3 things House of the Dragon season 2 episode 4 did right (and 3 it could have done better)

House of the Dragon season 2 episode 4 aired on Sunday, July 7, 2024, and featured a lot of elements that fans were eagerly waiting for. While this installment was nearly as perfect as any episode of the series has been so far, only a few things felt out of place.

Following the slow and deliberate third episode of House of the Dragon season 2, this installment brought forth the long-awaited battle and the first dance of the dragon, which ended with massive casualties. It was also a very well-paced episode, perfectly balancing the war and the politics, which have been integral parts of House of the Dragon.

The upcoming episodes will hopefully raise the stakes even further as the story progresses.

3 things House of the Dragon season 2 episode 4 did perfectly

1) The war is finally here

Before this episode, viewers heard of the war and saw glimpses of the results. However, they did not see an actual war, an approach that Game of Thrones also took quite often.

But this episode ramped up the action and brought forth a cinematic recreation of Rook's Rest, which is considered by many as one of the defining chapters of Fire and Blood.

2) The dance of the dragons kicks off

Fans have been yearning for the Dragons since season 2 kicked off. After the first three episodes barely included anything concrete about the dragons, this installment featured three huge beasts, Sunfyre, Vhaegar, and Melys in a dance that will be remembered for a while.

The sequence of the dragons fighting was also one of the most cinematic scenes House of the Dragon has ever seen, excelling in every aspect, including CGI and pacing.

3) Another climatic finale

Out of the three previous episodes, the first two stuck the landing. The third was the only one with a toned-down finale, and episode 4 revealed the reason behind this.

This installment delivered one of the finest finales in the show's history and one that will leave a lasting impression on fans. Moreover, the major character deaths will also play a huge part in the future of the show.

3 ways House of the Dragon season 2 episode 4 could have been better

1) The episode did not include enough of Rhaenyra and Alicent

The series has already established that Rhaeynra and Alicent (Olivia Cooke) are the key players in this war so far. The previous episode also included a glimpse of the duo and their ideologies playing the primary role in driving this war forward.

However, this installment did not explicitly feature a lot of Rhaenyra Targaryen. It also kept Alicent on the periphery for the most part, leaving episode 4 in the capable hands of the other major characters.

2) Daemon's Harrenhal arc remains relatively unexplored

Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) has always been one of the most exciting characters in the show. However, since he reached Harrenhal, there has been something particularly haunting about him.

While the recently released episode dug into this arc, it left a lot unanswered. However, there is a possibility that this angle will be explored further in the future.

3) The ending wasn't conclusive

It is not rare for shows like House of the Dragon to leave things hanging, but this episode left some very important storylines unresolved at the end. This included the fate of Rhaenys and Aegon, which is arguably the primary arc in the tale.

The upcoming episode will delve into this in more detail.

House of the Dragon season 2 episode 4 is now streaming on Max.

Edited by Adelle Fernandes