As a seasoned Westerosi watcher and book reader for well over a decade now, let me tell you, the finale of House of the Dragon Season 2 has left me both shaken and stirred – much like a fine cocktail made from the tears of three newly hatched dragons! The vision of Daemon’s haunted guilt was as chilling as a long winter night in the Vale. But fear not, fellow fans, for our beloved Blacks have more immediate problems to deal with than just the White Walkers.
Spoilers ahead for the Season 2 finale of House of the Dragon, called “The Queen Who Ever Was.”
The TV series titled “House of the Dragon” concluded its Season 2 finale, marking the end of its scheduled episodes in 2024. This dramatic ending left many viewers wishing for a longer second season, as it featured grand battles on land and sea, with three dragons supporting the Blacks led by Rhaenyra’s dragon offspring. Certain aspects mirrored George R.R. Martin’s writings in “Fire & Blood” and his epic saga “A Song of Ice and Fire,” which served as the foundation for “Game of Thrones.”
The biggest reveals of the episode didn’t really have to do with the Blacks vs. Greens conflict or even Alicent‘s daring move to visit Dragonstone and offer to sabotage her sons in order to escape with Helaena and Jaehaera, a.k.a. the less violent members of the Targaryen family tree. No, for me the biggest twist was that “The Queen Who Ever Was” delivered the strongest House of the Dragon tie back to Game of Thrones to date, and it was all courtesy of the last of Daemon‘s much-maligned Harrenhal visions.
Daemon’s Vision Of Rhaenyra, Daenerys, And The Long Night
In nearly every episode of Season 2, the show House of the Dragon maintained an air of mystery surrounding Daemon’s allegiances. However, during the penultimate episode, a chilling encounter in the Harrenhal godswood with Alys Rivers culminated in a vision that made Daemon understand his wife/niece/queen’s warning about the Dance of Ice and Fire. In this eerie sequence, skillfully directed by Geeta Vasant Patel upon her return to House of the Dragon, Daemon interacted with a weirwood tree, causing its sap to ooze like blood, leading him on an incredibly vivid journey – one that was quite trippy even by Season 2’s Daemon-standard experiences!
For fans of “A Song of Ice and Fire” who have only read the books, the initial scene carries more significance than those who have only watched “Game of Thrones” or “House of the Dragon,” as none other than pre-tree Bloodraven made an appearance. The scene also included images of the Night King (notably killed in one of the most controversial twists from GOT’s final season) and deceased dragons, a person walking through a field of blood and corpses, which appears to be another hint at Daemon’s destiny during this period of Targaryen history.
From a Game of Thrones perspective, the scene became intriguing when a red comet appeared, and a young woman with three tiny dragons clinging to her was shown – a hint that Daemon might be having a vision of Daenerys. The way it was filmed left me momentarily believing I’d see Emilia Clarke as the queen sitting on the Iron Throne instead of Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra.
The vision concluded with Daemon facing a spectral image of Helaena, leaving some room for doubt as to whether this apparition was genuinely Helaena through one of her green dreams or if it represented Daemon’s lingering guilt over the unintended consequences of his actions involving blood and cheese. To put it simply, this scene strongly resembled a specific part of ‘Game of Thrones’ and served as compelling evidence for Daemon that Rhaenyra was the true queen. Consequently, he vowed to support her until their story reaches its end, be it through his death or the conclusion of their shared narrative.
The Blacks Have Bigger Problems
Despite Daemon’s shock at the vision, and my own surprise that the Rebel Prince would say “Winter is coming” in this episode, it was evident in the last minutes of the finale that the Black family has immediate issues to deal with, rather than the White Walkers who won’t be confronted by Daenerys and Jon for over a hundred years.
In the last moments of “The Queen Who Ever Was”, characters who had accumulated throughout Season 2 were seen moving into position for a full-blown conflict in Season 3. Some of these developments weren’t entirely surprising, like Daemon overlooking his troops or Larys secretly taking Aegon away from King’s Landing.
Regarding Team Black, my interest mainly lies in uncovering Otto Hightower’s activities since his dismissal as Hand by Aegon, and I’m excited to witness more of the blue dragon Tessarion now that Daeron Targaryen is commanding an army from Oldtown. The march of Northmen across the Twins was a thrilling finale moment for me. Though I was once a supporter of House Stark, it seems my loyalty remains unchanged!
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but feel a sense of impending doom amidst the grand finale of ‘Game of Thrones.’ The Blacks have a strong advantage with their extensive connections and the recent introduction of three adult dragons, potentially joined by a fourth dragon, Rhaena, in Season 3. With the exception of Aemond, it appears that everyone else has accepted Rhaenyra as the one to claim King’s Landing. Armies converging from all corners of the Seven Kingdoms foreshadows chaos for everyone involved. Already, we’ve seen Aemond and Vhagar devastate a city, and even Rhaenyra seems inclined to incinerate towns in the name of the Blacks’ vision of a greater good.
Overall, I’m inclined to believe that Season 3 might commence with an even more violent beginning compared to Season 2, given that the second season’s premiere was filled with both blood and cheese. My sole wish is that the gap between Seasons 2 and 3 won’t be as prolonged as the two-year interval between Seasons 1 and 2.
As a fan of “Fire & Blood,” I found myself wishing for an in-story time leap to advance some of the younger characters who could play significant roles in Season 3. However, the way Season 2 concluded hints that the narrative will resume almost immediately from where it ended. In the meantime, enthusiasts can rewatch both seasons of “House of the Dragon” on a Max subscription, along with all eight seasons of “Game of Thrones.”
Besides delving into “House of the Dragon” Season 2, I’m pondering revisiting George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood.” This book could be a great choice for those yearning for more Westeros tales while waiting for fresh episodes. However, do keep in mind that it contains potential spoilers.
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2024-08-05 15:07