HOUSE OF THE DRAGON: SEASON TWO
Starring: Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Matt Smith, Ewan Mitchell, Harry Collett, Tom Glynn-Carney, Bethany Antonia, Sonoya Mizuno, Matthew Needham, Fabien Frankel, Eve Best, Steve Toussaint, Phoebe Campbell, Abubakar Salim, Gayle Rankin, and Rhys Ifans
Creators: Ryan J. Condal and George R.R. Martin
PAIGE
Although Season Two of House of the Dragon may not have been as thrilling or action-packed as fans anticipated, this season was nonetheless phenomenal. Though it mishandles its pacing a little bit with its eight episodes, it’s a somber and thought-provoking show that exudes confidence and elegance. As a character-driven season, this series soars high thanks to its captivating plot, flawless writing, and fierce performances, which set the stage for what is to come. If you haven’t already, you should jump on the House of the Dragon bandwagon because next season is going to be an all out bloodbath.
QUENTIN
In my review of Season One, I called House of the Dragon “a worthy successor to Game of Thrones.” After Season Two, I take it back. Dragon has become an absolute slog, with the action, twists, sex, and intrigue of Thrones mostly replaced by hours of too many uninteresting and underdeveloped characters rarely doing more than having council meetings around a large table. Plus, arguably the best character from last season, Daemon (Matt Smith), is flat-out wasted, isolated in his own hallucinatory subplot. I’m happy to hear this series will end with Season Four because that means I only have to hate-watch for two more seasons.
KATIE
The second season of House of the Dragon is definitely more slow burn than fiery action, but I still enjoyed every minute. Although the pacing falters at times, especially in comparison to the previous season, and Daemon’s (Matt Smith) subplot is not as engaging as it had the potential to be, I loved the politics, tension, heated conversations, and rich character development, all of which are highlighted by the phenomenal performances. This season effectively sets the board for the next, delving into the central characters' inner motivations and struggles whilst positioning itself for even more conflict and exciting drama.
PRESTON
The excitement derived from House of the Dragon’s first season is what bolstered my resolve to push through the slower portions of this newest season. However, those portions, unfortunately, make up the majority of the show. Side plots and characters galore are haphazardly included, as if almost no care was given for me to be invested enough to know who is even being talked about. The dragon fights are still the best part of this disappointing season, whose overarching story makes for a watchable series, even if mishandled this go-round.
AMARÚ
House of the Dragon Season Two continues the great political machinations, plot twists, and long character arcs that Game of Thrones is known for. The long wait between seasons was rewarded with some amazing episodes and meme-worthy Twitter timelines, but more times than not, this season felt like a continuation of that extended break due to a ton of set up that hopefully is paid off ten-fold in Season Three. The acting, visuals, and music is still top notch television, but the finale solidified that Season Two is a well-executed, if slow, stepping stone that may leave audiences a tad bit disappointed.
