The second season of House of the Dragon has had some terrific high points, like the thrilling Battle of Rook's Rest. And the last couple episodes have built momentum as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen has built an air force of dragonriders, or as she puts it, "an army of bastards." At the same time, I think this season has had some slow patches. There's a war on but too many characters seem caught in a holding pattern.
Well, it looks like things are going to explode forward in the season 2 finale, if the trailer is any indication. Watch it above!
I think what gets me is the sheer number of different characters, locations and events we can see in this trailer, including:
- Lots. Of. Armies. I spot Lannister, Stark, Hightower and Tully flags.
- The Hightower flags are of special note. We've been hearing for awhile that Alicent's son Daeron is out in the Reach, and that his dragon Tessarion is finally ready to ride. If I'm not mistaken, that's Tessarion flying above the Hightower army on the march! I thought we wouldn't actually see those guys this season, only hear about them, but maybe I'm wrong!
- The Velaryon fleet is also on the move. After a season of Alyn of Hull hanging out on that dock on Driftmark, I'm very ready for a change of scenery.
- We also see what appears to be the Triarchy fleet. Remember that Aemond sent Tyland Lannister to treat with them a couple episodes back. He mixes it up with that lot next week.
- That appears to be Syrax flying over the Tully banners, which means that Rhaenyra is likely visiting Harrenhal, which means that she'll probably reunite with Daemon.
- Speaking of Daemon, it sounds like Ser Alfred Broome has finally reached Harrenhal; remember that Rhaenyra dispatched him there a few episodes back. "While you have mustered an army, Rhaenya has faltered," he says. That's hilarious considering how much Daemon has bungled around this season.
- We have a Helaena Targaryen sighting! And Aemond is asking her to ride her dragon Dreamfyre into battle in response to Rhaenyra assembling her new bastard air force. I think this is the first time Dreamfyre has been mentioned by name on the show! And I'm happy for any screentime Helaena can get.
- Aemond is clearly upset about Rhaenyra's new effort. We see that he's burned some town. Alicent is not happy about it.
There are some good lines too. I'm not the biggest fan of Criston Cole, but he does know his way around a speech. "The dragons dance and men are like dust under their feet. We march now toward our annihilation," he says towards the beginning of the trailer. And then at the end: "Every one of us who falls, a hundred of them. There will be no mercy!"
Obviously I'll reserve judgment until we see the episode, but this looks exciting! I love seeing everyone at last on the move and taking action. We'll see how it goes down when the House of the Dragon season 2 finale airs on HBO and Max next Sunday, August 4.
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