GamesRadar+ VerdictThe latest episode keeps the well-trod routine of council bickering and strange visions, but interesting character choices set up a tantalizing end to the season.
GamesRadar+ Verdict
GamesRadar+ Verdict
The latest episode keeps the well-trod routine of council bickering and strange visions, but interesting character choices set up a tantalizing end to the season.
The latest episode keeps the well-trod routine of council bickering and strange visions, but interesting character choices set up a tantalizing end to the season.
Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy.
Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy.
House of the Dragon season 2is falling into a bit of a routine. Episode 6, as with several of the previous episodes, spends a great deal of its runtime bouncing between the council tables at King’s Landing and Dragonstone as the greens and the blacks try to secure an advantage. Meanwhile, Daemon is still having some intense visions at Harrenhal and the residents of King’s Landing are growing more discontent with their lot. Sounds familiar, right?
Yet, thanks to some intriguing character choices, the latest episode is probably the most adept yet at infusing these somewhat stale scenes with new intrigue. More dragons and great performances from the core cast help the matter too, as some tantalizing threads are set up for the final two episodes.
Big brother
(Image credit: HBO)
The action begins almost immediately after the last episode, once again around the war table in King’s Landing as new regent Aemond plots the way forward with the Lannister’s approach on Harrenhal. Meanwhile, in Dragonstone, Rhaenyra and Jace are trying to get more riders on dragons and come up with the solution of giving a Darklyn knight a shot thanks to their links to the Targaryens. No side has the advantage in this war… yet.
Meanwhile, Daemon is still navigating the dark and twisted corridors of Harrenhal - with more visions in store. This time around, it’s Viserys who returns in a flashback to haunt his little brother. We first see him sitting on the Iron Throne, taunting Daemon over not naming him as his heir, before he appears later in a sequence sobbing over Aemma. Not only is it wonderful to have Paddy Considine back, but there’s no one who affects Daemon as much as his brother.
Matt Smith has got more shades of his frustrated prince to navigate this season too as he slowly loses his grip on reality. It’s a breath of fresh air to watch him interact withAlys Rivers(Gayle Rankin), as the pair get another great set of scenes in episode 6. “You are not the player, but a piece on the board,” she tells him at one point, getting a dagger right where it hurts him – his insignificance. Yet, he can’t help but also have grudging respect for her as she helps do away with one of his obstacles to power, Lord Grover.
Intriguing set-up
(Image credit: HBO/Sky)
It’s not just Smith and Rankin who excel either, with most of the major players given meaty emotions to chew through. Ewan Mitchell, in particular, is having so much fun with his role as the scheming one-eyed brother. From the moment he kicks Alicent off the council, right through to his evisceration of Larys Strong about becoming Hand of the King, he’s a joy to watch.
Although, probably the highlight is his interaction with Aegon. “What do you remember?” he asks his brother when he wakes up crying in pain about their exchange at Rook’s Rest. It’s a chilling moment and it feels Aemond could either kill him right there or give him a hug as he pushes his council sphere into his brother’s wounds. Once again, it feels like there’s really no telling where he’ll go next.
Yet, episode 6 gives us the first glimpse of the fire returning to her eyes. From the moment she’s holding a sword in her hands, it feels like this is a turning point for the queen, moving beyond Daemon as her crutch. It’s particularly intriguing too then to see a new relationship building for her withMysaria, sealed with a passionate kiss shared between equals. I cannot wait to see how this develops going forward.
Lingering frustration
(Image credit: HBO)
The moments in between are the only points that really struggle in the latest episode. There are a lot of plot details to get through, but with only a tiny amount dedicated to them in each outing, the set-up feels quite unsatisfying. In particular, even though the growing discontent in King’s Landing grows more fraught with Rhaenyra’s manipulation, that storyline still feels tagged on.
While the slower pacing takes some adjusting, it feels like the ingredients are all there as we head into the final two episodes of season 2 for an epic finish. And as it’s teased more dragons will soon take to the sky, it feels like a soaring double-hander may be in the works. At the very least, no one can doubt that this is a cast that’ll do justice to anything that their characters are handed.
House of the Dragon season 2 is airing weekly on Sky and HBO. For more, check out our guides to:
CATEGORIESHBOStreaming Services
CATEGORIES
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
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The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1
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2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
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3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
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4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”