'House of the Dragon season 2' Review : Bigger, better and bolder (2024)

Mumbai,UPDATED: Jun 7, 2024 13:23 IST

The world as we know it is divided into what we watched before Games of Thrones and what we binge-watched after that. There has never been a series that has captivated the imagination of audiences in such a way. While the season finale of GOT left many viewers disappointed, there was no denying the effect George RR Martin’s writing had on the world. Then came the follow-up series, House of the Dragon.

Based in a different timeline and focusing on one particular house -- The Targaryen bloodline -- no one quite knew what to expect from the spin-off. Will it be as good as GOT? Will it have dragons? (Duh!) Will we miss Cersei’s one-liners? So many questions bogged our minds. But all these doubts and worries were squashed in the very first episode of HOTD. Not only was the series good, but it also had an interesting cast of actors who got us glued to our screens from the very first frame.

Season 1 revolved around multiple themes of patriarchal revolt, childhood friendship blossoming into bloody revenge, that foreboding incestous track that doesn’t go away and, of course, the dragons! Dragons flying across the horizons of plain lands, dragons breathing fire, dragons killing each other and so much more. We ended the first season with two queens on different sides of the island battling for same thing -- the iron throne. Most of season 2’s theme seems to be team Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy ) vs team Alicent (Olivia Cooke). But mind you, there is so much more simmering beneath the surface of the battle between the Black and the Greens.

Unlike season 1, the pace in the second season is more subdued. The makers are not in a rush and let all the juice marinate. The big ticket action scenes play out nicely. The writing is sharper and the CGI/ VFX looks so much more realistic. Remember all those poorly lit dark battle scenes in the last few episodes of GOT? Well, it seems like the big guys at HBO took notice and have paid enough attention to the technical aspects of the action sequences this time around.

This isn’t exactly a spoiler alert, but the very first episode of season 2 has an event that will send chills down your spine. It doesn't quite hold a candle to the brain-numbing brutality of the Red Wedding of GOT, but its implications to what happens down the season is devastatingly dreadful. If you have read Martin’s Dance of the Dragons, then you will know where the focus of season 2 will be -- on the sinister plotting of murders by family members, and twists and turns where allies become foes and one ends up making friends in the unlikeliest of places.

Season 2 is also performance-heavy. With Emma D'Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Matt Smith, and Eve Best taking the lead in getting some of the best written scenes and lines. But for me, it was Tom Glynn-Carney’s Aegon, who initially has some similarities with Joffrey but eventually comes out as a more empathetic character. Joffrey was just plain hideous. To anyone wanting to know how the dragons are, well, they are mind-blowingly good! I think the only other time I saw a dragon that made me go 'wow' was watching Smaug in The Hobbit.

Also, the cinematography is beautiful, capturing the sea, the shores and green landscapes with equal beauty and sometimes just barren land, reminding us of the ever-changing theme of the series.

House of the Dragon season 2 has been worth the wait. Despite the few odd hiccups in terms of pace and storytelling, the series offers some serious bang for its buck.

House of the Dragon 2 will start streaming on JioCinema from June 17. This review is based on the first two episodes.