Episode 2 of House of the Dragon's second season opens with the devastating aftermath of the young prince's demise. The palace stands desolate, its halls echoing with emptiness. King Aegon, enraged, smashes the miniature edifices in his study, hurling curses at his adversaries and declaring war against Rhaenyra and her fellow Targaryens. Meanwhile, Aemond wanders through the bedchambers, only to stumble upon a mysterious coin.
As the search for the sinister duo intensifies, Otto steels Alicent's resolve, urging her not to falter but to stand firm. Otto remains hopeful that Jaehaerys' death might still yield some positive outcome. However, Aegon's fury is unrelenting, and much of it is directed towards Criston Cole, who should have been protecting the royal family but instead found solace in Alicent's arms.
Aegon's wrath then shifts to the Gold Cloak, captured with the prince's head in a sack as he attempted a hasty escape through the city gates. Aegon demands his immediate execution, but Otto and the others counsel for a more strategic approach, seeking to expose a potential snake in their midst.
Otto devises a plan to parade Jaehaerys' body through the streets in an open coffin, igniting the populace's anger and using the prince as a martyr. Concurrently, they uphold tradition by escorting him to the dragon pit, hoping to rally the people to their side and shake Rhaenyra's support. Otto believes this to be a potent political maneuver, given enough time to plant the seeds of discontent across the city.
Meanwhile, Larys arrives at the prison armed with a bag of torture instruments, though they prove unnecessary. The Gold Cloak, fearful, immediately confesses, revealing that Daemon was his employer. Larys assures him of his safety, but Aegon's arrival at the prison cell soon silences such promises. Learning of the man's collusion with a ratcatcher, the King unleashes his fury, brutally beating the unfortunate captive.
As this news spreads, the royal procession commences, traversing the city. Alicent and Helaena ride side by side, garnering the sympathy of the crowd. Meanwhile, Rhaenyra receives word of Jaehaerys' fate, the news striking her with profound sorrow and indignation.
Rhaenyra, her resolve firm, believed it imperative to dispatch ravens to refute the allegations, bolstering their defenses in Dragonstone and Driftmark twofold. However, she was blissfully unaware of Daemon's machinations, his schemes having inflicted profound harm to their cause. Meanwhile, Daemon remained silent, a still pond beneath a turbulent surface.
In private moments, Rhaenyra confronted Daemon, peeling away the layers of his vengeful scheme. He shrugged off responsibility, labeling it a mere "oversight." His reckless words, telling the Ratcatcher that "any blood would suffice" in his vendetta, had devastated Rhaenyra's claim to the throne. Doubts about his loyalty crept into her mind, wondering if he sought only her inheritance.
Daemon, suddenly feral, lunged forward, sending his cup flying across the chamber before confronting Rhaenyra. His words, proclaiming the throne as "theirs," rang loud as she questioned his true intentions. She saw his selfish motives, believing he used her as a guise for his own ambitions. "You are pathetic," she concluded, as Daemon acknowledged his blunder.
With fury simmering beneath his skin, Daemon slipped away, taking flight on his dragon towards Harrenhal. Meanwhile, Rhaenyra entrusted his daughter, Baela, with keeping an eye on Moontower, uncovering the Hightowers' next move. Time was fleeting, and they dared not afford a single misstep.
Turning to another mistake, Criston Cole was burdened with guilt after the procession. He knew absolution was beyond reach, yet he assured Alicent he had kept their affair a secret. In fact, he chose to assert his authority over the King's Guard, decreeing they must uphold their "purity" and "fidelity" above all else.
His stern demeanor and sardonic remarks were directed sharply at Ser Arryk, whom he sternly commanded to rise and replace his mud-splattered cloak at once. He even probed into Arryk's loyalty and inquired about his whereabouts during Jaeharys' murder. Criston Cole remained resolute, leaving it upon Arryk's shoulders to restore the Kingsguard's pride. As part of this, he was dispatched on a suicide mission to assassinate Rhaenyra at Dragonstone, alone and deceitfully posing as Erryk.
Aemond believed Daemon trembled in his shadow, and a fascinating scene depicted him curled up in a fetal position, revealing the child he truly was beneath all the bravado. Equally captivating was the dialogue between Rhaenys and Corlys, whom we found intertwined in bed. Rhaenys held a degree of sympathy for Daemon, understanding his plight. She pondered whether there might be a future rivalry for the throne between him and Rhaenyra, given her own experience of the crown's passing.
Mysaria, the White Worm, was summoned before Rhaenyra and grilled about her role in these affairs. Knowing she was merely a messenger, she washed her hands clean and cleverly declared herself a "prisoner." It was a cunning introduction, as she reminded Rhaenyra that Daemon had promised her freedom for the two names she had uttered. Rhaenyra stared her down, unwavering, until Mysaria averted her gaze.
Mysaria confessed her ambitious plans to claw her way up the social ladder, aiming to become an equal to men like Otto Hightower and Daemon. But she acknowledged that it was a futile pursuit. She scoffed, pointing out that all her posturing and the title of White Worm had merely been a facade; she might as well have stayed a whore.
The dialogue between these two women, both bearing the scars of male betrayal, yet standing at divergent crossroads, was truly captivating. Amidst their shared yet contrasting experiences, Rhaenyra perhaps detected a kindred spirit in their exchange. Having absorbed every word, she ultimately granted her freedom... but not within the realm's boundaries. Instead, she directed her toward Myr, via the path of Pentos.
Back in the heart of Kings Landing, the King made a bold and controversial proclamation. He ordered the execution of all ratcatchers, hanging them from the rafters. While he did uncover the culprit, numerous innocents were also sacrificed. This unapproved act, which Otto and the Council had not sanctioned, sparked a chain reaction of consequences.
All the goodwill garnered from the procession was now seemingly erased by the King's gruesome display of murder, leaving wives and children weeping and cursing his name. Otto chastised Aegon for his folly, reminding him of the earlier admonishment about weakness. Aegon, however, had been stung by Otto's words and used Criston Cole's bitter resentment and desire for validation as a tool to boost his own self-worth.
When Otto learned that Arryk had been dispatched to Dragonstone on a quest, his exasperation was palpable. He cursed both of them, decrying the absurdity of their schemes and how they tarnished Viserys' dignity. Aegon, however, was unwavering, declaring, "Fuck dignity. I want revenge." His father's death had left him unhinged.
Otto paused momentarily before responding, "He is indeed gone, and our fortune has waned with him." As the two locked gazes, Otto's bitter laughter rang out, casting doubt on Aegon's ascension to the throne. Little did he know that this mockery would be his undoing, as Aegon swiftly dismissed him as the King's Hand, appointing Criston Cole in his stead. Meanwhile, Arryk slipped into Dragonstone undetected, though Mysaria, now a free woman, spied him emerging from the boats below and pondered whether to alert someone to his presence. Though unseen, the seeds of Rhaenyra's kindness may yet bear fruit in this unexpected turn of events.
Arryk, brandishing his sword, rushes into Rhaenyra's chamber, prepared for the worst. As he steps inside, Erryk emerges from the shadows, and the two brothers face each other in a tense standoff. But who emerges victorious? It seems to be Erryk, who, after apologizing to Rhaenyra, collapses onto his sword, pleading for forgiveness as he takes his own life.
The failed plot leaves Otto raging in his chamber, speaking to Alicent with seething anger. He refuses to stand idly by while the council embarrasses itself. Alicent advises him to retreat to Highgarden while she attempts to reason with Aegon. She hopes to sway him when his temper cools.
During their conversation, Alicent confesses her sins... but Otto is unwilling to listen. Whether he is aware of her clandestine relationship with Criston Cole remains a mystery. As she exits, she encounters a drastically different Aegon. Gone is the enraged, vengeful king. Instead, she finds Aegon weeping, crouched in despair.
The next time Alicent encounters Criston Cole, she unleashes her fury on him, striking him in a fit of rage. But inevitably, their lips meet once again. This time, however, the context surrounding their embrace has shifted. It remains unclear whether Alicent is merely using this encounter as a political ploy to gain an advantage.
