https://blackgirlnerds.com/house-of-the-dragon-recap-s2-episode-1-a-son-for-a-son/

Written by Angelica Monk and Jamie Broadnax

The ominous title for this episode for readers familiar with Fire and Blood informs us of the impending doom soon to come for the civil war between these families.  But for those not familiar, brace yourself, because this episode delivers a gut punch that you didn’t see coming.  Before we dive into the recap, there is a significant change from last season of House of the Dragon – the opening credits.  We shift from the stone model of old Valyria to a fabric tapestry that illustrates the events of the Targaryen era.  Once again, book readers will be familiar with the embroidery as the events stitch out characters depicted in blood, but those who have not read the book, will at least be learn to appreciate new nuggets of information each episode as they see these events play out and move forward that were previously shown in the opening credits.

We open in the North and get a nice little history lesson from Cregan Stark (Tom Taylor), who is the Lord of Winterfell. For those yearning for a dose of Game of Thrones nostalgia this was certainly a fan service moment for many of us, even with phrases harkening back to the series like “Winter Is Coming”. Summoned on behalf of Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) is her son Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett).  Who is now playing the role of a political player.  Seeing actor Harry Collett in his natural curly tendrils and out of that wig was certainly refreshing to see. We learn a bit of information about the ancestors of the Starks including Torrhen Stark, the King Who Knelt and the ancient duty of his people to defend the Seven Kingdoms from the dangers beyond the Wall. While  Jace doubts Torrhen Stark would ever bend the knee to Aegon the Conqueror unless he knew he could bring unity to the Seven Kingdoms, Jace seeks that same alliance with Cregan. As Cregan walks Jace over to the battlements and notes there’s a reason why his ancestors erected a 700-foot-high wall when King Jaehaerys visited, his dragons refused to go beyond the Wall. The Wall is meant to keep out Death. This shot is intentionally ominous which is a key to tell the viewer that this is a significant detail we need to remember.

Meanwhile at Dragonstone, Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best) returns on the back of Melys after patrolling over 100 miles of open sea to hold the blockade of the Gullet. King Consort Daemon (Matt Smith) appears demanding she mounts Melys and flies with him to King’s Landing. Daemon intends to kill Vhagar and Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) and knows he cannot face them alone but is certain Melys and Caraxes can take them down. 

Over at Driftmark, Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) has now fully recovered from his near-death experience at sea. He surveys the repairs of his ship, which was nearly destroyed at the Stepstones. He is greeted by Alyn of Hull (Abubakar Salim) a sailor in the Velaryon fleet who served in the Stepstones. Alyn reports to Corlys that repairs are going well on Sea Snake and seven more ships have been sent to fortify the blockade. Corlys wants his ship to be seaworthy ASAP and Alyn promises to speak to his brother about what reinforcements the shipwrights can muster. We learn that Alyn was the man that rescued him at sea and Corlys tell him that he is “in his debt”.

The next scene takes us to Kings Landing as Ser Arryk Cargyll of the Kingsguard (Luke Tittensor) climbs the battlements instructing his men to remain at their posts.He spots a dragon overhead and as  they prepare to arm the scorpion, Arryk orders them to hold as the dragon is Vhagar. Queen Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban) is knitting an image of a dragon while her daughter, Princess Jaehaera plays with their maids in the Queen’s quarters. King Aegon Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) bursts in looking for his son, Prince Jaehaerys, he wants to bring him to the Small Council since he will be king one day. Helaena whispers, “What if he doesn’t want to be King?” Aegon demands to know where he is and  Helaena reluctantly tells him Aegon he’s in the library as is his custom. As Aegon walks to get his son, Helaena says she’s not afraid of the dragons but the rats. Aegon quips to the staff, “The Queen is an enduring mystery. Is she not?” 

As you recall from season one, Helaena has the gift of foresight and she sees things that others don’t.  So when the queen speaks, people should in fact listen.

We cut to the queen-who-once-was Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) getting cunnilingus from Ser Criston Cole, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard (Fabian Frankel).  As they get dressed to meet with the Small Council, Alicent tells Criston their coupling cannot happen again, Criston agrees and then asks Alicent to help him don his white cloak.   In the Small Council chambers, we see a rat catcher exit as Alicent and Criston enter. They are greeted by Ser Otto Hightower, Hand of the King (Rhys Ifans). The remaining Small Council now consists of Grand Maester Orwylle (Kurt Egyiawan), Ser Tyland Lannister the Master of Coin (Jefferson Hall) and Lord Jasper Wylde the Master of Laws (Paul Kennedy). Otto states the blockade has put a strain on King’s Landing and Aegon regrets they didn’t kill the Greens. Otto states they must deal with their cards they have been dealt and the Small Council agrees they must bolster their Navy.

Aemond, with a noticeable pimp walk, enters unannounced, Alicent insists he has no place, but Aegon insists his brother belongs with the Small Council. Aemond notes they must take hold of the Riverlands, Aegon thinks using the dragons to intimidate the Riverlands’ forces is best and if they do not bend the knee, they will simply burn them.

Outside the Small Council chambers, Alicent is met by Ser Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) who confirms he rooted out the potential spies of Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) in Alicent’s staff. He assures her that they no longer breathe the same air, and he has personally picked new attendants for her. That evening, as her maids attend to Alicent during her bath, she dismisses them, insisting on bathing herself.

On a shoreline near the Storm’s End, Rhaenyra pulls what’s left of Luke’s remains. She weeps and its a gut wrenching scene to watch the loss of a son in such a tragic way.

 Back in King’s Landing, Aegon enters the throne room, heralded by his friends as “Aegon the Magnanimous”. He sits the Iron Throne to hear his first petition as King. A sheep herder pleads for the return of the tenth of his sheep which were taken by the crown, Aegon eagerly agrees to return his sheep. However, Otto advises him that if provides this way for one man he will have to do this for all and Aegon reneges on his promise.Larys, who was watching Aegon earlier approaches him in the castle halls, flattering the King in his handling of the smallfolk. He takes Aegon to the side and suggests in an incredibly subtle way to consider a new Hand of the King. 

  Otto meets Alicent in her chambers, wishing to be allied with her father. She complains to him that he’s undercut her authority before the Small Council and her sons. She fears that Otto will undermine her voice and Aegon and Aemond will no longer look to her for council.  She has completely lost her power at this point as the now Dowager Queen.

 Near Dragonstone, a ship is stopped attempting to circumvent the blockade. Ser Erryk Cargyll of the Queensguard (Elliott Tittensor) finds a stowaway onboard, Mysaria, notes the last time they crossed paths, there were two of him.  Erryk vouches for Mysaria, he confirms she was not an agent of Hightowers. Erryk is confronted by Daemon, he admits he’s ashamed about abandoning the Kingsguard, and that his brother joined the Queensguard. Daemon counters why he didn’t kill Aegon and Erryk says he and his brother swore an oath to protect the royal family, what were they to do when they turned against each other?

 Daemon visits Mysaria in her cells and strikes a bargain. If she provides him with her knowledge of servants who have spied for her in the Red Keep, she will win her freedom.    Lady Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia) escorts Jace to his mother’s chambers. He bravely yet tearfully reports of his progress in the North and the Vale, when Rhaenyra stands and wraps her in his arms. They both grieve the loss of Luke. A funeral service begins for Luke and Lady Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell), Luke’s betrothed, watches the flames as tears stream down her face.

Daemon is smuggled into King’s Landing where he meets Blood (Sam C. Wilson), a member of the Gold Cloaks who hates the Hightowers. Daemon shakes a large bag of coins enticing him.  Blood escorts Daemon through the city and meets Cheese (Mark Stobart) a rat catcher who worked for Mysaria and is revealed to have large gambling debts.  Daemon describes Aemond’s appearance and offers to pay Cheese half now and half later once the deed is done. Cheese asks what they should do if they don’t find Aemond, Daemon doesn’t say anything.

 Cheese leads Blood through the watery tunnels beneath the Red Keep, ordering Blood to climb a ladder and bring his dog as they ascend. They pass the Throne Room as Aegon, and his friends drunkenly discuss his reign with his friends.

 Blood hears a noise and finds Cheese holding a knife to Helaena’s throat. Blood says the Queen isn’t a son, but Cheese tells him they can kill one of the children who are sleeping in their beds. One of them is the Prince and heir to the throne, they simply need to look for boy parts. Blood says the mother will know and they ask Helaena to point out her son. She offers her necklace of great value, but they snatch and threaten to kill all three of them if she doesn’t choose Helaena points to Jaehaerys and Blood doubts that she gave him up so easily, but Cheese insists she is telling the truth.

Cheese holds down Jaehaerys while Blood kills him. Helaena quickly grabs Jaehaera from her bed while the men are distracted and flees the room. The sick sound of blood and sawing can be heard as they decapitate the child’s body.

Helaena runs down the steps and bursts into her mother’s chambers, Queen Alicent, who is fornicating with Ser Criston Cole. Helaena tells Alicent what happened and the episode title confirms the worst of the worst has now happened.

Tune in next Sunday night at 9pm ET on Twitter and Threads as we use the hashtag #DragonsYall and check out our YouTube show as we breakdown each of these episodes!