House of the Dragon season 2 has finally aired all of its episodes and instead of being the all-out war that fans have been hoping for, it turned out to be the calm before the storm. The season proved important, as the chess piece was adjusted and positioned well, and both sides prepared for the imminent war.
The finale saw the reunion of Rhaenyra and Alicent and the realization of what each of them had done to have led to this moment. The latter’s responsibilities as a mother to her kids have been criticized for the majority of the season. Her agreement to one shocking condition to prevent a bloodbath has fans believing that evil Cersei from Game of Thrones was a better mother than her.
Fans Consider Cersei Lannister As A Better Mother Than Alicent Hightower After The Recent Finale
Olivia Cooke‘s Alicent Hightower went on a topsy-turvy journey in the second season of House of the Dragon. The first half of the season saw her defending Aegon’s rise to power while also having a physical relationship with Criston Cole. Additionally, she chose to be with Cole when her children needed her the most which led to fans questioning her responsibilities as a mother.
The season also saw Rhaenyra and Alicent meet twice, each in the other’s terrain. While the first meeting does not end well, Alicent realizes her mistake and the war that is inevitable and requests her former friend to take over the throne in the finale. However, Rhaenyra has not forgotten the lives that were lost (Lucerys and Rhaenys) and wants revenge.
Rhaenyra tells Alicent that he must kill Aegon in order to establish her new reign in King’s Landing. The latter has grown tired of all the plotting and strategizing going on in her court and reluctantly agrees to her former friend’s demands. Fans are horrified that she would agree to such a condition and are comparing her to the diabolical Cersei Lannister played by Lena Headey. Here are some of the reactions on X,
As fans know, Cersei Lannister has done some heinous acts in Game of Thrones but has always supported and cared for her children Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen. Although all of her children passed away before adulthood, she would have never agreed to the conditions just like Alicent did. As fans have pointed out, Cersei would have killed anyone that posed a threat to her children and thus, is seen as a better mother compared to Alicent.
House of the Dragon Director Was Pleasantly Surprised By The Character-Driven Finale
As the last episode of House of the Dragon drew close, fans expected an epic battle between the dragons due to the amazing cliffhanger of episode 7. However, the finale did not include any action sequences and instead focused on character dynamics and shifting alliances. The episode’s director Geeta Vasant Patel told Variety that she was quite surprised by this approach for the finale.
The director revealed that while she also expected the finale to have some epic action, it was thrilling for her to focus on the drama and the intense conversations between the characters. She felt that the narrative twists and the final confrontation between Rhaenyra and Alicent made up for the lack of any action in the finale. Patel said,
I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know if it would be a battle or something else. I probably expected a battle, just as a fan. I think what’s really interesting about this episode is that it’s about relationships. It’s the dialogue, the twists and turns, the relationship between Daemon and Rhaenyra, and Rhaenyra and Alicent. For me, it was quite thrilling to focus on the dramaturgy. I love that. I was excited to dig deep with this.
The finale promised an explosive season 3 where all hell breaks loose. Showrunner Ryan Condal has confirmed that season 3 will start production in early 2025 (via Variety) and the series as a whole will conclude with season 4.
Fans can watch all episodes of House of the Dragon season 2 on Max.
