House of the Dragon | Season 2 | "Rhaenyra the Cruel" | Recap & Review

*Spoilers ahead!

This episode kicks off as rather chaotic with people in the Red Keep running every which way in the aftyermath of young Prince Jaehaerys' murder. What sort of calmed the fast-pace start was Aemond strolling into his quarters assumingly about to wind down for the night, when he pauses and notices he and Criston Cole's map of their plans is missing. He also finds a particular coin under the table. Aemond is quickly becoming a silent (much like his grown-up character) favorite of mine. Although I have not declared for neither team green nor team black...yet.

Meanwhile, Aegon is busy smashing the model city that his father Viserys took a while sculpting. All the while yelling that he is going to declare war. We can kind of see now that the "mad king" could definatley be a descendant of this Aegon. He is pretty much [and spot on] blaming Rhaenyra, and in a sense Daemon. Then he starts pointing fingers at everyone on the small council, and throws shade at ser Criston Cole. We can obviously see the nervous glance that Alicent gives in the direction of Cole as Aegon is scolding him, hoping he doesn't say what he was really doing...

The Hand, Otto, tries talking sense into Aegon stating that they just need to gives this a little more time to breathe and the people will become more sympathetic and also see that Rhaenyra's crimes will come to light- assuming she is the culprit. A few moments later we see Alicent trying to convince Queen Halaena that they must be part of the funeral succession that's going to be going throught the streets of the capitol. Alicent later tries to explain what Halaena saw when she bursted in her door towards the end of episode 1. Halaena cuts her off- perhaps like maybe don't worry about it, but she had a very sly look on her face as if to say "I could use this later" because Cole could have the slightest chance of stopping what was done to her son.

As the funeral procession moves along, we see cuts to Larys in the holding cell with one of the asalants. Before Larys can even begin to speak, the suspect gives up Daemon within seconds. As these two scenes are happening simoltaiosuly as we see them, one of the lords in the procession is shouting "witness the work of Rhaenyra Targaryen" trying to coninve the people she would be a lousy and unloyal queen. We cut back to the holding cell, Aegon has since entered holding what appears to be a club of some sort and bashes the suspect's face with it. Back at the procession, the people of the city seem to love and have sympothy for the Queen. Halaena still does not want to get close to them, and starts to have [assumingly] a panic attatck. Remember now, this is a woman who is prone to prophecies and the like, so maybe she has foreseen something happening during this march which could be the reason she did not want to go in the first place.

Over on Dragonstone, Rhaenyra learns of the allogations on her, obviosuly blindsided by the news she automatically asks Daemon if he has anything to do with it. And in his quick-wit, mild mannered self, he said he was going after Aemond not a innocent child- and that he's not responsible. She also claims that he is weakening her right to the throne for his right was taken away- he did not like this. These Targaryen boys have a very short fuse, especially when backed into a corner. Although most of them are smart and stronjg enogugh to fight out of that corner. Also, it's never good news, or a good sight for that matter, to see Matt Smith aka Daemon in a full amor suit riding a dragon. Although he just heading to Harrenhal on a promise to add to the army.

Later we see ser Criston Cole go off on a fellow kings-gaurdsman becuase he (Erryk) was not around, either-mind you, when the yound prince was killed. I'm assuming Cole is just in a bad mood because Alicent was just in the bath alone and he was right outisde her door, or it was because, in his mind, of the stupid question she asked him about if he had told anybody. Two things can be true t the same time. Cole also came up with a brilliant plan (sarcasm) to send Erryk to Dragonstone to try and kill Rhaenyra. Although this was much to the delight of King Aegon, not so much Otto Hightower, neither was hanging some innocent men in the streets of King's Landing for the murder of his son. Otto is quickly stripped of his badge of Hand to the King, much like Aegon's father before him did to Otto. Aegon makes Cole his Hand, which begs the question, can you be the Hand of the King and also Lord Commander of the King's guard? Apparently. Also, so much for the prophesy that maybe Queen Haelena saw, as she returned to the Red Keep in one piece. Turns out it was juts a panic attack.

As we catch up with Erryk, very sneakily, at Dragonstone- it didn't take much for him to make it all the way to Rhaenyra's door. Arryk, however, somehow figures out that something is wrong and catches him right before his (Errky's) attack on the Queen. By the way, I love this twin play- no not the kind that wouldn't surpirse us in this universe) but the back and forth between the two brothers when fighting in Rhaenyra's quarters, and we as an audience can't really tell who is who for a monet. It's almost like that "which hat is the ball under" game that they play on the jumbotron at sports games. Eventually however, Arryk gets the better of Erryk and then- as the saying goes- literally falls on his sword. And of course the episode ends with Cole in the bedroom of Alicent, she slaps him a few times, which he appears to like, he pushes her up against a wall- which she obviously likes- and we can all safely assume they get it on.

Some of the similarities that I've noticed, and maybe some of you have as well, between HoD and GoT is that a young, punk-kid is named king- through the death of their fathers- and have really have no idea how to rule. They blindly want to make decisions that they think is right, but ends up being foolish. Joffrey had Ned Stark beheaded despite the promise of mercy, made fun of his uncle and tortured his wife and other women in the Red Keep. Aegon, like memtioned earlier, had some innocent men hung in the streets, gave his approval of Cole sending Erryk to Dragonstone and took the badge of HoK away from his grandfather. Speaking of hands, both Aegon and Joffrey both had grandfathers as hands- both of whom have seen to seek mor epwer for themselves rather than actually advising the king to the king's benefit and just ruling. It'll be interesting to seehow and if Otto makes it back after saying in the episode that he needs to leave.

Overall, I understand the need to keep building and building up to the war that is coming, which is why I am [trying] to have patience with how much character building and storytelling needs to be done- especially in the first few episodes of a new season. Also like mentioned beofre- the twin play between Arryk and erryk was outstanding, and for that reason alone I will give this episode a solid B+. It did have a lot more action, sneakiness, backstabbing and emotion- which aways makes for a good story.