A search for Prince Jaehaerys’ murderer is underway as HBO House of the Dragon season two episode two begins. King Aegon reacts like a madman, destroying everything in his room (including his father’s model of Old Valyria) while declaring war. A much more controlled Prince Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) investigates the scene and discovers a gold coin.
Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) advises Queen Dowager Alicent (Olivia Cooke) to keep it together as she sobs, torn up that her son’s eldest child and heir to the throne has been brutally murdered. She believes the gods are punishing her, while Otto takes a much more pragmatic approach to the situation.
King Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) demands to know where his small council members were when the murderer snuck about the castle. He’s enraged his eldest son was killed. Aegon’s anger escalates when Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) admits he was in bed (Alicent’s, but he doesn’t mention that) at the time of the murder. Otto attempts to calm Aegon as he rages on, placing the blame squarely on Queen Rhaenyra (using incredibly colorful language).
Lord Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) interrupts with news that they’ve apprehended a Gold Cloak fleeing with the child’s head. Otto puts Larys in charge of questioning the prisoner, while King Aegon shifts his anger to the small council. He believes one of them might have plotted against him. The room falls silent.
Otto finally speaks, confirming that they need to get to the truth. However, no matter the case, they’ll spread word throughout the Seven Kingdoms that Rhaenyra is behind the murder. Aegon disagrees, wishing to keep the death a secret. He doesn’t want to be viewed as weak, but Otto reminds him that ship has long since sailed.
Otto has quickly come up with a plan to win over hearts. He wants a funeral procession with the child’s body open for viewing. Alicent’s shocked and Aegon immediately says no. Otto claims he’s grieving too but believes Rhaenyra’s supporters will renounce her once they’ve learned she ordered a child to be decapitated.
“Jaehaerys will do more for us now than a thousand nights in battle,” says Otto. The Hand thinks war will come, but if they wait a short while their army will grow.
Alicent agrees and convinces Aegon it’s the best path forward. But when Otto adds that Alicent and the Queen will ride behind the body, Alicent briefly objects. Of course, given that she’s Alicent, she acquiesces.
Alicent breaks the news to Queen Helaena (her daughter and also her son’s wife) who is much more difficult to convince. Helaena (Phia Saban) hates being around people and doesn’t want to be involved in such a public display of grief. Alicent attempts to bring up the previous evening when Helaena discovered her in bed with Criston, but Helaena quickly changes the subject.
The citizens of King’s Landing line the streets as the carriage carrying Prince Jaehaerys, now with a reattached head, makes its way slowly to the dragon pits. There’s a moment when it appears the head will fall off, but thankfully it remains in place as thousands of townsfolk grieve with Queen Helaena and Queen Dowager Alicent.
The procession also includes a man yelling, “Behold the works of Rhaenyra Targaryen! Pretender to the Throne! Kingslayer! Defiler of the Innocent!”
The captured City Watch guard (known to readers as “Blood” but never referred to by that name in the show) spills everything he knows before Larys has had a chance to begin torturing him. He admits Daemon Targaryen paid them half in advance and was going to pay the rest when he handed over the head. The guard doesn’t know his accomplice’s name but does reveal he’s a ratcatcher who works in the castle. (The ratcatcher’s called “Cheese” in Fire & Blood.)
Larys was just paving the way for King Aegon to unleash holy hell on the guard.
Meanwhile, at Dragonstone, Queen Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) is told about Jaehaerys’ murder. She’s also informed messages accusing her of the murder have been sent out. Rhaenyra orders messages sent denying any part in this heinous murder. She realizes Dragonstone and Driftmark will be targets of attacks and is assured their defenses have been strengthened.
The timing is horrible as they need to rally the Houses to their side, and this will make that incredibly difficult. Prince Jacaerys (Harry Collett) asks to ride out on Vermax to keep an eye on King’s Landing, but Rhaenyra denies his request.
Rhaenyra assures her council she never would have inflicted this on Helaena, “an innocent.” Yet the council understands that Rhaenyra is mourning the loss of Lucerys and might have reacted hastily. Prince Daemon (Matt Smith) has remained silent throughout the discussion and Rhaenyra finally looks at her husband/uncle. What she sees makes her question him in private, and Daemon confirms he sent assassins to murder and decapitate Prince Aemond. He insists he provided a very specific description of the target and claims he can’t be held responsible for the death of a small child.
Rhaenyra is furious. Daemon’s rash move has weakened her and made it more difficult to raise an army. It’s also harmed her standing with her own small council. Rhaenyra admits she’s never fully trusted Daemon and wonders if he’s only used her as a tool to get back his stolen inheritance. Daemon reminds her he took the crown from Ser Erryk and placed it on her head himself. Of course that’s true, but it’s also true he tried to form a war council while she was giving birth alone.
Rhaenyra believes he took her request to kill Aemond as an excuse to exact his own revenge on Otto Hightower, a man he hates. Daemon believes his upcoming trip to Harrenhal to raise an army is proof he’s fully committed to supporting her. Rhaenyra isn’t convinced and asks, “Do you accept me as your Queen and ruler? Or do you cling even now to what you think you lost?”
That leads to an argument over King Viserys and whether he was a strong leader or a fearful coward. Daemon compares Rhaenyra to her father, saying they’re both fools for not wanting to spill blood to achieve greatness.
Minutes later, Rhaenyra instructs Lady Baela (Bethany Antonia) to take Moondancer and watch King’s Landing. She doesn’t want to be caught off-guard again. Baela agrees and Rhaenyra warns her to stay safe and remain vigilant. Baela asks about her father, and Rhaenyra says he’s following his own path now. (The next scene shows Daemon leaving Dragonstone on Caraxes.)
Back at King’s Landing, Ser Criston Cole watches as Jaehaerys’ bloody bedding is removed from the Queen’s chambers. Later, he stands watch outside Alicent’s room. She asks if he told anyone about their relationship, and he’s insulted she would believe he’d talk. Alicent slams the door in his face and then sinks into her bath, alone.
Once he’s relieved from watching Alicent’s chambers, Criston confronts Ser Arryk (Luke Tittensor) about the dirt on his white cloak. Arryk’s had a rough day and is finally getting a chance to eat as Criston, being a total hypocrite, accuses him of sullying the honor of the Kingsguard since the white cloak is a symbol of purity.
Arryk apologizes but Criston’s not quite done with him. He insinuates that Arryk shirked his duties and that’s why Jaehaerys was killed. After confirming he was with King Aegon, Arryk wonders where Criston was and why Queen Helaena doesn’t have a sworn protector.
The room clears out as Criston accuses Arryk of being a traitor to the Crown, just like his brother Erryk who pledged to Rhaenyra. Criston suggests the only way to restore his honor is to pretend to be Erryk, enter Dragonstone, and kill Rhaenyra. Arryk reminds Criston they are not supposed to practice deception, but Criston claims Arryk has a chance to end the war before it begins.
Arryk knows it’s a suicide mission. Criston insists it’s either go to Dragonstone or be declared a traitor.
Prince Jacaerys and Princess Baela talk about fathers, and she asks what he remembers about her uncle (his father). He smiles as he recalls Laenor Velaryon’s love of cakes. She asks about his real father, Ser Harwin Strong, and Jace describes him as gentle and fierce. Jace knows Harwin loved them, and thinking of Harwin makes him think of Luke. He truly misses his little brother.
Meanwhile, Prince Aemond spends his time at a brothel confessing that he’s proud Daemon considers him such a worthy foe that he sent an assassin to kill him. Aemond makes a surprising confession, admitting he regrets what happened with Luke. He lost his temper, and he’s sorry Luke died. His companion reminds him that when princes get angry, it’s the smallfolk who suffer.
Speaking of the smallfolk, prices are rising throughout King’s Landing. Food is nearly impossible to afford, and those who have money are hoarding supplies in preparation for war.
Over at Driftmark, Alyn of Hull’s brother, Addam (Clinton Liberty), pays him a visit at the docks. They joke about the pirates they’ve slain, and Alyn (Abubakar Salim) is happy to learn his brother has a pot of stew to share back at his home. Addam wonders if Alyn will sail with Lord Corlys since Lord Corlys personally thanked him for saving his life. Alyn says Corlys hasn’t asked him – and he hopes he doesn’t. Addam would jump at the chance, but Alyn’s seen enough fighting. He doesn’t want any part of the upcoming war.
And speaking of the Sea Snake, Lord Corlys (Steve Toussaint) and Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best) relax in bed and their pillow talk turns to Daemon. Corlys hasn’t heard from him and Rhaenys thinks he wishes to be his own master. The fact he’s not the king must be difficult for him to come to terms with. Rhaenys knows exactly how it feels to be passed over, and although Daemon won’t openly challenge Rhaenyra, he won’t allow her to command him.
They believe if Daemon can convince Harrenhal to side with Rhaenyra, then that may smooth things over. Rhaenys confirms she and Corlys will do everything in their power to support Rhaenyra.
At Dragonstone, Rhaenyra summons Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) and asks about her part in Jaehaerys’ murder. Mysaria says she had no real role in that, and she regrets any part she previously played in helping Ser Otto place Aegon on the Iron Throne. Mysaria confesses she gave Daemon two names; that was the extent of her participation. Daemon promised her her freedom and is shocked to hear he’s gone without releasing her.
Rhaenyra stares for a long moment at Mysaria, finally recognizing her from years ago when Daemon said he was going to marry her and that she was pregnant. Rhaenyra is understandably leery of Mysaria’s intentions. Is she a spy? Is she still working for the Red Keep? Mysaria insists she just wants her freedom, but Rhaenyra doesn’t trust her.
Mysaria came from nothing, sold her body to survive, and made herself “valuable to powerful men.” Most of all, she listened. And then everything she built for herself was destroyed at Ser Otto’s orders, with her home burned to the ground. “The Hand did not like it when I showed my teeth,” says Mysaria.
Their conversation ends with Mysaria returning to her cell.
Meanwhile, at King’s Landing, the townsfolk are shocked to see all the ratcatchers in King Aegon’s employ have been strung up. Their dead bodies hang above the city’s streets.
Ser Otto calls his grandson an idiot after Aegon admits he gave the order to kill all the ratcatchers. Criston warns Otto to watch how he speaks, but Otto doesn’t hold back. His grandson is a fool who murdered innocent men and hung them for everyone to see. Aegon defends his actions and Otto reminds him they were fathers, brothers, and sons. Their families are now at the gates, cursing King Aegon’s name.
Every bit of approval they’d just earned has been tossed away, but Aegon doesn’t care. He wants action now and reveals Criston has sent Ser Arryk to slay Rhaenyra. Criston says it’s time Rhaenyra paid, and Otto’s flabbergasted. They didn’t include him or the council. What they’ve done will diminish them in the eyes of their enemies.
Again, Aegon could not care less. He wants revenge. Otto chuckles when Aegon declares that his father made him king. Silly boy has no idea it was Otto who put him on the Iron Throne. Aegon relieves Otto of his Hand of the King duties and names Ser Criston Cole the new Hand. Even Criston’s surprised at his new title.
Ser Otto warns King Aegon that he will regret this.
Back at Dragonstone, Ser Erryk (Elliott Tittensor) accompanies Rhaenyra to Mysaria’s cell. Rhaenyra makes good on Daemon’s promise and releases her, giving her passage on a ship making its way to Myr. Mysaria thanks Rhaenyra for her kindness.
Moments later, Mysaria is walking to the ship when she passes Ser Arryk pretending to be his twin brother. She does a double-take and stops as they walk past.
Arryk makes his way into Dragonstone, easily passing the guards. He walks the halls, and no one even acknowledges his presence. Arryk hides when he spots his brother, and then continues looking for Rhaenyra. He removes his helmet because his brother isn’t wearing his.
Arryk arrives at Rhaenyra’s chambers and convinces the guard at the door that he can’t rest so he’ll take over standing watch. He waits until the coast is clear and enters Rhaenyra’s room. Arryk whips out his sword and apologizes that he doesn’t have any choice.
Rhaenyra doesn’t understand until Erryk bursts into the room, sword out, and screams, “Brother!” Erryk begs his brother not to do this, but Arryk doesn’t back down. The two men are equally skilled fighters and Rhaenyra sends her maid out to get help as they engage in a brutal swordfight.
Ser Lorent arrives and helps Rhaenyra to the door as the battle between twins rages on. Unfortunately, this door’s locked and Rhaenyra can’t leave. Lorent wants to help Erryk, but neither he nor Rhaenyra knows which twin is which.
Both are bloody and badly injured but it’s Erryk who deals the death blow. He asks his Queen to forgive him and then kills himself.
Episode two ends with another visit to King’s Landing. Ser Otto is furious about his removal from power and knows that neither Aegon nor Criston can see the big picture. They won’t fight for the realm; they’ll wage war for vengeance. Alicent believes Aegon can still be persuaded to think before making more mistakes.
Otto decides that he’ll return to Oldtown now that he’s no longer a part of the council. All his carefully laid plans have been smashed, but he believes Alicent’s other son, Daeron, might help them in the near future. Alicent suggests that instead of Oldtown, he should visit the Tyrells at Highgarden and get them to pledge their allegiance. Otto believes that he and Alicent can still bring peace, if they hold fast.
Alicent wants to confess her sins, but Otto doesn’t want to hear it. She leaves her father and finds Aegon alone, sobbing. Instead of comforting her grieving son, she turns around and leaves. When she returns to her bedchamber, Criston is there, waiting. She slaps him twice, followed by a few shoves. That’s just foreplay, as their promise to end their secret sexual relationship is quickly broken.
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