House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 2 Review - Volatile and merciless

What happens when you steal someone’s inheritance and kill her son after decades of treason? Well, they found out.

Following the beheading of Jaehaerys, tensions are reaching boiling point. The whole act escalates the conflict between House Black and House Green beyond a point where they could possibly find peace.

Before we delve into this post-mortem, I want to take a moment to admire the new opening credits which I failed to mention in my previous review. Inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, it’s a great mood opener and reminds us that we are entering one of the best mediaeval soap operas.

In this episode, Phis Saban as Helaena is phenomenal. Despite begging not to attend, she is cruelly forced by Alicent to attend her son’s funeral. Her performance is devastating yet unsettling as she lives in her own worst nightmare.

Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) also bear the heavy weight of losing Jaehaerys, as his death took place under Criston’s watch as he was in bed with Alicent. Their affair is a poorly kept secret though, and being threatened by Lord Larys (Matthew Needham) is wonderfully entertaining.

Meanwhile, Rhaenyra scolds Daemon (Matt Smith) for being an impetuous loose cannon. Despite vaguely stating that she wanted revenge against Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) for killing her son, she is solely blamed for the death of Jaehaerys by House Green.

You have to credit Emma D’Arcy for their magnificent portrayal. They are an absolute delight to watch as Rhaenyra’s wits are being stretched to the limits.

On the surface, Daemon didn’t mean for Jaehaerys to be killed, explaining that he simply wanted to avenge his wife’s loss. We learn once again that he is a fighter and not a thinker.

Before long, Rhaenyra’s murder is quickly being plotted. This brings me to the main thrust of the second episode: the battle between the twins.

This is the only real action we get as we witness two brothers in a barbaric struggle. I won’t reveal any spoilers, but mind you, it is a gripping sword fight that makes you wonder who'll walk away alive.

This might be a bold claim, but I am slowly starting to like Aemond. Despite accidentally causing the death of Lucerys in season one (I won’t get over it), he is starting to steal every scene.

I am anticipating a huge encounter between him and Daemon, and with Aemond being the better fighter, this gives us plenty more to look forward to.

The message is loud and clear - The House of the Dragon is back in more ways than one. This brutal fantasy world full of political paranoia and monstrous violence is hard to beat.

House of the Dragon continues next Sunday at 9pm on Sky and NowTV.