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House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 4 returned on Sunday (July 7, 2024), bearing a huge load of expectations after the first three episodes took things rather slowly, with only a few big moments in between. This episode did not disappoint, to say the least.
In fact, visually and cinematically, this may be the best we have seen from the Game of Thrones prequel as it brought out the big guns in the final moments, leading to an episode that will be in the talks for a long time to come.
House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 4 kicked off with the continuing war efforts under Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), who, despite his nature, is an excellent commander and soldier, as seen in this episode.
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But House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 4 soon bends towards the Black side's defense, which involves sending in the dragon. Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best) becomes the one from Rhaenyra's (played by Emma D'Arcy) side to bring forth the dragon, while Aegon (Tom Glynn Carney) and Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) take her on in what would be the first of the many dances to come.
The episode ends with tragedy, perhaps exactly in a way House of the Dragon fans would love.
*Warning- There may be major spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 4
House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 4 brings out all the big guns in cinematic fashion
The episode picked up directly from the previous one, where Rhaenyra had gone to try out a peace pact with her old friend and now-enemy Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke).
This episode sees both sides grappling with their war strategies, with Daemon (Matt Smith), having won Harrenahal but still not an active part of the war. We also get some mind-bending scenes with Daemon, who is in a castle that is rumored to eat up the sanity of men. This episode delves somewhat into the lore of Harrenhal and gives a glimpse at the characters who are key parts of Fire and Blood.
But the real discord seems to be at King's Landing, where Aegon II realizes that he is only a dummy king, with his younger brother and Ser Criston Cole, sharing the load of the battle, a realization that sends the immature king into an immature frenzy. It ends up with Aegon riding out to Rook’s Rest on his beautiful dragon, Sunfyre, perhaps to prove his worth to his subjects and himself.
The battle, however, is well orchestrated by Cole, who already keeps Aemond and his gigantic ancient dragon, Vhaegar, ready to fight whatever the Black side conjures up. But it turns out that when Rhaenys reaches the destination with her veteran dragon Meleys, the Red Queen, Aegon flies up to take her on, much to the dismay of his brother.
What follows is a phenomenal conclusion to a phenomenal episode.
The first dance turns out expensive for both sides
As Aegon rides with his Sunfyre at Melys and Rhaenys, it is hardly a surprise that Rhaenys takes the young rider on quite easily, and it seems for a moment that King Aegon is going to end his rule prematurely. But there springs up Vhaegar and the ruthless Aemond, who, seemingly intentionally, directs his dragon to breathe fire on both Aegon and Rhaenys.
In what is a sharp deviation from the book, Aemond seems to be intent on taking his brother down along with the enemy, leading to a cinematic, but sad, scene as Sunfyre collapses near the end of House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 4. Though Rhaenys survives the first battle, she turns back to take on Aemond and Vhaegar, which seems will be quite impossible even in the future with Vhaegar's strength.
Rhaenys and Melys ultimately succumb to the big dragon and Rhaenys is seen falling from the sky. In the book, her character is found burnt to death, but this episode does not concretely seal her fate.
A cinematic conclusion to a cinematic House of the Dragon Season 2 episode
House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 4 ends with a cinematic exploration of war and the damage it causes, with Ser Criston Cole stumbling through a battlefield of blood and ashes, eventually reaching Aegin II.
Aemond, with no regret on his face, also stands there in a beautiful, cinematic frame, which seemingly hides what Aegon's fate is.
All in all, this was perhaps the best episode of House of the Dragon Season 2, and perhaps all of House of the Dragon, even rivaling the tragic finale of Season 1.
Things can only get better from this point on.
House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 4 is now streaming on Max.
