House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 1 Breakdown | Recap & Review | Ending Explained

HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel series is back for its second season and the premiere picks up in the aftermath of the death of Queen Rhaenyra's son Lucerys. War is now inevitable and Alicent and Otto try to rein in the newly crowned King Aegon II. On Dragonstone Rhaenyra sends Daemon on a quest for vengeance.

S2.E1 ∙ A Son for a Son
As Alicent grows concerned by Aegon's Small Council, Rhaenyra arrives at a fateful decision.
Written by: Ryan Condal
Directed by: Alan Taylor
Aired Sun, Jun 16, 2024

This video doesn’t contain any book spoilers that will reveal future events that have happened on screen.

What are your favorite “House of the Dragon” theories for the upcoming season? Which dragons and characters are you most excited to see?

House of the Dragon stuff:

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[PetePeppers]

I thought this was a really great start. Always nice to be back in Westeros, and the trip to the North brought up a lot of good memories. Looking forward to covering the rest of the season. Let me know what you think.

[tencraziest]

Honestly every time they bring up the whole "winter is coming" thing in this show it just reminds me of the terrible conclusion to that threat so it's pretty bittersweet

[guyincgnito]

Didn’t think I could think any less of Cole but him suddenly being okay with being a royal side piece when the mere suggestion of that is allegedly the whole reason he hates Rhaenyra, what a hypocrite dbag

[isidoreaerys]

You’re RIGHT it really sucks that we didn’t get to see Allison’s reaction to Aemond informing her that he just started a war.

[hammiranda]

The CGI for the dragons is truly amazing

[horkusone]

“And what about old, weird Larry” genuinely made me laugh out loud. 😂

[paulstrathern]

Quite a bit of delicious irony in this first episode of season 2. While watching season 1 I always suspected that Alicent's strong disapproval of Rhaenyra's dalliances signaled a deep seated jealous of Rhaenyra's relative freedom to bed who she wanted. Now, in the first episode of season 2, I think I have proof that my suspicions were correct. Rhaenyra indulged herself when they were both girls and now Alicent is indulging herself now that they're both adults.

[VictorIV]

Kind of a bummer they cut Maelor from the show, it’s more gutwrenching that she picks him because Jaeharys is the heir and then Cheese fucks with Maelor about mommy wanting him dead before Blood lops off Jaehaerys’ head.

The idea that the surviving child knows their parent chose them to die over their sibling would really mess with their head. It was much darker and intense in the book.

[maytayable]

I loved Rhaeyna and Daemon's interaction, where he tries to covince her to ride out again. Their banter was great!

[citizen_wayne]

She sent Lucerys as an emissary and was convinced that the customs of guestright and not kinslaying would be enough to protect him in the absence of a declaration of war.

[giantsk]

Helaena has quite obvious parallels with Cassandra, Princess of Troy. Whom, given the gift of prophecy was also cursed with the fact that nobody would ever believe or pay any real attention to those same prophecies.

[ejoviu]

I am 100% certain Aemond told his fam he killed Luc Intentionally because of his nature and his smirk when Alicent suggested he killed Luc at the Small Council. I also noticed he clearly admits Alicent and Co usurped the throne, haha. Aemond the Great.

[SpectrumMom]

I was SO disappointed that they didn’t show the moment that Alicent found out about Luke’s death!

[Elactyrl]

Larys says he weeded out and killed those who were disloyal and yet Blood and Cheese were there to kill the prince, will this make Alicent question Larys competency?

[CD-hqhd]

Why are there no guards in the palace at night? Is it just because Cristen Cole sent them away to get his privacy?

[alisondice]

In season 1, I never had a sense that Heleana had any understanding of the visions or dreams she had. It felt like random thoughts popped into her head and she just said whatever she thought they meant. There was an episode where she said the thing about Aemond losing an eye to get a dragon, and Allicent sort of patted her on the head, as though to say, "Yes, dear, whatever you say." I saw a clip yesterday that reminded me that Heleana was played by a younger actress at that point, and I think that portrayal was very different than in this episode. This is all to respond to your analysis that Heleana knew Blood and Cheese were coming. I don't necessarily agree with that, because it doesn't seem like she much understands what she sees or that she sees everything that's going to happen.

[guyincgnito]

I’m sure grief-stricken Rhaenyra won’t be a very effective battle commander, but taking Aemond out is absolutely the right choice—Vhagar was willing to take on a new rider mere days after the death of her previous rider, so it’s entirely possible he could be brought onto the Black roster

[catseye]

Aemond was absolutely reckless and cruel for going after Lucerys, but he does see the hypocrisy of Alicent. As he stated in the episode, she plotted to usurp the throne, now she is speaking with a different tongue. Alicent’s kids have been brainwashed their entire life to hate their sister and nephews. We can blame Otto and Alicent for that.

[kevincarter]

Larys absolutely knows about Criston. Alicent probably dismissed her staff so they couldn't report another night session with Criston on the night of Blood and Cheese. That would explain how easy it was to walk around with no resistance

[dempseybirminghamfilm]

Something my wife and I noticed was that it seemed like Helena was sparing her son. She knew if he lived he would always go through what Aegon went through, being forced to be king. She even says “what if he doesn’t want to be king”.

But A VERY important point as a writer myself. She doesn’t mention him by name to her mother. She says “They killed THE BOY”. Not my son, not ___,

“The boy”.

I haven’t read the books, so I’m unaware if this is how it reads in the books. But does anyone else get the vibe she’s actually the smartest one in the room?