Honest question: are we ready to call House of the Dragon Season 2 a disappointment? Maybe I’m in the minority, but every time the credits roll on the latest episode, my enthusiasm tumbles one or two notches. House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6 did nothing to rekindle my excitement and instead offered another slow-moving melodrama without much forward momentum. A few promising story beats tease at greater things to come, but like the good people of King’s Landing, I’m growing increasingly annoyed with this royal squabble.
What happened in the House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6?
Alicent
I’m starting to think this part of the article should be labeled “Aemond,” as Alicent has more or less become a glorified supporting player without much to do. All the intrigue lies with her conniving son, Aemond, who is busily (and effectively) screwing over everyone who screwed him over throughout the years. During a particularly thorny war council, the one-eyed dragon fires his mother and sends Ser Criston to attack Daemon at Harrenhal.
“My uncle is a challenge I welcome,” he snarls.
Later, Aemond unleashes Hell on Larys Strong, going so far as to call the warped weasel a toad during a testy exchange revolving around appointing the next Hand. Aemond sees through Larys’ deception — how could you miss it? — but he might be overreaching his hand here. Like Littlefinger, Larys knows how to play the game of shadows and can quickly eliminate his enemies without raising a sword. We see the machinations at work here, mainly when Larys visits an ailing Aegon and warns him of his brother’s devious deeds. At this point, Aegon is his best play, and now he must ensure the young king survives his wounds.
It’s either that or Round 3 of Otto Hightower.
The Greens don’t play an enormous role in the episode. Alicent takes her daughter whats-her-face to pray for Aegon in the Sceptor and comes face-to-face with a mob of angry, starving common folk, a terrifying brush with death she barely survives.
Of all the storylines in HOD, the rebellion hits hardest, especially given the current political climate. The people of King’s Landing can apparently handle a 70-year-old woman murdering hundreds of their pals while escaping on a dragon, but they will not abide a life without meat. Of course, Rhaenyra and the White Worm stoke the flames from afar, using little birds to spread poisonous lies about the opposition to rile up the common folk. Then, in a masterstroke, Rhaenyra sends ships bearing her crest filled with food to the shores of King’s Landing to win them over.
Not too shabby.
Otherwise, Alicent enjoys a quiet conversation with her bro (he’s toast!), gives Ser Criston the cold shoulder, and spends her remaining screentime moping about the castle in the same green dress she’s worn for ten straight years.
Daemon
Ugh, Daemon. Once the most interesting character on the show, Prince, er, King Daemon, has become a pitiful shadow of his former self. His limited screentime has amounted to an argument with Rhaenyra, during which she called him pathetic, and a series of bizarre dream sequences that typically end with him awakening in an odd locale where he yells at Lord Strong and then crumbles into a pitiful, crying heap.
I assume these dream sequences will pay off in the future. Still, one or two would have sufficed. We get the point. Daemon feels remorse for treating his bro terribly. How many times do we need to see the same scene?
Daemon’s entire storyline boils down to stubborn pride. Who will blink first, he or Rhaenyra? Gee, I wonder.
Rhaenyra
Once again, our beloved Queen Rhaenyra presents herself before her High Council of stupid men, and once again, she accomplishes nothing. Instead, she complains about not being allowed to fight, insults her advisors because they dare to treat her like a woman, and even slaps a follower for speaking too freely.
Remember, when Aemond treats his High Council terribly, he’s an asshole. When Rhaenyra does it, it’s because they are assholes.
Anyway, Rhaenyra at least has the good sense to bring forward a plan during this latest gathering. Carrying over from last week’s discussion with Jace, Rhaenyra seeks more dragon riders. The problem is that only Targaryen blood can control the beasts, and finding a Targaryen on Dragonstone is about as likely as finding a secret service agent standing atop a sloped roof. She taps a potential suitor for the dragon Seasmoke, Ser Steffon, but things predictably and hilariously go awry.
During the ceremony, Seasmoke burns Ser Steffon, who stops, drops, and rolls to no avail. Now, only two outcomes exist for this scenario: A) Ser Steffon bonds with Seasmoke and rides away hollering like a Na’vi, or B) Seasmoke burns the guy to a crisp — and you’re telling me no one thought to bring a bucket of water?
Her plan foiled, Rhaenyra does the sensible thing and makes out with the White Worm. What the hell? Where did that come from? She barely knows this odd humanoid — hell, we barely know her — and suddenly, she’s ready for some steamy girl-on-girl action, all while war wages throughout the Seven Kingdoms? Bloody Hell, this is why your High Council hates you, Rhaenyra.
As a side, I hope this White Worm has more up her sleeve because otherwise, she’s just a less interesting version of Shae the whore — and that’s saying something. Her scene with Rhaenyra matches an earlier bit with Larys and Aegon nearly beat-for-beat. Are we supposed to draw a connection between the two? Or are we meant to believe the White Worm, who used cunning deception to rise through the ranks to become a successful brothel owner, is now a saintly soul with no use for power?
Credit where it’s due: her suggestions are the only thing aiding Rhaenyra’s campaign, so much so that you wonder why the Queen doesn’t fire her staff and rely solely on the White Worm.
Anyway, a guard rushes in just before the good stuff starts and tells Rhaenyra that Seasmoke returned with a new rider. Alicent rushes to her dragon and makes a rather hasty exit from Dragonstone, likely wondering if Daemon will welcome the White Worm into their bedroom.
Who could this be?
Earlier, we saw Alyn and Addam of Hull hanging around that darned ship that likely won’t be ready to sail until Episode 8. During a bathroom session, the pair indiscreetly drop a vital announcement: they are the illegitimate sons of Corlys. That’s why Alyn always shaves his head and has no desire to serve under Corlys in the upcoming campaign.
Later, Addam wanders around on a beach, spots Seasmoke, and makes for the trees. The giant beast chases and corners Addam in a scene ripped straight from How to Train Your Dragon. Before he can say “hiccup,” Seasmoke pauses and gazes at Addam the way men look at Sydney Sweeney. We don’t see him ride the dragon, but it’s abundantly clear: Addam and Alyn have the right juice and will fight for House Black on dragonback. Good times.
House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6 thoughts
- There are at least two hundred Targaryen bastards roaming around King’s Landing. Will they join Rhaenyra’s cause and fly atop dragons or make a bid for the throne? Or maybe they’ll lead a quick rebellion and die in obscurity. The show focuses a lot on these wayward souls, so they must come into focus at some point.
- If it’s so hard for women in Westeros, why does it seem like a woman runs every kingdom?
- I’m actively rooting for Aemond. The dude was picked on as a kid, lost his eye, had the balls to ride Vhagar, and is the only character who seems to understand he’s on a Game of Thrones spinoff. Also, he looks cool.
- Please give Alicent something to do. She went from behaving like a petty brat to a bland side character with nothing of interest to say or do. That may be the point, but eliminating her scenes wouldn’t change the show.
- Ser Criston has taken a backseat ever since Rook’s Rest. Has he given up his quest to destroy Rhaenyra after seeing the cost of victory?
- A massive dragon lives near the Eyrie. Interesting.
House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6 provided a few details that could prove worthwhile. Too bad they’re stuck in a poorly paced character drama with bland characters and uninteresting drama. For a war story, House of the Dragon spends a curious amount of time not focusing on the war. We hear a few battle tactics early on, but the majority of each episode deals more with misogyny than the actual art of war.
Hot take: Rhaenyra’s council is very much justified in disliking her. For starters, she has yet to prove herself a capable leader. From their vantage point, she’s indecisive, reckless, and terrible at delegating. I assume the rage-fueled Rhaenyra we saw at the end of Season 1 will emerge at some point, likely alongside Dameon, but we have eight episodes to fill, people! We’ve gotta stretch this thing out as long as possible.
Two more episodes remain. Will House Green and House Black finally go to war? Or will we receive another tease for Season 3? I honestly don’t care anymore. I’m in this for the long haul, good or bad. I may be bored, but I still can’t pass up the chance to watch dragons fight.
