Rather than a devastating fight to finish Season 2, “House of the Dragon” concludes with a hot exchange of words between Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) that will have you on the edge of your seat, just like any dragon combat.
Instead of commencing in Westeros, the Season 2 finale takes place in Essos, the sandy, pirate-infested region to the east. Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall) is there to negotiate with the Triarchy on behalf of the Greens in return for the Stepstone islands. Sharako Lohar (Abigail Thorn) accepts to lead the naval force after defeating Tyland in a mud wrestling match, and they set sail to breach the blockade surrounding King’s Landing.
In the city, Prince Regent Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) returns from burning down an entire town with his dragon Vhagar. His sister Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban) and mother Alicent are appalled at what he’s done, and even more so when he demands Helaena take flight on her dragon Dreamfyre to aid in the war. Alicent stands up for her daughter, who reveals that she knows Aemond severely burned their brother King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) during the Battle of Rook’s Rest.
And Aegon is not doing well. He can barely walk, he’s depressed and he can’t pee without urine running down his leg. His master of whisperers, Larys Strong (Matthew Needham), suggests they flee to Braavos and live off their remaining gold, so that Aegon can triumphantly return and rise from the ashes later on. Miles away — but like Aegon after Rook’s Rest — Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) is also a broken man. He’s shell-shocked after narrowly surviving a dragon attack, and believes that his army is marching toward fiery annihilation. Alicent’s brother Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox) knows that Criston has been breaking his Kingsguard vows by sleeping with his sister, and Criston admits his desire for women has brought him nothing but grief.
Throughout this season, Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) has had some creepy, cameo-filled visions while in Harrenhal, but this episode features the most surprising ones. The witch Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin) brings Daemon to a weirwood tree, where he has visions of the upcoming “Game of Thrones” future. He sees Brynden Rivers — better known as the Three-Eyed Raven, later played by Max von Sydow — White Walkers from beyond the Wall and a glimpse of Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys Targaryen with her three 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢 dragons. Daemon also sees himself drowning, Rhaenyra sitting on the Iron Throne, a dead dragon and a pile of corpses. The vision ends with Helaena staring back at him, telling him he must play his part in the grand Westeros story. Back in King’s Landing, Helaena simultaneously snaps out of her vision when she’s interrupted by Aemond. She tells him of his impending doom from being swallowed up by the Gods Eye and that Aegon will be king again.
The vision scares Daemon enough that he’s convinced he must bend the knee to Rhaenyra, and pledge his army and support to the Blacks. Finally, in Dragonstone, Alicent pays Rhaenyra a secret visit during which she begs her to end the war. After Aemond fired her from the small council, Alicent has come to her senses, and she’s done with scheming and plotting. She tells Rhaenyra the Black forces can conquer King’s Landing in three days while Aemond is away at war with Criston. She even says that Rhaenyra can 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 Aegon to fully take power. The two share a tense, tearful reunion, but it’s unclear whether Alicent will keep her word — and if Rhaenyra completely trusts her.
Before we can see the outcome of their conversation, the Green and Black forces prepare for all-out war. The Lannisters join the Greens, the Triarchy ships face the Velaryon fleet and Starks march south to join the fight. Larys and Aegon also sneak away from King’s Landing in a wagon, and we see Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) locked away in a dungeon somewhere. Plus, there are two more dragons in play: Daemon’s daughter Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell) discovers a lost dragon named Sheepstealer, and the large blue dragon Tessarion flies over the Green army. Tessarion belongs to Daeron Targaryen, Alicent’s son who has yet to appear on the show but has been away in Oldtown the whole time. It seems like Season 3 will finally introduce this missing Targaryen, and we’ll get even more dragon-tastic battles.
In an interview with Variety, Geeta Vasant Patel — who also directed Episode 3 from this season — explains creating Daemon’s cameo-filled vision, shooting Rhaenyra and Alicent’s emotional conversation, introducing the two new dragons and much more.
A lot of fans were expecting a big battle episode since this is the season finale, but this was much more about intense conversations and shifting alliances. How did this episode fit the mold of what you were expecting to do for the finale?
I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know if it would be a battle or something else. I probably expected a battle, just as a fan. Then when I read the script, I was pleasantly surprised and happy, because I think we put too much on battles. I think what’s really interesting about this episode is that it’s about relationships. It’s the dialogue, the twists and turns, the relationship between Daemon and Rhaenyra, and Rhaenyra and Alicent. For me, it was quite thrilling to focus on the dramaturgy. I love that. I was excited to dig deep with this. I definitely felt the challenge if people are expecting a big battle, how is this going to compete with it? But having done Episode 8 from Season 1, I knew that if we executed the script it would be grand.
