House of the Dragon: Episode 2.2 "Rhaenyra the Cruel" Reaction / Review / Breakdown / Analysis
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
- #houseofthedragon #gameofthrones #targaryen
House of the Dragon: Episode 2.2 "Rhaenyra the Cruel" Reaction / Review / Breakdown / Analysis - Розваги
Daemon Targaryen to his black kids, stepkids, and toddlers. He will pay equally no attention to you.
Equal parts light and dark.😂
@@JayDay01 😂 lol
🙌🏾 ayyyyyeeee 🐉
You’re good man. Don’t feel like you need to rush the analysis my guy. I stop by for the quality of your content, and will continue to do so regardless of your release schedule.
Agree 100%
Truth
On it's own this episodes is pretty good but I can't forgive the hypocrisy.
Daemon is being yelled at for being involved in murdering a child (not even killing himself)
Aegon is being yelled at for killing innocent even though he was mentally messed up so he has at least a poor excuse
And then there's Rhaenys
Who needlessly killed dozens. Some of which have to be children. She could have just left with no killings.
And nobody brings this up. The writers are just ignoring it because she is a nice woman who does no wrong.
This is not okay.
And about the changes.
I just want to point out the fact that when D&D were making some weird changes people were making excuses for them at first. Saying it's actually okay. And now looking back at the same changes most people admit it was pretty bad.
Just saying
That lingering opening shot of a blurred POV down the hallway with the background of the hue and cry in the sound mix, I read into immediately. We were seeing through the bleary eyes and ears of one of the Red Keep's barely awake servants. It was show don't tell at its finest. The ensuing shots of the castlehold's staff being rousted by the Kingsguard down the staircase into the courtyard didn't need any further informing because of that exceptional shot. I felt immersed in that rushed mass of bewildered people as though I was one of those small folk. Absolutely loved it...
no worries for putting out an episode late, we'll be here regardless! much love.
I’ve heard so many people compliment the writing for the female characters on this show. It makes so much sense they give sarah hess final say on alicent and rhaenyra scenes especially, she is doing an amazing job all around. The episode was so well done and beautiful, the opening of the episode alone with the music and camera work was superb. I’m glad others loved it as much as i did!
Been waiting for this 🫶
This episode was top notch. For me HotD's strong-suit is really the character development , interpersonal relations , build-up and aftermath aspects etc. There was so much of those elements in S1 (part of why i believe S1 was so good) and again this episode. The moments on HotD that can veer off course and potentially not as well received are typically some of the crazy high-spectacle moments thus far (I can name a number of examples from S1). Not a slight and with more and more high spectacle moments on the way hopefully they can deliver on them but think by now we've really discovered the sweet-spot / narrative aspects where HotD really thrives. The acting , writing and directing this episode were excellent , Glynn-Carney and Ifans both really stood out for me but whole cast was especially strong overall this episode.
The exchange between Otto and Aegon II / Cole one of my favorite in the series thus far , the heated exchange between RT and DT also well done , rat-catchers post-execution scene quite effective and powerful. The procession was absolutely brilliant imo - the emotions , the discomfort (especially regarding Helaena) along with the propaganda aspect at work as well. And the juxtaposition having Rhaenyra watching over her similarly young and similarly very Targ looking young children during the same procession sequence was very well done. Cargyll duel also very well done and one of the rare times i prefer an adaptation's version to the text (in this case via any of the multiple accounts of this incident).
Just a brilliant episode , one of the best of HotD thus far imo. The episode is excellent on its own but also effectively sets up so much more to come as well.
I thought Otto Hightower was awesome in this episode. Team Green!!!
It was an amazing episode and it's great to see the majority of the viewers come together in celebration of that. The cast and crew deserve their flowers!
My only problem is the lack of logic of Aegon killing the Rat catchers put the small-folk agaist Team Green, but Rhaenys mass murder them doesn't make the small-folk agaist Team Black.
One was incidental- the other was deliberate -- also, it was set up in s1 that there was a bias against her (Rhaenyra)- & at the end of the season, & at this point of this season- she's struggling to balance her personal wants against the duty her father entrusted her with (Aegon the Conqueror's dream) -- I'd be fascinated to see how a post-Conquest story with Aenys & Maegor would handle that Viserys/ Daemon-style dichotomy of brothers & kings -- HotD is supposedly challenging our views of what went on behind the scenes, in the living history that became 'Fire & Blood' - I wonder how it'd be tackled?
I posted a reply related to Maegor vs the Faith/ Faith Militant; "Maegor's first instinct always seemed to be: I choose violence - or, that meme: _If Violence isn't solving your problems- you aren't using enough of it._
**But** I have this weird head-canon, kind of inspired by a fan-cast video I saw a few years ago, focused on Maegor; I think it used footage from 'Da Vinci's Demons'- & that, paired with the whole 'Dream of Ice & Fire'-thing revealed in HotD -- see, I have this theory that before Jaehaerys instituted a 'king-to-heir' policy of passing the information down- Aegon shared it with *both* his sister-wives, & though Aegon eventually passed knowledge of the dream to his heir, Aenys - I think that Visenya shared it with Maegor
(Aenys may have shared it with his wife, or Prince Aegon, with Rhaena - hell, maybe _Maegor_ shared it with Rhaena- & one or another of them is how it ultimately passed to Jaehaerys).
And that their early policies- allowing the lords/ former kings to retain their own regional laws (before Jaehaerys' codification), Rhaenys' & later Alysanne's inter-realm marriage arrangements, the Royal progresses & so on- they were all a part of the greater goal of unity: to unify the realm behind them - that initially, the brothers were two sides of the same goal, but there was a lot more going on (it didn't help that they had no idea *_when_* the second Long Night was going to occur, so that undoubtedly caused a great deal of frustration, the lingering problems with Dorne/ the Iron Islands).
Aenys' indecisiveness over so many different things, & his focus on being loved- could well have hindered the projection of strength they needed in the early days, when their dynasty was so young - it's clear there was a documented desire for the two brothers to work together early on, but it was not to last -- I mean, you probably already know what happened- & with Aenys' death (planned or not), I think Visenya then acted to ensure Maegor's strength held the realm together- & obviously, there was all the chaos that came after that.
But I think Maegor probably only wanted to honour his mother, father, & family, & keep the realm unified, continue the Targaryen line- & maybe the rumoured dark magic she used to conceive him was part of the problem, or what happened when he suffered that head injury {when the 'Maegor' in the fan-cast video says with this weary sorrow, "I have- no heir"- there's such a sense of defeat, on realising that *he* isn't going to be the one to hold the realm together, to have the purpose fated to them by his father - like, I know it was from the show, but I can't help but wonder if a Conquest-era/ Sons of the Dragon show, could show that challenging dichotomy - because GRRM opened the door, & he seems to have repeated it *multiple* times across the history- either two strong brothers [Jaehaerys' eldest two sons - Daeron II's, Maekar's], lost too soon- or one strong brother & one weak brother, but the weaker's usually the elder- & therefore, first heir [Aenys & Maegor/ Viserys & Daemon/ there was a reverse situation with Daeron I & Baelor- & another strange tweak on the scenario, with Aegon IV & Aemon the Dragonknight]}
Ultimately, Maegor kind of reverse-succeeded- he united the realm, but against *him* - his over-reliance on violence was a serious failing - _but_ allowed Jaehaerys' more balanced methods to eventually consolidate Targaryen rule- his gentler approach was clever, too - the Faith Militant was disbanded with little trouble, as a measure of give-&-take, & the Doctrine of Exceptionalism was established for the Targaryens -- without the chance for peace, I don't doubt they would have gone down swinging."
All this is to say- we're all just ultimately sh^t-posting theories, until GRRM gives us the final two books, & the second volume of 'Fire & Blood'.
Sorry for my reply being so long, lol
Edit: word
@darksister81 I totally agree, that's on the writer. She added that major change but didn't add the consequences that needed to go with. Worse was that Otto mentioned it this episode but only in the context that it made Aegon look weak.
@@OcarinaSapphr- Why in the world would the people care that it was "incidental"?
@@skankhunt4748 Yes I agree 💯, and that either didn't make a lot sense to me. Because how this bad omen? 😭
Sincerely, I’d rather listen to your stuff than Preston and Red Team review. Did you see the interview where Matt said he wanted the scene to be domestic. And I believe it was Emma who praised Claire for the freedom she gave them to do it as they wanted. Emma and Matt are organically so good together. What an unexpected bonus.
My issue is always that Matt Smith doesn’t get enough screen time, but I’m biased and he deserves all the time they give him
no -- share URL?
@@thedragondemands5186I’ll try and find it
@@thedragondemands5186
This is the Matt Smith one ua-cam.com/video/_BLd3TaSWCE/v-deo.htmlsi=md35PSdq8Vqt1Qlv
Side note. I love you take every opportunity to slam Dumb & Dumber.
👏 For unapologetically acknowledging what this episode was - applause worthy for so many reasons.
I really liked how they build up the side characters! I actually know the names of people like Elinda or Lornet Marbrand, I know who are the Lannisters etc. I also think that the fight and the deaths of the twins was done masterfully and so symbolic and poetic for the whole civil war
Every time I watch it again I cry more. It was so emotional! It's not that you get used to it and get to be able to ignore it.
You folks know how we cry every time with the Fellowship when Gandalf dies and they react to it? We have been wathcing that film for 23 years and we still cry every time
That's how this scene will be looked at in 5-10-15-20 years!
We watch your channel because we know you're not going to rush our garbage content. Keep up the great work
Rhaenyra's costumes from season 1 were heavily inspired by the Byzantine Empire.
Erryk Cargyll & Arryk Cargyll it's too bad none of the monarchs are worthy of their service and sacrifice
I mean Rhaenyras alright. I know she’s no feminist icon but can you explain how she’s definitively worse than some of the best kings. We are talking about facts that can be backed up by multiple accounts. Even Jaehaerys (the best king) arrested and supposedly murdered a guy that claimed to be his bastard, so in comparison Rhaenyra putting Vaemond to death isn’t exactly out of the ordinary for a monarch.
I’m open to the idea that she’s terrible but nobody really backs up the argument with proof.
They were too good for this world.
They served well.
It’s sad to see them laid to rest together... but it would’ve been what they would’ve wanted.
@@J_ads2000 Nettles
@@J_ads2000 Rhaenyra is a murderer and betrayer. She was the older sibling and she could not convince the loyalty and safety of her younger siblings she should not be worth following
@@J_ads2000 I think that's the hidden message. The throne corrupts whoever sits it.
One of things about the funeral is you kind of thought the wagon was going to tip over
I thought Jaehaerys's head was going to fall off! 😱
Watching this series just makes me melancholy about all the potential greatness We all could have experienced after season four of Game of Thrones If HBO would have handle things the way they have with this series wow!SMH
Patience. Revenge will be ours.
Remember those who reduced us to this. Remember, and hate.
@@thedragondemands5186As someone who’s been watching your content for over roughly half a decade, agreed.
We play the long game, and by doing so our vindication is written with the sands of time.
D&D can't even dream of doing the dialogue scenes that happened between Rhaenyra and Daemon and Aegon and Otto. It's crazy that both sides. It almost fell like parallel of Daemon & Otto making the "two sides of the targaryen coin" argument for Viserys. Daemon says je was too cowardly, he saw greatness but never reached for it as he was too afraid to spill blood. Otto says his forbearance, his judiciousness, his dignity, kept the realm in peace for the most part during his reign. Insane tie in. Btw did Helaena see ashes over KL 👀?
People liked this episode? I thought it was extremely boring and the dialogue didn't make that much sense. A bunch of long scenes didn't go anywhere, like the funeral procession.
Love your channel and the way you work. We appreciate your thoughtful care and analysis.
I’ve been watching your stuff for a long time now and I just wanna say how much better your content has gotten over the years (not that it was ever bad!!) Don’t worry about rushing your work out. Worth the wait. Thanks for putting so much work in. Really good quality stuff!
You can't understand why people are attracted to a very good looking cool guy?
There is more than one way to be appealing
A very what? Man, Matt Smith without money and fame would be a sorry sight
I'm liking these episodes. Can't wait for Sunday!
I disagree with Sarah Hess, she's a bad writer. Just listen to her inside the episodes and you'll see that she doesn't not understand these characters, like claiming that Daemon and Rhaenyra are the same person but in two bodies- their show counterparts couldn't be different.
Baela and Rhaena are Targaryens
Please I need someone to agree with me that it doesn’t scratch the surface of GOT (esp. early seasons, and also the books themselves- ASOIAF is GRRM’s magnum opus and F&B is a historical book). Meaning, I have a very picky taste in TV and I wouldn’t probably get excited over HOTD if I weren’t a huge GOT fan…..
The world feels small
The intrigue - too telenovelesque
Coming from a long-time viewer of your channel - I appreciate that you take the time to really absorb the material, watch the 'inside the episode' specials & interviews, and make these videos with substantive critical & analytical content; it is worth the extra days it takes for you to finish them.
For me Cargyllbowl was far better than Gleganebowl. Yes, I'm being sacrilegious. I thought that scene was beautifully done. The only slight issue I had with it was once again, Daemon getting reamed for doing something that no one else would have had the guts to do. I hope Rhaenyra and Daemon get back together. The chemistry between Matt Smith and Emma D'Arcy is just off the charts.
*Cargyll
Rhaenyra was right; it absolutely hurt her standing and turned some against her. people will assume she’s responsible. Even some on her own council were suspicious. He did it ‘without the crown’s leave.’ Yes, she said ‘I want Aemond Targaryen,’ but she is the QUEEN. Anything done in her name needs to be cleared by her first.
I had always thought Aegon II was the least interesting character during the Dance of the Dragons and they’ve actually managed to make him interesting. Enjoyed just about every scene, standouts being between Jace and Baela, the “blame game” with Arryk and Criston, and Rhaenyra’s hand gestures during her argument with Daemon. I think we’ve all done the “double hand” thing at one point or another
I also liked the barding and caparisons on the horses during the funeral progress, as we saw very little of that in GoT (“We used up our horse budget.”)
And, also in contrast to GoT, they’re also bringing up the topic of kinslaying being taboo
Nothing about the Visenya image and how it was once again tied to Rhaenyra?
Regarding the nudity: I'm impressed at how they again managed to shot a scene like this without even showing as much as a nipple (if you freeze-frame you'll probably find one, but it's blink-and-you-miss-it). The blocking in these scenes is brilliant.
We didn't get inside House of the Dragon till after season 1 ended same with The House that Dragons Built I'm in Sydney Nsw Australia Nsw Australia our HBO channel on Foxtel is Foxshowcase does HBO Max do behind the episode straight after
You spoke about the Book being an outline and also with the unreliable narrative with different viewpoints. Being also that the show is an adaptation and they can’t do everything from the book for several reasons.
Would it be possible for the show to end slightly different as far as Rhaenyra’s fate?
I remember Joffrey in GOT recounting the story of the dance of dragons and how it ended. Would it behoove the show creator to change it? Like who’s to say that’s how it really went down? I would like to see a twist ending. It’s no fun when you know the ending. Your thoughts? If done right and well, i could see it being popular with book readers. I myself am not a book reader. But I know the dangers of straying too far from the source material that would upset fans, who read the books. Maybe you can do a video on the changes. Show vs book.
The acting is top notch
Now that I could go to Croatia they film in Spain 😢
Why can you only now go to Croatia from Serbia?
@@thedragondemands5186 I wasn’t in a financial situation to go somewhere fancy - touristy like Dubrovnik until maybe three years ago when I became a senior engineer.
Yes I work as a programmer, but I have a lot of family depending on me financially.
Southern and Eastern Europe has the reputation to be cheap to travel to - and it definitely is when you come from a rich country with rich country paychecks 😅
Here’s hoping that by season four I can travel to Spain! 🤞🏻
@@thedragondemands5186 And yes, I could go cheaply by bus or train or something (I only learned to drive last year and got my license in December) but I have a lot of chronic pain issues so long distance it is either airplane/car travel which is expensive, or being ready to have to go on sick leave because I sat in a bus for like 10-12 hours. Which is also expensive because when on sick leave I only get 60% of my normal pay. So yeah I just don’t travel anywhere too far and expensive.
Some reviewers complaining how slow it is (Indiewire writing how dull it is). And I'm thinking, have they watched the early seasons of GOT? 2 people in a room or field is when we got peak episodes. GOT S4E6 (Laws of gods and men) is my favourite GOT episode and it just Tyrion monologuing in the throne room.
I think people just got use to the mindless action in the later seasons.
The dialogue scenes in early game of thrones are written better than the ones in hotd. That's why
Take your time to release analysis! If it comes out on Friday or Saturday, that will serve as a nice refresher when people are getting ready to watch the next episode.
If all you have to offer is praise, that says a lot too! It certainly speaks volumes to me, a person who didn't enjoy the original Thrones show and actually hasn't read the books, but loves the lore and is into HOtD because it's true filmmaking / storytelling art and everything GoT never was.
P.S.: women do not only want a vampire, a Daemon. Some of us (I daresay the stable, emotionally mature ones) really like an easygoing, nice man with a sweet smile.
Ask my partner, lmao, who is not a crown prince, rich sea merchant, Dragonlord, or bastard offspring of any such people either.
Don't get me wrong, I'm deeply entertained by Daemon as a character and Matt Smith crushes his performance in the role. Same with Ewon Mitchell as Aemond and Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon.
But I don't personally find any of those characters ~ sexy ~ as I know that IRL, they would be insufferable at minimum and very likely dangerous both emotionally and physically. That sort of dampens the attraction. An Addam or Alyn is much, much more appealing.
If a man is easygoing and nice but still can't pull, I'm sorry to say, there must be other factors at work that make him unappealing. Like, he is actually very whiny in private under his easygoing facade, and/or his "niceness" is performative rather than authentic.
I find it remarkable that they were so spot on with building these huge sets, while Star Wars trapped their poor actors within that tiny volume thing.
Well they have a digital “volume” set but they use it in moderation - if it’s not a recurring set and doesn’t justify building a large set
@@thedragondemands5186 Yes, that makes absolute sense. The Volume technology can actually improve your production, if applied correctly.
I liked the line about princes losing their temper
I actually like that there are some videos coming later in the week, when my opinion is more formed
Great review!
Hey dragon. Grea video as always. Just wanted to post a comment on pronouncing Rhys Ifan’s surname. The ‘If’ at the start of his name is pronounced like the word ‘if’. I know you worked really hard to learn basic welsh for the filming locations and my hat goes off to you to that. Welsh is a hard language, so this comment isn’t a personal dig. Hope this helps for future reference 😀
hurrying
Agreed, a great episode.
Suggestion
Best brutal violence award: the kingmaker may be a front-runner
Best underhanded tactic award
Best Vengeance award
Best war criminal: I think all the dragon Riders have a good shot at this
Best Shot Yourself in the Foot award: the two monarchs are locked for this
Best Stupid Princelings award
35:00 What really sold the show for me on the 1st season was definitely how much better the cinematography was.
One of my favorite shot scenes was from Episode 2 of Season 1, the second to last scene where the camera is zoomed in on the Dragon Pit, then pans and focuses on Viserys as he turns around, and the sound is muffled while you can tell he's deep in thought about making his decision to marry Alicent. The way it was filmed plus the sound design and the music made it such a memorable scene for me personally. It was such a good step up from GOT.
Im still sad the music from that scene was not released in the official soundtrack. Closest we'll get is the unifficial track "King Viserys and Princess Rhaenyra" that Diego Mitre put up.
Love your reviews! I’ve been listening for years. I was envisioning you as Oprah with, “you get an Emmy, you get an Emmy!” 😂
Great episode! Thanks for your work!
I’m not the only one
We got a fantastic episode, gush away 😊
Take your time, I like your reviews and I can wait a week for that. I also like your ramblings and tangents…
Get so excited for your drops. I just try to avoid the spoilers ones for my sake!
Quality over quantity. Take your time.
I’m with you! The episode was great! Gush away! 😅
Sara Hess is great at writing from what I've seen of this show. But giving her final pass on dialogue for female characters is a but much. Her writing of Daemon for and towards is suspect. I'm holding out on fully claiming she or Claire Kilner has it in for Daemon. I want to know why Baela thinks she might hate her father.
Otherwise, Hess is talented. But I'm thinking something is up with her, given dialogue.
She hates Daemon and dont understand why he's so popular so she tries to butcher his character so people like him less thats so unprofessional i'm just glad ryan disaproves of her view on Daemon because apparently she was trying to make him more abusive towards Rhaenyra in s2 but Ryan dissaproved.
@@YounaPun Very unprofessional
She so clearly hates Daemon
George R R Martin: Daemon is my favourite character I wrote, he is equal parts black and white
Showwriters: well I can see only black so 🤷🏻♀️🤷♂️
FWIW, I really enjoyed hearing you gush about the episode :)
on a scale of 1 to 10 how much """book accurate""" they handled rooks rest?
that's episode four
@@thedragondemands5186 True, i thought u were going to touch on it since in this episode Baela got sent to scout KL's movements, which i think i might tie in to it. Maybe Baela pursues Cole, somehow gets hurt or startled and thats how Rhaenys gets involved.. i dont think they play the siege and raven route, just seems too long - or maybe the siege starts on ep3 already idk.. Either way just wanted to see what u got from people who got to see the ep in previews. Sorry ill try to keep to the video topic 👍
I wish that the scene with the twin brothers fighting each other was the last scene in that episode emotionally. You need time to digest the full heartbreak of that scene to switch it to a slower scene felt out of place other than that this episode was brilliant.
I’m kind of surprised that they did the cargyls so early. Feels like they’re really cranking out the hits so to speak.
Sarah Hess reeeealy hates Daemon
Sounds almost like you're crying
....really? Just that i'm hurrying: no time to edit and all one take
@@thedragondemands5186I don’t think it sounds like crying per se. However, there is a little shakiness in your voice when you’re rushing that I’ve noticed as well.
Edit: I also noticed it in this video, but it’s been a longer trend that personally has never bothered me.
Your voice shakes sometimes just a little bit when you really like something. There’s nothing wrong with that. My Asperger’s daughter does the same thing when she gets excited, even now that she’s an adult. If it bothers people that’s their problem.
@@vanessalore9942 ....no it's that when i hurry get nervous no chance for a redo
🙌Stop diagnosing people online🙌
can you add timestamps for the topics
No they build on each other
Cersei blew up the sept of baelor, not the Vatican. 😉
their Vatican.
The Great Sept of Baelor is the St. Peter's Basilica of Westeros and the High Septon is the Pope.