House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 8 Recap: Powerless or Powerful?

Finally, it is time to delve into the finale of the second House of the Dragon (“HOTD”) season, ‘The Queen Who Ever Was’. I think we can all agree there is much to say about this. With two years to wait before the dragons once more grace our screens, let us discuss what we can take away from this episode, for good or ill.

WARNING: Spoilers and heavy themes discussed below!

House of the Dragon: The Greens in Disarray

From the perspective of Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall), we are introduced to an intriguing new character: Sharako Lohar (Abigail Thorn). One senses a new side plot involving these two, though what bearing this will have on the main plot and the course of the war remains to be seen. Lohar is the admiral of the Triarchy fleet, who Tyland hopes to enlist in helping him break the blocade created by team Black.

Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) lays waste to Sharp Point with Vhagar. Angered by the loss of his supremacy in this conflict, as Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) now has two riders capable of taking on his aged dragon, he goes on a warpath to soothe his wounded pride.

In a scene which adds a layer of detail to the events of the book, Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) agrees to flee, as Larys (Matthew Needham), his conniving confidant, convinces him of the threat his brother poses to his life. He is without power, health, and dragon; Sunfyre is still presumed dead.

HOTD: The Blacks Reunite

Jacaerys (“Jace” played by Harry Collett) still resents the sudden elevation of the dragon seeds. Ulf (Tom Bennett), in particular, infuriates him. Ever the comic relief character, Ulf refuses to act with the same composure and severity which characterises Rhaenyra’s court on Dragonstone.

Meanwhile, Corlys (Steve Toussaint) takes the opportunity of Rhaenyra’s (Emma D’Arcy) newly secured position to remind her that she would be rash to underestimate Aemond now he feels his power slipping away. He wisely observes that the Greens still have dragons who could threaten her own; Tessarion, ridden by Daeron, Alicent’s youngest son, may be young but is of fighting age. Corlys also notes that Dreamfyre is of a similar age and scale to Vermithor and Silverwing and is formidable. Might we see a departure from the book, which sees Helaena (Phia Saban) take a more direct role in fighting this war?

Thankfully, Rhaenyra’s suggestion that she use her dragons as a ‘deterrent’ is shot down by Corlys. He rightly points out that any chance of a peaceful settlement without bloodshed has long since passed. In trying to paint her as a compassionate and caring ruler, the writers must be careful not to make Rhaenyra one-note. Her desire for peace makes her sympathetic, but her constant prevarication may frustrate viewers. At what point is war genuinely inevitable?

HOTD: The Dance of the Drag-on

We then meet Gwayne (Freddie Fox), who chastises Criston (Fabien Frankel) for his sexual relationship with Alicent. In a rare moment of wisdom and foresight, Criston despondently reflects on the helplessness of their position and the chaos that is to come; ‘the dragons dance and men are like dust under their feet’.

Returning briefly to Tyland and Lohar, the two leaders engage in a mud wrestling match. Lohar brings some much-needed comedy to the show, but one cannot help but wonder what the thinking was in introducing her and this far-removed plotline right at the end of the season, as fans and viewers eagerly await a climax to the main plot?

House of The Dragon: Daemon’s Prophecy

In one of the more controversial moments of the finale, Alys (Gayle Rankin) introduces Daemon (Matt Smith) to the world of greensight and weirwoods that we long-time Game of Thrones fans so fondly remember. Receiving this prophecy, Daemon foresees the events of Game of Thrones and the Long Night; we even see a flash of Daenerys as her dragons are born. As Rhaenyra confidently sits the Iron Throne, Helaena appears to tell Daemon that he is merely a ‘part’ in a ‘story’.

It has to be said that House of the Dragon suffers when the writers try to tie it too closely to its predecessor. Not only was the final season of that show one of the most controversial in television and media history, but this series deserves to stand on its own feet. It tells a story far removed from the events of Game of Thrones. A few references to ‘Aegon’s Dream’ in the first season provided an intriguing addition to the lore, but the series can only suffer for burdening, even strangling itself with Game of Thrones’ largely disappointing final season.

Meanwhile, Helaena wields her prophetic power as she reveals to Aemond, who still presses for her to take to the skies on Dreamfyre, that not only has she seen what he did to their brother at Rook’s Rest, but she has seen what will become of him before this war is done. Clearly shaken by his lack of control over his sister, this revelation that he cannot even control his own fate may drive the ‘regent’ towards an ever more desperate course of action.

HOTD: Rhaenyra Arrives

Arriving at Harrenhal with Addam (Clinton Liberty) on Seasmoke, Rhaenyra flies Syrax over Daemon’s army encampment and prepares to face her husband. Finally, at peace with his role in this conflict and newly enlightened by Alys’ visions, Daemon enacts a reconciliation by publicly and explicitly bending the knee to his wife and proclaiming her the one true queen. Setting aside my feelings regarding his character arc’s fatal entanglement with Game of Thrones, I am glad to see Daemon back on side.

HOTD: Haunted by the Past

Corlys and Alyn (Abubakar Salim) prepare to sail for war, and the Sea Snake is forced to confront his past mistakes. In a satisfying culmination of the interactions between these two characters, which we have observed thus far, Alyn confronts his father for abandoning him and his brother, pressing on despite Corlys’ repeated attempts to dismiss him. We see a new, more profound, darker side to Alyn, which excites me to see what else is in store for him.

Finally, as Rhaenyra awakes to find Alicent waiting in the shadows, viewers are reminded just who this series is really about; after all, the dance was initially entitled The Princess and The Queen.

Alicent comes to Rhaenyra seeking contrition and an escape from the war. Rhaenyra, mirroring their conversation earlier in the season, reminds her that ‘it’s too late’ and calls her out for her hypocrisy and privilege in running away from this war; ‘you wish to wash your hands of what you yourself set in motion’.

In an inspired addition to the book’s lore, we learn that Rhaenyra’s planned conquest of King’s Landing will be aided from the inside by Alicent, who will allow her to enter unmolested. Wishing only for ‘this senseless war’ to end, Alicent even agrees to the killing of Aegon, though not without remorse. In a phenomenal show of acting ability, Emma and Olivia display the weight of their respective character’s sorrow as they tearfully face what must be done and what their actions have made inevitable.

HOTD: Where Do We End Up?

Alicent is made more sympathetic than her book counterpart in this ordeal; as Rhaenyra correctly points out, ‘history will paint you a villain, a cold queen, grasping for power and then defeated’. I would not go as far as to say history is entirely wrong in this instance.

A beautiful sequence follows as both sides prepare for war, and Rhaena finally tracks down the ugly, wild dragon Sheepstealer, seemingly confirming fan speculation about her character’s departure from the book.

House of the Dragon Season 2 Finale

Ramin Djawadi once again delivers a chills-inducing soundtrack, complete with haunting female vocals, as the expert cinematography separates the two women at the centre of this dynastic conflict. Rhaenyra is caged, trapped within her shelves and scrolls, bound by the weight of history, tradition, and power. Alicent, now an insignificant, cold, diminished figure, stands surrounded only by an indifferent sky and an unforgiving sea.

Now we must wait for what seems like an age, and one cannot help but feel we would have been better served by an action-filled finale, showing Rhaenyra’s taking of King’s Landing as a payoff for the weighty and character-driven developments of this season’s latter half. Alas, it was not to be.