Let me put it bluntly: Loads of Targaryens really feel sorry for themselves in tonight’s episode of House of the Dragon. But what begins out as a pity occasion turns into an exhilarating reminder of why the Targaryens are in command of Westeros, and it’s not simply due to their dragons.

“Second of His Name” skips forward three years into the long run, and the way forward for Westeros has shifted significantly: King Viserys (Paddy Considine) has lastly had a son, a minimum of one who’s lived lengthy sufficient to see his second birthday. It’s a time for celebration for everyone however Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock), who has develop into sure she’s going to get replaced as inheritor to the Iron Throne. So are many of the lords of the Seven Kingdoms, who’re visibly relieved they gained’t be dominated by a—shudder—lady. And Rhaenyra is extraordinarily bitter about it.

Ironically, Viserys’ happiness at having Aegon, Second of His Name, with Alicent (Emily Carey) is proscribed due to the identical concern. In truth, he’s fairly depressing due to all these lords pressuring him to publicly title his two-year-old the brand new inheritor. He’s additionally depressing as a result of Rhaenyra is livid with him for marrying her greatest good friend, frequently sending potential suitors her strategy to marry her off, and never talking up for his daughter whereas he’s clearly getting fixed stress to call his son the inheritor as a substitute. Viserys’s most popular coping mechanism? A ton of wine, Tyrion Lannister-style.

The one factor he’s not notably fearful about is the conflict within the Stepstones, which Lord Corlys “The Sea Snake” Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) and Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) have been waging for years towards the Crabfeeder and his pirates—and dropping. Every time Daemon arrives on his dragon, they scuttle again into their caves, the place dragon fireplace can’t attain them. Since Corlys and Daemon began this conflict with out Viserys’ royal decree, the king is inclined to easily allow them to lose somewhat than ship troops and appear weak by lastly acknowledging their mini-rebellion.

The factor is, Viserys is a weak king. He drinks to keep away from making selections about his daughter, however with a wholesome son, issues have come to a disaster level. It’s evident when Viserys takes his royal household and entourage to the Kingswood for a hunt celebrating Aegon’s birthday, and all of the lords who’ve gathered there begin applauding the king and his new boy, utterly ignoring Rhaenyra’s existence. And when it’s reported a uncommon white hart has been seen within the forest, the lads cheer for the signal from the Gods that they favor little Aegon. It’s an excessive amount of for Rhaenyra, who rides out of the camp at high velocity. No one actually cares that she leaves or finally ends up staying out all night time within the woods apart from her appointed Kingsguard, Ser Christon Cole (Fabien Frankel), who chases after her.

With Rhaenyra thus semi-safely out of the way in which, the lads can resolve who she should marry. Having been earlier rebuffed by the princess herself, Jason Lannister (Jefferson Hall) approaches the king to ask him to make the match occur. Viserys is already offended (and fairly drunk) at being pressured to confront this vexing topic once more when Jason makes the error of claiming Rhaenyra might be “well-compensated for her loss of station” as Lady of Casterly Rock. Viserys screams that Rhaenyra remains to be his introduced inheritor as Jason stammers, “We assumed…”

Small Council member Lyonel Strong (Gavin Spokes) affords one other candidate, which an offended Viserys assumes is his Master of Laws’ son Harwin. Instead, Strong suggests Laenor Velaryon (Theo Nate), the (fully-grown, thank the gods) son of the Sea Snake and the king’s cousin, Rhaenys. Just as binding the 2 Valyrion homes collectively would have strengthened the crown and realm again when it was urged Viserys wed their daughter Laena, a match between Rhaenyra and Laenor would do the identical now. Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), Hand of the King, affords the grossest candidate attainable—for Rhaenyra to wed her half-brother Aegon, Targaryen-style, besides a number of million instances worse as a result of the child—the toddler—is 2. Viserys, to his credit score, seems to be at Otto like he’s gone insane.

While the king and lords attempt to resolve her future, one other male arrives in Rhaenyra’s camp in an try to make the choice moot. An enormous boar runs into her and Criston’s small camp, knocking the knight off his ft and making an attempt to maul Rhaenyra. It’s fairly harrowing to observe till Criston manages to slay the beast and it topples off the princess… till it begins to rise once more and Rhaenyra finishes the job by stabbing the boar within the head I’d say, roughly, 400 million instances. She’s coated in blood.

Viserys’ hunt for the white hart, nonetheless, doesn’t fare almost so effectively. Not that the king does any precise searching, after all. The huntsmen—who might solely seize a giant grey elk—need to tie it up for him after which level on the deer’s torso the place the killing blow ought to land. Viserys nonetheless wants two stabs to convey it down, as a result of House of the Dragon doesn’t do delicate. Case in level: When Rhaenyra returns to camp, coated in blood, Criston dragging an enormous useless boar behind him, it’s not possible to not examine and distinction the 2 “hunts” and see who seems to be just like the stronger chief.

Meanwhile, it’s a unique woman who comes not simply to the king’s rescue, however the realm’s as effectively. As Viserys dithers about what to do about Rhaenyra and whether or not to ship troops to assist his brother and the Sea Snake, Alicent arrives to information him. Ignoring her father’s need for her to inform the king to call Aegon his inheritor, Alicent tells Viserys the one strategy to get Rhaenyra married is to let her make the match. As for the conflict with the Crabfeeder, she basically asks, no matter his emotions, Daemon’s emotions, and even the individuals’s emotions, what choice can be greatest for Westeros?

The dialog basically places some Valyrian metal again in Viserys’ backbone. He sends a messenger to inform Daemon that troops are on the way in which, as a result of he is aware of his brother would somewhat die than ask for assist. The king additionally summons Rhaenyra, and eventually confirms she’s nonetheless his supposed inheritor and won’t get replaced. He additionally tells her she will be able to marry whoever she needs however she can be sensible to choose somebody who can present an alliance and shore up her succession. It’s a dialog that would have (and arguably ought to have) appeared a lot earlier within the episode as a substitute of focusing so intently on Rhaenyra sulking and Viserys consuming, but it surely’s fantastic.

But the sluggish burn of the king and princess’ reconciliation in “Second of His Name” has the good thing about making the episode’s ultimate act much more superior, and it’s very superior certainly. As Corlys, his brother Vaemond, and his son Laenor argue about their dropping conflict with the pirates, Daemon arrives on his dragon, and he seems to be tough. But his frustration with the Crabfeeder doesn’t cease him from attempting to furiously beat Viserys’ messenger to loss of life as soon as he’s delivered the information that assistance is on the way in which.

Cut to: Daemon, rowing a small boat to the island the place the pirates are holed up. He waves a white flag, kneels, and affords up her sword to his enemy, signaling his give up. When the Crabfeeder exits his cave, all he does is watch the skies for Daemon’s dragon, who’s nowhere in sight. Some pirates take to the ledge and intention their arrows on the prince, suspecting a trick; others cautiously strategy Daemon… after which he begins killing all of them.

I didn’t understand how a lot I wished to see Matt Smith kick unholy ass, but it surely was apparently fairly an amazing deal. Daemon murders his approach in the direction of the Crabfeeder, till two arrows pressure him to take shelter. Then what looks like your entire pirate military emerges from the caves to take out the Targaryen, which is what the Velaryon forces have been ready for. A full-blown battle on the shore breaks out whereas a dragon scorches the pirates—however this one is Seasmoke, ridden by Laenor. (Remember, Laenor’s mom is Rhaenys, which means he has Targaryen blood and is thus entitled to a dragon.)

In the chaos, the Crabfeeder retreats into his cave, however this time he’s adopted by Daemon. And when Daemon reemerges, he’s dragging the severed torso of his foe, the Crabfeeder’s uncovered intestines trailing behind it.

Does this scene make sense? Not particularly, and I couldn’t care much less. It’s extraordinarily rad, giving the visceral thrills of Game of Thrones episodes like “Hardhome” and “Battle of the Bastards.” While the politics of House of the Dragon have been fascinating, it’s superior to know the present has the ability to ship the visceral motion that made Game of Thrones so thrilling.

It’s a spectacular finish to an episode that in any other case spent a little bit an excessive amount of time twiddling its proverbial thumbs, but it surely evens out ultimately. I additionally love how House of the Dragon is taking part in the lengthy sport by frequently leaping ahead—and we haven’t even seen the grownup actors taking part in Rhaenyra and Alicent but. Hell, the Targaryen civil conflict hasn’t even began but—and a brand new contender to the throne has solely simply arrived. These first three episodes have principally been a prologue to the true story to return, they usually’ve been remarkably good. When the brand new battle for the Iron Throne lastly begins, we may very well be in for one thing particular certainly.

Assorted Musings:

• As rad as Matt Smith is within the ultimate scene, his scene in the beginning of the episode is extraordinarily bizarre. Daemon is on his dragon, on the Crabfeeder’s seaside, telling him to “come out” and asking, “Where are you?” however Smith’s supply of the strains was remarkably impassive. It was very off-putting, particularly because the dialogue already sounded prefer it was from a person taking part in hide-and-seek with a toddler.
• Cancel Otto Hightower.
• Goodbye, Crabfeeder. Your head was too bizarre and gross for this world.

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