HOUSE OF THE DRAGON S2 E2 "Rhaenyra the Cruel" Breakdown | MAESTERMINDS 

The fight between Daemon and Rhaenyra blew my doors off with the calibre of ACTING. Up until this point in the episode and series, I was thoroughly invested in the story but when this happened, that dissolved like a burning scrim and I took my pleasure in the technicality of their performances. The chemistry was what hit me hardest. I could tap into the emotions of Matt and Emma and rode that. And what a ride! They were ON! I just wish I could have been on the set while it was being filmed and watch two fantastic actors embroiled in their craft, firsthand. They turned the air into fire! If they don’t get an Emmy for that I’ll be surprised beyond surprised.

Mike, I don’t understand how you thought the writing wasn’t great during Daemon and Rhaenyra’s scene. The acting and the writing was Shakespearean level good. Every line was piecing, cutting and even delicate with emotional depth, and bad writing would have made that impossible.

I've been waiting for your video! Can't wait to hear all your Cole comments

while talking about Hugh you mentioned "SEEDING him now" and it didnt feel like the pun was intended there, but it was great

You're wrong imo. The Emma D'Arcy, Matt Smith scene was one of two best scenes this episode. You heavily mistake it for being "on the nose" instead of realising the writers chose to portray a conversational, private quarrel between husband & wife. I don't know why you would want flouncy subtext in this pragmatic encounter. Why would anyone expect a married couple to argue in hidden meanings? That's just silly & unrealistic.

Good god, it’s a rare breed that finds this (potential, praise be) link between Wet Hot and HOTD. Rarer yet? Those who would treasure it so. Any other freaks out there? Sound off, there’s currently 3 of us.

Great discussion

when he fell on his own sword, I believe he did it not just out of guilt for his brother but also for the Queen. So she’d not have to worry which brother he really was. Knowing she may not ever be able to be alone with him again, or outright have to lock him up, etc.

Otto is very good at compartmentalizing, so good that it may be detrimental to his relationship with his daughter and his grandchildren. he just can't seem to stop being a politician when they need him to be family. not that he doesn't love them because he's obviously doing all of this to uplift the status of his family and keeping them safe but ultimately that's not what they need.

I missed you guys 46:58

Helena has the gift of dragon sight, but does not control it and cannot explain what she sees. She is a flawed Cassandra of the Song of Ice and Fire.

This podcast is honestly the best part of watching the show ❤️

Wow, Michael actually liked something.

Wait there's going to be a Dunk and Egg show!!! Fuck ya!

Personally, I’m glad little maelor isn’t in the show considering what happens to him in the book. Even though his absence impacted the blood and cheese scene big time.

Let’s not forget she’s reading a lot of history she will go crazy soon…

Who is the character in the crowd in which he is referring?

ser salty crispy kreme really IS the worse person in all of westeros 😖😖😖

Ugh whenever some commentator says "patriarchy" I disconnect.

Rant Warning: apparently the show runner says Arryk was slain, Erryk won the duel. This fight was mishandled, imo. 1) Rhaenyra Targaryen was infantilized by cowering in a corner. As soon as she left her bed she cant hold eye contact for longer than 3 seconds. Also, I get she's a woman and they don't typically get trained in combat nearly as much as the men. HOWEVER, she's a bloody Targaryen, with a contested claim to the Iron Throne, who was declared rightful heir while she was still a child. I would think she'd be capable of more than merely wetting herself just because a lone assassin saunters in and telegraphs his intent from 3 leagues away. Pitiful. Not to mention, this is one knight, yet we're to believe she's willing to face an entire army backed by dragons.🙄 2) It's just messy. I can understand the cinematographers likely intended for the audience to lose track of which brother was which, so I'm comfortable classifying this as a pet peeve. I CANNOT stand when battles, big or small, get thrown in a tumble dryer so not even the GODS themselves know which way we're facing. And near constant shifts in perspective only aggravate this frustration. If the intent was to call into question the identity of the victor, they could've accomplished this with a momentary break in line of sight. Have the two tumble over a table that gets overturned in such a way that it's a "?" who's who without having to compromise nearly 3 minutes of what's supposed to be engaging action. Instead, we're left to suffer the convulsions of a cameraman who's been spun around 50 times and is in a state of superposition throughout the set.🤢🤮 3) Lastly, this "clarification" reveals a problem in the process. Either the director screwed up, continuity department screwed up, or the show runner screwed up. As noted in point 2, upon first viewing I lost track of who's who. So, when the victorious brother falls on his sword my immediate thought was, "well, that solves that dilemma. The whole tussle/misdirect was irrelevant." I would say it's not good to make any part of your plot irrelevant. After scrubbing through the fight on a second viewing, Erryk is the only one SHOWN to be wounded on the outside of his right leg just below the knee. Meaning, it was Erryk who was choking Arryk, Arryk who dug into his brothers wounded leg to push him off, Erryk who scrambles for his sword, and Arryk who skewers his brother to claim victory in the duel. So, in order for the show runner's statement to be true, either the director forgot who was "supposed" to win OR whoever was in charge of continuity put the leg wound on the wrong twin. OR it means the show runner has no idea what actually just happened and is trying to gaslight everyone because this isn't a simple starbucks cup left in frame that can be edited out. This confusion could've been avoided, and the scene been made to be WAY more metal and badass IF, if it was indeed Erryk who won the duel, Rhaenyra orders the knight to remove a gauntlet and reveal a brand of the Targaryen house sigil. THEN have Erryk ask forgiveness and fall on his sword. Or it works in the reverse, Rhaenyra orders a nearby knight (theres now like a dozen in the room) to check the arm of the dead brother and it reveals the brand that way. Arryk now understands he's failed and falls on his sword. End scene.

Why do we need a hour and a half breakdown for a 50 minute episode?