The third episode of House of the Dragon, titled “Second of His Name,” aired on September 4, 2022, following news earlier that week announcing the departure of Miguel Sapochnik as Co-Showrunner. Sources say his exit was due to the three exhausting years of effort he put into the Game of Thrones successor show. Miguel will continue to serve as an executive producer for House of the Dragon, leaving Ryan Condal as the Sole Showrunner working closely with co-creator George R.R. Martin.
This episode, in my opinion, has set the bar higher for several reasons. Firstly, I will give Ramin Djawadi his flowers for the scores – the music played a vital part in setting the tone for the episode, especially the journey through kingsroad up to and until the scenes in the king’s tent where tea was served. Lady Ceira Lannister, the mother of Jason and Tyland Lannister, and Lady Redwyne are at the center of a group of ladies of the court prattling about the happenings at the Stepstones. Besides the music, the pacing was good, and the time jump was seamless. Secondly, we get to see our first battle sequence, which, I must say, was glorious. Finally, the motif for this episode was timely – the overall trope resonated across the main cast for all of us to see. “Coming of age” or “Casting Childhood Aside” is what Rhaenyra needs to strengthen her position as heir. Daemon has to prove himself to crush dissent in his camp at the Stepstones. Viserys, on the other hand, needs to set the ball rolling for all this to happen.
Time Jump
Daemon and Corlys have been waging war at the Stepstones for three years, Aegon II is two years old, and Queen Alicent is heavily pregnant with the King’s second child. With this time jump comes new characters, who, I have a feeling, will be crucial game players based on their introduction though most had limited screen time in this episode save for Lord Jason Lannister and his twin brother, Lord Tyland Lannister. In case you are wondering who Lord Jason is, he is the one who offers himself for Rhaenyra’s hand. We also meet the two sons of Lord Lyonel Strong, Larys and Harwin Strong, and at the Stepstones, Ser Vaemond Velaryon and Laenor Velaryon, who are brother and son to the Sea Snake. Laenor is a dragonrider whose mount is the dragon Seasmoke, who we also meet in the War for the Stepstones.
The Motivations of House Hightower
“Hail, hail Aegon. The Conqueror-Babe, Second of his name! Here’s to his Grace on his second name-day!” – Hobert Hightower.
You have a generous spirit if you still hold House Hightower in high regard after this episode. Their aim is sharp, and they do little to mask their motivations. They are playing the game, and they are good at it. From the get-go, we learn that the Voice of Old Town, Lord Hobert, has been pulling the strings behind the scenes – stoking the flames of Otto’s ambitions. They have managed to join the royal line by marriage, but that is not enough. They have a new mission statement, and the orders are clear. Aegon II is the King’s firstborn son and the rightful heir. According to Otto and Hobert, the laws are clear. To have Rhaenyra as heir would be an injustice to their grandson. Hobert knows very well that this has to be planted and cultivated carefully in the King’s heart, “Then it lies with you to make him see it… Lord Hand.”
“Two years old and already our boy has a Kingly presence.” – Hobert Hightower.
Seeing the extent to which the men of House Hightower will go to see Aegon on the throne brought to life the words of Princess Rhaenys; “Men would sooner put the realm to the torch than see a woman ascend the Iron throne.”
I thought Otto scrapped the bottom of the barrel when he suggested to the King that Aegon would be a suitable match for Rhaenyra – how absurd was that? Although Targaryens are known to marry brother and sister, the objective of Otto’s proposition is rooted in blind ambition and has nothing to do with the good of the realm.
The White Hart
“Before the dragons roared over Westeros, White Hart was the symbol of royalty in these lands.” – Ser Howland Sharp [Royal Huntsman]
The White Hart symbolizes divinely ordained royalty in medieval lore and the show. News of its sighting on Aegon’s second name day causes Viserys to doubt, for a moment, whether he made the right choice in naming Rhaenyra as heir. His doubts are compounded when he laments to his wife, Queen Alicent, about his dragon dream, which according to him, prophesized the birth of a male heir to him. We see later in the episode that the hunting party fails to capture the white stag, and the King is instead called upon to spear a brown one in its place. In my view, the brown stag played a vital part in the king’s decision to reaffirm Rhaenyra as his chosen heir: “I swear to you now, on your mother’s memory. You will not be supplanted.”
To me, it was symbolic when the king speared the Brown Stag. That action, in my opinion, quelled the clamor for Aegon’s claim championed by House Hightower. Rhaenyra, on the other hand, had her position reassured by the King. The White Hart appearing to her also signified divine approval, and her choice to let it live when Ser Criston asked her whether he should kill it proved to me that she was worthy – not that I needed convincing.
War for the Stepstones
It has been three years since Daemon and Corlys made it their mission to intervene in the Stepstones after the king refused to engage. Daemon and Corlys are losing the war. Their infantry is rapidly depleting. The Triarchy has made a tactical decision not to engage in open warfare. They have instead chosen to shelter in the Bloodstone caves while inflicting damage. This tactical move by Drahar is not only frustrating the war effort but also has, in one stroke, blunted the threat of the dragons. The king is made aware of the happenings at the Stepstones by Lord Tyland Lannister during the banquet at Kingswood before the hunt to commemorate Aegon’s second name day. Otto councils against the crown sending aid, pointing out that doing so would paint the crown as weak, considering Daemon and Corlys had waged war without the King’s leave. The King eventually decides to send information to Daemon that aid is forthcoming, which he does not take well. Daemon, in my opinion, sees this as too late in the making and has Otto written all over it. What ensues after has got to be the best action sequence in the Game of Thrones franchise. Greg Yaitanes deserves praise for directing House of the Dragon’s third episode, especially for the action sequence. It was incredible to watch. Ser Laenor on the back of Seasmoke raining fire from above and Daemon looking down on Drahar’s torso were the highlights for me in this episode.
Dragon dreams
Viserys was drunk when he spoke these words to Queen Alicent, lamenting his obsession with a prophetic dream he had when Rhaenyra was young. According to him, his obsession with that dream was the reason for the death of Queen Aemma, his first wife:
“I named her to protect the realm from Daemon. She was my only child – The Realm’s Delight. I named her out of love because I no longer believed…. Many in my line have been dragonriders. Very few among us have been dreamers. What is the power of a dragon next to the power of prophecy? When Rhaenyra was a child…. I saw it in a dream…. As vivid as these flames, I saw it. A male babe born to me wearing the conqueror’s crown.”
Dragon dreams affect Targaryens who are blood of the dragon, and they are not ordinary dreams. Many have been haunted throughout the generations – before and after Viserys: Daenys the Dreamer, Aegon the Conqueror, Daeron the Drunken, Maester Aemon, and Daenerys Stormborn, to name but a few. The dreams, according to George R. R. Martin, are as cryptic as they are prophetic and can be detrimental to House Targaryen if not interpreted correctly. George gives this warning in A Feast for Crows in the Samwell Tarly POV chapters using Maester Aemon as his mouthpiece:
“I see them in my dreams, Sam. I see a red star bleeding in the sky. I still remember red. I see their shadows on the snow, hear the crack of leather and wings, feel their hot breath. My brothers dreamed of dragons too, and their dreams killed them, everyone.”
I made all those references to say this; make what you will of Viserys’ dream – cryptic or prophetic – for me, looking at how the showrunners have used it in this episode, it alludes to the inevitable – House Targaryen tearing itself down.
Quick Recap
Viserys’ wounds are getting worse. In the previous episode, Grand Maester Mellos had taken measures to restore life to his finger. The time jump in this episode indicates that the King’s health is slowly deteriorating. He has now lost two fingers – presumably amputated to prevent necrosis from spreading to the rest of his arm.
Theories And Speculation
The King’s master of laws was at it again, offering sound advice on the matter of Rhaenyra’s marriage. In my opinion, Lord Strong’s advice to the King was sensible and one that would not only offer Rhaenyra good station but also strengthen her claim when the time comes;
“It would seem to me the best match for Rhaenyra is the son of the Sea Snake, Ser Laenor. Some years ago, I counseled you to take his sister to wife. My reasoning remains the same. Laenor is of pure Valyrian descent. He shares blood with your cousin, the princess Rhaenys. And he is the heir to the wealthiest House in the realm. The breach between your Houses has not narrowed since I last spoke of it. It would do much to assuage Lord Corlys of any slights, real or imagined. We must pray, of course, that Laenor survives the fighting in the Stepstones.”
My first prediction this week will follow hot on the heels of Lord Strong’s advice. Although the King has finally relented on the matter and given Rhaenyra leave to make her own choice, I hazard that she will weigh all potential matches and settle on Ser Laenor. Other than a good station, Laenor has more to offer, he is a dragonrider, and dragons are dangerous weapons.
My second prediction is not a prediction per se but a reaffirmation of my belief that there will be strife when Aegon comes of age. This episode has all but confirmed it. Viserys urges Rhaenyra to marry and populate her line to strengthen her claim. Rhaenyra knows it deep in her heart “Tell me something, Ser Criston. Do you think the realm will ever accept me as their Queen?”
At the end of the episode, Daemon stands over Drahar’s torso with his face covered in what I can only assume is the Crabfeeder’s blood. I know it must have crossed your mind – Drahar looked like he was suffering from Greyscale. Are we left to assume that Daemon is exposed, and if so, are the showrunners relying on our knowledge of the source material – assuming we will figure out that Daemon, being a dragonrider, is presumed immune because he is Blood of the Dragon?
Rating
Titled “Second of His Name,” I will give this episode a rating of 9.5/10. I base this rating on Daemon’s stellar performance, which he delivered without saying a word, instead letting Dark Sister do all the talking, leaving us to draw our conclusions on his feelings regarding the letter sent to him by his brother, the King.
For more content on House of the Dragon, head to our in-depth article on Everything You Need to Know Before Watching House of the Dragon. You can also check out my review of episode 2 in case you missed it.