HOTD S2 - Episode 8 is Disappointing

A review of House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 8: The Queen who Ever Was in which I analyze why this finale is underwhelming. Along with diving into the flaws and strengths of the episode and I give my overall reaction to the ending of season 2.

Thank you to my Patrons: Logan Farmer and Jernej

Music:
The Green Council | House of the Dragon S2 | OST Cover

Call of the Dragonriders | Rhaenyra's Theme | House of the Dragon S2 E7 OST

Season Finale | House of the Dragon S2 E8 OST

[niallgaffney]

“What major battle should we show in the finale to finish with a bang?”

“I have 4 words for you; Tyland Lannister mud wrestling”.

[jadonskatoff]

showing Tyland mud wrestle with a pirate captain on screen and yet the destruction of sharp point offscreen is diabolical

[_CrissoN]

Season 1: Massive time jumps because there's so much story to tell
Season 2: Massive filler and reduced episodes since there's little story to tell

[americansoccerunited]

GoT writing syndrome:

Step 1) Write show as a faithful retelling of GRRM work. It's massively successful and everybody loves it.

Step 2) Let the success go to your head and start thinking you arw a better writer than GRRM.

Step 3) Start changing things from the source material for no reason. Cut characters, merge plot lines, etc.

Step 4) Show goes to crap.

Rinse and repeat.

[dereka]

Rhaenyra’s arc this season was frustrating. They ended season 1 with her looking like she was going to wreak havoc. Then she spent the first three episodes of season 2 tiptoeing around trying to prevent the war that was already happening. The show acts like this is a good thing, and rather that her advisors are in the wrong for trying to get her to act. Stupid.

Then when she finally acts, she falls right into a trap and gets her best fighter and dragon killed. When she’s rightfully called out on it, she smacks the guy.

Jace secures the Freys, and via them a realistic way to bring the Northmen south. Then it’s he who comes up with the idea for other dragon riders which, although initially a failure, causes Seasmoke to go find Adam and starts in motion the dragon seeds.

Then, Daemon comes around to Rhaenarya only because Alys Rivers conspires to make it so. On all fronts, Rhaenarya practically fails into success, which is frustrating.

All this time we have Mysaria telling her how great she is. I’m pretty sure Mysaria, as a character, exists to the writers to tell us all how great Rhaenarya is, since she’s literally done nothing great so far. How about SHOW us she’s great, instead of tell us?

Then they altered Alicent’s character to pure evil by changing her from someone who cared deeply for her family (even though she’s a terrible mother) into someone who betrays her entire family in order to be free of her own guilt and consequences. Feels a lot like this was done to make Rhaenarya look good and virtuous by comparison.

The writers are CLEARLY on team Black, which is unfortunate.

[hc.]

Daemon: Rhaenyra, I saw the future.

Rhaenyra: Really?

Daemon: Daenerys must be warned to not forget about the Iron Fleet and Euron forces

[simonrobillard]

Season 1 ended with a Rhaenyra death stare
Season 2 started with Rhaenyra hugging trees and wanting peace to protect "ze peepol""
I don't care if the season ended before the fall of King's Landing, I just wanted the characters to be consistent and INTERESTING.
Rhaenyra was so f*cking boring this season

[devingoff]

corlys... the sea snake.... has never set sail on screen over two seasons. The one time he did it was off screen and he almost died lmao. He was named hand and immediately left dragonstone to chill with the blockade. He just gets yelled at by his kids all season 😂

[Kiki-pslu]

Sara Hess constantly thinking she knows better than GRRM, first in 1x09 (Rhaenys murdering hundreds without consequence instead of Sunfyre and Dreamfyre flying above KL), then in 2x08 (Alicent!!!! selling out her family, the ones she fought for the most) is getting on my nerves. Did she forget she wrote Alicent stepping in front of Meleys for Aegon?? Hess can't even stay consistent within the few episodes she actually wrote. Nonsensical development.

[YodaOnABender]

I really don’t understand why they’re so hell bent on constantly referencing the most atrociously underwhelming storyline from game of thrones with Aegon’s Dream & the White Walkers.
Like even if it wasn’t awfully wrapped up in season 8, there’s nothing this show could do to have any impact on what has already happened in a show that’s already finished airing years ago

[zulogzefyuro]

They hyped up a whole season of war and instead spent the entire season talking about war and tripping on shrooms instead

[Sogeking]

Alicent : " To be fair I never really cared for them. My children and otherwise."

[DonkeyFrostMC]

This would have been fine as an episode 8 of 10. But as a finale, it fell short. Cutting this season down to 8 episodes was stupid

[schizosamurai]

00:03 Jacaerys Velaryon, prince of Mewmaxxing

[nunliski]

We had to suffer through 6 episodes of Daemon just hanging out at Harrenhal, and despite all the supposed introspection, he had NO character development. They crammed all of his "development" into a single scene where he sees the future, which is an unbelievably lazy way to change a character.

[kylebenbow]

It felt like episode 4 was the true finale, and the last 4 episodes were just a preview for Season 3. The last 4 episodes were just all build-up. Also, too many shows/movies are getting too comfortable with the "come back for more next season" sequel bait set ups.

[akbersalim]

Alicent sold out her sons, Helaena cheers for son's murderer... It seems the writers want all the women to be on Rhaenyra's side lol.

[Madeleine_des_Esseintes]

I feel like the cringy mud wrestling scenes got more screen time than Aemond's entire character this season.

[ncblock]

Sunfyre being "dead" is 100% a bait & switch. If he's actually dead, this has massive ramifications for the story later.

[jo_jo_jo]

The conversation between Alicent and Rhaenira would have been much better if they hadn't met in episode 3. It is ludicrous how they kept going back and fort to each other during the whole season.