House of the Dragon Ends Anticlimactically (House of the Dragon S2 Ep 8 Review) 

I can understand other fans really struggling with the pacing of this season. For me, would have loved two more episodes but either way, Season 3 is set up to be incredible. Also, impossible to discuss this show without mentioning the casting. So happy to have each of these actors bring life to these characters on screen

It feels like the writers wrote season 2 to be 10 episodes but got told later that they could only make 8 and with the strike, the writing couldn't be changed so they filmed the 8 as is. This episode genuinely feels like a penultimate episode to me building up to the Battle of the Gullet in ep 9 and Rhaenyra *landing* in Kings Landing in ep 10. Ep 8 has just enough tension and anticipation to ep 9 but not actually a cliffhanger to a new season 2 years later. There is actually *no* cliffhangers because we all know the battle will happen. Ryan Condal said in IGN in prettier words that they don't have the budget after all to do the battles in season 2. This might explain why they withheld even Rhaena claiming Sheepstealer from us. I usually don't agree with the introduction of a brand new character at the 11th hour but Abigail Thorn certainly made Lothar a super fun, erratic and memorable character!!!! She's stamped her mark!

Just finished listening to the post-morten ep and the little present for Kim at the end (that I ofc won’t spoil for anyone else), and just wanted to express that I’m gonna miss you guys 🫶 Ended the ep with a huge huge smile. All the very best, and until next time! 🥂 🐉

It has been a great joy listening to you all season.

Weak ending to a weak season 2. It had some high highs but there are some really low lows The ending scene between Allicent and Rhyenera I found completely unsatisfying as a finale moment

Up to this episode. I thought the season was an 8 out of 10 but the finale dropped the ball pretty hard. Not only was Deamon payoff disappointing. I think they kinda ruined his character to a degree. He’s a believer of destiny. I think it makes him less interesting. Aemond scenes make him look weak and none threatening. Which maybe is the point? The scenes with Tyland and the leader were weak. All there scenes felt unnecessary... The scene with the Alicent/Rhaenyra. Felt off from a story standpoint point. Felt fanfic for some reason? I don’t know. The whole time I kept saying to myself “no way this is in the book” and from what I understand. It wasn’t. There's a few good scenes but I’m obviously disappointed. Not the worst finale but I would give the episode a 5 and the season a 7. Really hope they pay things off next season but they can't tease any more or hold back.

As Season 3 begins. When Alicent sees that Aegon is gone. She's gonna hightail it to her Hightower nest with Helena. Ulf will prolly be one of the first casualties ... possibly running away from Vaeghar. And Larys will be arriving at wherever he has Otto hold up.

Until next season! Thanks guys!

Crispy Cole has been on a redemption arc. Also, all season long Gawain has been catching glimpses of Alicent and Cole stealing looks at one another. So sniffing her favor, was the last draw. Given their desperate state, about to go to war, with no dragon for protection. Seems like the show wanted to dip in on the various armies. And Cole's army could be ready to defect.

Great coverage Decoding TV crew! The moment the tabby dagger from Game of Thrones was re-introduced into season one of the House of the Dragon; shifted the focus/behavior of the characters. In the books, the Targaryens are no more “in-tune” with the Long Night than any of the other Houses. Once the dagger had a “Goonies-esque” inscription, the Targaryens were made into the “saviors” of Westeros who roasted thousands in the Reach, Dorne and Riverlands (Harrenhal) during Aegon’s Conquest…cause Y’know it was for the greater good. That shift has handcuffed the characters from becoming more shifty and interesting.

Wait?! Was episode 8 the last episode of season 2?! I thought there was 2 episodes left. Well that freaking sucked. With that in mind I think the season was really bad in that case.

I didn't read any of the spoilers from the finale leaks earlier in the week, but just from the headlines, it felt like there was going to be actual action and battles in the episode, so I was pretty startled with about fifteen minutes left in the episode, it felt like they were just moving pieces into place for future episodes. I have gone ahead and read some big picture articles about the history of the Targaryen dynasty, so I know how the books handle the Dance of the Dragons war we are in the middle of. I've also seen articles about GRRM seemingly distancing himself from the show, implying that the show is deviating from his story so much that he refuses to be associated with it. While that's a death knell for the show, I also can't fault the show for doing it. When you just read some wiki articles about the Targaryen history, it's just an endless string of betrayals and minor victories that lead to huge consequences and inevitably, to terrible fates for every character. In general, it feels like no one has even a slightly happy ending. Everyone ends up dying in tragic ways. While this matches how 'real' history plays out, and what gives Westerosi history such power and authenticity, it is counter to how audiences experience TV shows. We want at least one or two characters to have some sort of "..and they lived happily ever after" sort of vibe. All that to say that I think we ARE going to get some more "happy endings" for the HoTD characters. Laenor is going to be the template for this. In the "official" history, Laenor is known to have died. but in the show's presentation, we see that his death was faked. I think we'll get one or two deaths that turn out to not be what the world understands. And it's probably that that GRRM fundamentally objects to.

Writers strike. The last 2 episodes weren't written in time, I guess.

Thought this was a banger episode 8, and pure greed on behalf of Discovery is why we’re all not buzzing with anticipation for a banger episode 9 and 10 right now.