicent’s deal with Rhaenyra before it has even started. When Rhaenyra does swoop into King’s Landing, Aegon won’t be there to behead – perhaps she will take Alicent’s instead?
In the ending sequence, we also see Rhaena finally find that wild dragon, Sheepstealer. But what happens next is withheld. Surely, this intriguing piece of storyline could have been given to us in the finale. Will Rhaena finally bond, adding another weapon of mass destruction to Rhaenyra’s arsenal? Or will she die in the process? I hope she won’t but I suspect she will. We’ve had three successful bondings; it can’t all go Rhaenyra’s way.
The final reveal was a big one and for the first time in this otherwise underwhelming episode I nearly jumped off my seat. Otto Hightower is imprisoned in a dungeon cell! What unexpected mystery. Who has imprisoned him and where? My guess – Larys’s creepy hands are all over it. This is an intriguing hook for next season and a clever inclusion at the very end. I can’t wait to learn more. Just a couple of years…
Other thoughts:
- Aemond’s desire for revenge has blinded him more than that eyepatch. He may be in charge, but he is, in truth, an inexperienced and angry boy. Forcing Helaena to ride her dragon to battle was as unrealistic as it was impractical. Helaena’s esteem rises even further in our eyes when she refuses. She sees through the murky grey that is the difference between right and wrong and names it.
- Very little swordplay has been witnessed this season, and this final episode is no exception. We see Criston Cole polishing his with Alicent’s kerchief, evidence enough for her brother Gwayne to avenge her honour by taking Cole’s head or heart, as their army stops over on the way to Harrenhal. But, as mentioned in my last review, Cole is a changed man thanks to what he’s witnessed. What will his battle-weary PTSD mean for future battles? With no season end showdown we must wait a few years to see.
- We seem to get a shot of what could be Tessarion but didn’t meet his rider, Daeron. I’m guessing they don’t want the bother of introducing a young actor now, only to have him age two years in a day, when Season 3 starts, but along with Rhaena attempting to bond with a dragon, I think this introduction should have been given to us at least.
- Among Daemon's visioning at the weirwood tree were House Stark's words, "winter is coming," so satisfying to hear. And winter really is coming. Indeed, for some of us (down in the Southern Hemisphere), it is already here, but how many winters must come and go before the next season of House of the Dragon?
If you'd like to get early access to all my posts, consider joining my epic fantasy membership.