House of The Dragon, Season 2: Review
By Sioph W. Leal
The HBO hit, House of the Dragon is back with Westeros now on the brink of a bloody civil war with the Green and Black factions fighting for, who they believe, is the rightful ruler of Westeros. The Greens believe King Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) the rightful ruler while the Blacks believe Queen Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) is the true monarch. Both believe their side to be correct but as viewers have chosen a side, so must Westeros. What ensues in the first two episodes provided for review is an intense, bloody and suspense driven plot filled with harrowing scenes and performances.
From the start of the first episode, duty and responsibility are clearly a focus of this season and how they can eclipse everything, not always for the best. The first few minutes of this season not only contrast the first season of House of The Dragon, but they also bring into comparison House Stark and their traditions. Fans of the parent series will love the addition of House Stark, but also the insight into their long-standing tradition of the Night Watch and its importance to the North and the realm.
Although the looming civil war creates excellent tension and draws lines between the duelling factions, vengeance and grief set the stage for one of the bloodiest opening episodes in George R.R. Martin’s world. The universe is known for its stellar storytelling of the fictional Westerosi world and the violence that ensues, but even those desensitised to or used to such scenes will be taken aback and squirm at what the season opening episodes have in store. There are minimal fight scenes in these episodes that allow the different types of grief to fester, and we see the characters desperately cling onto what they believe or fight. While Rhaenyra grieves her son, Alicent (Olivia Cooke) grieves her friendship and desperately tries to cease any talk of war or harm that may fall on her former friend.
While there is minimal chaotic action in the fight scenes, the characters sit in on their decisions and the impact of them, making for a richer story and bolder performances. One notable scene in the second episode halts the beautiful score by Ramin Djawdi, allowing the diegetic sound to heighten the violence and brutality of the characters. The few violent scenes in these episodes are hard to watch due to their nature, but they draw you in with excellent suspense and buildup and will leave you squirming as we see grief take its most violent form as retribution and vengeance are sought out on both sides, which heightens the violence of the series through exceptional character development and camera work. One scene chooses to have a truly horrific act displayed hidden slightly off screen, yet the sound remains, piercing through the screen as the camera shifts to other character reactions to emphasise the horror.
Established characters from the first season feel richer for the most part and explore much more than just a challenge to the throne and a fight to reclaim or hold onto what they think is rightfully theirs. The fighting is not for the good of the realm or an entitled fight for a crown but can be taken as an allegory for how grief consumes and destroys all rationality and relationships while influencing every part of someone’s being. Fresh from last season's murder of Lucerys Velaryon, Rhaenyra is so consumed by grief, not believing the death of her son until she finds proof. Often, we will see characters act out of pure rage but, like grief, in its varied forms. Some destroy, others plot, but it is the quiet anger that simmers just below the surface that is truly intriguing and has the largest impact.
After the loss of her son, Rhaenyra is left devastated by the loss, and Emma D’Arcy delivers an outstanding, gut-wrenching performance in the first episodes. They say nothing for the majority of the first episode, but you still feel Rhaenyra’s loss so deeply. It's a testament to the writers and D’Arcy’s ability to convey so much without uttering a single word. When Rhaenyra decides to speak, they utter the four words that will cement the start of the Dance of Dragons and bring an end to all talks of peace. It’s powerful, and D’Arcy will leave you on the edge of your seat. As well as D’Arcy, this season allows Aegon to take on more of a role, cementing him as the king of the Smallfolk, and Tom Glynn-Carney’s performance of Aegon will give anyone rooting for Team Black a bit more understanding of Aegon’s role within the seven kingdoms. Glynn-Carney shows how Aegon can be a compassionate, understanding king but has anger towards him, which we finally get to see this season. Although we see Aegon as wanting to be a good king for the people, he is impetulant, and despite his blase exterior, when he unloads his anger and grief, we see how quick he is to fire. There is also a spiteful calm to him that Glynn-Canrey can switch to, making him a complex character and a standout. Once again, House of The Dragon proves that there is such a thing as a perfect ensemble.
Much has been said about supporting team Green or Black but whichever team has your fealty, the quality of the season and characters deliver moments that will leave you fully engrossed in either side. As a lover of Team Green for how chaotic and messy they are, both give moments that make picking a side hard no matter previous loyalty through character actions. You may even, at times, falter to the other team as the episodes go on. It is interesting that neither Rhaenyra or Alicent want blood, but it is those acting in their name that cause bloodshed and agony. Instead of rooting for a team, the series will have you deeply feeling the consequences and innocents lost to the war.
House of the Dragon season 2 premiers June 16th on HBO.
The first two episodes were screened for review.