Warning : control SPOILERS for House of the Dragon time of year 2 , sequence 2 , " Rhaenyra the Cruel . "
Summary
House of the Dragonseason 2 does a good line of developing its main grapheme , but I ’m particularly surprised at the direction it ’s taken King Aegon II Targaryen in . With theDance of the Dragonsproperly showtime , Aegon is getting more focussing than before . While the show ’s tangible " main " characters are still Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower , the fact that Aegon is the one on the Iron Throne as the civil war begins demand he has more to do .
Aegon was fine inHouse of the Dragonseason 1 , but a combining of time jumps , recasts , and other character - such as his Father of the Church , King Viserys I Targaryen - mean he did n’t get the same amount of depth as the likes of Rhaenyra and Alicent . That ’s changing in season 2 , though . This is not me saying he ’s a good person - he ’s still a bad husband , a bad father , a bad king , and generally a piece of s**t - but it create me likewatchingthe character far more than I expected , specially afterHouse of the Dragonseason 2 , episode 2 ’s ending .
House of the Dragon is back with season 2 , and there are already significant changes to the origin material in George R.R. Martin ’s Fire & Blood .
Custom image by Debanjana Chowdhury
House Of The Dragon Season 2 Shows Different, Better Sides To King Aegon
He’s A Much More Rounded Character In Season 2
With King Aegon postulate more of a central purpose in things - rather than the state of war just happening around him and in his name - it means getting to see different sides to the character . Some of these were present in time of year 1 - his indisposition to be king , for example - but season 2 is capable to expand upon and add to them in riveting ways .
His brokenheartedness manifesting as passion is brilliantly done , and while , yes , he does viciously dispatch line of descent , it ’s clearly portrayed as a very human response .
Even better ( and more surprising , to me ) is Aegon ’s tearful breakdowntowards the end of the episode . It equilibrize perfectly with the fury from earlier on , record just how far his grief widen and that , while he may be the king leading a polite war , he ’s also still very young and in no way set up for any of this .
Taking place about 172 years before the events ofGame of Thrones,House of the Dragontells the tale of the rise of the Targaryens, the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria. The popular HBO spinoff show first starred Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before they were replaced by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke, who play the older versions of the characters. Also starring in the series is Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra’s father, King Viserys Targaryen.
He ’s surround by people but fabulously stray at the same time - a wife he ca n’t pass along with , a brother who believes he should be king instead , a female parent who ca n’t even comfort him when he ’s crying . Again , I ’m not saying this make his act forgivable in any way , but it make him into a much more superimposed character .
House of the Dragon time of year 2 , installment 2 ends with King Aegon work a rough determination about Otto Hightower ’s role , which has immense consequences to come .
Tom Glynn-Carney Is Giving One Of House Of The Dragon Season 2’s Best Performances
The Actor Has Stepped Up To Become One Of The Best Parts Of The Cast
Tom Glynn - Carney did n’t leave much of a mark on me in season 1 . That ’s not meant as an insult , he certainly was n’t bad , butHouse of the Dragon ’s castdelivered so many outstanding performances . Even among the younger single , it was Ewan Mitchell who really stand out and caught the eye as Aemond Targaryen , as he was the more immediately compelling and entertaining of Alicent and Viserys ' children .
House of the Dragon is pretty ego - serious and often grim ( intelligibly so ) , but Aegon - like Viserys before him - brings in an component of comedy that ’s much needed …
That ’s changed in season 2 , andGlynn - Carney is give one of the best performance of the entire season- 2d only , I ’d argue , to Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra . The actor is nailing every aspect of the graphic symbol so far , and finding dozens of little nuances within them , giving him a much greater emotional range . He ’s great when portraying Aegon ’s anger , because he ’s never really frightening ( unless you postulate Blood , I guess ) , but or else you could see the cracks of exposure he ’s prove to cover up .
He ’s also bringing out one of the most important parts of the show , which is bodily fluid . House of the Dragonis pretty ego - serious and often grim ( clearly so ) , but Aegon - like Viserys before him - brings in an element of comedy that ’s much postulate , and a lot of that is down to Glynn - Carney ’s functioning and line pitch ( his"abed?!“is a prime example ) . Crucially , like Paddy Considine before him , he find the right rest between comedic and tragic , with a morsel of pathetic thrown in , that realise him so enjoyable to see , without needing to root for him , precisely .
House Of The Dragon Needed More Balance Between The Greens And The Blacks
The Blacks Were Too Obviously The “Good Guys” Coming Into Season 2
If I ’ve got to pick a side betweenHouse of the Dragon ’s Greens and Blacks , then I ’m with the latter . Rhaenyra has the lawful claim based on being list Viserys ' heir , and she ’s long been the most harmonic character . The show has continually widened that crack , too : Aemond is great to see , but he killed Lucerys , which make the Blacks more large-hearted . The ilk of Jacaerys Velaryon , Corlys Velaryon , and Rhaenys Targaryen are " good , " while Otto Hightower , Aegon , Alicent Hightower , et al , are " bad , " and Ser Criston Cole is the most nauseating character on TV right now .
House of the Dragon Season 2 ’s Full Release Schedule
Episode #
Date
1
June 16
2
June 23
3
June 30
4
July 7
Taking place about 172 years before the events ofGame of Thrones,House of the Dragontells the tale of the rise of the Targaryens, the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria. The popular HBO spinoff show first starred Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before they were replaced by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke, who play the older versions of the characters. Also starring in the series is Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra’s father, King Viserys Targaryen.
5
July 14
6
July 21
7
July 28
8
August 4
However , good storytelling needs balance and nuance . Game of Throneswas at its best when it find moral difference with grizzly character , rather than black and white , right vs. evil ( though it had room for those).House of the Dragonis no different . The more complex and empathetic it can make the Greens , the skilful the show will be , and I think its characterization of Aegon - alongside more obvious tragedy such as the impact of Blood and cheeseflower upon Helaena - sound a long agency to doing that , and makes it a much more interesting picket .
Modern episodes ofHouse of the Dragonseason 2 release Lord’s Day at 9 pm ET on HBO and Max .
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Cast
Taking place about 172 years before the consequence ofGame of Thrones , House of the Dragontells the tale of the ascension of the Targaryens , the only household of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria . The popular HBO spinoff show first starred Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before they were replace by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke , who play the previous versions of the character . Also starring in the series is Matt Smith ( Prince Daemon Targaryen ) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra ’s father , King Viserys Targaryen .
