House Of The Dragon Season 2, Episode 2 Review 

I was pleasantly surprised by the depiction of Aegon the Second this episode. From what we saw of him last season, I was almost sure he was going to be portrayed like Joffrey Baratheon as a cruel and stupid man who believes being king means always having your way. Granted, Aegon should not be king and is indeed cruel and unwise, but the first half of the episode and the end made me sympathize with him. You can see that he wants to be a good king, he just doesn’t have the aptitude for it, and that despite all of Aegon’s faults as a man, he did love his son. Watching him cry at the very end was heartbreaking. Of course, he is still a villain for how he lashed out in petty vengeance for his son and how he let his bloodlust rule him. Otto chewing him out for this was especially satisfying, especially when Aegon bit back by firing Otto. However, I am glad he isn’t just another Joffrey, despite all the obvious similarities between them. Aegon is shaping up to be a very interesting antagonist. I just hope they can stick the landing this time with a character like this.

I loved the second episode. There was a lot of emotions in the characters, either it be Otto talking to his grandson to seeing Helaena Targaryen and the body of her son being carried in the cart through the streets and she is slowly descending into that madness. Even though I hate Aegon, his scene crying for his son was touching. I do not know if you noticed they made the body of Aemond seem skeletal and very skinny. I agree with you it was sad the twins died in this episode, though we knew it was coming, it was well filmed and as you said, I could not make who was who in the fight. I love a lot of the characters, but it is different than game of thrones and how we grew to love certain characters. Well, at least it is a good show and I always look forward to Sunday night.

The three things that very much stuck out to me: Aegon snubbing Helena, his sister AND wife on the stairs, Daemon snubbing his daughter, and Alicent snubbing Aegon during his time of need towards the end of the episode. Even in a fictional show I find sadness in the distance and disconnect inside some families. It was a good episode with only one action scene. We don't need warfare and violence every episode, as there is a lot of that to come.

as someone who didn't read the books and going in blind, I am enjoying this show. I liked this episode and thought the final fight was brutal and ultimately sad. Personally, Otto was the standout for me though, his scene with Ser Cole and King Aegon was well acted...same with Rhaenyra and Daemon's (spelling these names oh lord) spat. Enjoyed it all and waiting for Episode 3!

The acting was top notch this episode (other than the White Worm). Luke and Elliot Tittenson as Erryk and Arryk did a fantastic job. Made those characters very memorable. I still feel the writing leaves something to be desired - a few empty scenes, characters still feeling a bit one note. Still one of the best written shows on TV, but it just misses greatness, in my opinion. Mainly, if ironically, because of the unnecessary changes they continue to make. And as GRRM says: rarely does this lead to improvement.

Erik Kain confirmed not a cat lover.

I think season 2 is missing Viserys. He was such a "human" presence in the first season and the stand out performance for me from Paddy. I agree there's a notable lack of warmth and humour to HOD to balance out the intense moments as we got with earlier GOT. Still a high quality show however.

I thought it was well done, with plausible court exchanges, and basically ghastly characters being ghastly to each other. I'm not concerned that there's no redeeming figure - yet - to root for, as the whole plot, tone, and tension is more like The Revenger's Tragedy, or maybe Marlow, or Kyd. Everyone dies in the end. Almost everyone. It has that feel of high Tudor machinations and heinous acts. Otto Hightower's fraying patience and temper with Aegon was excellent, I could feel the denouement coming, even picked a couple of lines! There was some sloppy editing with Ser Hugh - that segment didn't work at all. Actually, there is a hero to root for: Mysaria.

You can feel where they chopped 2 eps worth off of the season, it's all a bit too "then this happened, then this happened" rather then events building naturally to their conclusion. Like season two of 'rome' if you're old enough to remember that

For what I remember, the twins didn’t get much screentime, and this assassination mission was a bit rushed. So the conclusion of their story felt bland for me. Not bad, but not great either. Still a good episode though.

Good stuff. That shirt entranced me. Would have liked a little mote about Cole's continued jaunt into stupid evil, as well as his new position. In bed, as well as his position to the throne. He really is the domino that keeps falling to push others over.

I liked the episode, but I still get annoyed when I see how they depict certain characters. Daemon is still too petulant. Rhaenyra and Alicent are still far too saintly, compared to the rest of the characters. Rhaenyra is of a royal bloodline - if Daemon had recommended a son for a son in a council meeting, after losing her son AND her baby back to back, I just don't think she would have batted an eye. I think she would've gone with it, just to get back at who she sees as mortal enemies. Recall Cersei's solution for Sansa's direwolf when Joffrey gets bitten - she doesn't care that it's not guilty, all she cares about is vengeance, and no one bats an eye for the death of the butcher's boy. These are noble houses, and more than that, they are Targaryens, the nobles' noble house. I know Cersei is more off her rocker, but Rhaenyra is the nearest thing we should get to Cersei in this story - a more subdued version, to be sure, but the stories are meant to somewhat reflect one another. The show would be more interesting if Alicent was more good, doing an evil thing for the good of the realm, and Rhaenyra was more bad, doing what's technically right to the detriment of the realm - that's how the original story felt, to me, after seeing the bigger picture. You rooted for Rhaenyra in the beginning of the story because she's getting done wrong, not because she's a good person. It's like Stannis - is he really what the Seven Kingdoms needs? Probably not, but you sympathize with him anyway, without him being turned into a saint. I think Otto's character was the stand-out in this episode. He felt more human here. Very well acted. I knew the twins would kill one another, but I also didn't think it would happen so quickly. I would've liked that to have been built up a little more, though it was pretty exciting, ain't gonna lie. I wish showrunners would not 'clarify' things like which twin won. The scene is way more effective not knowing which one fell on his sword, because it doesn't matter, at that point - it should be up for debate, which makes it even more tragic, knowing either situation is ridiculously sad. I got the feeling the showrunners were trying to illustrate the greater story at large through the twins' fight to the death, and it's very ham-fisted and just doesn't work in that respect - they are not of royal blood, they are only knights swept up in a far more complex story. I'm not saying the showrunners/writers lack talent, but I do think they lack subtlety, and that's the difference between HotD and early GoT. Still, not bad television, and I'll be back for #3

This episode made up for the lackluster premiere. It still feels messy to me though, I don’t know why.

I don’t know, in hindsight characters like Tyrion cracking wise in early seasons of GoT lead to the travesty of crass dick and balls jokes in latter seasons. So I don’t mind HoTD not leaning into that. I have been finding Aemon surprisingly comical this season, though.

I can’t help comparing this show to game of thrones, and feeling that it is massively inferior. The actors/characters are much less interesting, the story is one dimensional- with only the conflict between the two clans, it looks lower budget and I miss having at least one character I can sympathize with. And I still haven’t forgiven the change of main characters in season 1, that not only meant new appearance but also completely changed personalities, with Rhaenera becoming bitter and whining, and determined to become Queen and ruler even though she has shown no leadership, and probably would have a much better life as princess. I generally agree with your reviews and opinions Erik, but I think you have been way too nice and lenient on this show.

HOTD is good I watch it. Can't tell the same for ROP though lol. ROP was the most disgusting show I ever watched. The amount of untalented actors, directors etc is so huge that its unbearable to watch it. Its worst than true detective season 4.

You look like Erryk and Arryk,you are probably the missing triplet...

Mediocre show