A Son for a Son
The episode was written by series co-creator and showrunner Ryan Condal and directed by executive producer Alan Taylor.
However, the assassins are unable to find Aemond and instead decide to kill King Aegon II's son and heir, Jaehaerys.
It received highly positive reviews from critics, with praise going towards the writing, character development, set up for the upcoming war, improved pacing and lighting compared to the first season, and performances of its cast, particularly those of Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke.
Rhaenyra flies to a small coastal village and upon finding Luke's and his dragon Arrax's remains tangled in a fishing net, breaks down in tears.
Corlys thanks Alyn and states that he is indebted to him, and also receives a small custom-made dagger that was meant to honor Luke's ascension to the throne of Driftmark.
Daemon approaches and demands she accompany him to King's Landing to kill Aemond and his dragon Vhagar to avenge Luke.
Jacaerys arrives shortly after, bringing news of House Starks' and Arryns' support to Rhaenyra and joins his mother in grieving Luke.
While aloof to his advisors, Aegon attempts benevolence towards the smallfolk, but Otto instills restraint and firmness to secure needed war resources.
Daemon sneaks into King's Landing and meets a City Watch guard nicknamed "Blood", who despises the Hightowers.
Upon entering the Red Keep, they fail to locate Aemond, but happen to overhear a drunken Aegon and his cohorts insulting Otto.
While looting the upper floors of the Red Keep, Blood finds Cheese in Queen Helaena's chambers, holding a knife at her throat, her two children, Jaehaerys and Jaehaera sleeping nearby.
[2] The title of the episode refers to Daemon vowing revenge against his nephew and half brother-in-law, Aemond, for his stepson, Lucerys' murder.
He previously directed the Game of Thrones episodes "Baelor", "Fire and Blood", "The North Remembers", "The Night Lands", "The Prince of Winterfell", "Valar Morghulis", and "Beyond the Wall".
The sequence depicts past events in the Targaryen family, with Entertainment Weekly describing it as "a Bayeux-style tapestry weaving itself together.
"[21] Alec Bojalad of Den of Geek and Haley Whitmire White of TV Fanatic both gave it a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.
[26] Bojalad described it as "a muscular return",[22] and Hunt praised the episode for effectively setting up the upcoming war.
[26] Helen O'Hara from IGN scored it 7 out of 10, noting, "We may look back on [the episode] as effective groundwork, but it's undeniably lacking in the kind of excitement that this series can offer at its best.
[28][1] Doll wrote, "With dynamic performances and savvy writing, House of the Dragon is off to an eventful start for Season 2, even if planting the seeds of war can be a chore at times.
[5] Josh Rosenberg of Esquire remarked, "By now, House of the Dragon season 2 is already feeling like a massive step up for the series.
"[26] Carly Lane called their performance "magical" and praised their body language in portraying a grieving mother, despite uttering only four words in the episode.
