“House of the Dragon” Season 2 Episode 2 Review: Rhaenyra Faces a New Crisis
“House of the Dragon” Season 2 Episode 2 deals primarily with the multifaceted consequences of the death of Jaehaerys. He died by beheading in his bed. Aegon is mad and takes some drastic actions. Rhaenyra, meanwhile, stands falsely accused of the murder and must grapple with the fact that her claim to the throne has been weakened. Daemon goes to Harrenhal, leaving Rhaenyra to contemplate her future.
The death of the child Jaehaerys has some far-reaching consequences, which become evident in this episode and only serve to deepen the conflict between the Greens and Rhaenyra. Before that, there is a sad funeral procession through the city, meant to disgrace Rhaenyra. She feels weakened and accuses Daemon, correctly, of inspiring the plot to kill the boy. Do you believe that Rhaenyra is weakened by the death?
“House of the Dragon” Season 2 Episode 2 Summary
The death of Jaehaerys, Aegon’s son and Otto Hightower’s grandson, has some big complications in this episode. First, on the side of the Greens. The episode begins with King Aegon throwing a tantrum and destroying the model of King Viserys. He also throws a chalice across the throne room. He is, of course, upset at the death of his son.
One of the most dramatic scenes of “House of the Dragon” happens when there is a funeral procession for Jaehaerys through the city. In front of this procession, there is a crier who announces, “Behold the work of Rhaenyra Targaryen! Pretender to the throne. Kingslayer. Defiler of the innocent.” Alicent sees the procession as her duty. Queen Helaena Targaryen, on the other hand, seems skittish and intimidated by all the people. She freaks out when the carriage gets stuck in a rut.
Larys Strong reveals that Blood has been captured, and Blood admits that Daemon hired him and a ratcatcher for the assassination. Aegon kills him in prison, but not before he says that he perpetrated the murder with a ratcatcher, whose name he does not know. Aegon responds by ordering the ratcatchers employed by the Red Keep to be hanged, publicly, for all to see. This is the way they fight in “House of the Dragon.”
Rhaenyra’s Credibility Problem with Being Blamed for the Death
Rhaenyra has a bit of a credibility problem stemming from the death. She is already in a weak position, and being accused, she now fears she will lose the support of the people. Perception is reality, as she knows. Now, she is worried about how she is viewed publicly.
In a fascinating turn of events in the episode of “House of the Dragon,” Rhaenyra correctly realizes that Daemon was behind the assassination attempt, although Jaehaerys was not the intended target. Daemon and Rhaenyra get into a fight, and she says that she never really trusted him. She says, “I think you used my words as an excuse.” He storms off on his dragon to Harrenhal to secure their alliance. He is hurt and says he made a mistake. He broods when he arrives at Harrenhal. He is steadoffish and rude, more so than usual.
Why Aegon Fires Otto Hightower in “House of the Dragon”
Apart from the killing of the boy and the anger of the Greens, Otto Hightower is out as the Hand of the King. He is replaced by Ser Criston Cole, whom King Aegon sees as a man of action. The King rips the hand pendant off him and throws it at the feet of Ser Criston. As conflict between the two sides is simmering, as it has been, viewers have to wonder if the two sides will ever have a fight. This is just the kind of cliff-hanging wonderment that “House of the Dragon” leaves viewers.
You can watch this and other episodes of “House of the Dragon” on HBO Max
