House of the Dragon just aired its final episode of Season 2 and fans are already in awe over it. From the parallel yet opposite storylines to the heavy symbolism, fans are simply in love and so are we.
Well, this article discusses the symbolism and cinematography used in the finale episode of House of the Dragon and especially the scene comparing Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower. Suffice to say, a spoiler warning is now in effect.
House of the Dragon Season Finale And The Rich Symbolism
In the finale episode of season 2, we see Daemon Targaryen going near a weirwood tree with Alys and seeing a vision of the future. The vision reveals White Walkers and a glimpse of Daenerys Targaryen and the prophecy.
Daemon swears fealty once again to Rhaenyra Targaryen. What follows next is Alicent Hightower secretly traveling to Dragonstone and surrendering King’s Landing against the safety of her family.
Now, the symbolism used in the final shots of House of the Dragon shows Rhaenyra Targaryen through the network-like building while Alicent stands seeing a beautiful horizon.
Fans think that the shots represent Rhaenyra (played by Emma D’Arcy) fulfilling destiny and being burdened by the weight of it, while Alicent Hightower is finally free from the game of thrones.
Fans Think That These Shots Have Different Meanings
Some claim that Rhaenyra’s scene showcases the power and the strength to hold the kingdom while Alicent’s shot feels isolated and deserted. Others think that Alicent is actually free from her enemies, while Rhaenyra is burdened.
Taking to their social media accounts on X, fans talked about the various theories that they came up with. Complimenting the parallel arcs and the converging and diverging storylines, fans talked about how elegant the show simply is.
Well, there are multiple opinions and we can not be sure what these scenes truly represent. What we know for sure is that the third season is currently under development and will start production in “earlyish 2025” (via Variety).
House of the Dragon received a rating of 8.4/10 on IMDB and a whopping 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. With two seasons to its name, the iconic show is available to stream on Max in the U.S.