Score: 8/10
Alright, folks, buckle up because we’ve got a lot to unpack in this week’s episode of House of the Dragon. First off, can we take a moment to appreciate the runtime? A solid hour of Westerosi drama is exactly what the maesters ordered. None of that 30-minute nonsense that other shows put out – this is how you do epic fantasy television, people.
After the gut-punch that was the season premiere, “A Son for a Son,” where we witnessed the brutal murder of Jaehaerys (still not over it, by the way), this episode feels like a much-needed breather. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows – far from it – but it’s a slower-paced episode that allows us to process the fallout.
This is what I’d call a recovery episode. Team Green is reeling from the loss of Jaehaerys, and let me tell you, they’re not handling it well. Meanwhile, Team Black is in full damage control mode, shocked by the accusations and dealing with some serious inner conflict. Props to Otto Hightower for being the only one with more than two brain cells to rub together in King’s Landing. Shame his grandson doesn’t appreciate his pragmatism.
There’s a ton of political intrigue going on, and everyone’s exhibiting their predominant character traits. It’s a transitional episode, for sure, but it’s setting up some major conflicts down the line. I’m giving this one a solid 8/10.
Episode Breakdown (spoilers)
Alright, let’s dive deeper into the nitty-gritty of “Rhaenyra the Cruel.”
We start with the immediate aftermath of Jaehaerys’s death, and boy, is Aegon pissed. I mean, nuclear levels of anger here. Team Green holds an emergency meeting, and this is where Otto Hightower really shines. While everyone else is calling for blood, Otto sees an opportunity. He’s playing 4D chess while the rest are eating the checkers.
Otto convinces Aegon to let them parade his son’s body through the city and gets Alicent to join the funeral procession. It’s a cold move, no doubt, but you’ve got to admire the strategic thinking. He even manages to talk Aegon down from immediately executing Blood, the captured assassin. Otto’s playing the long game here, and it’s fascinating to watch.
Now, let’s talk about this funeral procession. It’s a masterclass in manipulation that would make Littlefinger proud. Alicent, showing some real political savvy, manages to convince a clearly traumatized Helaena to join her. This scene is heartbreaking – Helaena is clearly not okay, but she’s being used as a political pawn. As they ride through the city, you can see Otto’s plan working. The people are sharing in their grief, strengthening support for Aegon’s rule.
But then things go sideways. The cart gets stuck, and people start swarming. Helaena, already on edge, has a full-blown mental breakdown. It’s a stark reminder of the human cost of all this politicking. Alicent tries to calm her down, but it’s clear she’s in over her head. This scene really drives home how fragile Helaena’s mental state is, and I’m worried about where her character arc is heading.
Meanwhile, over on Dragonstone, Team Black is having their own crisis. When they break the news about Jaehaerys’s murder, Rhaenyra’s initial shock and denial are palpable. Emma D’Arcy really sells the moment when Rhaenyra realizes it was all Daemon’s doing. The ensuing argument between Rhaenyra and Daemon is Targaryen drama at its finest. They’re both breathing fire, targeting each other’s deepest insecurities. Rhaenyra accuses Daemon of being a loose cannon, lashing out over losing the crown. Daemon… well, Daemon’s being Daemon. It’s clear there’s a serious rift forming between these two, and I’m eager to see how it plays out.
Now, let’s talk about everyone’s least favorite knight, Ser Criston Cole. This guy is a walking disaster. He’s feeling guilty because instead of being on guard duty, he was balls deep inside of Alicent. Mind you, as a Kingsguard, he’s sworn an oath of celibacy. So not only did he fail at his job, he broke his vows. Again.
On top of that, Cole is a projecting motherfucker. He takes out his guilt on poor Arryk, berating him for having a slightly dirty cloak – remember, their pure white cloak symbolizes their oath of celibacy. The scene is tense, and you’ve got to give props to Arryk for showing such restraint. But Cole doesn’t stop there. In a move that had me yelling at my TV, he gaslights Arryk into going on a suicide mission to infiltrate Dragonstone and assassinate Queen Rhaenyra. All by himself. It’s a dick move of epic proportions, and it really cements Cole’s position as one of the most unlikeable characters in the show. This dude needs therapy.
Speaking of therapy, we’ve got Aemond and the sex worker. Aemond’s clearly got some mommy issues, curled up naked in the fetal position with a woman who resembles Alicent. I think this scene is meant to prove a point: Team Green is so emotionally stunted that none of them have the emotional capability of consoling and showing true love to each other. Aemond has to go to a brothel and hire a sex worker to give him the affection that his mother clearly deprived him of. Also, is it just me, or does Aemond look way too close in age to Alicent? The sex worker looks more like his mom than Alicent does.
The episode wraps up with Aegon going full Joffrey. After Blood mentions during torture that his accomplice was a ratcatcher, Aegon decides to execute ALL the ratcatchers in King’s Landing. Talk about overkill. He has them hanged from the city walls, undoing all the goodwill Otto had built up with the funeral procession.
This leads to a confrontation between Aegon and Otto that’s reminiscent of the scenes in Game of Thrones where Joffrey would get slapped around. Otto rips into Aegon for his shortsightedness, but Aegon’s not having it. In a move that had me face-palming, Aegon strips Otto of his position as Hand and gives it to… wait for it… Ser Criston Cole. Because clearly, what this volatile situation needs is more impulsive decision-making.
Lastly, we can’t forget the intense fight scene between Arryk and Erryk. It’s a quick but brutal affair, with the Team Black brother managing to defend Rhaenyra and kill his Team Green twin. But the emotional toll is immediate and devastating. Erryk, distraught over killing the person he loved most in the world, falls on his own sword. It’s a tragic end for both brothers and a stark reminder of the personal cost of this conflict.
Final Thoughts
Alright, let’s wrap this up. How can anyone support Team Green at this point? Those guys are repugnant and vile, built to uphold the patriarchy. But here’s the thing – I’m having a hard time liking anyone here. They all kind of suck in the sense that they’re pretty terrible people and, let’s face it, not the sharpest swords in the armory.
If the best character I’m rooting for is Otto, then we’ve got a problem. We’re not supposed to like him – he’s a shitty Green (though I’ve got to give props to the actor, he’s putting on a great performance).
The writing is lacking in some ways. It’s hard to root for people who make blunder after blunder – but I get it, this all plays into the story. Still, this season is very depressing. The story itself is hard to swallow, and I’m worried it could potentially affect viewership.
I think they need to find a way to get people to rally behind these characters, even if they’re not perfect. Remember Daemon in season 1? He wasn’t a good guy, but everyone immediately went, “He’s cool, I like him.” He carried Season 1, in my opinion. We need more of that energy.
While it’s too early to say that the show is simply spinning its wheels, if the next episode is more of the same, then I might get on board with that train of thought. It remains to be seen how the war between the Greens and Blacks continues to escalate and how these new characters introduced in various subplots factor in.
In conclusion, “Rhaenyra the Cruel” is a solid, if somewhat depressing, entry in the House of the Dragon saga. It’s setting up some major conflicts and giving us a deep dive into the psyches of our main players. But it’s also reminding us that in the game of thrones, there are no real winners – just survivors. Here’s hoping for some glimmer of hope in the coming episodes, or at least some characters we can actually root for.
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