Rhaenyra the Cruel

Episode 2 is the best of the series for me so far. Rivals they of Season 1 Episode 8. It is good across the board. Acting is masterclass across the board. Stand out are Rhys playing Otto, Tom playing Aegon, Emma playing Rhaenyra and Phia playing Helaena! Writing is good and the direction is really great! Also Sonoya who played Mysaria is good too! All the supporting casts are amazing!

Most importantly, the dog from episode 1 is well!

This is more story driven and not action packed which makes sense as there is a lot of emotion, avenue and facets they have to deal with!

Kudos to the crew and team who worked on this at the back too, like the props, costumes, extras, CGI, ALL are amazing!

I'm guessing some people were expecting battle after battle but if we look back at Game of Thrones in it's prime days, we needed episodes like this because it sets up for the bigger action. In fact this episode wasn't even that bad, it had conflict and action but more importantly it had strong dialog. The effect the last episode had, it had characters in question and confusion, in others it had anger and vengeance. Cutting straight to a war scene would feel bloated. The importance of dialog is what makes shows like this seem more real, for us as an audience to digest the story in preparation for the bigger payoffs.

Another great episode, that mamages to build upon the foundation of previous events and the inevetable feeling that war is coming!

This episode had some great drama and tension! Some of these scenes really has the actors giving their best, and shows them at a very vulnerable time, as the need for revenge overshadows reason!

After this episode i am very excited to see where Daemons character goes! I see potential for a great character arc, as the man who was denied the throne in the first place!

The duel was great too and manages to balance violence and drama, just like thrones did!

There may not have been any major events, but it worked well as a set-up!

Even though this episode had a bit of a pacing issue in the middle but it was still very good. The scenes following the immediate aftermath were very strong the only issue was that the scenes with non main characters were skipped past way too quickly without giving it full time to simmer. Overall it is a very strong 8.5.Even though this episode had a bit of a pacing issue in the middle but it was still very good. The scenes following the immediate aftermath were very strong the only issue was that the scenes with non main characters were skipped past way too quickly without giving it full time to simmer. Overall it is a very strong 8.5.

"House of the Dragon" continues its slow-burn storytelling, carefully crafting viewer allegiances while ensuring the other side isn't completely dehumanized.

The twin vs. Twin showdown is among the best scenes in "HOTD" so far. It showcases why the show excels when it focuses on actual conflict intertwined with the exposition of inner turmoil, rather than delaying action for emotional buildup.

A unique aspect of this episode is the portrayal of women in positions of power, with men like Daemon, Cole, and Otto wanting to wield authority through them. These men act as the enforcers for proxy rulers, highlighting a fascinating power dynamic.

Aemond's scenes are particularly poignant, revealing him as a boy out of his depth with deep-seated issues. His "mommy issues" are likely to be explored further, given the show's deliberate pacing.

One of the biggest merits and demerits of "HOTD" is its ability to make viewers pick sides, despite both factions being equally flawed and vain. This creates a sense of community among viewers and characters, making it easier to justify the worst acts committed by each side. This might explain the show's decision to cut down on gore, especially in the Blood and Cheese sequence, to prevent burying one side in irredeemability.

This approach contrasts sharply with "Game of Thrones," where the lack of a clear bilateral conflict meant fewer sides to pick. While viewers rooted for the Starks, the show offered much more than just their struggles. "HOTD" compels viewers to engage deeply with the characters and their complex, often dark, motivations.