House of the Dragon Season 2’s explosive start and stellar fourth episode heightened my expectations for the finale. Unfortunately, it ended with a whimper rather than a bang.
The series wrapped up last night on HBO and is set to air tonight on Sky Atlantic in the UK – although the episode is already available on demand. It also leaked earlier this week, so congratulations if you managed to avoid spoilers.
Speaking of which, spoilers for House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones season 2 follow.
With the promise of three new dragon riders and battalions forged on land and sea, I thought we might see at least a few action. However, the last episode was nothing more than a preparation for a war that we never got to witness properly.
We went back to the beginning of Season 1, with characters discussing battle strategies and court etiquette for far too long. There was even a bizarre mud wrestling scene with Ser Tyland Lannister, presumably to break up the endless chatter.
Theo Whitman/HBO
Theo Whitman/HBO
Theo Whitman/HBO
Perhaps the most important moment of the episode is a scene with Daemon Targaryen, who has been brought to the Godswood to see his true purpose: to fight for Rhaenyra rather than against her and ensure she ends up on the Iron Throne.
During this sequence, we saw snippets of what will likely be The Battle Above the Gods Eye, a pivotal fight in the series that could very well be the climax of the series, period. It’s also key to Daemon’s character arc, which he’s been trying to uncover during his strange, hallucination-filled stay at Harrenhal, with Ser Simon Strong casually roasting him in the background.
However, we also saw a flash-forward to the distant future – a future where the dead walk beyond the Wall and a burnt blonde woman sits with her three baby dragons.
Game of Thrones fans will immediately recognize the Night King and Daenerys Targaryen as two of the most memorable characters from the original series. While this moment was meant to whet fans’ appetite for the finale, it had the opposite effect for me.
When I saw Daenerys, all I could think about was her terrible story arc in Game of Thrones season 8, where she decided to burn King’s Landing, seemingly on a whim, before being anticlimactically stabbed by her lover. All this after seasons of build-up and the promise of liberation for the people after years of tyrannical Lannister rule that never came to fruition.
Are we really supposed to believe that Daemon’s (the Old Gods’, no less) higher purpose is to ensure that This Is the future coming?
Warner Bros. Discovery/HBO
Warner Bros. Discovery/HBO
Warner Bros. Discovery/HBO
This moment may be more meant to reinforce the show’s story, hinting that Daenerys was the “Prince Promised” of the ancient stories, a savior of the land—and so Daemon must protect her lineage. But then again, if that’s the case, then in what world does this prophecy come true? Not in the Game of Thrones ending, that’s for sure.
He even utters the ominous phrase “Winter is coming” to Rhaenyra, but again, we know how that ends. In a battle far too dark to be seen on most television screens, with D&D writers “subverting our expectations” by making what should have been the biggest battle of the series far from the bloodbath we were supposed to expect, and the man we thought would be the savior – Jon Snow – not appearing in any form.
This scene seems to have been included only because the finale lacked any standout moments. Instead, time was wasted on Rhaena Targaryen running around the Vale and Jacaerys Velaryon getting upset over the commoners being rude at the table.
But most importantly, it didn’t need to be. House of the Dragon has now proven that its characters have the strength to stand on their own two feet. It has the potential to have a more satisfying ending than the original series, and rehashing the past and the disappointing conclusion of its predecessor doesn’t do it any favors.
Despite a flat ending, Season 2 had some incredible moments. Let’s just hope the next installment ends on an action-packed note.
