HoTD is back for Season 2, people, let’s do it!
HoTD of course is the short code for House of the Dragon, the Game of Thrones prequel that is the first of what will likely be many spinoff TV series exploring the universe created by A Song of Ice and Fire author George R. R. Martin.
Season 1 of House of the Dragon was a stage setter in many ways for the much anticipated Dance of the Dragons. In short: a lot of dragons are going to get to scuffling – more than we’ve seen to date in either GoT-world series to date – so get ready for lots of action and lots of dragon fire!
While watching the House of the Dragon season 2 trailer, I’m reminded that one of the best things about the first season – and this goes too for the outstanding first season of Max’s The Last of Us – is that the supernatural and fantastical elements (namely, dragons in this case) were treated with tasteful restraint.
So that when we did get dragons (or zombie) action going, it meant something: the stakes were real, and the action and excitement were all the heightened for it.
“The Targaryen who sits the Iron Throne, is not just a king or a queen,” Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen tells us. “They are a protector of the realm. Now I feel myself in an impossible position. The enemy usurped my throne.”
“The realm’s only hope is in a leader strong enough to unite it,” Daemon Targaryen then says, ominously.
Daemon, played by Matt Smith, proved to be a fabulous chaos agent character in Season 1, a charismatic rogue, at times impetuous and calculating at others. And then he could be charming and even somewhat vulnerable at turns, although always in a mildly unsettling way. It will be fascinating to see what role he’ll play as a full-blown civil war is clearly in the offing during this period of Westeros’ history.
Speaking of Westeros, much has been made about the fact that Season 1 mostly kept events close to King’s Landing versus the much more expansive world hopping canvas of Game of Thrones proper. My take is that in conjunction with it being relatively restrained in the deployment of dragons (and fantasy/fantastical storytelling elements generally), the season was largely successful.
Season 2 does look like it will visit at least some other well known (to GoT fans) locations, including Winterfell, seat of the Starks, and potentially The Wall itself. After establishing the new set of characters and dynamics in this Game of Thrones sequel, I think it’s good timing to get out King’s Landing and see what else is going on around Westeros during this second season of House of the Dragon.
House of the Dragon Season 2: where and when can I watch it?
House of the Dragon Season 2 premieres on Sunday, June 16th, 2024 at 9p on Max. The second season is scheduled to have eight episodes.