After much anticipation and speculation from fans of HBO’s House of the Dragon, the television series adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, the second season of the show HBO’s House of the Dragon commenced on Jun. 16 and concluded on Aug. 3.
With a total of eight episodes, the season falls two episodes shorter than the first season with ten episodes.
The season picks up directly after the ending of season one, following the death of Lucerys Velaryon, who is played by Elliot Grihault). Raw from the death of her son, Rhaenyra Targaryen, played by Emma D’Arcy, must come to terms with fighting for her right to the Iron Throne after being usurped by her half-brother, Aegon Targaryen, played by Tom Glynn-Carney.
With Rhaenyra and her children labelled as “team black” while Alicent Hightower, played by Olivia Cooke and her children are labelled as “team green,” both sides of the Targaryen conflict have their chance to shine during season two.
Cooke’s performance of Alicent is raw and introspective, encouraging the audience to both sympathize with and feel disdain for the character’s choice in actions (and allegiances) during the season.
Cooke especially shines in her scenes with Fabien Frankle as the infamous Criston Cole throughout the season as their characters grapple with having a guilty conscious.
Key to team green’s narrative are the characters of Aegon), Aemond Targaryen, played by Ewan Mitchell and Helaena Targaryen, played by Phia Saban.
Every actor plays off one another naturally, their chemistry as siblings is the beating heart of the show’s focus on family dynamics – especially as the majority of the season takes place at King’s Landing. While all three actors previously appeared at the end of season one, their roles in season two are pivotal.
Saban in particular shines during one of the season’s darkest moments, portraying the haunted nature of her character’s grief expertly. Also of note is the brotherly rivalry between Aegon and Aemond.
Glynn-Carney said in an interview with Esquire Magazine that his understanding of Aegon is someone who is “intensely ambitious and incapable of pursuing the things he sets for himself.” Conversely, in the same interview Mitchell describes his presentation of Aemond in season one as “a character that was entirely black,” while in season two he couldn’t wait to “turn him gray.”
Returning to make up team black are Rhaenyra, Daemon Targaryen, played by Matt Smith, Jace Velaryon, played by Harry Collett, Rhaenys Targaryen, played by Eve Best and Corlys Velaryon, played by Steve Toussaint.
D’Arcy’s portrayal of Rhaenyra continues to be one of the standout performances of the show, and Best has the opportunity to show the depth of Rhaenys’s character and connection to her dragon, Meleys, during one of the few battles shown throughout season two.
While Smith has arguably less to do this season as he returns to the role of Daemon, he still has the opportunity to explore his character’s internal struggle between supporting Rhaenyra in her bid for the throne while still desiring the crown himself.
For those expecting more action and battle scenes than the first season, the second season of House of the Dragon will likely be a disappointment.
For those who enjoy the political drama aspects of the first season and desire an even deeper look into the psyche of the show’s main characters, the season is a triumph. Of the two groups, I am the latter.
The season finale, “The Queen Who Ever Was,” is likely to divide viewers – the episode deviating far from the events portrayed in Fire & Blood as it attempts to leave viewers on a cliffhanger. With a score of 6.4 out of 10 on IMDb, it is the second lowest rated episode this season behind episode six, “Smallfolk.”
Overall, I enjoyed Season 2 of House of the Dragon equally – if not more – than season 1 and give it a cumulative rating of 9 out of 10.
With Season 3 set to be released sometime in 2026, fans of the Game of Thrones extended universe can look forward to another prequel series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, when it airs in 2025.
