The following article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Season 2, Episode 1 of House of the Dragon.It’s been a few years since we left the Seven Kingdoms after an angry and ancient dragon erratically killed a queen’s son,and now,House of the Dragonis back. The HBO production ofGame of Thrones' spin-off premiered a few hours ago on Max, and as promised, episode 1 of season 2 follows up on the drama that left audiencesin sheer shock back in 2022. As always,early reactions flooded the internetwith some calling it “The true definition of the power of many” (audience member Min C atRotten Tomatoes) and Alison Herman saying “In Season 2, House of the Dragon feels like it’s finally the show it was always meant to be” in her critic review forVariety.
Queen Rhaenyra is mourning the death of Prince Lucerys Velaryon after he and his dragon, Arrax, were killed by Prince Aemond Targaryen, who rides the old dragon Vhagar. Rhaenyra is in a state of shock and can’t fulfill her duties as queen, at least according to her husband Prince Daemon Targaryen. When Rhaenyra witnesses the remains of her dead son’s dragon, she reacts with vengeful intent at the boy’s demise and accepts her future saying, “I want Aemond Targaryen.“Daemon accepts the challengeand starts what will surely become the central conflict of season 2.
House of the Dragon
Taking place about 172 years before the events ofGame of Thrones,House of the Dragontells the tale of the rise of the Targaryens, the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria. The popular HBO spinoff show first starred Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before they were replaced by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke, who play the older versions of the characters. Also starring in the series is Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra’s father, King Viserys Targaryen.
Rhaenyra’s cathartic declaration of war and Daemon’s acceptance have also awakened fan reactions, with many taking to social media in response tothe pivotal moment:
Meanwhile, in King’s Landing, the new King Aegon II Targaryen is getting on everyone’s nerves. He’s childish and erratic, and not even his grandfather, the Hand, can control him. His mother, Alicent, is revealed to be having an affair with Ser Criston Cole, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Her stance is to be as pacifying as possible when Rhaenyra fails to comply with the orders of the new king. Ultimately, Daemon arrives at King’s Landing and hires a man who knows his way around the tunnels. The plan is to kill “a son for a son,” but the hit isn’t on Aemond as many would have thought.
House of the Dragon Fans React to Infamous Kicking, a Beheading & Alicent’s Lust
The episode’s final act shows the two hitmen known as “Blood and Cheese” to readers ofGeorge R.R. Martin’s books, as they can’t find Aemond. Instead, they settle for Aegon II’s son, Jaehaerys. But before that, one of the assassins indulges in animal cruelty, which doesn’t actually help their mission at all, and has fans in a state of absolute rage: The man hired by Daemon to kill a son viciously kicks a dog, and the poor creature yelps in pain before disappearing.
X user @kathleen_hanley provides a universal feeling we all hadwhen the dog was kicked:
@thefultonizer has already predicted the kick will have consequences:
@c_drew_ asks the question heard all around the world:
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There remains one Targaryen the world has yet to see. Will Westeros fans not even get the chance to?
The more violent event in the episode, Jaehaerys' decapitation, also felt like a ruthless script move that proved there are no rulesin the world ofGame of Thrones, and HBO ultimately complies if the pages demand graphic violence. The scene in question is not a gory display of makeup effects, but the sound effects department took care of this. @jayknicksfan3 explains it better on X:
@tsddrake asks an important question that doesn’t really click with the viciousness of Daemon’s quest for blood:
Of course, users also took to the platform to comment on Alicent’s infamous hook-up with Ser Criston Cole. @rslvwh0re provides notes on something that’ll surely be addressed soon:
Others, though, are already calling Alicent and Criston a “thing”:
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On Rotten Tomatoes,ratings remain strong for season 2: 87% in the Tomatometer (critics) and 86% for the audience score. This could change with the upcoming episode, but so far the hype has been met with satisfaction. Reactions by critics include Verne Gay ofNewsdaysaying, “Superb second season, if the early episodes are any indication,” and Fay Watson ofTotal Filmcalling it “A brutal return for the fantasy epic that sets up a tantalizing conflict where no one is safe.”
Other audience members took to Rotten Tomatoes to express some frustration about the lack of action. Brian L compares it toGame of Thrones:
“The show is extremely slow, I was hoping the first episode of season 2 was going to have some excitement since season 1 was a real slow burn (could barely stay awake to watch) but once again season 2 episode 1 was a snooze fest. I didnt know a show with so many dragons could be so boring, so far this isnt close to comparing to GOT.”
There were others whodidn’t agree with the depictionof “Blood and Cheese,” with Wanda M saying:
“The worst adaptation for the last scene. it could have had so much potential and made people feel so much more emotion, but they wanted to spread this joke. being a huge fan of the books, I am beyond disgusted.”
The premiere of season 2 brought along some shocking events. A boy getting beheaded, Rhaenyra accepting a path of revenge, and a lustful relationship that no one expected. Nevertheless, people are weirdly more shocked about the dog than by the demise of a poor boy whose own mother hears the sound of the weapon being used to kill him. Still, a solid season premiere confirms the show, alreadyrenewed for a third season, has returned with all its might.
House of the DragonSeason 2 is now streaming on Max, with episodes released every Sunday.
