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Small Council: Let’s debate the season 2 finale of House of the Dragon

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Small Council: Let's debate the season 2 finale of House of the Dragon

As a seasoned viewer of House of the Dragon, I must admit that the season 2 finale left me feeling somewhat underwhelmed, much like my feelings towards cold porridge on a brisk morning in King’s Landing. The episode was filled with intriguing moments, yet it seemed to be more about setting up the stage for Season 3 rather than wrapping up the current story arc.

Here’s one way to rephrase Dan’s statement: Instead of dwelling on the issues, let me begin by sharing what I appreciated about this episode. To demonstrate my sincerity, I will first highlight the positive aspects:

  • Everything with the new dragonriders was great. I especially loved Ulf White, who went from total coward to big-headed jerk the second he got a dragon. I adored how uncomfortable he was making everyone, especially Jace. House of the Dragon doesn’t generally have many laughs but Ulf generated a ton of comic energy. He’s my favorite new character of the season, just ahead of Ser Simon Strong.
  • Staying on the lighter side of things, I enjoyed the scenes with Tyland Lannister in Essos. They went on for a little too long but I like that they added levels to the episode. You have Rhaenyra and Alicent’s traumatic reunion in one corner and a fun subplot featuring mud wrestling and a monkey in the other. Variety keeps things spicy.
  • All season long, Alyn of Hull has been stern to the point of inscrutability, so it was cathartic to watch him unload on deadbeat dad Corlys.
  • Surprisingly, my favorite scene was Criston Cole’s speech about war to Gwayne Hightower. I thought it was quite poetic and poignant. And for a while I didn’t think I’d ever like a Criston scene.

Regrettably, I found the episode lacking in its major impacts. On a broader perspective, there was simply not enough action taking place, to put it bluntly. It seems that we were led to expect a war at the end of season 1, and even now, we’re still being teased with the same prospect. The season had some fantastic peaks, with the Battle of Rook’s Rest standing out as the most notable among them. However, I was hoping for another significant conclusion. Unfortunately, it didn’t deliver one.

As a long-time fan of George R.R. Martin’s world, I must confess my mixed feelings about the latest developments in House of the Dragon. The Daemon-Rhaenyra reconciliation scene was a delightful moment that brought a sense of closure to their tumultuous relationship. However, I find myself disappointed with how yet another dream/vision sequence seems to have driven Daemon’s character turn. I prefer stories that are grounded in the internal struggles and motivations of characters rather than relying too heavily on external forces like visions or prophecies.

In addition, there’s the significant scene featuring Rhaenyra and Alicent. The performances by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke were outstanding, yet I find Alicent’s character transformation hard to accept. Given her deep affection and conviction in Rhaenyra, would she truly be willing to sacrifice her ailing son? Moreover, it seems odd that the show overlooked the fact that Rhaenyra’s husband attempted to assassinate Alicent’s grandchild earlier in the season. I can’t help but feel that the show is trying to reconcile these two characters despite their past, and it feels forced.

It might be that my proximity to George R.R. Martin’s book, “Fire & Blood,” is influencing my perspective too much. I’d love to know your thoughts on it!

ALICE: I found the entire season finale disappointing because it failed to deliver on several key aspects. However, there were a few decent scenes scattered throughout. The season seemed to be leading towards a major climax, but instead, it appears that this will be saved for Season 3. Essentially, the season was a prolonged tease without a satisfying resolution, and I must admit, I was left feeling unsatisfied. Unfortunately, some of the storylines, like Daemon’s internal struggle about whether to destroy everything, were not executed well.

I’ve been waiting for Alicent to become a bigger player. We’ve seen her discarded by Aemond, ignored by his counselors, and betrayed by her allies. We had to go with her on her journey of self-discovery, and again, I don’t think there was much of a payoff. Like Dan, I have a hard time believing she’s willing to sacrifice her child for whom she’s fought so hard, for so long. She does know she made a lot of mistakes in the past, and maybe she just knows there is nothing she can do, but this sacrifice, to prevent massive bloodshed. The scene was beautifully and subtly performed by both actresses.

From what I gather, you’re saying that you hadn’t previously come across the information about Helaena being a seer, but now, it seems she is. This revelation might not be earth-shattering, as there were no apparent clues leading to this until this specific episode. However, if I may humbly suggest, I might have missed those hints. This season, Helaena’s character has shown a gradual development, and it appears to be progressing in a positive manner. I’m eager to see how her story unfolds further.

In these latest episodes, I’ve been taken aback by Lord Larys’ unusual behavior – a sharp departure from his usual role as the kingpin of information in the keep, city, and kingdom. Known for being cunning, manipulative, lethal, and always harboring a hidden agenda, he surprised us all with a tender moment with Aegon in episode 6. Then, he doubted the news about new dragon riders discovered by Rhaenyra. In this most recent episode, he seems to have pledged allegiance to a side that appears to be losing or, at best, not gaining anything significant. With Helaena’s prophecy of Aegon sitting on a wooden throne and his own questionable actions, Larys’ storyline has become more enigmatic than ever. I can’t help but wonder what secrets he holds that we, the viewers, are yet to uncover. Given the truce between Rhaenyra and Alicent, it seems shrewd of Larys to escape with Aegon.

Although these individual scenes were well-executed, they seemed more suitable for episode eight rather than the season finale. This particular episode fell short of the anticipation created by the preceding events, and to be honest, the overall narrative progress didn’t advance significantly. In essence, this episode, along with the entire season, turned out to be a disappointing conclusion.

Small Council: Let's debate the season 2 finale of House of the Dragon

As a devoted fan, I couldn’t help but feel that I wasn’t alone in finding the finale lacking. It had its intriguing instances, no doubt, but it seemed more like a stepping stone towards the next season rather than delivering a grand finale to conclude the season 2 narrative.

One thing I found particularly enjoyable was Daemon’s final vision, especially the link to Brynden Rivers and the glimpse of Daenerys. Moreover, Helaena’s manipulation of the vision offered a fascinating insight into her powers. I think what I appreciated most about it was the conclusion, as Helaena has been relatively underutilized so far—yet she managed to surprise us by asserting herself against her brother in that scene. Her defiance left me eager for more of her character. Despite being a sweet-natured individual, she showed remarkable courage in standing up to her brother in such a way.

Switching the roles – Alicent visiting Rhaenyra instead of the other way around earlier in the season – introduced an interesting turn of events. As Alicent grapples with losing everything she once held dear, she begins to question her previously held beliefs. Her betrayal of Aegon, sacrificing him for self-preservation and Helaena’s sake, was a surprising development I didn’t anticipate. Despite having protected Aegon for so long, her acceptance of his impending death feels out of character, given how frail he currently is.

As a longtime fan of the series, I can’t help but feel a pang of sadness upon hearing about Sunfyre’s supposed demise. With years of invested time and emotion poured into these characters, it’s always bittersweet to see them move on from the story. However, I must admit that some changes are inevitable in the evolution of any narrative.

As a longtime fan of the show, I must say that Otto Hightower has become one of my favorite characters due to his complex and mysterious nature. However, the way he was left hanging at the end of season 2 left me quite perplexed. Who is holding him captive, and what do they want? I’ve watched the finale several times now, but it doesn’t seem to make much sense as a season finale. As someone who has spent countless hours engrossed in this world, I can’t help but feel disappointed that the payoff wasn’t more satisfying. But rest assured, I will definitely be tuning in for season 3 to see how Otto’s story unfolds.

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2024-08-09 04:41

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