“House of the Dragon” Episode 2 Review: King Viserys’ Shocking Remarriage Changes Everything

In season 1, Episode 2 of the HBO drama “The House of the Dragon,” we learn a few new things. The main headlines of this episode are that we learn about the crabfeeder in the Stepstones. He is being fought by Corlys Velaryon, who loses some ships and hatches a plan to marry his young daughter, Laena, to King Viserys. He thinks such a match would be a smart one, uniting the houses with many dragons and ships

However, much to the dismay of Corlys, the King chooses to marry Alicent Hightower, the daughter of his Hand. There is continued drama in this episode over whether the king will take another wife, and whether he will marry for love or in some sort of political arrangement that will secure his succession. Do you think arranged marriages are strange?

Season One, Episode Two of “House of the Dragon”

There are two major storylines in season 1, episode 2 of “House of the Dragon.” In the first of these stories, we are introduced to the Stepstones and the Crabfeeder. The Crabfeeder is a large, disfigured man with a face that looks like a crab. Craghas Drahar is holed up in a cave on the Stepstones, protected by a large and violent army.

The Islands are the Stepstones and are surrounded by water. Corlys Velaryon is fighting them and complains at a small council in front of the Iron Throne that he has lost four ships battling them. The army of the Crabfeeder is very good, and it is proven in time that Corlys cannot defeat them. Corlys fights and loses ships; later Daemon intervenes and defeats the Crabfeeder with a dragon.

A Second Marriage for the King

The other major story of season one, episode two of “House of the Dragon” is that of King Viserys’ second marriage. In the previous episode of the first season, his wife died in childbirth, and his baby son died. It seemed like he would not remarry, but he was being urged by his advisors to remarry. He had two choices.

First was Laena, the daughter of Corlys and Rhaenys. She is in her early teens. However, Corlys argues that the marriage is a smart political one, uniting the two houses and their ships, men, and dragons. However, in this major storyline that pervades the entire season, the King ultimately decides that Laena is too young for him. He marries the daughter of his Hand, Alicent Hightower, instead.

Arranged Marriages Where Once Common

One of the two major themes in this episode is the almost arranged betrothal of King Viserys to Laena, daughter of Corlys and Rhaenys. The match would be a political one with it uniting the two houses with many dragons and ships. There is even one scene where the King walks with Laena and is clearly uncomfortable with her age.

Ultimately, King Viserys chooses to marry Alicent Hightower, the daughter of his Hand, Otto Hightower. She is slightly older than Laena, and we’re led to believe that this marriage is based on love. Arranged marriages are a bit strange; however, they seem to be commonplace in the Red Keep. There is a great deal of scheming and political intrigue in the Castle with respect to the Iron Throne.

Final Verdict of Episode

In season one. episode two of “House of the Dragon,” the story is built out a bit more from the first episode. The season-long drama over the succession of King Viserys is one of the two big stories of the episode. The other is the battle against the crabfeeder in the Stepstones. The battle is being fought unsuccessfully by Corlys Velaryon, who links to the first story by proposing his daughter be married to the King.

You can watch this and other episodes of “The House of Dragon” on HBO Max.