House of the Dragon - Season 2, Episode 1 Reactions | Talk the Thrones

Talk the Thrones is back!
Things look pretty rough in Westeros, and Chris Ryan, Mallory Rubin, and Joanna Robinson return to break everything down! They talk about the Otto vs. Larys proxy battle, Alicent and Rhaenyra's plots and schemes, and the shocking "Blood and Cheese" death at the end of this episode!
Hosts: Chris Ryan, Mallory Rubin, Joanna Robinson
Production:Jack Wilson, Chris Wohlers, Nick Kosut, Tony Perry, Bobby Gibbons, Cory McConnell, Arjuna Ramgopal, Steve Ahlman, John Richter, Aleya Zenieris, Jomi Adeniran, Jordan Bathe, Abreanna Corrales and Yvonne Wang
Check out the Bill Simmons KZbin channel: / billsimmons
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[@timmcgrath8030]

'load management for their dragons' Chris is made for this

[@phillipbarlow9387]

Word.

[@AkronRain69]

Emma D’Arcy did an amazing job in this episode and they only had one line: “I want Aemond Targaryen.” 👏

[@moviesnob1979]

Emma D’Arcy is the GOAT of HotD right now!!!

[@MecheAnaya100]

Can I just say that Im so happy to not only hear Mallory and Joanna but also see their live reaction and a set to complete the tone of the conversation? we are so back!!

[@acon81389]

Who else been here since HBO talk the thrones for season 6??

[@Johnny5isstillalive]

I’ve been following Joanna since the first episodes of Cast of Kings and Storm of Spoilers, have never regretted spending time with her insight, analysis, and fun theories.

[@mnyndabank41]

@@Johnny5isstillalivesame. She’s been awesome with her analyses since day 1

[@richardludlow9125]

Watch the Thrones on Grantland

[@user-sr9qe2zl9w]

So weird to have nostalgia for an HBO post show of GoT that seems like yesterday, but here we are.

[@CommanderMarsh]

👋

[@ericablevins3973]

Helena already traumatized walks in on her mom taking a joy ride. 🤯

[@j.p.gonzalez9218]

lol she didn't even care seeing that ride

[@grooveher0761]

For a moment I thought Tyland was going to have to play Boar on the Floor.

[@kathrynelspeth]

Really loved the conversation and getting to SEE it on an awesome set. We’re back baby! 🐉

[@movsss]

I think Alicent’s bath tub scene is a double entendre that Alicent doesn’t trust Larys’ new servants but also washing herself of sins because she knows she’s guilty of being a part of starting the war and sleeping with Criston and she’s trying to cleanse herself of it.

[@kates6876]

Yes, it is very Lady Macbeth

[@adame52]

Ladies, the hair is looking very nice for you both. Chris, as always a good candidate for wig watch 😂

[@ruban8135]

"I've abandoned my child, I've abandoned my boy!"

[@kassierogers2374]

Wow. This is the first time I’ve tuned into the Ringerverse youtube channel. And I’ve had the shock of my life. Seeing podcasters on video is always jarring, but this was on another level. Joanna is blonde!?!?

[@JoseChavez-rf4ul]

LOVE the triple split screen effect. They should implement this more often on other pods as well (Rewatchables, Big Picture, etc.). 👍🏽

[@Lex-up6mg]

So glad yall got this set up. I’m very excited to have this show back.

[@meStevo]

I just started season 1 this week, part of my motivation to catch up is to enjoy these peeps talking about it :) Just got through the wedding episode... yikes.

[@civilape]

I loved the Dragon airport they got now at Dragonstone.

[@NBA_Breakdown]

I’m hoping the more this blows up on KZbin the more production value gets added. Would love to eventually have dragons on set with Mal sitting atop a direwolf

[@jeremydankowitz5105]

We are so back

[@Len102727]

Yo!!! so glad you guys are back. Lets Go

[@frankstascik4867]

Love that the vids are happening now. Been listening to the podcasts for years, so it's good to put faces to the voices. CR and Joanna- y'all look like I imagined and you look great. Mal.....was the surprise. Also looking great, but I def had a 'yes, tell me what you think, Allison Brie' thing. You all are killing it :)

[@phillipbarlow9387]

I miss Jason Concepcion's intelligence, knowledge, and lightning-fast, quick-witted humor -- but as his replacement, Joanna is a terrific addition to these GOT after-shows. (Her podcast series with Rob Mahoney on FX's "Shogun" was fantastic.) Mallory First of Her Name & The Mother of Dragons ("Protect Ghost!") is the center of gravity who holds it all down. Those of us who watch and enjoy "Prestige TV" on cable and streaming -- but who don't have Mallory's encyclopedic knowledge of the entire catalog of fantasy authors like George R.R. Martin and J.R.R. Tolkien -- would follow her anywhere. Even though I lost interest in Season 1 of "House of the Dragon," and quit watching in mid-season -- because I couldn't keep all the characters & time-jumps straight in my head -- I found myself continuing to download Mallory & Joanna's "House of R" podcast recaps of the show. It turns out, that two smart, funny, and knowledgable podcasters -- who are themselves, extremely well-defined 'characters' -- were more entertaining (for me, at least) than all the millions of dollars HBO put up on-screen. To be fair, Season 1 had a lot of backstory and stage-setting to do, to set up the dragon warfare we're all tuning in to see. But to paraphrase Beck, I found that "Two Podcasters and a Microphone" was a better way to prepare for Season 2, than actually watching Season 1. And now I look forward to downloading Mal & Joanna's "House of R" deep-dive HOTD podcast, that drops on The Ringer Podcast Network every Tuesday. And last but not least: the CR Army is in full effect. He's here, he's there, you never know where & when he might pop up (in addition to anchoring "The Watch" podcast). And he always brings the CR energy & enthusiasm...and that makes it an "event," wherever & whenever he does.

[@amberdean777]

That ended though 🔥🔥🔥

[@susanleach9106]

We all are so back.

[@stevenflores321]

Thanks team!

[@greyseer6089]

Opens with a great animated title sequence of its own and just gets better from there!

[@HeyBroItsBrad]

WE ARE SO BACK

[@melbrooks1192]

You guys are great.

[@joshalferez1347]

I came to the stream about 20 minutes late so I caught up by watching at 2x speed. Now that I'm watching live at regular speed it seems so slow. Love the show. Love Mal and Jo, so exited for Season 2!!!

[@aguzman222]

I watch the everything at 1.5

[@matthewlinscott7055]

Yo this SET is 🔥 🔥 🔥

[@bopyranks]

I love Rhaenys as a character so much. She has a quiet dignity and grace that really stands out. But there is also a tragedy and sadness about her, embodied in the moniker of "the Queen that never was."

[@BelleMoonbeam]

Excellent first broadcast of the season!!! Heavy Spoilers (a fellow KZbin channel) giving you a little bit of a run for your money on the book knowledge though.

[@solargeknowles4354]

Joanna’s hair is always fabulous to me.

[@cassianandor1844]

This is awesome

[@k_hack9441]

He did tell the assassins that Aemond is good with a sword so take caution. A child wouldnt be good with a sword…

[@chrisrubio8212]

Alicent and Criston - even Scotty knows.

[@timothypolanco8622]

Blood & Cheese was a lot more darker in the book in comparison to what they showed in this episode. Also we got a name drop for Dalton Greyjoy aka the red kraken😈, and I hope we can see more scenes of the younger members of team black do their own plans. Because they are importent in the book an I just hope the writers remember that. And finally I'm patiently waiting to see if this is the season that we will get to see the lads of riverrun, or will they(the writers) save them for season 3.

[@optown55]

The Triarchy was the original big 3

[@meganjadie5659]

I wonder why they softened Blood and Cheese. The psychological torture they put Helaena and the children through is so horrendous, the trauma adds weight and understanding to events that come later.

[@stubbywankenobi1]

I don’t think they wanted to show children having to react to the situation (acting wise) and hoping that it’s enough trauma for Helaena to translate

[@Melodicroger]

@@stubbywankenobi1agreed - most folks don’t realize how hard it would be to ethically film that scene with children on set. This softening is already traumatic.

[@natedogg890]

The way it happened in the books is not TV friendly in any form, I'm not upset they went in this direction. I think it will give more depth to Alicent's arc as she was making love to Christian during this whole thing while Christian was probably supposed to be, you know, "guarding"

[@truewu]

That was insane

[@CarlosZelaya-ey6mf]

Why is Joanna wearing Harry Carey's glasses?? 😂

[@user-uu2sb8sw5w]

Awesome

[@Johnny5isstillalive]

23:03 😅

[@AFergilicious]

Not nearly as grizzly as choose...

[@christinabruno5838]

❤

[@fourtime7]

Why they did baby Jah like that?

[@gbacani007]

Umm wasn't Ned the King in the North before Robb?

[@johnneyjohnson8607]

No. The North hasn't had a king since Aegon the Conquer.

[@CCEkeke]

I hated the change to how Blood & Cheese happened. Having Heleana have to choose which son died would have been more more horrific than removing Maelor altogether.

[@kindabreezy8286]

Blood and Cheese is repulsive violence porn that does not serve the story in a meaningful way. I was disappointed in George for writing it, appreciative of the show for softening it, and relieved to be done with it.

[@joesteel7409]

@@kindabreezy8286Agreed, I’m finding it weird that people are getting so hung up on it when got gas always changed loads. And I’m glad the ra** threats were taken out.

[@kaTe21zzzz]

Anyone else notice that most of the Jace stuff at the wall was ADR? Found it super weird and distracting. Strange way to start the episode. Thought the episode was great otherwise.

[@j.p.gonzalez9218]

The blood and cheese scene was a bit underwhelming but understandable considering it may be a tough scene to put child actors through, atleast that's what some people are saying

[@markwager8294]

Once I realized the rest of the episode was Blood and Cheese I was good for the week. I know where the story is going and child murder is bad enough on the page.

[@rodrigorotzsch8095]

Don’t know how this will land to non book readers, but being one I think RC softened the blow enormously removing the choice factor. Can’t say I quite understand HIS choice of removing this part of the story

[@optown55]

Not a fan of this aspect at all

[@peepinR]

Me too. IMO they fumbled it.

[@kindabreezy8286]

I'm a book reader and I am relieved they softened it. The level of sadistic-ness of two literally unnamed characters is not particularly relevant to the plot or the character emotions and motivations considering that both stories end in the murder of a toddler in front of his mother.

[@joesteel7409]

I honestly couldn’t care less 😂 And I’m a book reader, Just glad they’re isn’t a threat of ra**, there were too many ra** scenes in got, it started to get weird.

[@joesteel7409]

@@kindabreezy8286Completely agree, I don’t know why people are getting hung up on this but not any of the crazy changes that got did.

[@havok6280]

Aegon only heard one of Helaena's prophesies in season one. And given that Aegon has all of the rat catchers killed (minor spoiler), he may have been listening to what she said here.

[@jtoindy9799]

I know there was the whole child murder thing. But Alicent was getting it!

[@Hennyondarocks]

Warning the ringer-verse contains adult content

[@sashagaster9381]

I wish there weren't so many archetypes. I don't feel anything for the characters

[@Redjack10]

Every story ever created has archetypes.

[@stubbywankenobi1]

Just a guy being a dude with his bros

[@coachhenke4180]

Mallory Rubin = Caitlin Clark

[@lexthanexpected]

*milly bobby brown voice* yoooOoooOou may say I’m a deeaaaaaammmmmerrrr *pans to helaena*

[@keeganshigh]

Daemon kills Aemond jumping from dragon to dragon and stabbing him right through his bad eye, everyone dies dragons too.

[@keeganshigh]

The Blood and Cheese scene was way more brutal in the book.

[@prettyhatemachine101]

Where’s Maester Concepcion?

[@kristenbutterfield3985]

Hosting the HBO HOTD official podcast!

[@LOLCoolJ]

Listen, I read books... just not these books. I am a book reader.

[@Tac0maAr0ma]

Damn, I miss Binge Mode with J!

[@EmilyRiester6]

Blood and Cheese aside, did they have to go and kick the dog? That was just a step too far for me. #protectghostatallcosts

[@havok6280]

Look up what a "kicking the dog" moment in cinema is. This is a classic trope.

[@mikehouser1678]

So are we not gonna discuss the fact that they said Maelor was the second child in the room and that they were both boys when it was clearly the twin girl haleana ran out with? Why are we spreading mis information and not correcting yourselfs what so ever

[@gjb0202]

I wanna kiss Chris Ryan my beautiful glorious leader of the CRHeads

[@rons1352]

Never the same for me without Jason

[@weidogg]

No more deep dive??? :(

[@kristenbutterfield3985]

They’ll still do a deep dive on House of R in addition to this!

[@weidogg]

Awesome! Thanks for the heads up!

[@tienf6642]

CR's recap is more enjoyable than the actual episode.

[@DrGreek757]

Hated the adaptation of Blood and Cheese. Really disappointed. But whatever, onward

[@JasonKingSmith]

Red Wedding was still better

[@levilevi9621]

Never saw blood and cheese as a red wedding like scene. I barely remembered the characters when I first read it. Red wedding is the most gut wrenching moment in fiction.

[@kindabreezy8286]

Apples and oranges, man

[@labamboos]

This whole arc is just grizzly in the text…wondering how far they will push the envelope. Ngl B&C was Disney-fied imo…just hope it was coz it’s babies and not reflective of the rest.

[@Johnny5isstillalive]

As it was, my wife still didn’t watch the episode. We enjoy violence, just don’t have much fun with child murder since becoming parents.

[@kindabreezy8286]

Just cuz the book did it doesn't mean it's good storytelling, blood and cheese on the page is revolting and helaena is still gonna off herself regardless of how the show did the scene differently

[@labamboos]

@@kindabreezy8286 not the point I was making, but true. (Spoiler was unnecessary tho).

[@edyoung3473]

Mal is so hot

[@keeganshigh]

Your opinion I guess, mine is that she has way too much self-esteem because she's a 5 in the looks department and a 10 in the know it all annoying department

[@LaCheeserie]

I’m not here for Chris. Love these ladies though

[@johnneyjohnson8607]

Why put someone on the podcast who is uneducated and doesn't even attempt to learn. He just wants to laugh at his own jokes.

[@LaCheeserie]

@@johnneyjohnson8607 He could be uneducated on the material and want to learn and it would be cool. He just is unearned erudite attitude. And loved the MI7 for starters, but also other critiques and praises that are so far off. Tolerable discussing Succession though

[@waverunner2049]

Chris is moderating and keeping the conversation under one hour.

[@LaCheeserie]

@@waverunner2049 They do need a time moderator

[@samscholz5024]

Yet again the show is pulling the strings to make the blacks the good guys. Horrible changes for blood and cheese

[@RJM1693]

I never got the slightest feeling that they were “good.” Everyone is awful except, maybe, the Starks.

[@samscholz5024]

@@RJM1693 zero media literacy. It’s painfully obvious the show is trying to make the blacks the “good guys.” Every chance they get they have made there horrible acts in the books less so in the show.

[@LaCheeserie]

Huh? What strings pulled? In the book Rhaenyra was not part of blood and cheese and t does not state that Daemon specifically directed them to the child. It is suggested they were going for Aegon.

[@samscholz5024]

@@LaCheeserie zero media literacy. 1. Making it ambiguous if daemon told to kill anyone. 2. Making them be buffoons that haphazardly went off script. 3. Not making it be a direct message to Helena that this was revenge. 4. Not having to sexual torture element. 5. Not having the trauma of making Helena choose. What are you on???????

[@Rinzler_Lives]

Once again Joanna interrupting Mal and Chris. So annoying. I miss the old Talking Thrones roster, shout out Jay

[@johnneyjohnson8607]

Wow. They are annoying. Never heard people so amazed by their own cleverness.

[@mykerosario7043]

It’s 2016 snark…. It was a thing

[@Rumkeez]

idk man these foot jokes feel kinda skeevy. it's making jokes about SA and the jokes are not even that funny.

[@jwb63095]

Recap is wayyyyyyyy too long and not needed - we all watched the episode

[@user-uu2sb8sw5w]

This is awesome

[@ATCQ94]

❤