House of the Dragon episode 2

We're onto the second episode of House of the Dragon, "The Rogue Prince." Here's how to watch, when to tune in, and everything you need to know.

[Get HBO, Starz, Showtime and MORE for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels](“https://www.amazon.com/b/?rh=i:instant-video,n:2858778011&ie=UTF8&filterId=OFFER_FILTER=SUBSCRIPTIONS&node=2858778011&ref_=assoc_tag_ph_1465430649312&_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=pf4&tag=fs-livedrops1-20&linkId=90b2815fb79ba0e403137c68e139db16”) Meanwhile, his brother Daemon (Matt Smith) believes he could be the rightful heir, despite being extremely immature, impulsive, and irresponsible. House of the Dragon kicked off with its premiere episode last week, and it’s safe to say it got people hyped for what’s to come. [ House of the Dragon ](https://winteriscoming.net/game-of-thrones/house-of-the-dragon/)episode 2, “The Rogue Prince.” After three years since the Game of Thrones series finale, it looks like fans might be able to get that bitter taste out of their mouths and jump back into George R.R. Martin’s world with excitement instead of disappointment.

HOUSE of the Dragon is the hit new Game of Thrones prequel which is airing exclusively in the UK on Sky TV. Before the first episode premiered it leaked ...

House of the Dragon episode 1 reportedly appeared on pirate website almost 15 hours before it was shown officially for the first time. Before the first episode premiered it leaked early on illegal torrent and free streaming sites, and anyone thinking of watching episode 2 on illicit platforms need to be aware of the dangers doing so. "Identity theft, fraud and exposure to malware and viruses as a result of piracy are all too real.

When his grandfather, King Jaehaerys, died, his grandson, King Viserys I Targaryen, was selected as successor in a Great Council. This was done at the expense ...

There was no clear victor in the Dance of the Dragons, as everyone met their untimely deaths on a path littered with the shattered remains of their family members and their dragons. The population of dragons quickly declined as a result of these assaults and the fighting among Dragonriders. King Aegon II is weak and resentful, so his advisers choose to do their own bidding and had the king poisoned. Queen Alicent donned a green garment and Princess Rhaenyra sported the black and red of the Targaryens during a chilly tournament celebrating the fifth commemoration of Viserys and Queen Alicent’s wedding. In House of the Dragon, we see a schism develop among the Targaryen family as members fight for control of the Iron Throne. House of the Dragon would detail a devastating conflict known as the Dance of the Dragons, but it’s hard to say who will come out on top.

The second episode of HBO's Game of Thrones prequel airs Sunday on HBO. Here's when and where to watch it.

[faded in the final two seasons](/culture/entertainment/game-of-thrones-season-8-george-r-r-martin-calls-out-toxic-backlash/), however, as the HBO show was created at a faster pace than Martin could crank out new books. The show is based on Fire and Blood, a book Martin wrote in 2018. Some of the show's shine 29. House of the Dragon airs on HBO at 9 p.m. [Game of Thrones](/culture/entertainment/every-game-of-thrones-season-ranked-best-to-worst/) before it, House of the Dragon will air one episode at a time. Those in UK and Ireland will have to stay up late, as the show airs on Sky UK at 2 a.m. House of the Dragon is set 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen. The show will hit streaming services around the world at the same time, including [HBO Max](/tags/hbo-max/) in the US. For those who missed out on last week's show, House of the Dragon is a Game of Thrones prequel that's all about the Targaryen family. It introduced us to key Targaryens like King Viserys, Princess Rhaenyra and Prince Daemon, laying out the essential elements of a Targaryen combustion. We find out what happens next in episode 2, "The Rogue Prince," which airs Sunday night on HBO.

The story of the Targaryen civil war that took place about 200 years before events portrayed in `Game of Thrones.' The story of the Targaryen civil war that ...

Today TODAY

House of the Dragon returns to HBO and HBO Max with its second episode this Sunday. What time does it arrive in your neck of the woods?

ET on Sunday, August 28 ET on the East Coast of the U.S. House of the Dragon premieres on HBO and HBO Max on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. If you’re one of them, here’s when you can expect it where you live. [House of the Dragon](https://bamsmackpow.com/tv/) is back! What time does it arrive in your neck of the woods?

Despite being leaked online, the first episode drew the biggest no. of viewers across the world, prompting HBO to renew 'House of the Dragon' for a second ...

The leaked episode also seems to be shorter in length as it doesn't include the start and end credits. ‘House of the Dragon’ was officially renewed for the second season this Friday after the record-breaking debut. The second episode of House of the Dragon is currently available on hundreds of pirate download and torrent websites.

The first episode set the wheels in motion for the Targaryen family drama, 200 years before the events depicted in Game of Thrones. The succession plan for King ...

Taking place a couple of centuries before Dany begins her quest to regain the Iron Throne, we see her House in its heyday, but not without a little family drama. So we already know a good bit about what House of the Dragon is all about, thanks to the original text and the Premiere, George R.R. The scene has been set for the newest George R.R.

Have you seen our full review of the House of the Dragon premiere just yet? Take a look below, as it's a perfect way to prepare for tonight. Once you watch, be ...

[news yesterday](https://cartermatt.com/496725/house-of-the-dragon-season-1-episode-2-the-rogue-prince-tease/), tonight’s episode carries with it the title of “The Rogue Prince,” which in our mind strongly suggests that Daemon Targeryan (Matt Smith) is going to be a significant focus of the story. Be sure to share right now in the comments! There’s always going to be that school of thought that you can never have too much of a good thing, and this is a show that brought a LOT of awesome stuff to the table.

As the last scene sees Daemon stealing one of the 10 adult dragons and leaving King's Landing with his mistress, we can expect a fiery fight for the Iron Throne ...

[Binge](https://goto.binge.com.au/c/338476/767630/11099?subId1=whathifi-gb-1055382573939390600&sharedId=whathifi-gb&u=https%3A%2F%2Fbinge.com.au%2F) (opens in new tab) is the streaming service to sign up to in Australia to watch House Of The Dragon episode 2 and the rest of the series. (Apple users can use a UK phone number but should head to the [Apple ID website](https://apple.sjv.io/c/221109/473657/7613?subId1=whathifi-gb-1237776840396845800&sharedId=whathifi-gb&u=https%3A%2F%2Fappleid.apple.com%2Faccount) (opens in new tab) to sign up, rather than using an app on their device). It's $17.99/month for the HD version (or $12.99 for SD) but there's a there's a 7-day free trial to enjoy before you need to pay to continue. [HBO Max](https://www.whathifi.com/features/hbo-max-roku-fire-tv-stick-free-trial-and-how-to-watch-from-abroad-all-explained) (US) [HBO Max](https://www.whathifi.com/features/hbo-max-roku-fire-tv-stick-free-trial-and-how-to-watch-from-abroad-all-explained) on your browser or device and enjoy watching House Of The Dragon episode 2 online. It's $19.99 per month and the show airs at 9pm ET/PT each Sunday, just like in the States. There's 24/7 customer support and three months free when you sign-up You can use it to watch on your mobile, tablet, laptop, TV, games console and more. Open up the VPN app and choose the location of the service you wish to access. There's just one problem to solve: his line of succession. House Of The Dragon episode 2 arrives today with the familiar bloodshed and family feuds now well under in Westeros. Suffice to saw that you can watch The Rogue Prince, episode 2 House Of The Dragon, on HBO Max in the States and on Sky and Now in the UK.

With no heir apparent, his decision puts in motion the cataclysmic events of the Targaryen civil war. Episode 2 looks likely to focus on Prince Daemon, which is ...

[start again on our homepage](https://www.techradar.com). Please try searching our site or The page you're looking for has either been moved or removed from the site.

The Game of Thrones franchise finally returned to screens last weekend, with HBO's debut of prequel series House of the Dragon. Set about 200 years before ...

Given the familial connection and the power of his name, however, Corlys should be considered the safer of the two. Remember, the face of the entire series was killed before the end of the first season. Set about 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon follows the reign of King Viserys Targaryen, and what will eventually become the end of an era of peace in Westeros.

King Viserys, whose wife died in childbirth last week (along with the baby) gets to be “The Bachelor.” Watch him give his final rose. And just like on “The ...

[“House of the Dragon” Episode 2: Don’t Miss King Viserys Play “The Bachelor” And Give His Final Rose](https://www.showbiz411.com/2022/08/28/house-of-the-dragon-episode-2-dont-miss-king-viserys-play-the-bachelor-and-give-his-final-rose) Old Westeros was a lot nicer than the one we came to know in “Game of Thrones.” But there’s still no cell service. Lots of plotting and scheming tonight on “House of the Dragon.” King Viserys, whose wife died in childbirth last week (along with the baby) gets to be “The Bachelor.” Watch him give his final rose. Yes, there are dragons, and we get to see them in action tonight. A much better episode than the opener, probably because we’re getting to know these characters, Episode 2 could not have better production values. And just like on “The Bachelor,” his decision causes some upset.

House Of The Dragon dives deeper into the court intrigue and scheming that will set the stage for civil war to come in HBO's Game Of Thrones prequel.

“Some Myrish prince is feeding sailors to the crabs,” Daemon replies, and we see the prince in question carrying out his bloody business, hammering men into posts as they scream, crabs racing across the sand. Lord Strong, a man who seems to be a very loyal and pragmatic man, doesn’t outright say he’s against the union, but it’s clear that he thinks it’s a mistake. Sure, Martin always writes “grey” morality and complicated characters, but in Thrones there lots of characters you really wanted to see emerge victorious. She tells him that she came to him “to be liberated.” “From what?” he asks. Only Hightower opposes the union, though he minces words and beats around bushes, telling the king that he also dearly loved “mine own lady wife” and that he cannot comprehend how terribly difficult it would be to be pressured into remarrying so soon. The proud Sea Snake at the end of his rope. Rhaenyra herself, who observes the king and the young girl walking together, also approves, telling her father that she understands his obligation to remarry. Lord Corlys and his wife Rhaenys have offered their own daughter’s hand in marriage to the king. He looks down and then across at Hightower and the soldiers. It seemed clear that Hightower’s motives were that of an overly ambitious man with the skill to play his liege like a fiddle. “I want the same for my child.” Daemon and his men draw their swords; the king’s men draw their own, and then the red dragon, Caraxes, appears, looming over the scene menacingly.

In the second episode of HBO's 'Game of Thrones' prequel, Daemon makes a play, Rhaenyra wins the day, and Viserys gets the final say.

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A new alliance forms, Viserys makes a bold choice, and someone's face is eaten off by a crab.

For now, no one else knows about the king and Alicent (who is roughly 15 years of age, making her a decade or so younger on House of the Dragon than she is in George R.R. The Targaryens and Velaryons share Valyrian ancestry; they possess two of the most dominant forces in all of Westeros (aerial firepower and a sprawling navy, respectively); and the joining of their houses would signal “the crown’s strongest days are ahead.” On paper, it’s an easy match. Over the past half-year, Viserys and Lady Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey) have been meeting in private, a match made in the shadows. Less than a year has passed since the death of Queen Aemma (Sian Brooke), and already, expectations and overtures for Viserys’ next queen are beginning to boil. With Viserys and Corlys unable to find common ground on the matter, newly named heir Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) pitches a plan of her own: flying to the Stepstones on dragon back personally, as a show of force. It’s the handiwork of Craghas Drahar, better known as “the Crabfeeder,” who earned his nickname by…well, you know.

'House of the Dragon' Season 1, Episode 2 recap: Find out what happens in the second installment of the 'Game of Thrones' prequel.

She ignores the Hand’s order to go home, then marches up to Daemon and — in High Valyrian — demands that he vacate Dragonstone, which is (on paper, at least) hers. He fills Daemon in on how Viserys doesn’t want to stop the Crab Feeder, but that stepping into that fight is how Daemon can show his power. Rhaenys brings up the point that the realm had the chance to have a queen back in the day, and passed. And then the dragon that Daemon and Mysaria rode at the end of the premiere appears behind him, causing Otto to have his men sheath their weapons. Corlys reasons that the family that has dragons and the family that has the world’s largest fleet should be “bound in blood,” which would be a sign to everyone that the crown hasn’t been weakened by recent events. (Ha!) There’s a lot of shouting about treason and whores, then Daemon dares Otto and his men to come and take the egg. The king’s hand (not to be confused with the hand of the king) is MUCH worse since he cut it in the premiere, and the maesters resort to submerging the appendage in a tray of maggots in order to try to save his pinky finger (which is blackened with decay). (Side note: I know we saw her in the royal box at the joust, but my brain was like, “Surely Corlys and Rhaenys have another daughter who’s, I don’t know, past puberty?” THEY DO NOT.) To his credit, the king is almost as uneasy with the whole thing as I am. The girls are in the sept, and Alicent suggests that Rhaenyra light a candle and pray for her mother, as a way to feel closer to her. Alicent quietly says that when she wants to talk with Otto, she has the make the effort, and Rhaenyra smiles, clasps her arm and thanks her. Upstairs, Viserys shows Alicent his model of Old Valyria, answering at least one of my questions from the premiere when he tells her that he reads the histories and provides the plans, but “the stonemasons build the structures.” He asks how Rhaenyra is doing (apparently she and her dad don’t talk much in the wake of the queen’s death), but Alicent encourages him to reach out to her himself. — especially in the very next scene, when Rhaenyra complains about how the small council is already trying to marry off the king, and Alicent is all, “Would it be such a bad thing if he remarried?”

With House of the Dragon's new episode, we finally get a title sequence ahead of all the Rhaenyra, Viserys, and Alicent Targaryen family drama.

The sound is the same. “Definitely the sound that Daenerys had is tied to the Targaryens. [House of the Dragon](https://www.polygon.com/house-of-the-dragon) would not reinvent the wheel there with their own title sequence. The title sequence brings back Game of Thrones’ original theme, but changes up the visuals to match the series’ focus on House Targaryen. Djawadi was [told to avoid flutes, pianos, and violins](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/04/game-of-thrones-music-ramin-djawadi/583213/) (since they have been featured so often in fantasy themes), and so instead he made an absolute banger out of cellos playing a minor key, making an animated map feel totally epic [and surprisingly versatile](https://www.polygon.com/game-of-thrones/2019/4/14/18310930/game-of-thrones-season-8-title-opening-credits-intro-sequence-changes). [Game of Thrones](https://www.polygon.com/game-of-thrones) be without its theme song?

Rhaenyra receives some surprising news, and Viserys likely sets into motion the thing he's been trying to avoid.

I don’t know that there was a way to frame this for Rhaenyra that would have made it more palatable, but I do know that springing it on her in front of the gods and Small Council and everybody, leaving her feeling shocked, deceived and betrayed by the two people closest to her, was the worst way to let her know. The only thing more shameless than his tweaking of the king’s grief, when he learned of the Lady Laena betrothal plan, was his “checkmate, Sea Snake” grin later after Viserys announced that he would marry Alicent instead. Setting aside the ick factor that apparently wasn’t a big deal back then, another possible consideration in Viserys’s choice of Alicent is that he may not have enough time left to wait for a child bride to grow up. The broad, sweeping shots in particular — aerial views of King’s Landing, the backdrops at Dragonstone — have a two-dimensional C.G.I. “This is an absurdity!” the Sea Snake said in response to Viserys’s big reveal, and at first he seemed to have a point. Fortunately, they were able to shoot much of the show on When Otto stared at Rhaenyra with a new respect for her formidableness as she soared off, I’m guessing he was pondering future clashes as much as the present one. Both are more introspective and sensitive than others in the royal court, and they enjoy the escapism of stories and myth. par for the course for “Game of Thrones” nuptials. But “he’s got a strange moral compass of his own,” the actor said. It endangered Viserys’s relationship with the Sea Snake, his most important ally — who wanted the king to choose his preadolescent daughter, Laena (Nova Fouellis-Mose) — and shattered Rhaenyra just when she was starting to feel OK about things. A different princess, her own dreams dashed by men long ago, might coolly describe all this as “the order of things.” But that doesn’t make it any less painful.

Episode 2 of HBO's House of the Dragon finds Corlys, Daemon, and Rhaenyra all opposing King Viserys. Plus: a wedding proposal and an oncoming war.

In choosing Hightower, Viserys has begun to alienate both Corlys and Rhaenyra, the series' most powerful forces. Viserys later brings up the prospect of this marriage to his Hand, Hightower, who disapproves, bringing up his own wife’s death as a tactic to dissuade Viserys from marrying out of duty. The theft signals a desire to pass succession to Daemon. At Dragonstone, he is met with a defiant Daemon and his assumed wife Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno). Viserys meets with Lord Corlys and Rhaenys (Eve Best) (“The Queen Who Never Was”). Corlys apologizes for his earlier outburst but then proposes that Viserys marry his daughter to avoid speculation that the crown is unstable. Her suggestion is met with awkward silence and then she is dismissed to choose the new Kingsguard knight, a decision meant to punish her act of naiveté, though only emboldens her. The procedure seems administrative but will prove to be a moment of decisiveness for Princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) as she adjusts to her position as next-in-line for the crown; by now it is clear that she wants to be Queen. Lord Corlys counters by highlighting Westeros’ weakness, made evident by the King’s brother, Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith), who is now occupying Dragonstone with his army—an act of rebellion bordering on insurrection. Outside the council room, she immediately ignores the advice of Otto Hightower, who suggests choosing a Kingsguard from one of several influential families. The egg Daemon stole was meant for Viserys’ son Baelon, who died and was later mocked by his uncle. Pirates, believed to be supported by the Free Cities—located across western Esos and outside the control of Westeros’ ruling house—are responsible for the hostility.

Episode 2 of HBO's Game of Thrones prequel is about King Viserys' awkward duty to remarry.

"And so your first duty is to the realm. "You are the king," she says. "I will speak of my brother as I wish," he says while villainously staring over the fire. Because that is the order of things." In order to save his finger, which the maesters have presumably been treating with cauterization (fire), the King's medical help submerge his hand in a bowl full of maggots. "My father named me Princess of Dragonstone," she says as she confronts her uncle, "that is my castle you're living in." "Is that what your father told you to say?" (Valyria is a region in Westeros, for those struggling to keep up with the lore.) In episode 1, we were introduced not only to King Viserys, Prince Daemon and Princess Rhaenyra, but also Hand of the King Otto Hightower, his daughter Alicent, and the "Sea Snake" Lord Corlys Velaryon. "The King's own brother has been allowed to seize Dragonstone and fortify it with an army of his Gold Cloaks. "Sea Snake" Lord Corlys Velaryon has been complaining loudly to the Small Council about "the Triarchy," an alliance between the Free Cities of Myrs, Lys and Tyrosh. [House of the Dragon's premiere episode](/culture/entertainment/house-of-the-dragon-recap-the-heirs-of-the-dragon/), King Viserys declared his daughter, Princess Rhaenyra, the heir to the throne.

HBO's House of the Dragon's newest episode makes a good case for being a compelling show of its own, with Rhaenyra coming into her own against Daemon while ...

But it’s enough to wash away the memory of season 8 and its “best stories.” For now, it’s enough to just have fun with Westeros again. When her father conceives of a threat he thinks generally, warning her only to fend off “whomever may dare to challenge us.” But Rhaenyra knows that threat could come from anywhere, and she’s proven herself to be game to the challenge no matter what comes her way. [old-school Game of Thrones](https://www.polygon.com/23200605/game-of-thrones-books-ending-winds-of-winter-george-r-r-martin-song-ice-fire), only here that’s not some backhanded compliment about the [lingering aftertaste of the eighth season](https://www.polygon.com/game-of-thrones/2019/5/19/18631922/game-of-thrones-finale-who-won). That Viserys and Rhaenyra rely on the same person — Alicent — to help them through their grief is just a cruelty of fate, but it’s one for which the show also has laid careful emotional groundwork. That’s the way House of the Dragon won me over, and it feels built to reward rewatch. Perhaps she still had her aunt Rhaenys’ (Eve Best) words ringing in her ears, reminding her that though she is a named heir she is still carrying her father’s cups, or perhaps it was the visual of her dad going on a date with a 12-year-old. But still the scene is all tension, with the camera ping-ponging around the various players and their respective motivations for having ended up on those Dragonstone steps. [House of the Dragon](https://www.polygon.com/house-of-the-dragon), the new prequel that returns to [the world of Game of Thrones](https://www.polygon.com/tv/2019/6/3/18634311/game-of-thrones-review-full-tv-series-hbo), takes place approximately 172 years before the events of that series. In “The Rogue Prince,” we zoom in on the finer points of what people care about, all the better setting up [House of the Dragon](https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516586&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hbomax.com%2Fseries%2Fhouse-of-the-dragon%3Foffer_id%3D5%26transaction_id%3D102c87c7%255B%25E2%2580%25A6%255D4ed39326beedc6012ca%26utm_source%3DVox%2BMedia%26utm_medium%3Daffiliate&referrer=polygon.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.polygon.com%2F23321956%2Fhouse-of-the-dragon-episode-2-review) as its own creature entirely. House of the Dragon presents both Rhaenyra and Viserys with empathy, but it also just presents them incredibly clearly. When one makes the choice to sign up for another vast chronicle of Westeros, they’re met with a whole lot of burden about where the story, inevitably, goes. And maybe that’s a little bit of the problem.

'House' of the Dragon Episode 2 ends with King Viserys Targaryen making a decision that will echo through Westeros history, but not in the way that you ...

Corlys wants Daemon’s help to [defend his shipping lanes](https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/house-of-the-dragon-craghas-crabfeeder-explained) (something the king seems uninterested in), but it likely won’t end there. Of course, it’s possible that if Viserys chose to marry Corlys’ daughter the same thing would have happened, but all we know for sure is that the choice he does make will lead to one of the bloodiest power struggles in Westeros history. While Rhaenyra may be the official heir to her father Viserys, Alicent is now the queen, and in the show’s future (presumably after that In The Princess and the Queen (George R.R. Some of those children will be boys, which calls Rhaenyra’s claim to the throne into question. heart and chooses House Hightower, announcing the news in one of Episode 2’s final scenes. This will have consequences in both the short and long term. [Viserys Targaryen](https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/house-of-the-dragon-king-viserys-targaryen-death-explained-book-canon). He storms out of King’s Landing and promptly meets with Viserys’ power-hungry brother House Hightower is led by Otto, who serves as King of the Hand. Meanwhile, House Velaryon (the only other Valyrians in the picture aside from the Targaryens) takes a more traditional approach, with house patriarch Corlys formally offering up his pre-pubescent daughter in a move that would solidify Valyrian power. All he wanted to do was mourn his wife and tell his daughter about [old prophecies](https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/house-of-the-dragon-episode-1-ending-explained-prophecy), but tradition demands that the king take a new wife.

According to George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood, Craghas Drahar was the Myrish prince admiral during the time of King Viserys I's reign.

But who is this bad guy feeding men to crabs at the end of House of the Dragon Episode 2? Game of Thrones fans will remember that the most terrifying plague in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire is the illness known as greyscale. We first heard about Craghas Crabfeeder in the House of the Dragon premiere. Later, the final scene of this episode sees the Sea Snake wooing Prince Daemon to his side. The show has been quietly setting Craghas Crabfeeder up in the background of [HBO](https://trk.hbomax.com/aff_c?offer_id=5&aff_id=1020&source=dec)‘s Targaryen soap opera. [House of the Dragon](https://decider.com/show/house-of-the-dragon/) Episode 2 officially introduces a chilling new villain to the world of Westeros: Craghas Drahar, aka the Crabfeeder (Daniel Scott-Smith).

Sam Adams: Hello, Laura! And welcome to the Worst Person in Westeros. Last week, we took the Clue approach and said that the worst person on House of the Dragon ...

It’s that he’s marrying her off to a man who can’t protect her and thrusting her into a den of vipers. So while as gross as viewers (and Viserys himself) find the prospect of marrying off a little girl to an old man, maybe her parents feel that it’s the best way to keep her safe. He’s got sound reasons for suggesting the king reject Corlys’ offer, but you also have to suspect he’s leaving the field clear for Alicent, knowing the king will turn to her for advice, especially when it comes to how to talk to his daughter. And then there’s the matter of his abrupt engagement to Alicent Hightower, which he pulls out of thin air in an apparently perverse bid to thwart Corlys’ machinations, and doesn’t think to mention it to either her or her father, his most trusted advisor, beforehand. As it is, Viserys has his brother married off to a woman he loathes in a province he despises, and lets him run around the city as a glorified police commissioner, complete with a militia primarily loyal to him. Rhaenyra turns up, brushes aside the dudes who are gearing up to fight Daemon over all of this, and tells him that if he has such a problem with her ascendency, well, here she is: Why doesn’t he just kill her? Adams: As much as everyone likes a good king, decency does not seem to be a luxury the rulers of Westeros can afford. (As a sex worker, she says she long ago took precautions to make sure she could never get pregnant, but apparently Daemon never asked.) And to make matters worse somehow, when Rhaenyra shows up on dragonback and demands the egg back, Daemon just … Then he lies about both being engaged and getting his wife-to-be pregnant to lure Viserys into a confrontation—and sends the wedding invitation out with two days’ notice, which is just rude. On his way out, he snatches the dragon’s egg that was meant to lie in the cradle next to King Viserys’ son, Baelor, as if Daemon drunkenly dubbing a dead infant “King for a Day” wasn’t bad enough. Last week, we took the Clue approach and said that the worst person on House of the Dragon was And welcome to the Worst Person in Westeros.

House of the Dragon episode 2 sees Daemon, Corlys and Rhaenyra make moves, but who comes out on top?

He wants to fly to Dragonstone and confront his brother himself. Daemon backs off, but when he returns to his chamber, Mysaria gives him another setdown. At first, Daemon seems to have the upper hand, thanks to his formidable dragon, Caraxes. And he even manages to zing the prince. He tosses her the egg and takes his soldiers back to the fortress. What's more, Rhaenyra proves her strength and courage by standing up to her uncle. When Daemon pretends to only vaguely remember Criston, calling him "Ser Crispin," the knight replies, "Perhaps my prince recalls when I knocked him off his horse." Unlike his niece, Daemon starts the episode on a high. That isn't the case with others in his circle, particularly Corlys Velaryon and his own cousin Rhaenys. Despite having been installed as the official heir to King Viserys, Rhaenyra begins the episode a bit down. [House of the Dragon](https://www.tomsguide.com/news/house-of-the-dragon-release-date-and-time-how-to-watch-online) is already off to a great start, with the premiere setting viewership records and HBO giving season 2 an early green light. So, buckle up for a cutthroat chess match in which the characters attempt to maneuver their way into wielding more power.

Daemon makes a bold play as House of the Dragon episode 2 begins to develop some bad habits.

The production value here is so high and Martin’s original tale so rich that it’s probably not possible for House of the Dragon to turn in a truly bad episode. The opening and closing shots of very literally-named warlord Craghas “The Crabfeeder” Drahar surveying the destruction he hath wrought are quite beautiful. Rhaenyra’s immediate understanding of her father’s plight does open her up for an even more acute betrayal when he chooses to marry her best friend, but that doesn’t make the scene before it any less of a missed opportunity. Anything you ‘wish’ you can make happen?” Instead she opts for the shockingly congenial “You are a king…and your first duty is to the realm. Truth be told, “The Rogue Prince” is filled with talky scenes where the quality of the talk just doesn’t pass muster. Forgive the potential hyperbole but Viserys’s brief conversation with his Master of Laws Lord Lyonel Strong (Gavin Spokes) might be among the least interesting and least necessary GoT/HotD scenes ever filmed. While one dragonrider flying to a fiery island to treat with another dragonrider may sound fairly epic in the annals of history, in practice viewers must concede that there’s not much to it. A lot of those educated guesses made their way into “The Heirs of the Dragon” and it’s perhaps why the episode so closely resembles the early Thrones seasons. But when Daemon announces his betrothal to the “Lady” Mysaria (Sonoyo Mizuno) and steals a dragon egg for their eventual child, the king is forced to act. Daemon folds far too quickly and the scene’s dialogue doesn’t really hold up – though newly-minted Kingsguard Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) reminding Daemon of who knocked him off his horse is admittedly satisfying. “The Rogue Prince,” however, doesn’t have many, if any, of those well-sourced scenes. This is an awkward hour of television that doesn’t fully extinguish the show’s hopes of being a worthy heir to the Iron Throne…but it does dim them.

At the end of the strong opening episode to this Game Of Thrones spin-off, everything seemed to be unusually hunky dory for Westeros. Rhaenyra Targaryen (Milly ...

After storming out of council when the king announces his plans to marry Alicent, Lord Corlys retreats to his home on Driftmark and invites Daemon to visit. Given that the wedding seems to be news to Mysaria, and that she isn’t pregnant, this is acting out on a royal scale. Smith, meanwhile, is great at the sort of sudden turn that Daemon does, arguing for his rights one minute and flipping over the disputed egg the next, apparently on a whim. Sure, he’s offended his brother, his niece, and his girlfriend, but Daemon knows when to cut his losses and wait for the next chance for mischief. Ifans does a lot with very little in this episode, showing a wariness of Rhaenyra, an iron fist with Alicent, and a delicate sense of what will sway the king. Watch the early scene where he talks of the wisdom of a match between Viserys and Laena, but bemoans the “pain” of marrying for duty that the king must bear. [Wheel Of Time](/articles/the-wheel-of-time-premiere-review-episode-1-3) for example, because it’s one thing to conceive of dragons but another to conceive of sexual equality. She’s the king’s first cousin once removed, so continues the Targaryen tradition of intermarriage; she is also the daughter of his oldest ally, House Velaryon, and marrying her would show that the two old Valyrian houses are as tight as ever. The problem is not simply that he’s marrying Alicent – though marrying your daughter’s bestie is simply not a good look. This seaside carnage is the first sign we’ve seen of the large-scale massacre we’re accustomed to in Westeros; if last week was all about the carefully limited violence of the joust and the all-too-real dangers of childbirth, here the scope widens to whole battlefields of victims at once. That rift is torn wider by the episode’s main plot: the question of the king’s remarriage. A mysterious figure, he fires on Westerosi ships and stakes out his victims on the shore at low tide to be devoured by Westeros’ apparently vicious crustacean inhabitants (I suppose it makes sense that even the crabs are cursed with an insatiable bloodlust there).

Something is rotten in the state of Westeros, and it's not just dead sailors being fed to crabs. As the generally peaceful reign of Viserys I (Paddy Considine) ...

And so begins what we must assume is the formal deterioration of Alicent and Rhaenyra’s friendship (not to mention Viserys’ own decaying flesh), via a marriage in which neither of them has any say. Later in the episode, Viserys confirms it: He will wed Alicent in a matter of months, a decision that sends shockwaves through the High Council as soon as he announces it. Daemon manages to maintain a bitter disposition while still not quite shaking the flirtatious edge of all interactions with his niece (yikes!). Elsewhere in the realms, Viserys’ brother Daemon (Matt Smith) has made himself scarce on Dragonstone after thinking his position as heir was sealed, only to see the title go to Viserys’s daughter, Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock), thereby breaking precedent. Corlys and Rhaenys aren’t just casually in the business of child marriage. Not only is this visually nauseating, but it indicates trouble from the free cities of Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh, also known as the Triarchy.

HBO's “Game of Thrones” prequel continues to soar in its second episode, “The Rogue Prince,” thanks to a teen girl's quick thinking.

And the girl who would be king is now a huge part of that intrigue. The far-away House Targaryen and its handful of dragons survived the cataclysmic event and rose to power after the downfall of the Valyrians. Lord Corlys is the wealthiest man in the kingdom and one of the most powerful next to the king. Though we’re just getting to know the king, he seems like a fellow prone to poor decision-making, and his choice of a wife in Episode 2 appears to be another bad move, one that sets a new political rivalry in motion. Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), head of House Velaryon and earner of the name “The Sea Snake” due to his history as the best sailor in Westeros, wants the king to marry his daughter. She clucks her tongue, disregarding his complaint as though she were dealing with a toddler, and then gets to the point: She took his place in line for the Iron Throne. The King’s Hand, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), is already there with a small army demanding that the prince hand over the egg and vacate the castle. She’s a girl, after all, and is still relegated to pouring wine for the men of the elder council rather than sitting at the table with them, making decisions for the future of the realm. He also stole a precious dragon egg from House Targaryen, claiming that he’s entitled to the treasure because his soon-to-be second wife, prostitute Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno), is with child (she’s not) and it’s customary to place a dragon egg in the baby’s crib. Connecting the dots between the two series is half the fun, but “House of the Dragon” does not rely on that game to make the drama fly. Acrimony between gentle King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine) his impetuous brother Prince Daemon (Matt Smith) threatens to spill over since Daemon was denied his place as next in line to the throne and was banished from King’s Landing by his brother. The first season of “House of the Dragon” has the luxury of moving much faster than early installments of “Game of Thrones” simply because it’s not encumbered with introducing strange new realms, mapping complicated family trees and translating bizarre vernaculars.

Richard Lawson and Josh Wigler break down the show's second episode, from crab-eating to dragon egg-tossing and some non-animal related matters, too.

And while the people being eaten alive by crabs in the episode’s opening scene aren't exactly a direct result of that decision, they’re the first of many signals that not all is well in Westeros. [Subtext](https://joinsubtext.com/stillwatching)— send us your questions, theories, or anything else you’d like Josh and Richard to discuss on the show. Take a listen below

The story of the troubled Targaryen dynasty so far has focused primarily on the issue of succession and who will be the next heir to King Viserys (Paddy ...

If Viserys could have conceptualized Rhaenyra and Alicent as people rather than pawns, perhaps he’d also have grasped how unscrupulous it is of Otto Hightower to offer his teenage daughter to the king on a platter, and avoided mistaking Otto’s solicitousness for goodness. After getting Rhaenyra’s blessing to hunt for a wife, Viserys is baffled when he announces plans to marry Alicent only to see a shocked and devastated Rhaenyra storm out of the room. No wonder Rhaenyra — young, bold, fiery, and eager to learn how to lead — feels to all these men like a swing too far in the other direction from the pliable Viserys. Emily Carey plays Alicent with such tactful aplomb that it’s not entirely clear whether Rhaenyra’s clear feelings of loyalty and love are mutual, or whether Alicent has just learned to be the consummate diplomat Rhaenyra will likely never be — able to be quietly pleasing and affirmative to everyone around her while giving very little of herself away. It’s quite possible that the Iron Throne itself is losing metaphorical respect for Viserys, by way of trying to kill him: In the first episode, we saw Viserys with a wound on his back; now he has a rotting finger. But in the context of pimping out her own daughter, it comes across to Rhaenyra as a condescending power play. Could the throne be trying to hasten the end of this weak-willed king’s reign? The special parenting style that sees Otto dressing his daughter in her dead mother’s clothes in order to pimp her out to the king has apparently driven Alicent to bite her nails to the quick, leaving them bloody. Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) and his wife Rhaenys (Eve Best) offer Viserys a marriage to their 12-year-old daughter Laena, coaching her into trying to entice the king during a painfully awkward conversation. Still, despite serving us this intriguing cornucopia of stuff, the writers never take their eye off the question of successorship and how that issue is impacting the women of the royal court. Since that gamble didn’t pay off, his episode finds him considering — albeit not without a degree of horror — marrying a 12-year-old girl at the behest of his political allies. Still, although the titular “rogue prince” in question, Daemon (Matt Smith), does a lot of saber-rattling

This week, Episode 2 dropped, and it's filled with tons of Easter eggs, hidden references, and little details you might have missed connecting it to the ...

And where is all of this headed for the rest of this season and beyond? This week, Episode 2 dropped, and it’s filled with tons of Easter eggs, hidden references, and little details you might have missed connecting it to the previous books and shows about the world of Westeros. Where is Driftmark?

House of the Dragon” Episode 2 brought in 10.2 million viewers, a 2% increase from the premiere episode.

Viewership of “House of the Dragon” has not neared that of “Game of Thrones” Season 8, which was viewed by 17.9 million when it premiered and 10.3 million with its second episode. [viewed by nearly 10 million people](https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/house-of-the-dragon-premiere-ratings-viewers-1235343874/), according to WBD’s initial count the day after it aired. Now, the network says that number is approaching 25 million.

But King Viserys, ever even-handed, says he's not prepared to start a war with the Free Cities of Essos. It's been six months since the death of the queen and ...

“I intend to marry Lady Alicent Hightower before spring’s end,” he announces to the council. He fabricated a story about his plans to wed a (not) pregnant Mysaria, seemingly just to aggravate his brother and the council. The more we learn about and listen for the dragons, the more fearsome they become.) They speak about histories as he pores over his stone model of the realm – “The glory of Old Valyria will never be seen again” – and Alicent gets the stonemasons to fix the king’s cracked dragon figurine. “The object of your ire. As Princess Rhaenyra watches the king walk with the child, Rhaenyras tells her she just doesn’t understand the order of things. “Join our families,” the Master of Ships says to Viserys. And what of the rogue prince? “She’s 12,” the king says, incredulous. And when she offers her services as a dragonrider to quell the Stepstones uprising, she’s hustled out of the room and sent to choose a new member of the King’s Guard. King Viserys has been receiving regular treatments of maggots to remove the dead flesh on his pinky and stop the advance of the rot that we’ve also observed festering on his back. These people, who must have greeted the Game of Thrones theme each Sunday night like a fix from their favorite illicit drug, will be over their moon charts to learn that [its surging sing-song melody is back](https://decider.com/2022/08/28/house-of-the-dragon-opening-title-sequence-revealed/) in House of the Dragon, playing in salvo form at the outset of “The Rogue Prince” before the Targaryen crest gives way to sand crabs picking at the remaining flesh of Westerosi sailors bolted to pikes by Triarchy warrior Craghas “Crabfeeder” Drahar, out there in the washes of the Narrow Sea.

Sunday's installment of the Game of Thrones prequel drew 10.2 million viewers across all platforms, according to a combination of Nielsen and HBO internal data.

HBO doesn’t break down its cumulative audience figure by platform, and final Nielsen ratings for Sunday — which will tell the size of the on-air portion of that viewership — won’t be released until Tuesday morning. Sunday’s installment of the Game of Thrones prequel drew 10.2 million viewers across all platforms, according to a combination of Nielsen and HBO internal data. HBO also says that the series premiere has grown to almost 25 million viewers across platforms in the week since it premiered. That’s a 2 percent increase from the Aug. [renewed House of the Dragon](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/house-of-the-dragon-season-2-1235199922/) for a second season. [House of the Dragon](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/t/house-of-the-dragon/) followed its [record-setting premiere](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/house-of-the-dragon-tv-ratings-sunday-aug-21-2022-1235203367/) by pulling in an even bigger audience for episode two. The series debut averaged 2.17 million viewers for its first on-air run — about 22 percent of the first-night total — with the rest coming from streaming and replays on the HBO cable channel. [Subscribe Sign Up](https://pages.email.hollywoodreporter.com/signup/) House of the Dragon is on its way to posting audience figures similar to the latter part of Game of Thrones: Over the length of their runs, the final three seasons averaged 25.7 million, 32.8 million and 44.2 million viewers, per HBO. [Share this article on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/house-of-the-dragon-episode-2-tv-ratings-aug-28-2022-1235208188/&title=TV%20Ratings:%20‘House%20of%20the%20Dragon’%20Passes%2010M%20Viewers%20for%20Episode%202&sdk=joey&display=popup&ref=plugin&src=share_button&app_id=352999048212581) [Share this article on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/house-of-the-dragon-episode-2-tv-ratings-aug-28-2022-1235208188/&text=TV%20Ratings%3A%20%E2%80%98House%20of%20the%20Dragon%E2%80%99%20Passes%2010M%20Viewers%20for%20Episode%202&via=thr) [Share this article on Email](mailto:?subject=thr%20:%20TV%20Ratings:%20‘House%20of%20the%20Dragon’%20Passes%2010M%20Viewers%20for%20Episode%202&body=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/house-of-the-dragon-episode-2-tv-ratings-aug-28-2022-1235208188/%20-%20TV%20Ratings:%20‘House%20of%20the%20Dragon’%20Passes%2010M%20Viewers%20for%20Episode%202) [Show additional share options](#) [Share this article on Print]() [Share this article on Comment](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/house-of-the-dragon-episode-2-tv-ratings-aug-28-2022-1235208188/#respond) [Share this article on Whatsapp](whatsapp://send?text=TV%20Ratings:%20‘House%20of%20the%20Dragon’%20Passes%2010M%20Viewers%20for%20Episode%202%20-%20https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/house-of-the-dragon-episode-2-tv-ratings-aug-28-2022-1235208188/) [Share this article on Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=1&url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/house-of-the-dragon-episode-2-tv-ratings-aug-28-2022-1235208188/&title=TV%20Ratings:%20‘House%20of%20the%20Dragon’%20Passes%2010M%20Viewers%20for%20Episode%202&summary&source=thr) [Share this article on Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/house-of-the-dragon-episode-2-tv-ratings-aug-28-2022-1235208188/&title=TV%20Ratings:%20‘House%20of%20the%20Dragon’%20Passes%2010M%20Viewers%20for%20Episode%202) [Share this article on Pinit](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/house-of-the-dragon-episode-2-tv-ratings-aug-28-2022-1235208188/&description=TV%20Ratings:%20‘House%20of%20the%20Dragon’%20Passes%2010M%20Viewers%20for%20Episode%202) [Share this article on Tumblr](https://www.tumblr.com/widgets/share/tool/preview?shareSource=legacy&canonicalUrl&url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/house-of-the-dragon-episode-2-tv-ratings-aug-28-2022-1235208188/&posttype=link&title=TV%20Ratings:%20‘House%20of%20the%20Dragon’%20Passes%2010M%20Viewers%20for%20Episode%202)

The viewership is from HBO Max and linear telecasts, based on a combination of Nielsen and first party data.

It’s no wonder the network has already renewed the series for a second season. The final season of “Game of Thrones” average 11.9 million live linear weekly viewers and upwards of 40 million per episode when accounting for multi-platform delayed viewership. The Targaryen-centric prequel spinoff is also providing a halo effect on “Game of Thrones” viewership as the original series produced another weekly high on HBO Max last week, up 30% and marking eight consecutive weeks of growth, per HBO.

Sunday's episode garnered 10.2 million views, according to Nielsen and first-party data, compared to the 9.986 million that HBO said watched the series premiere ...

As of Friday, viewership of the episode had doubled to 20 million viewers. The series has already been renewed for a second season. Its first episode had the largest audience of a new original series in HBO history.

Ratings for "House of the Dragon" Episode 2 went up by two percent, continuing to make history at HBO for the "Game of Thrones" prequel series.

Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik serve as the “House of the Dragon” showrunners. Martin’s “Fire & Blood,” the series is set 200 years before the events of “Game of Thrones” and tells the story of House Targaryen. And “House of the Dragon” isn’t the only George R.R. ‘House of the Dragon’ features an incredibly talented cast and crew who poured their heart and soul into the production, and we’re ecstatic with viewers’ positive response,” HBO & Martin property to be trending on HBO at the moment: original series “Game of Thrones” also reached another weekly high on HBO Max last week, up 30 percent and marking eight consecutive weeks of growth. after one week of availability on the streamer.

The Crabfeeder's tiny army proves even more horrifying than Game of Thrones' flesh-eating undead, while the dragon-riding princess Rhaenyra emerges as our ...

Fan reaction to the first episode of House of the Dragon seemed largely enthusiastic after the launch, judging from social media. It’s in the back half of the episode that Rhaenyra gets to spread her wings, in all senses. On the evidence of this episode, Rhaenyra is the prime candidate. Blood is on the verge of being spilled when Rhaenyra arrives, swooping in on her dragon, Syrax, to save the day from disaster. But the king’s concerns lie closer to home: the recent death of a longstanding member of the Kingsguard has left an opening that must be filled, while six months after the death of his beloved queen, he’s slowly coming to terms with the fact that he must take another bride. While in the opening episode Viserys’s reserved demeanour felt like calm steadiness, now we’re beginning to see that he is simply inadequate to the task of ruling, as Prince Daemon (Matt Smith) will later attest: “It was never my brother’s strongest trait, being king.” Viserys is reluctant to stir up trouble with the Free Cities by confronting their pet pirate, and even fears to speak to his own motherless daughter Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) about their mutual grief, taking solace instead in his friendship with a more compliant teenage girl, Alicent Hightower.

Episode two of the new "Game of Thrones" prequel slightly rose in viewership from the first, with 10.2 million viewers in the US across HBO Max and linear ...

HBO quickly renewed "House of the Dragon" for a second season on Friday. Collins](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-recaps/house-of-the-dragon-recap-episode-two-1398042/) on episode two. Viewership for the series on HBO Max last week was up 30% compared to the prior week, HBO said.