Welcome to "Recap & Record," where your hosts Levi (from the "What are We Doing?" podcast) and Los (from the "280+ Podcast") bring you the ultimate breakdown of "House of the Dragon" Season 2, Episode 1. Get ready for a witty and thorough recap as we dive into the world of dragons, political intrigue, and familial drama.
Last season, "House of the Dragon" left us breathless with a jaw-dropping dragon battle amid a thunderous storm. While we might have hoped for an equally electrifying start to Season 2, the premiere instead serves as a somber reminder of past events. For much of its runtime, it feels like an extended "Previously on House of the Dragon" segment, setting the stage before the real action unfolds.
Our journey begins in the frosty expanse of Winterfell. The Starks are busy dispatching volunteers to the Wall, marking the arrival of winter. Jacaerys (Harry Collett) is present, attempting to rally the North to his mother's cause. Cregan Stark (Tom Taylor) offers limited support, reminding us that winter is coming. The narrative here is brief, as a raven arrives with grim news: Jacaerys' brother is dead, prompting a hasty return to Dragonstone.
On Dragonstone, we find Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) in mourning. She searches the coastline for Lucerys' remains, retrieving a token to burn in his memory. Grief-stricken and emotionally paralyzed, she demands Aemond's head but is otherwise absent when her presence is crucial. With her gone, the responsibility of the war effort falls to Daemon (Matt Smith), who struggles with his limited authority as a prince consort.
Daemon's attempts to lead are met with resistance. He confronts Rhaenys (Eve Best) about not annihilating the Greens in the previous season, but she stands firm. Daemon's belief in the combined might of their dragons against the formidable Vhagar remains untested. Meanwhile, Rhaenyra’s knight, Ser Erryk Cargyll (Elliott Tittensor), brings the spy master Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) to Daemon, who plots Aemond's assassination.
Back in King’s Landing, Alicent (Olivia Cooke) is entangled with the detestable Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel). Their affair is supposedly over, though this promise is soon broken. In the council, Alicent's peace proposals are shot down by her father, Ser Otto (Rhys Ifans). However, in private, they agree to collaborate more closely, marking a reluctant but powerful alliance.
Aegon, the so-called "Magnanimous," is a disappointing monarch. He struggles to take his role seriously, distracted by his young son and barely tolerating his sister-wife Helaena (Phia Saban), who delivers cryptic warnings about "rats." Daemon's plot comes to fruition as he recruits two shady characters, Blood and Cheese, to infiltrate the Red Keep and assassinate Aemond.
The episode's climax is brutal. Failing to locate Aemond, Blood and Cheese turn their attention to the King's children. They force Queen Helaena to choose which child will die, ultimately beheading the young heir and delivering his head to Daemon. The murder is heard but not seen, a rare moment of restraint in Westeros.
New characters emerge, including Alyn of Hull (Abubakar Salim) and the smith Hugh (Kieran Bew), hinting at future storylines. Ser Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) continues to unsettle Alicent with his creepy demeanor, and Aemond grows impatient, ready to wage war with Ser Criston's help. The brewing conflict at Harrenhal promises further turmoil.