Home of the Dragon season 2’s explosive begin and stellar fourth episode constructed up my expectations for the ultimate. Sadly, it ended with a whimper relatively than a bang.
The collection wrapped on HBO final night time and is because of air on Sky Atlantic tonight within the UK – though the episode is accessible on demand already. It additionally leaked earlier this week, so kudos in case you managed to keep away from spoilers.
Talking of which – spoilers for Home of the Dragon season 2 and Recreation of Thrones observe.
With the promise of three new dragon riders and battalions cast on land and sea, I assumed we’d get to see at the very least some motion. Nevertheless, the final episode was nothing however a build-up to a warfare that we by no means acquired to witness correctly.
We went proper again to the early season 1 days, with characters discussing battle methods and courtroom etiquette for much too lengthy. There was even a weird mud-wrestling scene with Ser Tyland Lannister thrown in, presumably to interrupt up the countless chitter-chatter.
Theo Whitman/HBO
Theo Whitman/HBO
Theo Whitman/HBO
Arguably the largest second of the episode got here throughout a scene with Daemon Targaryen, who was dropped at the Godswood to see his true function – to combat for Rhaenyra relatively than in opposition to her and make sure that she finally ends up on the Iron Throne.
Throughout this sequence, we noticed snippets of what’s going to presumably be The Battle Above the Gods Eye, an important combat within the collection that could be the climax of the present, full cease. It’s additionally the important thing to Daemon’s character arc, which he has been making an attempt to find throughout his weird hallucination-filled time at Harrenhal, with Ser Simon Robust casually roasting him within the background.
Nevertheless, we additionally noticed a flash-forward to the distant future – one the place the lifeless stroll past The Wall and a singed blonde girl sits together with her three child dragons.
Recreation of Thrones followers will instantly recognise the Evening King and Daenerys Targaryen, two of the largest characters from the unique present. Whereas this second was meant to hype up followers for the finale, it did the other for me.
Once I noticed Daenerys, all I may take into consideration was her horrible character arc in season 8 of Recreation of Thrones, the place she determined to burn King’s Touchdown to a crisp, seemingly on a whim, earlier than being anti-climatically stabbed by her lover. This was all after seasons of build-up, and the promise of liberation for the folks from years of tyrannical Lannister rule that by no means got here to cross.
Are we actually purported to consider that Daemon’s greater function (from the Previous Gods, no much less) is to make sure that this future occurs?
Warner Bros. Discovery/HBO
Warner Bros. Discovery/HBO
Warner Bros. Discovery/HBO
This second could also be extra supposed to bolster the lore of the present, probably implying that Daenerys was the ‘Prince Who Was Promised’ from historical tales, a saviour of the land – so Daemon should shield his lineage. However once more, if that’s the case, then in what world does this prophecy come to cross? Not within the ending of Recreation of Thrones, that’s for positive.
He even utters the ominous line, “Winter is Coming” to Rhaenyra, however once more – we all know how that ends. In a battle far too darkish to be seen on most TV screens, with writers D&D ‘subverting our expectations’ by making what ought to have been the largest battle of the present removed from the massacre we have been led to anticipate, and the person we thought could be the saviour – Jon Snow – not figuring in any form or kind.
This scene felt prefer it was solely included as a result of the finale was quick on set-piece moments. Time was as an alternative wasted with Rhaena Targaryen operating across the Vale, and Jacaerys Velaryon getting aggravated about commoners being impolite on the dinner desk.
However above all, it wasn’t wanted. Home of the Dragon has now confirmed that its characters have the energy to face on their very own. It has the potential to have a extra satisfying ending than the unique present ever did, and dredging up the previous and the disappointing conclusion of its predecessor doesn’t do it any favours.
Regardless of the flat ending, season 2 had some unbelievable moments – let’s simply hope that the following instalment ends on an action-heavy excessive.