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It's been a long time, hasn't it?
I know that we haven't been maintaining the blog for months, but in the interest of catching up, what we've decided to do was a couple of things:
Release our backlog a whole season at a time
scale it way back to only:
articles referenced
images and GIFs used during editing
any notable mentions (linked)
Of course, every blog entry will contain an embedded playlist of all the season's episodes on our YouTube channel along with the links and embedded players to each individual episode (as always)!
David Cameo:
Rachael Burt:
Sherrandy Swift:
Bridget Mason-Gray:
A Son for a Son
Season 2 Premiere
Taking our 1st stab into the Game of Thrones universe, House of the Dragon finally returns after 2 years away: #TeamBlack licks its wounds after the loss of Lucaerys Targaryen, while Daemon Targaryen amplifies Rhaenyra Targaryen's cries for vengeance. #TeamGreen finds the center does not hold and will have an even harder time of it after Blood and Cheese are through.
What does love look like in different cultures/houses? Why do we worship royalty/celebrity? Alicent Hightower escapes her reality by way of Ser Criston Cole, defying Otto Hightower's authority and denying her children love: so much so, Aemond Targaryen seeks it in the arms of a brothel madame (who looks strikingly familiar to her).
🎬 Grab the Unedited Episode Recording of our Breakdown:
Lord Jasper Wylde, AKA Ironrod, played by Paul Kennedy.
Possible Targaryen offspring (in the brothel)?
Rhaenyra Targaryen is reading about Aegon The Conqueror (and his two sister-wives) when Mysaria arrives.
She turns the page and it's about Visenya Targaryen and her dragon (now Aemond Targaryen's), Vhagar.
As we were talking about Helaena Targaryen predicting the fall of Kings Landing in the form of ash (in Game of Thrones), we wondered whether one of the dust mites in this shot might've been Seasmoke's tiny shadow (flying over Dragonstone).
The Burning Mill
2x03
A noteworthy amount of movement in the storyline and mirroring going on between #TeamBlack & #TeamGreen . Is Helaena Targaryen's dreamer/seer gift/curse like Bran Stark's, only on crack? Might Rhaenyra Targaryen's meeting with Alicent Hightower avert worse tragedy and ultimately yield The Prince That Was Promised?
🎬 Grab the Unedited Episode Recording of our Breakdown:
Daemon Targaryen flying into Harrenhal on Caraxes.
...and his daughter, Baela Targaryen, on Moondancer, chasing down Ser Criston Cole et al.
Overhead shots mirrored in these two scenes: Daemon and Ser Simon Strong in Harrenhal's dining room (left) and Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower at The Grand Sept.
Littered around Helaena Targaryen's room are her visions (some of which occurred in Game of Thrones).
Resting Alicent Hightower face, during the initial scenes with Rhaenyra.
Do remember when we last saw Dyana, the barmaid? she was the one who was coerced into drinking the Moon Tea after Aegon Targaryen... had relations with her without her consent. Is she, too, a Dragonseed?
The Red Dragon and the Gold
2x04
It's easy to forget how the Game Of Thrones universe works: the characters you don't want to die end up dead (and the ones you thought were dead end up not dead). All the while, we explore the schism in Daemon Targaryen's psyche and what might become of both #TeamGreen & #TeamBlack as a result of this episode.
🎬 Grab the Unedited Episode Recording of the Breakdown:
Alicent Hightower picking up the dragon miniature she repaired in the first season to win the affections of Viserys Targaryen. It also might be foreshadowing the wing being torn off of Aegon Targaryen's dragon, Sunfire.
More foreshadowing is Aegon pushing the dragon tankard off the table and stomping on the pieces. Don't drink and Dragon.
Aemond Targaryen picking up Aegon's dagger containing the tale of The Prince that was Promised.
Regent
2x05
Rhaenyra Targaryen further embraces her inner Jaeharys The Conciliator while Daemon Targaryen embraces his inner Aegon The Conqueror. What do Aemond Targaryen, Aegon Targaryen, and Viserys Targaryen now have in common? Both Rhaenyra & Alicent Hightower learn different lessons at their respective small councils.
🎬 Grab the Unedited Episode Recording of the Breakdown:
Alys (Rivers) Kadabara! Adding validity to the idea that only Daemon Targaryen can see her.
Jacaerys Targaryen's best Blue Steel impression during the delegation with The Freys.
Hugh The Hammer's daughter looks like warmed up death as their family attempts to flee a famine-struck Kings Landing.
A great transition between scenes that reflects both Daemon's and Rhaenyra Targaryen's struggles.
Smallfolk
2x06
House of the Dragon reminds us that those who shirk honor/power/glory often have the burden thrust upon them. Both Rhaenyra Targaryen's & Alicent Hightower's collective loss and abandonment run parallel. Aemond Targaryen is hot on Daemon Targaryen's (coat) t(r)ails. We're suspicious of both Daemon & Rhaenyra recent blessings.
🎬 Grab the Unedited Episode Recording of the Breakdown:
Gwayne Hightower sheds a tear in front of his sister, Alicent Hightower, knowing there's almost no chance he'll make it back from the march on Harrenhal.
Similarly, Ser Criston Cole and she exchange a knowing glance.
Ulf Wants meat!
The Red Sowing
2x07
Each character could've easily stepped away and everything would've been fine. Most plowed forward. In doing so, who do they become? Rhaenyra Targaryen proved the lowborn were viable Dragonriders but only after throwing the majority into Vermithor's dragons fire. Daemon Targaryen unprecedently holds his tongue to get what he desperately needs from Lord Oscar Tully. Alicent Hightower is the only one who steps away from it all, but even she returns with renewed resolve.
Ulf steps on a clutch of eggs laid by Silverwing. Could these be Daenerys Targaryen's eggs?
Ser Simon Strong is worried that Daemon Targaryen might not take kindly to Lord Grover Tully's barbs.
Grover is the perfect politician/leader, speaking from both sides of his mouth when referring to Daemon (to suit his aims).
Daemon, swiftly yet robotically, enacts Tully's justice on Willem Blackwood. He's finally remitted his will to something greater than himself.
Albeit in a hallucination, it was nice to see Paddy Considine return as Viserys Targaryen to illustrate to Daemon the burden of the crown and what Rhaenyra Targaryen's been going through this whole time.
Aemond Targaryen visually demonstrating the analogy of the elephant and the rider with his dragon, Vhagar.
The subtitles proving, even though it wasn't said on the show, Targaryen bastards are called Dragonseeds.
...but then they backpedal and proceed to label one of them Smallfolk.
That is actually what Robert Rhodes looks like, IRL. He plays Silver Denys.
Lady Jeyne Arryn of The Eyrie flashing the best resting disgust face at Rhaena Targaryen after not getting what she wanted out of her.
The Queen Who Ever Was
Season 2 Finale
Not only have characters shifted positions, but the audience has been moved as well, at the close of House of the Dragon's 8-episode season. Alicent Hightower sacrifices her name and son, Aegon Targaryen, to procure freedom for she, Helaena Targaryen, and Jaehaera Targaryen. Daemon Targaryen sacrifices his free spirit to serve the highest of purposes. Rhaenyra Targaryen sets aside The Conciliator, Jaehaerys Targaryen, and becomes Aegon The Conqueror, as all sides - and more - march to total war.
This episode was delayed mostly due to Dave going on vacation to Argentina. We made his vacation album available to supporters on both Ko-fi and Patreon.
The Green Man in Daemon Targaryen's dream(?). They are guardians of the Weirwood Trees.
Yes, that is (Game of Thrones writer) George R.R. Martin's face on this particular Weirwood Tree.
Daemon's descendant, Brynden Rivers (AKA Lord Bloodraven), is spotted in his climactic vision. He is the first Three-Eyed Raven.
...and here's a slow-mo GIF of that particular section of his vision.
Well whaddya know? The White Walkers! Daemon's true purpose long outlives him.
Dead dragons are also present in his vision. One of them may beSeasmoke?
Still in his vision, Daemon(/Aemond Targaryen?) walking through a bloody battlefield and drowning in one of the puddles of blood.
More from his vision: predicting the coming of Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons.
At this point, Helaena Targaryen telling Daemon he knows his part is pretty self-explanatory: what isn't is why it transitions, from there, to a scene with her and Aemond (and what it might mean).
And, wow, that title sequence change showing all the various dragons (some notable particulars) uniting against Vhagar!
The framing of Rhaenyra Targaryen (left) and Alicent Hightower (right) in exactly the same manner, but mean different things, in the montage at the end is incredible dark mirroring (trading places). The former is (and, perhaps, always was) trapped/bound by duty while the latter is finally free of it.
Another incredible shot is Rhaena Targaryen seeing (what we assume is) Sheepstealer for the first time.
One of The Triarchy (with the blue hair) sort of called back to what Dario Naharis was supposed to look like on Game of Thrones, according to the books.
Ser Alfred Broome scurrying away shortly after Daemon publicly affirms his loyalty to Rhaenyra.
Great shot of Caraxes (Daemon's dragon) witnessing Syrax (Rhaenyra's dragon) landing on the roof of Harrenhal. Seasmoke (Addam of Hull's dragon) is also flying overhead as the two dragons fly in.
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