IR TV Review: HOUSE OF THE DRAGON - EPISODE 2 [HBO]

The evolution of power is balanced in notions of time and duty. While the first episode of "House Of The Dragon" seemed to show the divide, Episode 2 wants to show it come together. But with the political and familial bantering, the episode and its point gets at times bogged down in its own storytelling in terms of what the king needs to do and what his sole heir the Princess should do. There is a lot of talk about what should be done when the action shown at key points is what is needed. That, of course, is on purpose to allow for irony. The banishment of Daemon (Matt Smith) even though he takes an essence of Dragonstone results in an interesting standoff simply because of fate or power wills it. For someone strategic it does create an interesting conundrum yet also an opportunity for fate to step in. Daemon has a meek side which is not necessarily consistent.

Meanwhile the King is a bit all over the place which actually makes his intent less dexterous. There needs to be something more decisive. Now while he did make this move at the end of Episode 1, the aspect of what designates his next move is a little but more blurry. Tradition is called on heavily but besides one sequence there is nothing as intensive as some in the first episode. Now granted there needs to be a build. The actresses actually did not shift in Episode between Emma D'Arcy and Milly Alcock as initially thought. It actually strengthens Alcock's resolve as the younger version of the princess continues to build her intelligence and visceral nature. Like many, her fate is both sealed and unsealed. And like her descendent, she is impulsive, passionate but also no nonsense. She seeks someone good in battle and one can tell she will come to heads with Daemon as well as someone else close to her. It is just a matter of time and it depends which angle she is taking. Time will tell. B

By Tim Wassberg