The Queen Who Ever Was – House of the Dragon S2 Ep 8 Review
I wrote about this a little bit in my review (and spoke even more about it in last week’s video), but I don’t believe the writers are following these characters natural story arcs.
Things are getting progressively out of hand, and in turn that lended to this season finale feeling more like a sixth episode in an eight or even ten episode season.
Lord Tyland Goes Mud Wrestling
Lord Tywin, er – Lord Tyland (Remember Rickon and Dickon in Game of Thrones? Wasn’t that funny? Haha) Lannister having a very unserious and somewhat mad mud wrestling competition with a “big woman” (Lohar) he doesn’t necessarily seem to like was giving Brienne of Tarth and Jaime Lannister GoT Season 2 vibes.
And honestly, I’m pretty sure that was the point.
I saw a lot of chatter in a particular reviewers comment section that this sort of lax writing is due to “Sara Hess” and her alleged disdain for the direction of the show (and Daemon’s character arc – much like the allegations against showrunner Ryan Condal).
Then there are rumors that George RR Martin is not happy with the direction the show is going ( a reoccurring theme at this point) that lends itself to Martin taking shots at shows like Amazon’s Rings of Power that adapt “great works” and then the showrunners try to “make it their own” prematurely and in an unnecessary fashion.
Couple this with cast interviews like Baela’s actress talking about weilding a Sword (we only see her display a crossbow during target practice this season), images and stills of Cregan Stark along with the Northmen marching that were cut from the episode, and scenes where we just open up to Aemond hovering over a burned city on Vhagar with no context seems to hint at a lot of shuffling and dicing in the storyline editing department.
Even the Inside the Episode segment seemed rushed with many unnecessary cuts mid-sentence sometimes, and I can’t quite figure out why.
Alyn of Hull Character Change
Apparently Alyn earns the nickname “Oakenfist” in the books (and allegedly may have done the mud wrestling Tyland does), and Rhaena never abandons her half-brothers to go claim a dragon in the mountains while dehydrated, as well. Hell, I’d wager that something crucial was cut from both scenes I’m referring to because thematically, they make no sense.
It’s only been at the very least 1 day since Addam claimed the Dragon, and the dragonseed culling. Maybe a week ago (at most), Alyn and Addam had the conversation about Alyn being promoted, and Addam wanted Alyn to leave his silver hair unshaved. Alyn responded that his men “respect” him and he doesn’t want to betray their trust by implying he’s receiving special favor from Lord Corlys because he’s a bastard or distant relative of sorts.
Now in this episode, Corlys needs to give Alyn pointers and advice to “help him out” with the men (whom respect him) because now he’s too serious? What?
And to top it all off, Alyn being cool and composed regarding Corlys while Addam was always the emotional one believing Corlys owed them something…to Alyn this episode upset he was in the streets living as the lowborn, poor bastard he is hustling and selling fish while watching Corlys and his trueborn son and heir Laenor walk around their castle town buying holiday ham in their fur coats? Bro, what?
Where is this emotion even coming from?
Aegon is No Longer Crippled?
I guess since Aegon wants to be the new “Realms Delight” after the death of his sister, that positivity and hope healed his crippled and broken body.
Aegon was barely able to move last episode or even take two steps without pain, and now he’s sitting upright in a janky cart (not even a lush wheelhouse) with Larys speaking perfectly well when he was whining in bed hours ago.
Daemon Bends the Knee to Prophecy
Daemon technically never really admitted whether or not he respects or acknowledges Rhaenyra’s claim to the throne. But due to the Weirwood net showing him some clips from Game of Thrones Season 8, Daemon suddenly believes in prophecy when he literally choked Rhaenyra out for bringing it up before.
Treason in Front of Weirwood Trees
How about we talk about the Riverlords and their bannermen simply stopping to stare awkwardly at Rhaenyra and her dragon. Didn’t they supposedly pledge their fealty to support the Queen over the King Consort Daemon?
Why would they not acknowledge the Queen’s presence until Daemon’s half-assed speech (in Valyrian) after he bent the knee?
Or Ser Alfred, wishing to speak in private with Daemon and then going to stand directly in front of a god damn weirwood tree and hearing “traitor” on the wind before speaking his treason aloud.
The Prince That Was Promised (again)
The show decided to reference Dany being The Prince That Was Promised when portraying The Long Night when we know it was really at best a mere dismal hour.
I do believe Daenerys is The Prince That Was Promised in the books but in the show they killed her and gave that role to the idiot who knows nothing, Jon Snow.
Also with talk of the ASOIAF prophecy, why not include the shots of Cregan Stark to support his narrative of earlier stating he needed to save his best soldiers for winter, along with showing the greybeards again after Daemon speaks of The Long Night?
Instead of Lord Tyland mud wresting and joking about casual cannibalism in Essos.
Ulf’s Disrespect to the Crown
Why did Rhaenyra tolerate the disrespect from Ulf at her own dinner table in her own ancestral seat of power when episodes earlier she slapped an advisor for speaking to her in a respectful, but slightly erratic manner?
Character Assassinations Across the Board
These characters are making decisions that make no sense and are forced to create a specific outcome or achieve a certain point in the story – no matter how hollow the motions or actions or even dialogue seems.
Like aside from the odd mistake or two at court for overstepping as Hand, how on earth would Otto Hightower land himself as an prisoner in jail? And why was Gwayne so nonchalant before about not hearing from Otto with war breaking out in the areas he was traveling through?
(Honestly, it would be cool and narratively sound if Rhaenyra or even a member of the Triarchy had captured Otto. Then we could cut to Tyland sailing above deck and then below cut to Otto trapped, with Lohor checking in on him. Or even Rhaenyra allowing to let Alicent leave and before she boards her clandestine vessel, takes one last look at the castle and then cut to Otto having a torchlight shoved in his face as Rhaenyra turns from watching Alicent depart to attending to Otto in the dungeons.)
Mysaria No Longer Cares for the Smallfolk?
Why would Mysaria, who has been all about the smallfolk this entire time – and even got her house bombed because of it by Otto – suddenly be cool with, and egging Rhaenyra on to “murder the innocents” of key strongholds because it’s “ordained by the gods”?
It’s giving very strong Jaime Lannister “I never cared about the smallfolk- innocent or otherwise” vibes and I’m not feeling it.
Criston Cole Admits Defeat
Why would Criston Cole be sniffing Alicent’s token out in the open with her brother nearby?
Why would Gwayne shout that Criston has been “fucking the queen of the 7 kingdoms” (how did he know in the first place??) in front of all of his men and kingsguard just to sit back down quietly and say nothing when Criston states he’s depressed and just wants to die?
Alicent No Longer Cares for her Children?
Don’t even get me started on Alicent going from being a literal banshee for years and drilling it in her children’s heads that Rhaenyra was going to kill them (because Otto did the same to her about those same kids for decades) to suddenly taking a day trip to the Kingswood for some camping, a light swim, and then coming back just to offer Rhaenyra her precious children’s heads up on a Valyrian steel platter, along with the crown?
Also, why would Rhaenyra want to “run away” with Alicent? Didn’t Rhaenyra say that in Season 1, Episode 1 that her dragon Syrax had “room for two” before she was named heir and dedicated her life to service?
Thematically, the writing in House of the Dragon Season 2 made absolutely no sense and it’s quite a shame really, when they could have ended strong with an episode like The Red Sowing, instead.
But, tell me your thoughts.
How do you feel about Helaena suddenly having the same level of power as greenseers like Brynden Rivers (“Bloodraven”), Bran Stark, Larys Strong or even the immortal witch Alys Rivers to invade Daemon Targaryen’s weirdwood vision despite never even speaking her prophecies aloud before with confidence?
Or how Helaena is now suddenly okay with Alicent’s touch despite the show making it clear that even as a baby Helaena avoided her mother’s touch?
Or Larys randomly revealing nearly all of Harrenhal’s wealth is stored with the Iron Bank of Braavos?
Let me know your thoughts, leave them in the comment section below! And follow us for more House of the Dragon Season 2 Reviews.
Until next time : ~
“This world is a shadow of the real one”.