House of the Dragon S2 Ep 1 Review
It has been two days since House of the Dragon returned with its second season, but I had to think everything over. When it came out two years ago, fans and critics said that HBO’s prequel to Game of Thrones did much to eliminate the bad taste the disastrous finale left us with. We said it was like the golden age of Game of Thrones had returned. Which is fitting since the show’s first season was about the beginning of the end of House Targaryen’s golden age. But with the Dance of the Dragons set to begin, expectations were high for season two’s premiere. And, though I hate to say it, the episode didn’t meet mine. Namely due to the ending and how it depicts the actions of two characters: Blood & Cheese.
How could HBO mess up what should’ve been the Red Wedding 2.0?
An Interesting New Opening
First things first, though. In a surprising twist, Season Two of House of the Dragon has done away with the show’s original introduction. Rather than juxtaposing the bloodline of House Targaryen against the late King Viserys’ model of Old Valyria, the show does away with it entirely. Instead, the family’s history is told through a medieval tapestry.
I didn’t understand what happened during my first watch and had to see Heavy Spoilers videos to understand it. Now that I do, I think that’s a pretty cool idea. Believe it or not, there is, in fact, a tapestry about Game of Thrones. Hand-crafted and woven by loom, it depicts the show’s events from start to finish and is house in a museum in Belfast, Northern Ireland. And I’m willing to bet that the events of House of the Dragon will end up similarly immortalized in the future. I dont know if HBO intended to do this knowing about the tapestry, but its still cool.
Speaking of which…
Return of the Wolves, and Fallout of Death
The episode starts off on a pretty strong note, with the return of (what I think) is the coolest House in Westeros after the Targaryens, House Stark. And more importantly, Winterfell and the Wall. Having been sent to the North by his mother, Jacaerys successfully persuades Cregan Stark to keep his family’s oath to Rhaenyra. Not only that, but the show gives us a cool moment of Jace and Cregan overlooking the Wall together.
I loved this moment, and considering what happens in Game of Thrones, its a great use of foreshadowing. Knowing that Cregan Stark is the ancestor to all the Starks we see in Game of Thrones, you can’t help but note how much of him is in his descendants. Sadly, the moment is ruined when they receive news of Lucerys’ death.
The entire episode focuses on how everyone on both sides reacts to Luke’s death. Rhaenyra is near-catatonic with grief until she finds what’s left of Luke and Arrax, and Emma D’arcy gives a very moving performance for this. Daemon immediately wants to retaliate with or without Rhaenyra’s approval. But the Greens’ reactions are most compelling since they’re more divided on it. Argon and Aemond treat it like a great victory. Alicent and Otto, though, see it as a disaster.
Too bad that this is where some of my problems start popping up, mainly thanks to Alicent’s actions.
Cracks, Green Hypocrisy, and Blood & Cheese Screw-Up
In the first season, I couldn’t help but feel bad for Alicent. Her father used her as a pawn, she married a man she didn’t love, and her best friend lied to her face about having pre-marital sex. Little wonder their friendship fell apart. She did try to reach out to her before Viserys died and again after Aegon usurped her throne, but it’s too late… She doesn’t get that.
For some reason, Alicent spends this episode thinking that her son and Rhaenyra can still make peace. I’m sorry, but I fail to see how that’s possible. Even if Aemond didn’t intend to kill Luke (Vhagar did it), that doesn’t change the fact that he’s dead. Alicent should know Rhaenyra well enough to know she won’t forgive this. Yet she has the gall to think peace is still possible! This feels like either great stupidity on Alicent’s part, or a major oversight by the writers.
Not to mention that this episode reveals that Alicent and Sir Criston are hypocrites when they’re shown doing it! Twice! Criston made a huge deal out of breaking his Kingsguard vows of chastity and Alicent felt betrayed when Rhaenyra lied about losing her virginity before marriage? And now they’re both doing just that?!? Any moral high ground they once had is dead and buried.
The only reason I refuse to support either side is because of what happens next.
This Was NOT Blood & Cheese
After Rhaenyra recovers enough to lead her side, she’s out for blood. Aemond’s blood. So, Daemon sneaks into King’s Landing using his old contacts and hires two men, a Goldcloak and rat catcher, to kill Aemond. Or kill another prince from Aegon’s bloodline. Their names are Blood & Cheese, and I have to say…they are the worst part of this episode. And their entire portion of the episode drags the whole thing down.
If I sound salty, that’s because I am, and many fans feel the same way. In the show, Blood & Cheese were supposed to kill Aegon, but end up settling for one of Aegon and Helaena’s infant son. And the entire experience is just so disappointing when compared to the books! Here’s how it was supposed to go:
What Blood & Cheese Should Have Been Like
That is what we were supposed to get. Game of Thrones fans waited two years for the moment that should’ve rivaled the Red Wedding in terms of shock value. Instead, for whatever reason, HBO decided to pull its punches. It should’ve done the exact opposite with Blood & Cheese!! It should’ve been as horrifying and traumatic as the books and specials described it!
Out of all the moments I was looking forward to in this scene, Blood & Cheese’s murder was the biggest. And HBO completely botched it. It felt like watching Cersei and Jaime die from the collapsing roof all over again. I felt robbed! I’m sorry, but it brought the entire episode down for me.
I’m hoping that the rest of the season lives up to my expectations because that ending felt like Game of Thrones all over again. It had some good scenes and good acting, but the bad writing ruined it for me. They ruined Blood & Cheese!
I Give “A Son for a Son” a 2.5/5
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