House of the Dragon: Season 2 - Episode 2 - My Thoughts

After deaths on both sides, Public opinion is swayed back & forth as 'The Hand' plays chess, not checkers. Here are my thoughts on Season 2: Episode 2 of HOUSE OF THE DRAGON!
#HouseOfTheDragonSeason2

[@Kavosss]

"Sir is it not you who clapeth the queen mothers cheeks" took me out lmao

[@genzboomer-sv3pl]

man i lolled too

[@KillerTacos54]

HAAHAHAHA SAME

[@Tee9156]

😂😂😂

[@LeonNeuton]

I died-ed🤣😂😭

[@J_Starr007]

Yuessssss

[@moulanakratos]

Otto finally realizing how good Viserys was and actually missing him was the highlight for me.

[@Relixification]

he was always with good intentions with Viserys, except the one fact he made a woman his heir.

[@NotKelloggsCornflakes]

Maybe partially genuine but likely Otto just misses being able to manipulate the king without as much pushback.

[@Knives7777]

he means viserys was more easily manipulated. Do not get it twisted.

[@poggamus4330]

he's just sad he cant control the king

[@trippersigs2248]

Viserys had good intentions, but he was NOT a good king. If he were they wouldnt be in this mess.

[@Jonathan_Collins]

Am I the only one who thought they were gonna have the baby’s head roll off when the wagon was stuck? 😂

[@blakestrecker5299]

I thought for sure it was coming 😂 they definitely swerved us which honestly thank goodness

[@Stephenj_Howard]

I was definitely thinking the same thing

[@lordoz2578]

That would have been so morbid it would have horsehoed’ to being hilarious

[@TheRibottoStudios]

No same. Ever since the first piano notes played I knew some shit was gonna hit the fan at some point. The Ramin piano chords are a calling card.

[@MrIkaGeo]

I think they filmed the scene and then decided it's too much and cut it

[@thatoneguy1821]

The symbol of Aegon destroying the kingdom his father spent his entire life making (aka the model)… *chef’s kiss*

[@juanrincon4110]

wow, that went over my head when I was watching the episode but man yeah, the symbolism here is amazing!

[@huesoftheheart139]

@@juanrincon4110facts, went over my head too. Shows that every moment is probably gonna have meaning in this show

[@margarethmichelina5146]

Also, R.I.P Viserys's Legos

[@codybarnes9273]

I thought it was model of Old Valeria

[@brettbrooks5511]

​@@codybarnes9273 it was. But the symbolism still works.

[@TheAckattack13]

Otto was the best this episode. The moment he realized hes surrounded by idiots then his daughter tries to confess to him, he drops "i dont wanna hear it." Legend

[@manvirshergill1739]

Not exactly... this is the consequence of his actions of Installing Aegon on the throne... he had it coming.

[@TheAckattack13]

@@manvirshergill1739 Meh, he thought he could control him more. He couldnt predict that Aemond would accidentally kill Luke, or that Aegon's son would be killed in the keep, or that Aegon would go absolutely ape shit. Otto is trying to herd cats at this point.

[@margarethmichelina5146]

Otto forgot that his grandson is a Targaryen. When a Targaryen was born, God flipped a coin. He was very used to manipulate Viserys and he can't manipulate his grandson who is still mourning his great grandson.

[@KabbalahSherry]

​​​​​​​​@@TheAckattack13- "Accidentally" kill Lucerys 😂 Oh if ya'll only knew. lol In the source material it ain't no accident at all. He does that sh*t on purpose. Even goes back home & BRAGS about it ffs. He's a total psychopath. But for some reason, the show decided to give him a pass & make it look like an accident. Blaming the whole thing on his dragon... who is hundreds of years old & the veteran of over 100+ battles, who has never been known to disobey her rider EVER. It's a crying shame how they have portrayed some of these characters. They got Aegon crying at the end of the episode like he actually has feelings. But you'd NEVER see that sh*t in the story. He's a drunk, rapey lunatic, who most come to regret placing on the throne. But the show wants to "soften" somebody like THAT up, to make him look more complex, when really, he's absolute poison. Alicent raised 2 psychos seriously... and she isn't anything like she is portrayed in the novel. She's a mean, vicious cunt in the story, who left poor King Vicery's body lying around rotting for days, hiding his death from people, all so she could plot & scheme with the Green Council. Every single one of these Hightowers is a menace except sweet innocent Helena. The show is some fan fiction, believe that. They got Daemon doing sh*t like killing his 1st wife in cold blood, even though he wasn't anywhere NEAR her in the story. He was still out fighting in the Stepstones! So don't believe everything you are seeing on screen. They want these factions to look "equally awful" so the fandom can have fun arguing about who's right or wrong, etc. But there's a reason why 90% of the people who read the story are Team Black. The Hightowers are vile, usurping, oathbreaking villains, who tear the whole realm in two, all so that they can seize power from the traditional Valarian Targaryans. They're despicable people, point blank period.

[@BCrane-ej4iq]

@@TheAckattack13 He did treat Aegon like trash and dismiss Aemond for the longest time instead of putting effort into raising those boys into well-rounded men. Otto’s greatest failure was not making sure the core aspect of his scheme-his family-was ready for the final stage of his plan-ruling the kingdom. Even Alicent’s supposed ‘short-sightedness’ is the result of Otto’s not informing her of his plans at all or not raising her to be an actual schemer. His is also Tywin’s mistake-he does his job expecting his inept family to do theirs without educating them.

[@fantasminhacamarada1514]

Otto in this episode: "I'm surrounded by idiots."

[@vandanacasm]

When he closed his eyes for a few seconds more when asking about coles plan😂😂😂😂😂

[@steelrain237]

On his Lion King Scar vibes 😂

[@Freya1412]

What does it say about him that he placed all these idiots in such high positions of power?

[@elloguvna3072]

Which really just reveals what an idiot he is himself to prop up such an unstable child prince to be king and think he could control him.

[@Avatar1881-u7z]

-Now you Otto, I mean, you're one of us. I mean you're our pal. -Charmed -Oh I like that. He's not king, but he's still so proper.

[@tha117eXez]

Criston Cole just demonstrated how to fail upwards

[@TheRibottoStudios]

I know people are saying it's taking them out of the suspension of disbelief but come on. How many times in our own world do people fck up but have nothing bad happen? It's about money and connections.

[@uninhibition31]

@@TheRibottoStudios Kathleen Kennedy is a prime example of this.

[@solarmaru49]

Vincent Kompany

[@TheRibottoStudios]

​@@uninhibition31same Kennedy who produced let's see, ET, Jurassic Park, Hook, Lincoln, War Horse? And was the exec producer for....let's see...the goonies, Balto, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? And produced the Mandalorian, Andor, and Ahsoka? All of which are either classics or well received? Oh yeah so hard to see why she got to where she is

[@indifference1015]

​@TheRibottoStudios yeah produced which means she helped fund the films. The second she got creative control over star wars she made garbage after garbage and is still somehow in charge with more garbage to come.

[@cattothefuture]

Now I finally know that the opposite of a hero isn't an antihero, it's Criston Cole.

[@Captain_Insano_nomercy]

His book version was way better. I preferred him as an outright villain

[@MisterSinisterReviews]

Ser Criston Cole: Knight in the streets, Queen clapper in the sheets.

[@wayne47able]

Ser Criston Cole... Hand of the King and Finger of the Queen

[@TearYouApart360]

Such a lucky man. She is my 10.

[@andrejslv4192]

She's gross

[@bazza1024]

Terrible character

[@LuisSierra42]

@@TearYouApart360 real

[@nickb1729]

The fact that Alicent choses to not comfort her own son and instead goes to get some crispy...that just spoke even more to who she is. Kind of explains why ol one eye was using an older strumpet to comfort him earlier in the ep.

[@martinbaltazar7131]

And right before that scene her Father decided against comforting her when she felt like she needed him to be there for her. So the cycle continues.

[@JjackVideo]

The actress playing Helena is really incredible. Her portraying of a building panic attack was mesmerizing - combined with the great use of slow-motion for a change. I'll rewatch that for sure.

[@joshhilton718]

For some reason it kinda seems like foreshadowing with the "ashes" like stuff they kept seeing or looking at.

[@FSousA7X]

@@joshhilton718 I def saw her having some type of vision, and those petals did seem like ash, Rhaenyra saw the same with the dust in the room

[@MrIkaGeo]

Otto's reactions and Aegon's rage bursts made this episode

[@ex.tremist]

Agreed I was totally dead 🤣

[@poggamus4330]

the acting was superb

[@nileverdeen3797]

It was all Rhaenyra. This episode proves why she is a better ruler then Aegon. She didnt let vengeance steer her

[@extrasoap4881]

@@nileverdeen3797 agree. people thought her inaction made her weak. but who wants an impulsive ruler?

[@abhayrohit]

so good to see that, in GOT political position always dwarfed blood relations it never felt like two people who are related are having a conversation

[@Jonathan_Collins]

The fight between Erryk and Arryk was one of the hardest fights I’ve ever had to watch because of the fact that these brothers have been forced by circumstances to kill each other even though they still love each other.

[@yungkobe88]

I kept closing my eyes during their fight

[@Knives7777]

well Arryk chose wrong. He was there when House Hightower and Otto Swore fealty to rhaenyra when she was 8. So.....

[@firstlast9846]

I didn’t really care too much tbh.. they barely were in the series that much to begin with. Was a lil sad tho.

[@danix4883]

@@Knives7777this is such a naive take, both brothers thought what they were doing was right, stop being so tribalistic

[@extrasoap4881]

when Arryk cried "but I still love you, brother!" 😭 i love conflicts like these where you know there's no winner and you can't bear to root for any side. cleaganebowl had nothing on this because the mountain had as much soul as a teaspoon. imagine if the hound had to fight another hound

[@Luke101]

The scene of Otto arguing with Aegon might be one of my favorite scenes in the whole show so far. Just incredible performances. The guy playing Aegon is killing it this season. I thought he would be petulant and annoying like Joffrey but he’s actually kind of endearing and relatable

[@pressrepeat2000]

That’s one of the strengths of the writing here, everyone is relatable in some way, they feel like real humans, not like typical caricatures. And they all keep going back and forth between being more good and then more bad.

[@Captain_Insano_nomercy]

I'm glad at least some people feel this way, because a large chunk of the fandom fails to see the nuance and just hates all the Greens

[@Galloglaoch]

@@pressrepeat2000 I'd say not everyone. They are dropping the ball on Rhaenyra. They are trying too hard to have her being goody two-shoes. She does nothing wrong, she's never up for the bad ideas, she loves her children, comforts them, is also right in her pursuit, treats her allies well. She's just out of place in this world. The writing is trying too hard to show her ebing the best person in the world. She's a holier than thou character without the writing taking a jab at it anyway. I think I basically like every other character than her. I hope they do something about that, the actress is doing a stellar job with the shlock she's given I think. Ever since psidoe 4-5 or something from the first season she's been pushed as a baby face Roman Reigns. Not a fan of it.

[@bherbo3943]

@@Galloglaochare you on crack, do you even remember her character from season 1? Do you guys understand character development & growth at all? lmaoooooo

[@Luke101]

@@Galloglaoch Bruh what she was a little shithead when she was younger. She's grown a lot thusfar in the show and I'm sure she'll make some questionable choices in the near future

[@THambrough]

"Their fight ended how all fights with parents end. With Dad leaving to go for a ride to the store on his dragon and pick up a pack of smokes. Maybe he'll be back, maybe he won't. We don't know." 😂

[@Strega4646]

😂😂😂

[@Adam-xg1ch]

the scene between Otto/Aegon/Criston was one of the best scenes in all of Game of Thrones. incredible acting.

[@margarethmichelina5146]

Same with the scene of Rhaenyra and Daemon arguing

[@Mire_Klick]

are you on meth or something? wtf dude

[@RachaelTheFirboldDruid]

I was so mad when he destroyed the model of Old Valyria that his dad made.

[@Scraggless]

Was very poetic that he did it as he decided to declare war. Literally destroying everything his ancestors built

[@dieusonmalcomson7335]

His dad didn’t make it by hand he paid for it to be made. And if aegon wants he can just pay someone to make it again.

[@exgardevior]

his dad spent more time with his legos than raising his son... he was probably jealous

[@Mitsoxfan]

Foreshadow...

[@vsznry]

@@Scraggless thats not that "poetic". thats a child's tantrum.

[@josephagundez5336]

Rhys Ifans knocked it out of the park in this episode. I love that even though Otto and Viserys didn't get along, Otto still held him in high regards even after his passing. Paddy Considine and now Rhys Ifans had their moments to shine and their acting performances were top tier.

[@gianarapaterakis]

Copy pasted what a low liffer

[@AkronRain69]

The cinematography, the acting, the writing and the direction are TOP TIER on this show!!! Bravo!🙌

[@Piewalkermatt]

This and Shogun this year. Nothing else.

[@Aragonsdick5170]

​@@Piewalkermatt true. I doubt if Rings of Power will have all three..maybe the cinematography and visuals..the writing? A bit skeptical..

[@Al-ji4gd]

No, it isn't lol. HotD is mediocre.

[@JB-mb6lm]

​@@Al-ji4gd make a better show then

[@Al-ji4gd]

@@JB-mb6lm I don't need to, there are already plenty out there better than this.

[@arothfield]

Why is Jeremy giving incredible acting in these little asides??

[@ColtDoesReviews]

That was my exact thought lmao

[@vileluca]

Jeremy legit better actor than Brie Larson

[@eb2681]

​@@vilelucahave you seen Room or Short Term 12??

[@nathanalene]

Its his comedic timing .he's always on point and hilarious

[@kingslayer3365]

The part where he wants to investigate who's smashing his mom 💀

[@paigemalloy4276]

Sucked to see Otto leave AGAIN. Dude is such an interesting character

[@hectoraccented5312]

Yeah.... It's like losing Varys in GOT, or Tywin

[@robertl.wilson1199]

Show is already heading downhill wtf

[@Jimboquacks]

@@hectoraccented5312 Otto is the equivalent to Tywin. Just not in a brutal strategic way of getting things done. Like the red wedding.

[@danix4883]

@@Jimboquackshonestly Otto is such an interesting character, def top 2 with Daemon

[@H4is3nberg]

Tywin is like 20 times better lmao​@@Jimboquacks

[@TheRibottoStudios]

I really love that they don't show Mysaria tell Erryk. In most other shows, they would've had this long, drawn-out dialogue scene. But the writers of HOTD are like "nah our audience is smart. Let's treat em like they are." Also, I can't wait for Crispy to meet his end. Given what we see in the trailer, it looks to be way better than the book.

[@UnifiedEntity]

I thought she was going to die. Usually when character is home free and turn back to do one final good deed when they are in reach of some kind of peace, they die.

[@TheRibottoStudios]

​@@UnifiedEntitytrue I think she might have a larger role to play. She does have a character poster after all.

[@Flp6_3hole]

Did u guys notice her voice in first season and how they cut back on it in s2. It sounded a little over the top in s1. I'm glad they did tho, I also like her. She is an intresting and intriguing character. I'm curious where her story will go.

[@bishbosh4815]

Tell him what?

[@matthewheywood8532]

@@TheRibottoStudiosin books she has a much bigger role that should be starting right about now

[@Migs5000]

One scenes, that really stood out to me and highlights the enormous difference between Alicent and Rhaenyra as mothers, was when Alicent couldn't even bring herself to comfort Aegon as he sat there sobbing, opting instead to go bone Criston. Whereas, just last episode, Rhaenyra was quick to embrace Jace as he completely fell apart trying to give her news of his journey north, which has got to be one of the best acted scenes I've seen in a while.

[@Freya1412]

She can't even bring herself to stand up for her daughter. Helaena doesn't want to be paraded behind he son's dead body but Alicent didn't even stand up for her and say no. As mother she could have insisted that only she follow the procession and Helaena should be allowed to grieve in private. She instead only spoke for herself saying she didn't want to be made into a spectacle. Like she owes Helaena and she can't even do a basic thing like protect her from something that's going to be extremely overwhelming and awful. She is a terrible mother.

[@Jules2439.5]

I thought it was interesting how the contrasted both of their behaviors towards the partners they were fighting with. Rhaenyra used words and didn’t fall for Daemon’s attempt at an advance. Alicent hit Criston like a petulant child and ends up sleeping with him. How she fell for that after their tryst played into the death of her grandchild is beyond me.

[@1siddynickhead]

Yes! And you see how parenting patterns repeat themselves in the scene with Otto and Alicent where she wanted to tell him about her sins and he was like "I don't want to hear it" and then she emotionally abandons her son a second later when he's grieving.

[@Iladimah]

it did not stand out to you lol, it was a viral tweet

[@Migs5000]

@@Iladimah yeah, I don't do twitter, so...nice try I guess? not really sure what purpose your comment serves. Do you feel like you'll get some sort of intellectual satisfaction by proving that you're perpetually online? It's a pretty notable scene, its fair to assume others would make that same conclusion and also want to share it on various forms of social media. You do know that separate people can come to the same conclusion on their own without outside influence, right? Your comment makes me feel like you need this basic concept spelled out for you.

[@Lizmo0205]

Otto was the Ben Affleck meme this ep 😂

[@solarmaru49]

Lmao yea

[@extrasoap4881]

i love how i know which one you're talking about 😆

[@arraikcruor6407]

The batman v superman interview?

[@lockedoutofmygoogle]

​@@arraikcruor6407I'm thinking it's the cigarette meme

[@KillerTacos54]

I JUST finished watching the episode and I was so damn impressed. Every single performance was brilliant, the writing was brilliant, directing was brilliant. Everything was just phenomenal! Also I swear Rhys Ifans deserves an Emmy. I did not expect to start rooting for Otto, but by the end of this episode I was!

[@callmeviper7723]

Daemon emerging from that cavern riding Caraxes was such an epic shot, I watched it like 4 times.

[@jsan3743]

Yeah, it was awesome! Also, I think it made it more clear just how big Caraxes is. Since he is long and noodley, I found it hard to gauge his size but that scene made it quite clear and I loved it.

[@Danjoker.]

It's the armor.

[@eighthelement]

@@jsan3743 "Caraxes is long and noodley" Funny way to describe him, I like it.

[@lakminikumari4981]

Don't u feel like caraxes design has been changed. Previously he was red but in this season he was less colored

[@tmichael_morgan]

"Ser is it not you who clappeth the queen mother's cheeks" that killed me😂😂😂😂 Jeremy, you're a mad genius 😂

[@Aragonsdick5170]

Clever 😆

[@JazerMedia]

Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower stole this episode with his performance. The "Is that what you think?" line was cold as ice.

[@rottinghill]

I've never seen Rhys Ifans so committed to a role, in every other movie I've seen him he always looks like he hates acting for a living lol. But this is the role of his life for sure.

[@kingoblivion1334]

That argument scene between Rhaenyra and Daemon was something else. Amazing writing and acting!!

[@Jay_Walker92]

When Eric said "where were you" I was like I know exactly where he was, what he was doing, and who he was doing it with. 😂

[@Freya1412]

Arryk. Erryk is the one on dragon stone. Arryk is King Aegon's sworn protector in king's landing.

[@SH7SH7SH7]

@@Freya1412potatoe potata

[@lockedoutofmygoogle]

​@@Freya1412 doesn't matter, both dead now.

[@blaster915]

"CLAPETH THE QUEEN MOTHERS CHEEKS" had me rolling 😂😂

[@phillipmckinnon6883]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@FGTRTD24]

One of my favorite things about this show is when a character goes “Who could have done this?!” Daemon in the room looking 👀😏. It’s such a little thing, but it adds so much to his character. Always stirring the pot that one.

[@neondemon5137]

He's like a dog that peed on the carpet.

[@mattyswish]

Jeremy got me laughing my butt off on a Monday morning. CLAPETH THY QUEENS CHEEKS

[@Aragonsdick5170]

😂

[@Yes_Boy]

"Satisfaction is the death of desire" is such a bar, Jeremy.

[@cmd31220]

The best part of this series is that with rare exceptions, theres really no purely evil characters. Neither side is really the "good guys" or the "bad guys" and even characters you arent supposed to like like Otto Hightower and King Aegon are layered and understandable. They feel REAL.

[@midnightblackroses]

This is true. But sometimes it feels like Black fans think the Blacks are the good guys. When the point is, none of them are.

[@kohinoormithani5590]

The dog is fine guys 🚨

[@willard39]

And he still loved that vile bastard :(

[@NeilsonBuntowa]

for now. but the people of kingslanding is hungry and they might turn their attention to anything that can be eaten at some point.

[@ideozublake8036]

@@NeilsonBuntowadon’t give them ideas

[@DreamFortressss]

@@willard39 the way of a dog: blind loyalty and love.

[@aaronsmith4940]

​@@willard39we don't deserve their innocence

[@jada9401]

The difference between Jeremy reviewing House of the Dragon and Acolyte is funny lol

[@Bullz_eye47]

Ser criston cole "master of tongue"

[@johnnielurker]

master of gaslighting too

[@Jester2415]

@@johnnielurker Master of Hypocrisy

[@Danjoker.]

Otto realizing what an idiot his grandson is was just gold.

[@KabbalahSherry]

They're all fools for tearing the whole realm in two, all so they could put a drunk, rapey lunatic on the throne. 🤦🏻‍♀️🙄 Absolute morons I tell ya.

[@oneiroy]

I think in part it was also him realizing that all of his plans are going to shit.

[@leeshropshire6346]

It’s not just that Otto can work with stupid hell he almost prefers it cause it makes them easier to control. It’s the fact aegon is stubborn hotheaded and won’t take any advise that makes him a liability

[@cameronpoupard9966]

I had more attachment to these twins in less than 10 minutes than I do to the twins in the entirety of the acolyte show

[@extrasoap4881]

right? the sad part was realising the acting chops they had (i didn't know of them before this) and wishing they had more screen time

[@cameronpoupard9966]

@@extrasoap4881 totally agree, that realization was almost as heartbreaking as the demise of the characters. It was so well executed , I could feel how much they cared about the scene

[@BabaYagaRacing]

😂😂😂😂

[@xEVERYBODYANDTHEIRMOM]

The 1 scene with the king, Otto, and sir cole is better than ALL of the acolyte

[@BabaYagaRacing]

My poop in my toilet is better than Acolyte

[@Dalpima]

My wife and I were thinking the same exact thing during the funeral procession. "OH MY GOD HIS HEAD IS GONNA ROLL OFF INTO A PUDDLE. PLS NO. PLS PLS PLS NO." And then nothing happened. And we were like.... "Wow. Fuck we are INVESTED in this show." XD

[@TolliverHiker]

I thought so too! Not that I need or want to see a toddlers head roll off but it would have make for masterful film making. Like “hey we know y’all are gonna B!tch about watering down Blood and Cheese….then next episode…there goes the head!”

[@extrasoap4881]

i thought it was really good, a way for us to understand the panic attack Helaena was going through

[@kevinodonnell3216]

@@TolliverHiker na It wouldn’t be masterful at all it would be cheap shock value and just depraved

[@anearthian894]

"Father, i have sinned" "Don't wish to hear a word about it" "Very well then, Sir Criston...ready your sin weapon"

[@rottinghill]

It's hilarious how incest is fine, but fooling around with the help is a sin

[@Ff7lorelikeme]

"sin weapon" 💀💀

[@EmileVinesh]

Aegon says that Otto was "his father's Hand", which is a seed that has been planted by Larys in the previous episode. Larys Clubfoot is also planning something...

[@extrasoap4881]

i honestly thought Larys was planning to be Hand

[@oneiroy]

@@extrasoap4881 maybe he did. But Aegon is a bit of a wild card, and he picked Cole instead. For Larys, for now, at least Otto was removed, for now))

[@latishabuckner8231]

The way Daemon was sitting at the small council meeting you would thought the conversation was about, who left a corner of juice in the jug and put it back in the refrigerator. He didnt give no fucks, Damn Daemon!

[@beden653]

If someone took a shit in the corner, then you need to look at Daemon

[@extrasoap4881]

i actually thought he was being a coward, and agreed with R for calling him pathetic

[@Wraith983]

I also wanted to the episode to keep going. I liked how it took it's time lingering on the characters in slower moments, so we could feel what they were feeling.

[@chrisbradley5716]

The Krull reference!!! Dude, I’m glad I wasn’t the only one that THAT sound freaked out as a kid! 🤣

[@LeeBeeDeeTree51]

Rhys Ifans was magnificent. The scene with Otto, Aegon and Criston was epic. That should be his Emmy reel. I loved when Criston tried to be all big and bad by saying "Mind how you speak to your King and Otto was so angry he essentially said, "I don't care that he is the King. He is my grandson and I'll talk to him however I want!"

[@sleepyorca4997]

Anyone else pick up on the "You have not seen, what I have seen" line? That was definitely a dig at Rings of Power...and I loved it.

[@huesoftheheart139]

The actor for Otto Hightower was in his bag this episode 🔥🔥🔥

[@thedisruptivexennial3350]

I watched the twin fight again. And it was Ser Arryk who won. Ser Erryk had the wound on his right leg. So Arryk who came to kill the queen was the one who asked for forgiveness and fell on his sword. WOW! Phenomenal storytelling!

[@lungiMSP]

I need to watch it again I honestly thought it was the opposite and kept trying to follow the leg injury

[@travistotle]

I actually thought for a brief moment after one brother was killed, we'd spend the next few episodes wondering WHO actually did survive, and if it was in fact Arryk either waiting for his next moment or just flipping teams. And then the show quickly kneecapped that idea lol

[@1121b]

Pretty sure Erryk won. Arryk wouldn’t have called Rhaenyra “Your Grace” if he’d won

[@Hiryu_]

@@1121bhe did that on purpose, to make it seem like his brother had won and not him

[@1121b]

@@Hiryu_ why would he bother if he’s about to kill himself

[@SoranotRoxas]

*Can we just all appreciate how good the acting was in this episode too!?* My goodness, everybody brought 110% with this one 🔥👌

[@sbowesuk981]

Best show on TV right now, bar none. Never thought I'd get that "peak Game of Thrones" feeling ever again, yet here we are!

[@cldpt]

everyone is going to downvote this but I have high hopes for that season 2 of the Rings of Power too. Like, both shows had to set it up with a first season, but LOTR was going to be WAY harder to get the fans onboard. I liked the quality and setup of the first season quite well, even if it may not be entirely lore-accurate. It is, nonetheless, lore-filling and that's something I regard quite highly on a show that has to fill not only some big shoes of the great source material (in both movie and book form no less!), but also that has little leeway into making this losely-described period of Middle Earth make sense.

[@ranamores4919]

​@@cldptenjoy it man. Dont let others bring you down becoz of your opinion on a show. We are all just fantasy fanboys here

[@Whocares1987]

@@cldptI definitely downvoted this. Rings of Power was laughably bad. I literally can barely even remember any of it. That’s how forgettable it was.

[@ayotundeayoko5861]

@@cldpt respectfully, please, enjoy my downvote. Season 1 of RoP was an atrocious mess -it has not one saving grace. Not one. Look, even if it wasn't lore-accurate, will you dismiss the terrible writing and bad dialog? how everything looks so small? terrible costumes and childish 'words of wisdom'? please let's not ruin a good day of enjoying Jeremy's reviews of a stellar HotD episode.

[@ayansayeedhussain840]

​@@cldptYes exactly.I liked it too.

[@richardbaker183]

This is definitely my favorite review that I've seen you do. Not just what happened within the episode, but the way the show stays with you in between episodes, I totally agree.

[@blackbeardbarkbark]

Criston is the worst. Those twins deserved better. Before the twin killed himself he said to Rhea “your grace”. Which means it was the right twin who won.

[@hollandscottthomas]

It could have been the wrong one realising his mistake in choosing the side that would send him to do this, and re-swearing fealty before taking his life.

[@Greenjoker4]

Nah Eryk got cut above his knee early. And the one who won didnt have it.

[@fettfan91]

The look on Ser Cole’s face when Aegon promoted him was priceless. Gotta remember this dude came from nothing, and now he’s the King’s Hand. And the Queen Dowager’s too I guess 😏

[@eqs1782]

I felt the same way about the shaking of the carriage I was like oh no the heads gonna fall off

[@fpgmatthew]

I feel the same way! Long episodes are AMAZING and I’m still fully invested wanting more by the end. So glad HotD is competently made unlike other newer streaming shows

[@bendaydot6733]

That Krull scream fucking killed me. I'm in tears from laughter.

[@BadCoyoteFunky]

This is why Jeremy has continued to be everyones favorite YT reviewer. Hes able to wax poetic about these shows and movies in a way that sounds like your buddy has come to enthusiastically recall the events for you. Cheers

[@quennedr1]

When the wagon wheel got hung up I really thought we were gonna see actual heads roll.

[@jackolimb6145]

The dialogue is truly back in full form to what it was in the early seasons of GOT, i literally stood up and pumped my fist, im so happy theyre doing such a good job

[@ivnmbgy]

Ser Criston Cole was promted this week to "The Hand of the Queen" 😜 (i mean the King) from last week's "Master of Tongue"

[@afhlhrwxgjfvmmmyessh]

Great review Jeremy, you touched on all the emotions and anxieties stirred up by this episode. P

[@danix4883]

Otto & Daemon are definitely the two most interesting characters so far, both are so multidimensional

[@connorman32178]

Everyone seems to be on Otto’s side regarding the tactic of marching the dead prince through the street. I’m sorry but I’m on Aegon’s side there. As a dad, I would refuse to march my dead decapitated son for people to see.

[@extrasoap4881]

i don't think anyone's agreeing that it's the right thing to do emotionally, but it was strategically.

[@connorman32178]

@@extrasoap4881 again like I stated, I don’t care how strategic it is, you’d have to kill me before I let my son be dragged through the streets for people to see.

[@connorman32178]

@@extrasoap4881 I’m not debating that. But at the end of the day, I don’t care how strategic it is, I’m still refusing parade my dead son through the streets.

[@nothanks71]

People give characters like Otto and Daemon too much grace. Otto missed his puppet Viserys and was mad Aegon, who he schemed to make king, actually had an interest in ruling...as if it's not his own fault Aegon wasn't brought up like a puppet. Aegon was neglected and was used to doing whatever he wanted cause no one paid attention . Even alicent, he convinced alicent to listen to him on the premise that it was the "right thing to do" and that Rhaenyra would kill her children for the throne and then is confused when Alicent wants peace, while Aegon and Aemond have their own ambitions with how to attack Rhaenyra for their security. Man proudly kept the smarts to himself and was mad his family wasn't acting smart. Tywin was lucky with his kids. Tyrion developed his witts from reading, Cersei was naturally ambitious, and Jaime was the perfect son.

[@rottinghill]

Oh, okay

[@dontyouworryaboutit_]

“clappeth thine royal cheeks” ☠️😂

[@JacobyoftheWest]

I knew I wasn’t alone in freaking out over the models

[@joshjohnson5494]

Jeremy you are the only movie/show reviewer I watch. I align with your opinion so much. Keep it up!!

[@RashidHasanRafi-ru7fn]

2:41 that is the most accurate Daemon look ever

[@TheExtremeIRON]

I feel like Aegon being more human will ultimetly make him worse than Joffery. If Joffery's family was killed he would probaly just feel disrespected and act on that, Aegon having genuine anguish will make him lash out much harder.

[@rahjeel]

As a book reader he is much better fleshed out in the show, believe me humanizing him is very important to the "ending" of this civil war because in the book he's just a lazy prick.

[@wrymehexin3885]

I was never invested in the politics of Game of Thrones as much as I was in the overarching story with the White Walkers although it was very interesting and fun to watch and yet this show is just awesome

[@tnetennba2053]

great episode, Rhaenyras actor is so good

[@RogerRoger15]

This was my favorite episode of the series other than s1e8, I thought it was just perfect all around. Beautiful drama and brilliant acting and directing.

[@mori1bund]

4:56 a metaphor for the whole conflict.

[@LeonNeuton]

What a wild ride from start to finish! Feeling like I'm on an emotional rollercoaster after watching that episode! The buildup, the suspense, and the surprising twists had us gasping for air.💯🔥

[@Edd_LShore]

Twists? What twists?

[@koyapol]

the gap between HOTD and Acolyte is just wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide.

[@6ftundrth943]

What is Acolyte?

[@koyapol]

@@6ftundrth943 ooh i like what u did t here🤣

[@thickchip2694]

Been awhile since I been caught off guard on youtube. First time watching ya. That "they can play xbox together" line just woke up my whole house 😂😂😂😂😂

[@EleventhCubFan]

Criston is the woooooorst!

[@johnnielurker]

and when it's his time to go we'll be celebrating

[@carl8a324]

I thought the same thing when it got stuck I was like Please don’t drop the body, thankfully they didn’t, but just the thought of it without actually doing it is good television

[@brandophiri3618]

Jeremy is having fun

[@casandra5138]

Lmao!!! First time I see ur videos and I am cracking up!! 😂 Definitely coming back for more

[@SheydokGear]

Eryk (Rhaenyra's side) died, Aryk (Aegon's) killed himself. Earlier in the fight, Arryk wounds Eryk's thigh, when Eryk is choking Aryk, he (Aryk) uses this wound against him and proceeds to stab him. So the one left standing, was Arryk. I reckon that the weight of killing his own brother outweight his actual mission.

[@TsubasaAnimations]

They both cut each other in the thigh tho 😂 I used the first thigh cut to track them too but then it happened again

[@NewLeaseofLife]

@@TsubasaAnimations But the cut on the thigh of Arryk was on the left leg and Erryk's was on the right. When one brother was choking the other it was the right leg (Erryk's) that was used against him. Hence as @SheydokGear said the one left standing was Arryk.

[@SheydokGear]

@@NewLeaseofLife there you go.

[@Freya1412]

Wait so Arryk asked the black queen for forgiveness before he fell on his sword? Whoa. That's incredibly sad. That poor dude was also basically blackmailed into this mission. Maybe he should have left with his brother. I wonder if he regretted his decision to stay?

[@DisneyFan16672]

Nice deep cut with the "Krull" reference, Jeremy. Yep, that sound freaked me out too! "Krull" is such a highly underrated 80's fantasy film! Also, another great episode of "House of the Dragon". Wonderful character-building moments, a heartbreaking ending between the two brothers, and Daemon off to do whatever Daemon wants to do. Looking forward to the rest of the season's developments! :)

[@Killjeser]

Krull scream 🤣

[@brendanobrien8198]

The acting in the episode was superb. I also enjoyed how the episode shows multiple “little folk” being affected by this feud.

[@strangetenderness]

that otto hightower impression though 😂

[@APerfectionLLC]

‘Satisfaction is the death of desire?!’ Got me a new life quote. 😊 Thanks Jeremy

[@keithcurry3608]

Daeron mentioned🎉🎉

[@Caimanraven]

Otto is my favorite actor in the show not my favorite character but his performance is noteworthy for sure. When he got pissed I loved it lol

[@justinharris5625]

I think Eryk killed himself because he knew the queen wouldn’t feel safe bc she would constantly second guess if he was the twin or not, so as a sign of loyalty, he went ahead and ended the question himself to remove all doubt

[@roflorei]

🤦‍♂️

[@deshunsmith7828]

Good point maybe so.

[@mdh_masalewale8681]

I don't think he gave a fuck about the queen or anyone at that point, he brutally killed his own brother, and knew it was impossible for him to live with that grief. He made one last call to duty and apologized for his betrayal to the crown, and killed himself.

[@Thatguy-sm8cw]

They could’ve verified his identity by asking him questions only he would’ve known from having served on Dragonstone, so I take his suicide as purely grief motivated.

[@Mitsoxfan]

If roles were reversed, and Cristen had a twin, Alicent could have just been, if you are the real Ser Cole, do the thing.

[@JustDisappointed]

@2:01 - My wife and I both started yelling, "THE HEAD IS GOING ROLL INTO THE STREETS!"

[@plainbagel9192]

Helena on suicide watch

[@MichaelOdendaal]

Loving season 2 so far! Definitely the best thing on tv!

[@memecity9849]

This episode was so much better than the last one. Rhys freaking killed it

[@phillyjackson45]

Both episodes were good

[@Mitsoxfan]

Disney: "There's no way to make an hour show engaging the entire time." HoTD: Hold our beers.

[@christoffer1125]

Both episodes were incredible but the acting in this one was on another level

[@memecity9849]

@@christoffer1125 yes like this one was more captivating

[@extrasoap4881]

@@phillyjackson45 first one was mostly a recap

[@Braxten90]

mr. jahns, i’ve never really thought about it, but you have been around for a majority of my life and have helped influence my personal movie preference, as well as keeping me away from terrible movies. you take the hits for me mr. jahns. you take the hits for all of us. thank you for existing.

[@margarethmichelina5146]

Till these days, I still kinda find it funny of how they make Olivia Cooke (Alicent's actress) looked older with pale makeup like she's on her 35-40 years old (because she married young) while in reality she is a year older than Aegon's actor, 5 years older than Helaena's actress and 3 years older than Aemond's actor (Aemond is the youngest of them all but dude looks older to Aegon and Helaena) Meanwhile, Rhaenyra's actor (Emma D'Arcy is a non-binary with they/them pronoun), is actually a year older than Olivia but at least Rhaenyra's kids are looking younger on their teenage years and children year (for the youngest, Joffrey since he's still a kid)

[@bishbosh4815]

Fr it's so confusing to me 😂

[@gerstein03]

The Erryk vs Arryk fight I think is a small scale representation of the war between the blacks and greens. When the dust settles, much like with the duel between the twins, it doesn't matter who ends up coming out on top because the House of the Dragon will have torn itself apart

[@c00lmike]

This season has been good, but somewhat underwhelming so far imo

[@Factboy12]

Underwhelming is the right word for it. As a matter of fact, so far, for me at least, season 1 was underwhelming as well. The show is being praised because really, compared to The Wokolyte and The Rangs of Power, it's not hard to surpass those shows. The bar has been set so low these days. I remember I was so excited back in 2022 for HoTD... then I saw the series and... meh. It doesn't feel like I'm watching a Game of Thrones spin-off. It feels like I'm watching a Saturday morning cartoon version of Game of Thrones played by some actors mixed in with some LARPers.

[@bh3855]

The characters are too serious and dull. They lack personality, except Daemon. The original series had people like Tyrion, Olena, the Hound, etc. In HotD, everyone is so gloomy and just depressed lol

[@jasonsumner3386]

The cinematography, the acting and especially the direction was superb in this episode, definitely better than the first and I am kinda bummed that I have to wait another week to see another episode. Day one purchase for me when it comes out on 4k blu-ray.