House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 2 Review - Is This One of the Best Episodes They've Ever Done?

[@KingMckay]

I could not quite pinpoint why I like this episode so much but I think you've hit the mark like Bronn with a crossbow when you draw the parallel to those more intimate conversational scenes we got in the original series. I could really feel my giddy Game of Thrones brain turn back on during so many of the moments of this episode. Great video

[@OfficialRedTeamReview]

woah its you. where you've been?

[@KingMckay]

@@OfficialRedTeamReview Been bogged down in work/life the last few years, I've transitioned my time to the exiting world of international taxation hehe. Glad to see my favorite Thrones tuber still in the game though

[@corvus2512]

I was reminded of Cersei and Tywin talking…. “Alright, contribute.” God I miss GoT, this show is good but it isn’t quite up to the level of GoT first 5-6 seasons. I’ll never forgive Martin

[@dialectix3891]

Something I thought the episode did especially well was how heavy Viserys' absence is weighing upon the different factions (the Aegon & Otto and Rhaenyra & Daemon scenes in particular). Also rip my man Viserys' lego set, you will be missed 😢

[@NukeMarine]

It's a metaphor reflecting how anger and war will destroy in a night what it took decades to build.

[@alanpennie8013]

I didn't expect to see Otto lamenting his death. He always seemed to view Viserys as little more than an inconvenience.

[@BrickDevilTributes]

​@@alanpennie8013 Same. Though I think he mostly missed that Viserys was more easily controlled/reasoned with. Kinda ironic given that he would've had a far easier time controlling Rhaenyra had he not pushed to usurp her throne.

[@Ironcorgi2]

I liked how they used the set for a metaphor of the war itself.

[@spxrrxw1187]

I genuinely thought the body/head was going to roll off the cart as well 😂

[@1slummzzs]

Lmfao 😂🤣😅. That’s one of the joys of GOT/HoTD, unpredictable n holding ur breath unexpectedly 🔥

[@ngin98]

I clenched my arm rest harder than alicent did in that premier episode

[@ayiza8511]

I’m my god me too. I was like no no Haelena already looks like she’s gonna have a panic attack

[@thecockerel86]

We all thought it!

[@NPC1173]

I mean it would've been perfect😂

[@hzozuppu0pu]

My only complaint is how Daemons and Baelas relationship is portrayed. In the books she is his absolute favorite, the apple of his eye but in the show he doesnt seems to care about her at all.

[@6Rock6God6]

Absolutely incredible dialogue this episode.

[@shashatarot9084]

I really enjoyed Aegon this episode

[@TheForkOnTheLeftist]

Right? I'm starting to like him as a character and I like the black faction

[@alanpennie8013]

Damn he was good in his scenes with Otto.

[@carlrood4457]

While obviously the twin thing can't repeat, I'm still wondering if Rhaenyra might still consider changing her Queensguard armor to be a little different. If it ever comes to her guard vs Aegon's it might reduce battle confusion.

[@juanpablomina1346]

The one issue I have is the ratcatchers being hanged. The Crown has Blood and Helaena; between the two of them the Crown should have enough to pick Cheese out of a lineup of all ratcatchers, but instead Aegon kills them all. And sure, we can go easy on Aegon who's grieving, but Otto or Alicent should have worked on finding Cheese, so that Aegon doesn't have to. Another one who could have prevented it was Larys, but I like the theory that he's working against both sides, so he can let Aegon go ahead and make himself look bad.

[@alanpennie8013]

I suspect that Larys positively encouraged Aegon to hang all the ratcatchers.

[@konstantinkrastev4478]

Best episode they have done? dude what... do they have you kidnapped? blink twice

[@OfficialRedTeamReview]

Re-read the title, you skipped a word or two

[@konstantinkrastev4478]

@@OfficialRedTeamReview Did I?

[@OfficialRedTeamReview]

@@konstantinkrastev4478 "Is this *one*..." followed by a question mark at the end.

[@silver1iz]

@@konstantinkrastev4478

[@soumyadeepmishra9516]

World feels like a better place when Carmine is enjoying HOTD 🤧😛 it was truly an amalgamation of great acting performances. Loved the Daeron inclusion I was so scared they ll omit him. And Addam of hull, looks so likeable. He is my favorite character in Dance, can't wait for it , 'Loyal' Addam !

[@youyongkustark9833]

Love all your solo reviews

[@xWinterAries]

The scene where Aegon and Haelena met, why doesn’t she still have guards with her?!

[@Siegbert85]

Nobody is properly guarded in this world it seems...

[@jonathangeider7022]

This episode mentioned Daeron! That alone elevates it!

[@sfcSpidey]

8:20 I feel the same way idk if it’s the actress or direction but that character always feels like a wet blanket and is constantly pouting she is supposed to be a mix of Melisandre and Varys but she feels more Bowen marsh

[@jwiegand001]

4:23 I was bumped by this daemon and rhaenyra scene. Seemed way overacted and the shots they chose to use or something-I wasn’t a film major-the focus blurs and overdramatic cinematography stuff. Like this scene was their submission to award shows, it felt overdone.

[@AquaticBigfoot8]

I’m really enjoying this season so far. Disagree with initial reviews that said it “meandered” The show shouldn’t just be about dragons and battles

[@addickland5656]

Honestly, it's probably not that there's somehow an entire new set of writers (if someone knows the % of them that's changed please share) but more that season 1 was SUCH a success that they are now on much firmer ground to add complexity and nuance knowing that the audience can handle it. The fact that there wasn't any serious blowback after for example they made that Rhaenyra-Rhaenys-Rhaena scene in S1E8, probably convinced both the writers and the higher ups that either there's a large enough audience for that sort of complexity and nuance, or ("gasp"), the average viewer isn't quite such a blockhead as most of those guys think they are, take your pick. With season 3 already greenlit and a massive and engaged audience, I don't we need to worry about dumb shortcuts or inconsistency going forward (not that they were imo that present in season 1, think you're a bit harsh on a show still finding its footing and worrying about its audience after GOT-S8, but they definitely have stepped it up for season 2). Here's to hoping they can keep this season, series and franchise rolling along with the same quality as these last few episodes.

[@unclegumbald989]

The **face-acting** Matt Smith did at the scene w/Darcy… so good!

[@outsidein9809]

Been waiting for this one all day! Checked my phone every break during 12 hr shift at work. Great way to end the day! Thanks!

[@OfficialRedTeamReview]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@outsidein9809]

Definitely did, and couldn’t agree more, it was a great episode with masterclass acting

[@voncarniola]

Aegon ordered the hanging of all the rat hunters because he did not know which of them had been involved in killing his son. Has his wife Helaena forgotten which of the hunters put a knife to her neck, spoke to her face to face?

[@alanpennie8013]

Sadly I don't think the two ever talk to each other.

[@tsentenari4353]

"how oftentimes some of the best scenes were just two people in a room talking with each other and being real with each other" "the entire episode feels like they got new writers who hated the tropy tv bullshit from last season and said 'what if these people were self aware and tired of each other's crap?'" "but Otto Hightower, I gotta apologize to my man here for calling him the diet coke Tywin Lannister" ----> Your video just nailed it for me, what a great, spot on review, what a great analysis.

[@markboyd9275]

He totally was the guy in the meme

[@connormcmurphy4276]

Leave it to redteam review to ALWAYS…without fucking fail…pick the wrong answer/opinion on anything involving ASoIaF. Just poor pick after poor pick, endlessly. One of the best episodes ever? This was one of the weakest episodes in the entire series so far lol minus cargyll bowl, what happened? People were mad, and otto got fired in the last five minutes. I genuinely wonder if this is just an elaborate troll scheme.

[@RBwilliamsproduction]

Thx

[@_e1i]

Did Preston move to a place without internet? He hasn’t uploaded anything about the last ep

[@OfficialRedTeamReview]

He's doing OnlyFans now

[@_e1i]

@@OfficialRedTeamReview Periodt 💅

[@AegonNunya]

ALGORITHM PLEASE LISTEN

[@MissyAmy88]

Daemon to his niece-wife: "Your dad only made you the heir to piss med off, and because I am so much better than you two!" Classic, supportive husband-uncle there.

[@abelgonzalez158]

Rhaenys and Corlys ❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@Briman13]

As someone who didn't like what they did with B&C, I thought this episode was amazing. Felt like a climax and it's only episode 2. So many emotions.

[@HiMyNameisDanielle]

So much happened in this episode I kept re remembering things as you went through this like oh yes that too! What was going on with Helena at the funeral though? Was that her having a panic attack? Or she couldn’t breathe or did she think the coffin was gonna drop too ? She was making crazy faces and jumping out of her seat

[@melkormorgothbauglir.4848]

One thing to the Condally man thank you for making Daeron a real character I though they were gonna Maelor him but hes real not just in the nightmares were the voices talk to me.

[@JustNiikita]

Honestly the acting was amazing this episode, but the choppy editing was a real immersion breaker. It felt like I was missing scenes with how unnatural it felt at times.

[@H4WK6969]

I thought the episode was mostly boring, last 20 minutes was decent but there was no need to make that episode 75 mins long.

[@Wallace43266]

15 minutes in, I think just after nothing happened with Helaena's breakdown during the funeral, I just found myself scrolling through the reviews. A bad habit, and once the episode picked up, it was great. But yeah, some weird pacing until the main conflict in the Erryk-Arryk and Otto-Aegon disputes kick off at the end.

[@phantomjoker5]

kinooooooooooooooo alicole still on 😬

[@sadeghfiroozi7791]

I liked everything about this episode, but the one thing that confused me about this episode is that why Erryk and Arryk's armor's looked exactly the same. Do the Queensguards had exactly the same armor's as the Kingsguards?

[@doctorajaguar]

This episode was 🔥!

[@HoneyPiss]

Agree.

[@graycin3391]

Aegon is probably the best king I’ve seen played in pop culture. Coolest? No, but he’s an actual character and that’s pretty cool.

[@shaneoconnell9279]

Aemond and Unsullied just need a hug, its nice

[@alanpennie8013]

I was hoping he'd be there for Helaena rather more than he was. Oh well!

[@shaneoconnell9279]

A reassuring swing of his flail

[@MrJamesf6]

this show is so boring

[@throwbackblackcat]

I actually liked how painful the Arryk and Erryk scene was. In the preview for the next episode it shows them being buried side by side, probably because nobody could tell who was who. They’d have probably both wanted that since they shared a less gross version of Jaime and Cersei’s idea of them being one soul in two different bodies. Also this is the second attempt of Kingsgard seppuku in this show, this time successful. I didn’t think we needed a counter for this.

[@Shuxxxsr]

Sara Hess not only cooked but she deep fried . Superb episode

[@herefortheshrimp1469]

As soon as I saw that she had written this episode I knew we were in for a good one!

[@unc54]

@@herefortheshrimp1469 I was the opposite because I was concerned with Hess because she wrote my two least favorite episodes last season (including by far my least favorite in E9) and some of her media comments were questionable to put it mildly. But she did really well this episode and if she continues to build upon it she could become a favorite.

[@blondymonk1535]

And she wrote the two worst episodes of season 1, i was pleasantly suprised.

[@alanpennie8013]

​@@blondymonk1535 She seems to have found her feet.

[@blackwychethefirst1978]

Agreed, this was a superb episode. Pure acting at its best

[@Shokan-mm8sj]

I have seen how a father reacts to losing a son and Aegon's acting was 10/10, super realistic.

[@OfficialRedTeamReview]

That's gotta be tough to watch, condolences to that man

[@Shokan-mm8sj]

@OfficialRedTeamReview thank you, it's an awful situation that was portrayed perfectly. People go between 0 to 100 when faced with such a thing specially if the death is violent.

[@martincolton32]

Tom Glyn Carney is perfect for the role of Aegon

[@captainziggy82]

Gotta be heartbreaking, yea Tom gave a fantastic performance

[@sneakykangarooman442]

Same here and I completely agree. Otto was ridiculously tactless with him.

[@AwestaKhalid]

The Otto actor KILLED it w/his reaction to Cole’s stupid plan lol

[@Longshanks1690]

I’m so glad Rhys got a chance to actually express what Otto really thinks and feels before he leaves, what will probably be a long time away too. His raw anger and frustration at the idiot grandson (he failed to raise or train for this day) who is equally captivating with Tom showing Aegon’s pride, anger and desire for revenge just creates such a great moment between these actors and you just love to see two experts show off their craft. It was really beautiful to see, especially with Otto’s remembering of Viserys. You can tell that, in his mind at least, he really did respect and value Viserys’ qualities as king. Tom’s scenes early in the episode where he just destroys the model Viserys built, the thing that represented him and his reign, was so powerful and the meaning was so effortlessly conveyed. The peace and stability he represented has been destroyed by the fury of parents seeking to avenge their child. It was a short, but brilliant scene. Some of the scenes in this episode towards the middle got very meandering and the dialogue felt overly stuffy and trying to sound important instead of sounding like how real people talk - Hugh’s family and Corlys&Rhaenys come to mind that suffer from this - but those scenes with Otto, Aegon (also Rhaenyra and Daemon, that was such a cathartic scene between them) really make this episode. Absolutely top tier stuff on that front.

[@alanpennie8013]

Hugh and Mrs Hammer weren't the high point of the episode but I'm happy we're getting a smallfolk pov from this show.

[@maxantonio9312]

the Erryk and Arryk plot was actually my favorite this episode, i think it encapsulates really well the disturbing nature of this conflict where people who used to be intertwined and have relationships end up at opposite sides and fighting because of stupid mistakes done by their parents, grandparents and themselves. Erryk and Arryk fight but still love each other and the fact that one could not live with himself after assassinating his own twin which for him is his other half is so heartbreaking

[@MiddleEarthGirl75]

I felt that scene a little differently. The first thing that came to my mind was it was Rhaenyra's twin guy, knowing she would never be able to trust that he was really him so he took his life as a final sacrifice to his Queen. But now I could see it could be for both reasons. @OfficialRedTeamReview

[@maxantonio9312]

@@MiddleEarthGirl75 yeah i also had that in mind two and its probably both tbh

[@akeelyaqub2538]

This episode for me was one of the best of the whole series. I loved Aegons outbursts and the daemon/rhaenyra argument but most of all, Ottos scolding of aegon. Aegon really stole the spotlight in this one. But what truly made the episode special was……….. THEY FINALLY f*cking acknowledged Daerons existence.

[@extraplain2412]

When Otto mentioned Daeron I actually cheered. My friends haven't read F&B so they have no idea what's coming and couldn't share in the excitement.

[@JaiAuthenti]

This episode was what we needed. All great conversation and dialogue. I wish that I didn’t read the books because I rather feel the dopamine of not knowing what’s next. Instead I look for the execution of the story and acting.

[@JacobTemplar]

Also does anyone else feel like rhaenyras bedroom is just crazy huge? I feel like that would be awkward but just shows how poor most of us are

[@carlrood4457]

I remember someone referring to Criston Cole as a thug and that's kind of appropriate. He's a blunt instrument, which can be effective, but he's not a leader or political strategist.

[@alanpennie8013]

The Greens dooooooomed with him as Hand.

[@samuelcoomes5517]

I enjoyed the Madame telling Aemond about the potential for smallfolk to suffer in the war as a parallel to the season one scene where Mysaria told Daemon the same thing.

[@strikingdiscussion5263]

I thought there were too many scenes in which characters lose their temper, yell, etc. It is often better when characters show restraint, instead of express exactly how they feel. When everyone is yelling, it is no longer impactful. Also, the scenes dragged a bit, and the Corlys storyline seems like a drag right now, I audibly sighed everytime they cut to it.

[@jwiegand001]

Agreed, and… I get bumped when characters lose their temper and have emotional outbursts but the actors deliver their lines and “act” perfectly. Like, you’re having a breakdown, why aren’t you fumbling with words or showing difficulty expressing your complicated emotions or anything that someone really going through that situation would do? Instead, it’s deliver line, pose. Reply with perfect response, pose. Another perfect response, pose. And so on. Doesn’t feel real.

[@chemputer]

I saw the head was sewn on the body, for a second I thought maybe it would roll off, but then remembered it was sewn on. I found it incredibly interesting that Aemond is going to a brothel madam for physical affection of *that* kind because his mother likely never gave him that as a kid.

[@thurmanstevenson5692]

As a twin the Cargyll twins fight kinda broke my heart

[@acediadekay3793]

A weird thing I miss is how little we go outside, we don't really have stuff like Brienne and Jaime or Arya and the Hound (But I'm sure we will get more when the war really kicks off)

[@watchparty1]

4:46 Daemon is kinda right about his legacy. Even George RR Martin says Daemon is his favorite Targaryen.

[@TheRkelly3001]

Otto is acting at an all time level, dood so freaking good

[@drognnarthorellan2211]

The twins scene is closer to red weddings than blood and cheese. I felt that scene so well done. Including rhaenerya in the scene added not took away from it Also was that hugh the hammer random cameo

[@Jon155mt]

This episode definitely brought back the best of what made Game of Thrones special with the brilliant dialogue. I loved every second of it.

[@DarkKing009]

90% of the cast are House of the Dragon are hypocrites, lies, and murderers. Especially the Nobles and princes. What makes the kingmaker so special and worthy of score?

[@TH3DUDE0075]

I wasn’t really a fan of how they portrayed Daemon. I preferred how season 1 showed him as a loose canon and wild crazy guy but absolutely loyal to his family and only wanting to support Viserys. It feels like this season they are really pushing for that “the women are imperfect but they are really good if it weren’t for all those terrible men” bullshit - hopefully I am wrong. I just thought Daemon was awesome in season 1 and this interaction made him into nothing but a jealous loser and these days when I see a bad ass emasculated in film/tv my woke-dar goes off. I did like all of the green stuff though, and strangely I didn’t mind the weirdo stuff with Aemond and the whore but maybe it’s because Aemond has always felt like a poser who was trying to be “that guy” while Daemon was the real deal.

[@wynonasbigbrowndragon6121]

I was totally expecting something to happen to the corpse when the wheel got stuck. You're not alone 😅

[@Sockimus]

I thought the first episode was an 8 and a good opener in terms of what we've been conditioned to with main series and then prequel. I thought the second episode was between a 9.5 and a 10, but I'm someone who could sit for hours for monologues and fights if they're engaging enough. The episode just had one fight after another before the Dance of the Dragons really began with the Clash of the Cargylles.

[@johnmorris1009]

The show has had an ok, but not thrilling start to the season. I feel like some of the characters need fully fleshing out, because some dramatic scenes are coming across as less impactful than intended, because we don't fully know the characters. I certainly felt like that with the fight between the brothers. It also feels like it's holding back at the moment, and more action is needed.

[@JohnSmith-bq6nf]

Maybe I should rewatch it but I thought it was boring

[@DrRockso1987]

Mysaria is kinda ruined for me. I can't unhear that horrible accent from season 1. Every time she speaks, I cringe.

[@anonymous-hz2un]

Ok?

[@DrRockso1987]

@@anonymous-hz2un Ok

[@juanpablomina1346]

About the Otto/Tywin parallel, one difference is that Tywin couldn't be blamed for how horrible Joffrey was, since he wasn't there to teach him. Otto was there for several years, though...

[@Siegbert85]

Hasn't Tywin ever been to King's Landing between the Rebellion and Blackwater? I thought he would be visiting regularly whenever he could

[@timocruz510]

Aegon is simply stealing the show. Love their interpretation of him

[@AmyCat71]

Really enjoy your content! Never once felt sorry for Joffrey Lanister and feel an embrassingly amount of sympathy for all the HoD bad guys. To be fair, less "cannon" with all the HoD characters. Not a huge fan of the Alicent/Cole situation but I suppose she needs something other than a straight up mom role so this is what they "cooked" up. I know that opinion is in the minority though.

[@alanpennie8013]

I don't think anyone is a huge Alicole fan but I can see more clearly what they're going for now. The two are trapped in a self - destructive loop. For the sake of whatever is left of his sanity Ser Krispy needs to get out of KL now.

[@adernain]

If you watch the behind the scenes videos they explain that they made the twin fight intentionally confusing. At first the black twin got wounded on his leg, then the other one as well which was all ittended

[@nixielee]

Structure of the episode was good, they tried to hit the right things, but they don't have the direction or the writers for it. Dialogue is weak, really weak. So tired of hearing these people and their silly talking points

[@OfficialRedTeamReview]

We clearly watched different episodes.

[@anais6654]

Emma and Matt scene is amazing

[@1tinydinosaur510]

As an autistic woman, I LOVED the actor who played Helaena, she 100% conveyed how people like me respond to stress. The whole panic moment when she realizes "wait, I just went through this and now I have to go OUT among a bunch of strange people?!" is extremely relatable. Fidgeting with her rings, long blank stares as she processes her emotions, and becoming more quiet in stressful situations - I really felt for her. She definitely seemed on the verge of a panic attack during the funeral procession as there were too many overwhelming sensations at a time when she already felt vulnerable. I know it might come off as a bit robotic to others from the outside, but that's really what it's like for us - we feel all the normal emotions that other people feel, but it is only when those emotions become overwhelming that they finally show up on your face

[@extraplain2412]

The moment the wheel got caught and we saw an image of the body rocking i started to say "no no no" to myself waiting for that head to come off. Brilliant writing and direction.

[@chadsummerchild1120]

Im thinking season two might be better than the first. Too early to tell.

[@Made4Fan]

From then on.. No twins were allowed to be part of Kingsguards.

[@griffiththechad9483]

Everyone was great this episode, especially Ser Crispy Kristin. My MVPs for this one were Aegon and Otto. Honorable mentions to Rhaenyra and Arryk & Erryk as well

[@Aezeus]

My biggest complaint about the episode is I watched it with a non-fan

[@OfficialRedTeamReview]

:O

[@alanpennie8013]

It's rather irritating having to explain to people who the characters are. A problem with the long hiatuses I guess.

[@bryancooper5495]

Season 8 was better

[@King_Mac80]

I'd have to rewatch the episode but I really loved everything about this episode EXCEPT them doing the Homelander thing with Aemond where yet another big bad has mommy issues which leads to a weird mother kink.

[@AmyCat71]

I even thought to myself is that milk the little hobbit was pouring. Very Homelander vibes.

[@King_Mac80]

@AmyCat71 just rewatched it at first I thought maybe it was milk of the puppy but now I'm thinking just like you it was probably just regular milk

[@kashhusain8154]

I totally thought the head would fall off when it got jammed. The show messed with us so hard. The tension in that whole scene was so good.

[@Mako2401]

Can't wait to see what people will whine about. I loved the episode, especially two sentences Aegon said - "I want to spill blood , not ink" and "My new hand will be a steel fist".

[@AmunRa203]

Those two sentences are exactly as in the books 📚. The episode is very close to the book events, which is why the episode was great. And that's what usually people 'whine' about, when they unnecessarily deviate from the source material, which is already very well written 😌

[@wynonasbigbrowndragon6121]

"Can't wait to see what people will whine about" Sir, you and I get excited for vastly different things 😂

[@TH3DUDE0075]

I will whine about the emasculation of Daemon - he was better portrayed as a loose cannon who would do anything for his family than as jealous - starting to feel like they are pushing this “if it weren’t for these terrible men everything would be ok” bullshit - hopefully I’m wrong. Still enjoyed the show but really didn’t like the way Daemon was characterized. Rhaenyra is stupid for not wanting/expecting him to run the war - she is a woman with no experience in war or military tactics who couldn’t swing a sword in battle if she needed to do so. Let him be the protector of the realm, all he wants is to be useful to his family in the ways he knows how and is frustrated when those less suited to these tasks stand in his way.

[@crustynuggets445]

i didnt like the missaria scene

[@Jon155mt]

⁠@@AmunRa203 HOTD is already superior to the book version 😌

[@robstewartstewart98]

A YTP you can do for this episode: Daemon: Alright it’s true! I tricked you to get the Iron Throne. But then you showed me friendship! And now I realize that’s all I ever really wanted. Rhenerya: Really? Daemon: No Not really! Being evil is too much fun!

[@jefftaylor8644]

I hope they do something with Otto after he leaves kings landing. In the source material there isn’t much to go on

[@alanpennie8013]

I really don't want to lose him. He was on fire this episode.

[@sneakykangarooman442]

Love to see your reviews are back! Kinda slow episode for me. Lots of long scenes without much dialog (walking down corridors, puring bath water, etc). Otto was very unbelievable this episode. (Was he actively trying to talk himself out of the job?) Aegon bludgeoning Blood was very strange too, I would have thought he would want him to suffer a slow tourcherous death, but he basically mercy killed the dude. Especially as Aegon has been established as a huge sadist. Couldn't have given less of a shit about the twin fight as the characters were barely established. And how the fuck did the twin get from Kingslanding to Dragonstone with the blockade in place? Must have borrowed Littlefinger's jetpack. Still loving the show, it's just fun as shit to knit pick.

[@DanielleTodd13]

So, for this episode, I wasnt watching so much ad listening to it while I folded laundry and such. (I realize I'm not familiar enough with the characters voices yet and don't remember well anything from season 1 really so I can't follow the show just by listening). Anyways, I was looking for a recap of last week's episode AKA season 2 episode 2 and I'm really glad I did because I popped into this podcast because you have me stoked to lunch episode 2 and gave me enough info to go watch and next episode with my hubby. Thank you my friend.

[@Alfonso_VI]

Amazing episode! Great acting from Tom Glynn-Carney and Rhys Ifans. I didn’t expect Aegon to have this much depth. I was one of the people that complained about B&C but this episode made up for it. Rhaenyra and Daemons argument was perfect as well on the Black side

[@Siegbert85]

My main problem with HotD is that I don't care for any of the characters. They missed their chance in season 1 to make me care. So now I see characters I don't care having meaningful conversations. On paper it's probably good but it just doesn't hit me like GoT.

[@victorc8855]

If I have to nitpick just one thing though, I'd say Arryk making it to Dragonstone doesn't make much sense. There's a blockade still active, there's not going to be merchant vessels between KL and Dragonstone and he's donning his armor the whole way through. But of course, if they changed that scene book fans would go crazy and it was mostly a forgettable detail. The only reason I'm pointing it out is because HOTD goes out of its way with details

[@motionpictureplus]

Good season so far. Otto is the best character. Rooting for the Greens. Green side has all the best characters. Misaria I don’t get. Feel like she’s a weak replacement for someone as charismatic as Varys. She is more of a Shae. I hope they introduce someone really smart, there are a lot of dumb characters compared to GOT. Otto and Larys seem to be the only smart ones

[@ianburton2058]

It was a good episode. My only slight complaint is there is some humour missing that was prevalent in the early seasons of GOT. Tyrion, The Hound, Bronn etc always brought a little light relief in a sea of madness. I think HOTD could use some of that with some of the characters.

[@gazlator]

2:20 Excellent point you make here! Absolutely, the main characters have certainly "evolved" from the first season, and we should be wary of judging them on every count because of their past behaviour. Indeed I think some viewers are (understandably) still favourable or hostile to some of the characters largely based on how they were in the first series. Otto, I think, is a case in point here.

[@nessienessness]

Agreed! I loved how it was an episode full of emotionally charged, intimate conversations/conflicts. Really great writing.

[@greeneyelove2003]

I am Team Black, but I was glad that finally, Rhaenyrs realizes that her affection for Daemon during her youth stayed until adulthood but she is finally seeing more of the darkness in him we all know is there. Also, I tried to find some pity for Alicent and failed. I did feel sorry for her, in Season 1, when her father tells her to go see the king who just lost his wife and the adds for her to put on one of her mother's dresses, because that was creepy as it gets. But once she became an adult, all her plotting and agreeing to plots made it clear she is as power hungry as the rest. And she just is not there for her kids. My God. Her son just lost his son in the most brutal way and she can't even so much as offer him a hug? And Aemond has 'Momma Issues' which isn't shocking. As for Otto, he is greedy and power hungry but to cast him aside for Ser Can't Get Anything Right? Makes no sense.

[@lilianazubyk4086]

Great job by the Aegon actor. He reminds me of Andrew Scott in some of his more twitchy roles. I hope he has a long and fulfilling career. The writers brought depths to many characters who appear flat in the source material. I enjoyed the episode’s psychological complexity.

[@pbh9195]

So dislike, the middle meandered a little too much, the 1st 20 min and the last 20min were fantastic souly through the performances especially Aegon's actor

[@malcolmferguson4869]

If I had one gripe with the episode, it's that I think the order of some of the scenes should have been rearranged. namely, I think they should have ended on the Cargyll fight.

[@Siegbert85]

me seeing the title: you serious? 😆

[@OfficialRedTeamReview]

Did I stutter?

[@leoferwer1813]

Yeah... those scenes were brilliant. The performances are awesome so far. And I also hated the way they made the greens the baddies. They still are trying too hard to portray Rhaenyra as a Paladin of Justice and Love (?), but they are nailing all the others. Finally.