House of the Dragon Episode 2 Beats the Premiere With Quiet Politics and Measured Performances

After season one episode two, we came away with a clear verdict: "I actually like this episode more than the first episode." What won us over was everything that happens beneath the surface: the politics, the dynamics between characters, and the subtle looks that carry so much of the story.

Episode Two Thrives on Cloak and Daggers

This episode did a lot of what we like about Game of Thrones and now House of the Dragon, which is largely centred on the political side. Characters try to exercise their frame over someone else's and nudge things in their own direction. They cannot be enemies outright, so everything happens in secret through alliances, which is exactly what Corlys is doing with Prince Daemon. Sometimes it is clear what a character is thinking, and sometimes it is not. When Mysaria walked away on Dragonstone, we first thought it was about something else. Then it clicked: she now has a target on her back, presented as his wife and the mother of his child when neither is true. It was odd that someone who has been around powerful men would not suspect anything.

Matt Smith's Restraint and Rhaenyra's Victory

Matt Smith's performance stood out for being measured, contained and internalised, carried by expressions and the look in his eyes. The point was that "it requires a lot of restraint to be still and not do much and communicate everything through that." Viserys had a great moment of his own when Rhaenyra, mid scolding, simply asked if she could sit. His face said this was not the response he expected. Daemon's line that being king was never his brother's strongest trade landed because it was so general. Rhaenyra is the current favourite character after two episodes. When the dragon egg was tossed back to her without bloodshed, her smile was one we identified with. Her hopeful outlook next to Rhaenys's cynicism about women ruling felt like a battle of wills.

Otto Hightower's Slip and Viserys's Heart

It seemed foolish when Otto revealed his cards with a look at Corlys, since the Hand is supposed to be the smart one in the room. Yet he played it very sly, using his daughter to reach the king's heart without Viserys realising it. Viserys chose Alicent because she bears a slight resemblance, in her character, to his late wife, and the verdict was that "he thinks with his heart and not with his brain." A strategic alliance would have served the realm better, and he has probably set his downfall in motion, with Corlys now joining forces with Daemon.

Less Violence, Loose Predictions

After the violent opener, this episode had almost none, though it did give us two dragons. We fully expected Otto might die when he volunteered to go to Dragonstone. Our predictions were openly loose: the king probably will not last, Daemon and Corlys may both want the throne, and we guessed Otto is going to survive whatever fallout comes. The show felt small and intimate for now, but we expected far more characters to attach themselves as it went on, and it had us hooked.

Was Viserys right to follow his heart and choose Alicent, or did he doom his reign by refusing a Velaryon alliance?