What is your review of House of the Dragon Season 2 finale, Episode 8?
Last Updated: 03.07.2025 00:20
Season 2 was used as a mini season to set up the Real Dance of the Dragons in Season 3. GRRM said they were planning 4 seasons with 10 episodes each. Yet, Season 2 was only 8 episodes. Therefore, I believe there will be 5 seasons. However, Battle of the Gullet would have been the perfect choice for GOT’s famous Episode 9. What a missed opportunity. In any other tv show, this would be regarded as a great season but considering the source material and the potential and unnecessary changes, it was disappointing. Also, the lack of emotional scenes is concerning, to say the least.
Mysaria: …Be strong.
Larys mentions even if Aegon puts Aemond in prison, he can’t beat Rhaenyra without Vhagar.
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Aemond: ‘Tis no longer our rule that is threatened, our very lives. Would you not have us prevail?
Having Aegon chose Rhaenyra’s nickname was unexpected, to say the least.
Rhaenyra orders Addam to come with her to Harrenhal.
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Aegon not being able to have more children and the show eliminating Maelor leaves the Greens with Jaehaera as Aegon’s heir. The same reasoning they built their claim on. Destabilizing the succession of the Greens.
This sets up Battle Of The Gullet-The Bloodiest Sea Battle We’ll See. With Huge Consequences.
Alicent: Not Like This.
(Alicent in S1: You are the challenge, Aegon. Simply by living and breathing.)
WE START WITH BLOODRAVEN…
THEN COMES RHAENYRA AND ALICENT SCENE. REVERSE OF S2E3 ENDING.
Daemon meets with Alfred who was sent by Rhaenyra.
Baela: You wish for us to kill innocents.
Rhaenyra: My part is here, whether I will or no. It was decided for me long ago. Go.
Having Lohar call Tyland as “Tywin” was a nice touch.
Alyn: Do you know what it was like for us? To grow up fatherles, to be sneered upon as bastards, never sure of the bread to feed us? Do you know what hunger does to a boy? What grief does? Or shame? I sold fish from the market from cold dawn until sunset, putting my coppers to stave off the winter, and I watched the man who sired me walk past with his son and heir with a fur around his shoulders choosing sweetmeats to eat after supper by the fire. And now that boy is dead. And his sister before him. And the heir that took his place. And now, now, now you remember I live. Now you wish to suddenly scatter the crumbs of your favor. I am an honorable man, and I will serve you because I must. But if it is all the same, I will decline any offers of help. If I survive this war, I will continue as I began…Alone.
Aegon: Aegon the Realm’s Delight.
Addam will be right be proven right.
However, first Tyland must convince Triarchy leader Lohar in this episode.
HOUSE OF THE DRAGON S2 FINALE E8 REVIEW
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THEN COMES THE VISIONS OF HOUSE OF UNDYING FOR DAEMON.
Rhaenyra In High Valyrian: You sound just like my father.
GRRM ONCE SAID THAT 4 SEASONS WITH 10 EPISODES EACH ARE NEEDED FOR HOTD. BUT THEY USED S2 AS A SET UP FOR S3 AND S4. I BELIEVE THEY WILL GO FOR 5 SEASONS IN TOTAL. NOT USING BATTLE OF THE GULLET AS THE FAMOUS EPISODE 9 IS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY.
(Tywin: Any man who must say I am the King is no true King.)
As Aemond forces Helaena to come with him, Alicent intervenes…
(Using the word “Story” proves how much he was affected by his vision.)
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Daemon In High Valyrian: The world is not what we thought it was. This war is just the beginning. WINTER IS COMING. With Darkness and Doom.
Setting up the Butcher’s Ball.
And a message from Harrenhal arrives. Simon has concerns about Daemon and his men.
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Rhaenyra: If I am to take the throne, I must put an end to the opposition. I must take Aegon’s head. And I have to do it for all to see. You know this.
Daemon: I wasn’t expecting you.
ALICENT LETS RHAENYRA HAVE AEGON.
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Helaena: Why does everybody hate us? …I was happier before I was Queen.
One of the best monologues of the franchise. Fantastic scene.
Mysaria: …Gods favor you. They put the means to victory in your hands.
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…THEN VISION ENDS. AND JUST LOOK AT DAEMON’S FACE.
…THEN DAEMON DROWNS IN THE SEA OF BLOOD-RESEMBLING RAGNAR IN THE VIKINGS INTRO…
THEN, WE CUT TO HARRENHAL.
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Daemon: They are sworn to me. And not a moment too soon.
THEN,
Cole: She saved my life. Twice. …She’s the beacon I follow.
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Daemon just laughs it off.
A good choice of words.
Just look at how Cole And Alicent changed their beliefs on decency.
Daemon In High Valyrian: I saw it. I saw that we cannot withstand it…and yet, somehow we must.
Ironic to see how it will come true for Rhaenyra.
Alicent: What would you think about leaving this place?
Alicent: You let me go, to fo what I promised. And you fly to Red Keep in 3 days’ time. And you take your throne. I have neither weapon nor armor. My life itself is forfeit. I cast myself on the mercy of a friend who once loved me.
…THEN ALYN AND CORLYS SAILING ON THE QUEEN WHO NEVER WAS…
Rhaenyra takes a step back.
AND HOUSE OF THE DRAGON SEASON 2 ENDS.
Corlys tells Alyn that they will sail to protect the Blockade soon.
Jace: It is hard but it cannot be helped.
Aemond: Sister. We share the same blood, you and I. I know you wish no harm to anyone. But in a time like this, when the good of the realm depends on us…Our Mother is not a dragonrider. She cannot understand that you and I have a truer call to heed. Come with me…To Harrenhal? We will lay waste to Daemon and his army. Let our enemy see that we will answer outrage with outrage.
Rhaenyra: And who pays the price?
As Aemond arrives, the whole scene changes…
Rhaena finally sees a flying dragon in the sky.
Alfred calls Daemon “A Leader Of Men” and a “King”. Wanting Daemon to declare for himself.
Hugh: And so many…
Helaena: It wouldn’t change anything.
Calling Daemon a player when Alys calls him a piece on the board was intentional.
Aegon: He deserves no less.
…THEN JASON LANNISTER MARCHES ON RIVERLANDS…
But Alyn loses it when Corlys claims he tries to help Alyn.
THEN, Tyland sings “The Captain’s Daughter” for the Triarchy.
Aegon: So, what was the fucking point in all this then? …No, No. I am the King. Why must I run?
Alicent: He’s broken beyond recognition.
ALICENT LEAVES.
Helaena: I won’t burn anyone.
THEN,
ALL IN ALL,
…THEN COMES DAERON THE DARING ON TESSARION WITH HIGHTOWERS…
THEN, Rhaena continues her hard search for Sheepstealer.
…THEN COMES TYLAND LANNISTER SAILING WITH THE TRIARCHY…
The lack of emotional moments in this show is concerning, to say the least.
Alys: When you came here, you were a closed fist. You wished to bend the world to your will. But you’ve discovered, I think that, this world will not be governed. …Do you wish, then, to learn what is given to you? All your life, you have sought to command your own fate. But today you are ready.
Helaena: I do not wish to fight.
Helaena: And If I refuse? Will you burn me as you did Aegon?
THEN, WE MATCH CUT TO DAEMON.
THEN,
THEN,
THEN,
…THEN RHAENA FINALLY FINDS SHEEPSTEALER…
ALL RIVERMEN IN HARRENHAL BEND THE KNEE.
Jace: If you hinder our efforts through sloth and unreadiness, I’ll see you hanged.
Larys: We must leave King’s Landing quickly and we will not return for some time.
Triarchy Vs Velaryons Is Set Now. “To the Gullet On The Morrow”.
Baela: Do you believe that you are the first noble heir who was not sired by his noble father? Such is the way of the world, Jace.
THEN,
THEN, Tyland battles to convince Lohar to sail to Westeros.
AEMOND ON VHAGAR BURNS DOWN SHARP POINT INTO THE GROUND.
Corlys: Everything I do, I do for her…Your Grace, you are ready. You have 6 dragons under your banner. My ships sail at your command, and my men serve you. But the Lannisters are marching. And the Hightowers from Oldtown. You must crush this beast at its head. And before too many days have flown. There is of course another player that has yet to be revealed.
ALICENT BETRAYS THE GREENS AND BEGS RHAENYRA TO BE SPARED WITH HELAENA.
Aegon: Fucking mad cunt…
…THEN COMES THE LAST SHOT OF DAEMON LOOKING HIS RIVERMEN ARMY IN HARRENHAL…
Cole: Desire for women have brought me grief after grief…Perhaps all men are corrupt. And true honor is a mist that melts in the morning.
AS WE ENTER THE FINAL MONTAGE…
Rhaenyra: History will paint you a villain. A cold Queen grasping for power and then defeated.
Alicent: …No ambition greater than to walk where I please and to breathe the open air. …And be free. Come with me.
…THEN RHAENYRA WITH HER CROWN SITS ON THE IRON THRONE…
Helaena: And you..you’ll be dead. You were swallowed up in the God’s Eye, and you were never seen again.
Corlys: I’ve had little to do with him…to my regret.
THEN COMES AEMOND VS HELAENA-WHO STANDS THE SAME WAY AND DRESS AS SHE DID IN DAEMON’S VISION. PROVING SHE MEANT AEMOND.
Daemon: For every one of us who falls…A hundred of them. There will be no mercy. We fight for our Queen.
Larys: You’re not alone.
Helaena: I was it. You burned him and you let him fall.
Larys’ masterplan to have Aegon escape will be crucial for the Greens.
Alicent: The Crown will pursue war and victory at any cost. But as for me…I would take my daughter and her child and leave it all behind.
Aemond: That is a lie.
…THEN DAEMON WALKS AMONG THE FALLEN SOLDIERS-RESEMBLING PAUL ATREIDES OF DUNE’S VISION OF JIHAD…
But I’d change it with a more touching Jace scene. Since the Gullet is coming.
Jace remains unhappy about the Dragonseeds. If Rhaenyra is the Crown, Jace is the Succession. And as a bastrad, he rightfully worries over his claim being challenged even if he is her heir. Just like Viserys did with Rhaenyra.
Rhaenyra: And yet, to claim it, I must strike. And in striking, I doom thousands to their deaths. I do not believe my father would’ve wished this.
Rhaenyra: That seems rather a lapse in foresight. I see you have done well here.
Aegon: Is it? My dragon is dead. I am burnt and disgusting and alone. And I’m a cripple.
Ulf: Look at that hair. As dark as they say. Let them tell us we don’t have Targaryen blood, eh?
THEN,
Rhaenyra: We must break the will of our enemy…or more will die in a struggle that stretches on without end.
Tyland makes a deal with Triarchy to end Corlys’ blockade against King’s Landing.
IN THE END, HOUSE OF THE DRAGON SEASON 2 WAS GREAT YET DISAPPOINTING.
Alicent: …You wish to rule the Seven Kingdoms but you rain ruin and death upon the Smallfolk…And now you seek to corrupt your sister, of all our line, the gentlest and most deserving of your protection…
Cole mentions this would dishonor the Hightower name. Much like the Lannisters. Family Name is All.
Rhaenyra In High Valyrian: Leave me again at your peril.
A GREAT YET DISAPPOINTING SEASON.
Gwayne draws his sword and threatens to send him to the Wall.
THEY ALMOST TOUCH THEIR FOREHEAD. DAEMON’S WAY OF SHOWING HIS LOVE.
Daemon: My Queen.
As is the words of House Hightower, “We Light The Way”.
THEN COMES THE TIME THE GREENS FRACTURE,
Daemon to Alys: Do you never sleep, witch?
Daemon: You are the True Queen, Rhaenyra. First of her name. Protector of the Realm. I am meant to serve you, and all of these with me. Until Death or the End of our Story.
Rhaenyra: And to whom are you sworn?
As Addam worries about Vhagar, Ulf claims he is not afraid.
Corlys and Rhaenyra discuss her advantage over the Greens.
THEN COMES DAEMON AND RHAENYRA…
Daemon: The Realm’s only hope is a leader who can unite it. And my brother chose…you.
Team Blacks have dinner together. Dragonseeds included.
Addam: There will be time enough to see which one of us is a coward.
…THEN GREGAN STARK’S THE WINTER WOLVES PASS THE TWINS-THANKS TO JACE…
Triarchy wants Stepstones in return. As they lost it to Corlys and Daemon in S1.
But when he learns Aemond ruined a whole town with Fire and Blood,
Daemon steps forward and speaks in High Valyrian. As these two usually do.
That line sets and scene as a whole sets up the last scene of Alicent with Rhaenyra.
THEN,
Helaena: Aegon will be King again. He’s yet to see victory. He sits on a wooden throne.
(Proving Alicent’s “You are the challenge, Aegon. Simply by living and breathing.” line and most of her actions Justified. Not by Viserys last wish. But to through protecting her family.)
…THEN LARYS AND AEGON ESCAPE KING’S LANDING…
It is a nice way of showing the consequences of putting class structures and being a bastard in Westeros.
JUST LIKE DAENERYS DID IN S8.
…THEN COMES THE WHITE WALKERS…
Alicent: Aemond will soon fly to join Cole in the Riverlands. When he’s gone, Helaena as Queen will be the Crown’s authority. If you come then to King’s Landing, I will see to it that our guards throw down their arms, we will open the gates, we will shed no blood. You will enter as a Conqueror. Already you have the stronger hand. Once you take the throne, this senseless war must end.
THEN, IN OUR FIRST SCENE, WE HAVE TYLAND.
THAT ROAR OF MEN THAT DAEMON LEAD IS AMAZING.
It’s the little things that make Aegon a joy to watch.
…THEN COMES THE END OF DANCE OF THE DRAGONS-WITH ALL DRAGONS DEAD…
Aemond: I could have you killed.
AS HE ACCEPTS HIS FATE AS HE WILL HAVE THE MOST LEGENDARY BATTLE IN HISTORY. A LEGACY THAT OUTSHINES ALL OTHERS.
YET, IN SEASON 3, THE REAL DANCE WILL BEGIN.
Rhaenyra: It’s Too Late, Alicent.
After learning Rhaenyra has 7 dragons and even Aemond flew away,
Aegon: My cock is destroyed.
WE SEE DRAGONSEEDS PREPARE TO RIDE THEIR DRAGONS…
Essentially telling Baela “Such is the way of the World”.
THEN,
DAEMON BENDS THE KNEE.
Jace and Ulf does not get along, to say the least.
THEN,
When Rhaenyra mentions Addam of Hull,
Moved by his words, Rhaenyra takes Daemon’s hand.
Rhaenyra: What of Aegon?
Cannot believe how they cut Nettles off the show.
As Cole smells the napkin Alicent gave him to remember her,
(Viserys would be proud.)
First of all, they added Rhaenyra on Syrax and all her Team Black’s Dragons chasing away Vhagar into the Intro.
Corlys reveals his new ship-The Queen Who Never Was. Named After Rhaenys. They sail for the Gullet on the morrow.
Rhaena looks for Sheepstealer in Vale.
Aemond: …I need you to fly with Dreamfyre to battle.
As they talk, we hear the winds call him a “Traitor”.
…THEN OTTO IS SEEN IN A CELL AS HELAENA’S “THIS ONE STOPPED SINGING” PROPHECY COMES TRUE…
Daemon puts his hand on the Weirwood Tree with GRRM’s face carved onto it.
And in response to news of Rhaenyra,
Daemon: This place will have you barking at the moon.
As for the characters, They butchered characters of Alicent and Cole. They wasted Daemon’s potential and clearly do not understand his character. They pushed a propaganda for Rhaenyra and her alone. Also, how losing Luke in Season 1 being not enough for Rhaenyra to change is incomprehensible. Since Battle of the Gullet is next, I truly wished to see more of Jace, especially with Cregan. They also made Aemond betray Aegon which was questionable. And most surprisingly, they turned Aegon into a fan favorite. Rook’s Rest was fantastic-the best of the best so far. But nothing can pay for the way they adapted Blood & Cheese.
Larys: Do not despair, Your Grace. There are better days ahead. Let your brother and the Pretender destroy themselves in blood and bitterness. When they are spent and their armies in tatters, we will return. And the people will rise up to meet us. They will be tired of endless deprivation and fear. They will hail the returning King, his father’s true heir…
…BOTH SIDES PREPARE FOR ALL OUT WAR IN SEASON 3.
…THEN COMES DAENERYS TARGARYEN-THE MOTHER OF DRAGONS…
Helaena and Daeron the Daring with their dragons are mentioned.
This proves that Daemon was in fact right. Had he wanted to took the Iron Throne alone, he could have. And the people would follow. But he chose to remain loyal to his family and his brother. Much Thanks To Alys.
Aemond: What you say is treason.
Larys: It’s best to live, I think. However you do it?
Aemond: Our wishes must take second place now to what is necessary to preserve the throne.
Rhaenyra: A Toast. To Our New Riders. …We must strike while we have the advantage and end this war. …You will fly in two days time. The strongholds of the usurper, Oldtown and Lannisport, and their armies, all must be subdued. Alone, without allies, he will have no choice but to surrender.
…AND FINALLY, AS THE LAST SHOT OF HOTD S2, WE HAVE 2 BACK TO BACK MATCH CUTS…
Rhaenyra: A SON FOR A SON.
Rhaenyra reminds Alicent how she made virtue her banner. And how much she changed.
Daemon In High Valyrian: I could not. I have tried.
This scene breaks Alicent’s spirit and splits the Greens even further.
Larys mentions he out Harrenhal money into Iron Bank of Braavos.
Cole: …The Dragons Dance. And men are like dust under their feet. …We march now toward our annihilation. To die will be a kind of relief.
By the way, the Title “The Queen Who Ever Was” is for Rhaenyra. And a nod to Rhaenys-The Queen Who Never Was. Yet, eventhough history book is written by maesters who work with Hightowers, it is important to remember even Stannis calls Rhaenyra a traitor. In history, Aegon III was the successor of Aegon II, not of Rhaenyra. Her Reign remains questionable. Eventhough she remains the bloodline.
THEN COMES LARYS AND AEGON,
…THEN COMES HELAENA. “ITS ALL A STORY. AND YOU ARE BUT ONE PART IN IT. YOU KNOW YOUR PART. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU MUST DO.”
Back on Dragonstone, Rhaenyra discuss what is to come with Mysaria.
…OF RHAENYRA AND ALICENT.
And Jace’s doubts about using Bastards will be proven right in time.
A good choice of words.
As Alys leads Daemon into the Godswood…
(Alicent in S2E3: It’s Too Late, Rhaenyra.)