The drums of war sound (again) in the House of the Dragon season 2 finale

The House of the Dragon season 2 finale, "The Queen Who Ever Was," left me with about the same feeling that the season opener did--wanting more from the episode. Once again the chessboard was being set which, in all honesty, I've grown tired of. It's not the kind of note that one hopes for a finale to end on because there's no driving action. It's a "hurry up and wait" scenario that's unfulfilling.

Last season, we ended with the stakes at an all time high. Aegon had taken the throne and Rhaenys took her dragon to wing to inform Rhaenyra of the treachery and the play the Greens had made for her seat. Young Luke was killed by his uncle Aemond and that was the spark that lit the kindling. We were eager to see what Rhaenyra's anger and devastation would bring in the second season. There was a sense of urgency and coming vengeance.

What "The Queen Who Ever Was" gives us is a rallying of the troops and moves being made that will undermine or strengthen what each side has done over the course of the season to give their efforts a fighting chance. Daemon's storyline finally makes some sense as his journey through the choices he's made in his life and the vision he receives of the prophecy lead him to bend the knee and rejoin Rhaenyra with the army he'd initially gathered to overthrow her.

This was anti-climatic. It felt like he, and we, were led around the bend just to get to this moment that didn't have any real pay off for the audience, which is unfortunate since we spent so long with him alternating between hallucinating and leading his version of an HGTV home renovation project.

Daemon wasn't alone in making amends with Rhaenyra. Alicent did the same at Dragonstone, basically acknowledging that she'd made a mistake and misinterpreted what Viserys was saying as he was dying. She spoke to the way she was raised versus how her former best friend walked through life. However, things didn't just happen to Alicent, she made choices and Rhaenyra pushed for her to accept the consequences of her decisions which included Aegon's life being forfeit in order for Rhaenyra to assume the throne.

All Alicent wanted was safe passage for her and Helaena, and that's what she'll have by giving Rhaenyra the opening she needs to win the war practically bloodless. Of course, this plan is bound to go awry since Aegon has fled King's Landing with Larys Strong. Also, Tyland Lannister has secured the assistance of the Triarchy in the Greens' war effort so Corlys is about to experience turbulent waters. And, while Rhaenyra does have new lowborn dragonriders, they're novices.

A lot happened in the House of the Dragon season 2 finale, with a look at Daenerys in the mix, Helaena warning Aemond of his demise and Aegon's return as king, and us being left on read when it comes to Rhaena and her dragon quest. But "The Queen Who Ever Was" felt like a penultimate episode. If it had been, perhaps opinions would be different. I know mine certainly would be.

There's only so many times you can end a season with war being on the horizon, particularly when the assumption was last season that we'd see said war play out in this one. Sure, season 2 gave us dragons dancing and a memorable battle but it was a precursor to what's to come. Much of the season was spent playing up the psychological, intellectual, and strategic sides of warfare. All important, yes, but the wait for the actual war has been felt all season and now we're in for more of a wait. The Battle of the Gullet is coming, we just won't see it until likely 2026 at the earliest.

Personally, I'm not waiting on tenterhooks like I was when the season 1 finale aired. This season didn't do enough to light that fire in me. Hopefully, season 3 is stronger overall but House of the Dragon's sophomore run left a lot to be desired.

Stay tuned to Hidden Remote for more coverage and follow us on X. Looking for a podcast about all things sci-fi and fantasy including the Game of Thrones universe? Check out Take the Black, run by Dan Selcke and Daniel Roman, the editors of our sister site Winter is Coming! Here are their thoughts on the season 2 finale: