The second episode of House of the Dragon starts with a battle and ends with it, in between is the tension of Rhaenyra, Alicent, and Viserys! Re:cap, Myseria is quietly thinking as Daemon returns. She asks him about the marriage and also that she was having a child. Myseria says she made it so she couldn't have children! She admits that she has been sold and doesn't remember her homeland. Myseria has a relationship with Daemon to be "liberated" from fear. Viserys enters the Small Council chamber to talk with Lord Lyonel Strong. He wants his opinion on marrying the young Laena Velaryon that would have the Sea Snake, Corlys Velaryon on his side. Viserys is informed that his daughter has returned from Dragonstone! She was able to negotiate with Daemon for the return of the dragon egg without any fighting. He tells her that he will remarry. Viserys looks out from the Red Keep as the Small Council assembles. He announces that he will marry... Alicent Hightower! Lord Velaryon objects, but then leaves. Rhaenyra is also upset and leaves.
At the Driftmark, The Sea Snake mentions the age of House Velaryon and makes an ally with Daemon Targaryen to help him with the Stepstones. A ship is on fire as the Crabfeeder, Craghas Drahar (Daniel Scott-Smith) is told by a prisoner that House Velaryon is coming for him. His face and upper body is covered by the greyscale disease. He hammers a spike and places crabs on him. Caraxes ignites the Triarchy army as the prisoner cheers on Prince Daemon. The Crabfeeders are flame broiled. The dragon crushes him and begins crab cooking. The survivors run into caves. Prince Daemon calls for the Crabfeeder as he hides in a cave. Caraxes is pelted by arrows and flies away. We don't get the beginning of the battle, it feels a bit like the Clone Wars in the Star Wars prequel movies. At a feast, there is a celebration of the king’s child, Aegon’s second name day. Also there is Queen Alicent pregnant with another child. Viserys gets the report of the Battle of the Stepstones, but he wants nothing after the three years of fighting. The king just wants to know where is Rhaenyra.
Under the Godswood weir tree, Rhaenyra is listening to a bard, Samwell (Jonny Welson), as Alicent approaches. Queen Alicent sends away the bard. Rhaenyra gives up to join the hunt. In a wagon, is the Targaryen family, Rhaenyra is going along, but she knows this all of the king. They reach the row of Kingswood tents and receive claps at the arrival of the king including Otto Hightower. Rhaenyra sits in the wagon alone. She later enters the royal gathering. Laerys Strong who is limping with a replaced foot joins the women with Queen Alicent. Rhaenyra walks through the camp and sees Lord Jason Lannister (Jefferson Hall) who introduces himself. He explains Casterly Rock and tells her that he needs a dragon. Rhaenrys confronts her father angered at being paired off. There is just a rim of tears in her eyes, incredible acting by Alcock! Viserys argues with her and the Hand interrupts them since all of the royal court watches the argument.
Lord Hightower notes that a white hart has been spotted. The black stag is the symbol of House Baratheon. Rhaenrya mounts her horse and Ser Criston chases after her through the forest. He is just able to take hold of her horse at the edge of the river. He asks her if he should kill Lord Lannister. They walk their horses and Rhaenyra says she feels useless. At the hunt, King Viserys dismounts his horse and checks the droppings of the white hart. Did anyone notice that Viserys wipes his hand on Lord Hightower's cloak after touching the droppings? Later, he takes a drink at the banquet. He is presented a spear to kill the white hart by Jason Lannister. Viserys is asked about marriage to Rhaenyra. Lord Hightower reminds Viserys that Rhaenyra will follow whatever he orders, but is told he wants his daughter to be happy. The Hand suggests that Aegon II, now an infant!, could be a husband for Rhaenyra. Lord Lyonel Strong suggests that the son of Lord Corlys, Laenor. Viserys wearily gets up and leaves.
At night, Rhaenrya is a camp fire with Ser Criston, she asks if the Seven Kingdoms will accept her queen. The horse snorts and paws nervously so Ser Criston draws his sword. He walks further into the dark forest. A boar charges him, knocking Ser Criston down, and then begins attacking Rhaenrya. It is stabbed by Ser Criston and snorts so Rhaenrya stabs it repeatedly with her dagger! It is a more savage version of the R.O.U.S in the Fire Swamp of Princess Bride (1987). We are getting a some echoes of what happened to Robert Baratheon! Alicent checks on her husband by a bonfire. He says he named Rhaenyra as protection from Daemon. Viserys saw a son in a vision, but it was only one time. This obsession, he says, led to Aemma’s death. Morning, another hunt, Viserys watches a stag caught by hunters. Jason Lannister gives him the spear. Viserys drives the spear below the stag’s neck! The stag still struggles until the king drives the spear into it again. The rest of the hunters clap. Rhaenrya looks out to the forests, her hair streaked with blood to the white hart! Ser Criston starts to draw his sword, but Rhaenyra allows it to go free! At the bonfire, the boar is dragged back.
Rhaenyra walks into the camp with blood along her neck! The wagons return to King’s Landing. Otto Hightower enters to talk with his daughter about her child. He hopes Aegon will be named heir and keep the realm. This is rift between Rhaenyra and herself. She walks into the king’s chamber as he sits by the fire. She sees a letter from Daemon who is fighting in the Stepstones. He is asking for aid, but Viserys refuses. Alicient poses the question is it better for the Crabfeeder to be alive. The next day, at the Small Council, Viserys has sent a message to send ships to Daemon Targaryen. Rhaenyra feels useless with the son of Alicent to be named heir. He says that he had no choice to be married to Aemma who he says “made him a man.” Viserys wants her to find her husband and reassures her that she will be his heir. Later at the Battle of the Stepstones, Ser Leonor Velayron (Theo Nate) argues with his uncle, the Sea Snake, over the course of the battle. A vicious battle that caps an episode of intrigue, we do skip over some good parts, but the third episode sets the course for the older Alicent and Rhaenyra!
Four Dragon Saddles out of Five!
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