House Of The Dragon Season 2- Episode 2: Brothers In Arms Review

Episode 2 of "House of the Dragon" Season 2 Review: Brothers In Arms

Episode 2 of "House of the Dragon" Season 2 

Aired on Sunday night, continuing directly from where Episode 1 left off, right after the brutal killing of Prince Jaehaerys (played by Leo Ashton), Aegon's heir to the throne. Aegon (portrayed by Tom Glynn-Carney) is devastated by the loss of his son, while Helena (Phia Saban) is deeply traumatized by recent events. Each parent's unique way of expressing their grief makes perfect sense given the circumstances.

Aegon displays a side completely different from his father, declaring, "I declare war." Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) tries to turn the situation to his advantage by putting the gentlest soul on the throne and showcasing the tragedy to weaken Rhaenyra's (Emma D'Arcy) claim, blaming her for the young prince’s death.

Alicent (Olivia Cooke) is visibly shaken, lamenting how this tragedy has affected her daughter. She views her grandson's death as a form of divine punishment, reflecting on her own sins and seeing it as karma striking back.

Read - HOUSE OF THE DRAGON SEASON 2-EPISODE 1 REVIEW : A SON FOR A SON

While King's Landing grieves the loss of their young prince, Rhaenyra, at Dragonstone, works to manage the damage caused by Daemon (Matt Smith). Daemon himself calls it a mistake, remaining silent when his actions don't unfold as intended. He eventually leaves Dragonstone.

The episode also features a clash between Ser Erryk (Elliott Tittensor) and Ser Arryk (Luke Tittensor). Ser Erryk, sent by Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), is tasked with killing Rhaenyra to prevent the impending war. This seems to be Cole’s way of dealing with the guilt of failing to protect the queen and his tarnished virtue with Alicent.

"House of the Dragon" cleverly integrates numerous hidden Easter eggs throughout the scenes. For instance, Alicent wearing a necklace with the seven-pointed star, or Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) cuddling up to a madam, hinting at the deep-seated mommy issues among Alicent’s children. Alicent herself never received affection from her father and was married off to Viserys in her teens as a political move, which has left her unable to provide her own children with the support she never had. This creates an intriguing contrast between Alicent and Rhaenyra, who, unlike Alicent, is affectionate with her kids, seeing them as individuals rather than mere political assets.

In conclusion, the episode advances the plot by showcasing the aftermath of Daemon's mistake, living up to expectations and maintaining suspense throughout the show.