House of the Dragon season 1 episode 2 recap & review: The Rogue Prince

Episode 2 of House of the Dragon follows King Viserys as he’s pressured to take a new wife to propagate his bloodline while Daemon begins acting out in open defiance of the throne. The episode is now streaming on HBO Max.

Recap

It’s been 6 months since Aemma’s passing and there are multiple issues laid out in front of the king and his council. The Lord Commander of the King’s Guard has passed away which means a new one has to be chosen.

Apart from that, the kingdom’s ships are facing more trouble from the Crabfeeder in Stepstones much to the dismay of Lord Corlys. Even Daemon has assumed the throne of Dragonstone and surrounded himself with the gold cloaks as protection.

Rhaenyra suggests sending dragon riders to deal with the rebels in Stepstones but the council doesn’t listen to her unsolicited opinion. Instead, they send her to pick the new Lord Commander of the King’s Guard.

Rhaenyra chooses Ser Criston Cole because he is experienced in battle even though Otto suggests picking someone from a more influential family.

Alicent continues to provide comfort to Viserys through their conversations during his time of grief. She does the same for Rhaenyra, connecting with her through their shared experience of the loss of a mother.

Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys offer their daughter Laena in marriage to Viserys so that they may join the two houses in solidarity. Viserys is apprehensive of remarrying, especially someone so young.

Viserys shares this development with Otto and the Grand Maestor while he’s being treated for the infection on his finger after being cut by the Iron throne once again. Rhaenys explains how she won’t be heir to the throne much longer as the order of things is restored.

The king is informed that a dragon egg was stolen and that Daemon is the one involved. Daemon leaves a message inviting the king to his wedding in two days where he will marry Mysaria, the whore he grew close to in King’s Landing.

Viserys decides to face his brother after hearing that the dragon egg he stole was the one meant for his own son but Otto asks him to stand down and let him go instead.

Otto Hightower heads to Dragonstone with Ser Harrold and a small company of soldiers to speak with Daemon. Daemon tests Otto’s resolve with his arrogance and insists that he is merely following his family traditions.

Rhaenyra arrives on her dragon and convinces Daemon to return the dragon egg without any bloodshed. She returns home to be scolded by her father before the two of them arrive on the same page on the fact that Viserys must take a new wife.

Viserys announces at the next council meeting that he will be remarried but he chooses to take Alicent Hightower instead. This angers Lord Corlys who walks out of the meeting. Even Rhaenyra is taken aback by her father’s decision to marry her closest friend.

Lord Corlys heads back to his castle in Driftwood and invites a special guest to talk about the state of affairs in the kingdom and how he’s tired of being passed over just for being the second son. The guest turns out to be Daemon, suggesting an alliance between the two to overthrow the King.

Review

• One of the great things about House of the Dragon is how intricate and subtle the storytelling is. There are so many little things to watch out for that could have some impact on the storyline.
• Even the characters are so complex and interesting, each with their defining characteristics. The fact that Rhaenyra seems more assured in her decisions than her father, or Alicent’s nervous tic of scraping at the skin around her fingernails, tiny details that make the characters more compelling.
• House of the Dragon does a good job of balancing multiple possible story arcs and giving different characters just enough exposure to tease the audience into speculating what their involvement might be.
• The political mind games are in full swing with Otto’s decision to let his daughter get close to Viserys finally paying off while also distancing Lord Corlys who now has approached Daemon to possibly form a threatening alliance.

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Also Read: House of the Dragon season 1 episode 1 recap & review: The Heirs of the Dragon