Welcome back, House of the Dragon fans, to House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 7. Can it be? Did we get some forward momentum on this week’s episode? After spending most of the season spinning its wheels, HOD finally got down to business and delivered the type of thought-provoking spectacle I’ve been waiting for.
That’s not to say this season has been bad; it has just been incredibly non-eventful and more than a little disappointing, particularly after Season 1’s banger finale. Regardless, like a devoted Marvel fan, one good chapter, and I’m back on the team. Team Black, that is.
Let’s do this.
What happened in the House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 7?
Team Green
Not much occurs with the Greens during this episode. Alicent whines about her plight, noting that she gave everything to the realm and received nothing back. Aemond‘s abrupt dismissal last week destroyed her self-worth, leaving her to wander about the castle and occasionally float in a nearby river, likely remembering the good ole days of careless sex with Ser Criston Cole.
I don’t have much empathy for Alicent. Sure, she was thrust into a challenging situation, but King Viserys treated her well, and she enjoyed modest success. Her kid sits atop the Iron Throne, primarily due to her actions. Isn’t this what she wanted?
Again, the show built Alicent up as a bitter, petty, but intelligent woman capable of playing the game. Season 2 abruptly dialed her back and turned her into a hapless victim who doesn’t appear to have understood the central conflict. Rather than hitting back, she’s giving up. It’s not like she doesn’t have options. She could always flee to Old Town to hang out with her third son, Daeron, or to Rhynaera. I doubt Aemond would care.
Anyway, the Greens also learn about Addam and his new pet, though Larys Strong opts to keep this a secret for now. Oh, and Aegon continues his painful recovery.
Daemon
Daemon continues his long vacation at Harrenhal. Thankfully, the weird dreams are kept to a minimum as our boy deals with the Riverlands locals. He confronts young Oscar Tully, who is now in charge following Grover Tully’s passing. Oscar, for his part, is all piss and vinegar. Daemon, you see, needs him to unite the Riverlands army, and Oscar squeezes his power for all its worth.
As much as the Riverlanders despise Daemon, they will not break their oath to Rhynaera. During a gathering ripped straight from Fellowship of the Ring, the locals gather to watch the kid kick Daemon in the ass a few times (figuratively, of course) before re-upping their allegiance. Still, their loyalty comes with a price: Lord Blackwater’s head.
Viewers will recall that Daemon ordered Blackwater to perform some unruly activities to force Tully’s hand. They demand justice for his crimes and expect “king” Daemon to heed their calls. Amused, our boy strides over, pulls out his sword, and swiftly slices off Blackwater’s head. Though, the look on Daemon’s face betrays plenty of inner turmoil.
Later, we get another dream—ugh!—except this one features a decaying Viserys handing Daemon the crown. “I never wanted it,” he says, warning his bro of its immense weight. You always wanted it.” Daemon lustfully eyes the crown, and the scene ends before we see his ultimate decision.
As stated in previous recaps, the show could have truncated all of Daemon’s dreams into one montage. The point, of course, is to allow the character to undergo a change of heart. He’s basically the Ebenezer Scrooge of Westeros and only a graveyard scene away from pledging allegiance to Bob Cratchit, er, Rhynaera.
Team Black
Picking up where last week left off, we see Queen Rhynaera confront Addam of Hull and his new dragon pal Seasmoke. Last week, she recklessly leaped aboard her dragon and sped off to meet this mysterious rider to the tune of an action-heavy score. Longtime viewers likely surmised this to be a nothing burger. TV shows love ending on climactic moments that are quickly disregarded in the opening minutes of the next episode. In this case, the payoff to the incredible buildup was a casual meet-and-greet, after which Rhynaera and Addam ride back to DragonStone.
Speaking of DragonStone, Rhynaera’s High Council enjoys another pointless meeting without their boss. Jace watches his mother ride with Addam and dramatically walks past the camera, his cheeks clenched like Zoolander.
Rhynaera has disavowed her counselors in favor of the White Worm, basically this show’s Hermione Granger. Her enigmatic past allows her to pull plot devices out of thin air. Rhynaera needs dragon riders, you say? Her time in a brothel house allowed her to get to know several Targaryen bastards around King’s Landing.
“Well then, let us raise an army of bastards,” Rhynaera snarls.
Nearby, Corlys meets up with his son, Addam, who stands by as though expecting a grand speech or emotional outpouring from his father. Indeed, the old man takes a step forward and hesitates as though he’s about to say something like, “I’m proud of you, kid.” Instead, he hits him with a “Well done” and saunters off. Somebody’s been watching Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade:
Later, Coryls confronts Alyn near that damned boat we painstakingly watched get built throughout the season. The Hand explains that Rhynaera needs fishing vessels at King’s Landing packed with loyal subjects. Still, the mission is merely an excuse to ask Alyn if he wants to ride a dragon alongside his bro.
“Nah, I like boats,” he says.
Okay, then.
Later that night, Jace confronts his mother about the whole “lowborn” dragon rider stunt. Until now, everyone assumed bonding with a dragon required a noble birthright. Now we see that practically anyone with half an ounce of Targaryen blood and a slight bit of courage can perform the task. Jace thinks this renders him obsolete. His hair gives away his true lineage, meaning few would accept his claim to the throne. Rhynaera does nothing to abate his fears.
“I mislike all of this,” she says.
“Then do not pursue it,” he says.
“But I cannot gainsay that which the gods have laid before me,” she says. In other words, fuck thy self off, kid.
This is all a little silly. Jace knows there are no other options to win this war — he’s seen the last six episodes. House Black needs dragons, or they must forfeit. He has a better shot at the crown with his mother on the throne than off it. Look at the big picture, dammit!
Anyway, the White Worm contacts her little birds who scour King’s Landing, looking for Targaryen bastards, specifically Hugh Hammer and Ulf the White. Gee, which members of this fine group will rise to the occasion?
Hammer’s story is genuinely sad. His sick daughter eventually passed away. Now, he can do something that will propel him and his wife to the top of the food chain. “I don’t want to be a lady, Hugh,” she says.
Yeah, sure.
The large group of hopefuls somehow evades Aemond’s Gold Cloaks and makes their way to Dragonstone, and the episode suddenly morphs into Jurassic Park. I mean that in a good way.
After signing an insurance claim, Rhynaera’s hopefuls stand before Vermithor. Again, I challenge Rhynaera’s wisdom in sending a group of people to meet a snarling nuclear bomb, especially given how the last meeting went. Why not one at a time or in pairs with one carrying a bucket of water? Instead, everyone huddles closely together, and the damned beast proceeds to incinerate everyone.
Everyone except Hammer and Ulf.
Hammer shows true valor by sacrificing himself to save a woman. Rather than burning our bearded Thor wannabe, Vermithor gives him a wink and a smile, letting him know he’s the one. It’s basically that scene in Avatar where Jake bonds with a pterodactyl, albeit with more fire and blood. Vermithor could’ve just pointed him out and saved everyone a lot of trouble.
No matter. Say it with me: It’s Hammer time.
And also Ulf time. Our second rider lacks Hammer’s noble courage but finds himself atop Silverwing, primarily out of sheer dumb luck. It’s not every day that one stumbles into a dragon’s cave, smashes a few eggs, and lives to tell the tale.
Oddly, Ulf flies straight to King’s Landing, perhaps the least safe place on the planet, drawing Aemond’s attention. Our one-eyed psycho hops on Vhagar and gives chase, only to turn away at the sight of Rhynaera’s dragon force on Dragonstone.
As if awaiting his arrival, Rhynaera stares down her half-bro. Her face conveys a little of everything: sadness, fury, despair, and resolve. Kinda like the look she gave at the end of Season 1. Hopefully, Season 3 won’t spend 90% of its runtime needlessly building up to this exact same moment.
And that’s it, that’s the end of the episode.
House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 7 thoughts
We now have one more chapter to go after House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 7, and I have no idea how it will end. I imagine the finale pays off in a big way, setting the stage for another long-winded Season 3 that likewise pays off in spades. The writers eventually deliver the goods but enjoy taking the long road to their destination.
That said, House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 7 was still impressive from a plot standpoint. Finally, we pushed the car out of the mud and reached solid ground. Now, we can drive to the good stuff. That doesn’t necessarily warrant an enormous CGI battle. I’m more curious to see whether Daemon returns to Dragonstone and swears allegiance to Rhynaera than I am witnessing another tragic Rook’s Rest-like encounter. The characters drive these shows.
What happens to Criston Cole? Will Aegon forgive Aemond? Will Alicent overcome her many obstacles and regain a seat alongside the king? Will Otto Hightower return? Will Hammer receive the bonus he so desires? Will Larys successfully align with Aegon and overthrow Aemond? Will Jace and Corlys actually do something?
The spectacle is pointless without strong characters driving the action. Come on, House of the Dragon, don’t let me down.
Until next week, folks!
