Warning: Contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 4, “The Red Dragon and the Gold.”
Summary
House of the Dragonseason 2, episode 4 is one of the most stunning of the show so far, and it makes up for one specific part ofGame of Thrones' Battle of Winterfell being a bit of a letdown. “The Red Dragon and the Gold” properly (and somewhat literally) begins theDance of the Dragons, with Vhagar and Sunfyre doing battle against Meleys at Rook’s Rest.
The end result is brutal, as it concludes withRhaenys Targaryen and Meleys' deathsand King Aegon II Targaryen being left for dead - all courtesy of Aemond Targaryen and Vhagar - but the spectacle beforehand was spectacular. This is the first time three dragons have battled on-screen sinceGame of Thronesseason 8, episode 3, “The Long Night,” butHouse of the Dragondoes it a lot better.
What The Hell, Aemond?! Why He Did THAT In House Of The Dragon Season 2, Episode 4
Aemond Targaryen makes a big, surprising decision in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 4, which will have a major impact on the show’s future.
The Battle Of Winterfell’s Lack Of Dragon vs. Dragon Action Was Disappointing
Game Of Thrones Season 8 Could Have Done It Better
The Battle of Winterfell, like many parts ofGame of Thronesseason 8, came in for criticism, mostly related to how dark the episode was for a lot of viewers. However, one other element that I was disappointed with was how it used its dragons. This was a battle between the living and the dead for them too: Dragon and Rhaegal faced off against Viserion.
The scene with Rhaegal fighting against Viserion, before Drogon swoops in to help, isn’t bad, but it’s very brief and incredibly dark.
The episode was restrained with its use of the dragons, and understandably so, but when they did join the conflict, the end result was a little underwhelming. Because Viserion didn’t die untilGame of Thronesseason 7 and then theNight King was killed by Arya Starkat the end of this episode,the Battle of Winterfell was the one chance for Game of Thrones to have a dragon vs. dragon fight, and it didn’t deliver.
The scene with Rhaegal fighting against Viserion, before Drogon swoops in to help, isn’t bad, but it’s very brief and incredibly dark.Dragons fighting one another should be incredible to watch, and it was the chance to do something unique because we’d never seen it before, but it was hardly anything memorable.
The Biggest Dragons In Game Of Thrones & House Of The Dragon
Between Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, and the lore from George R.R. Martin’s books, these dragons stand out as the biggest to roam Westeros.
House Of The Dragon Delivers The Dragon vs. Dragon Fight I’ve Long Wanted
Sunfyre vs. Meleys vs. Vhagar Is Suitably Epic
Thankfully,House of the Dragonseason 2, episode 4’s endingmakes up forGame of Thrones' shortcomings… and then some.I don’t think the Battle at Rook’s Rest is the best battle in theGame of Thronesfranchise, but I would say it’s the most impressive and epic use of dragonsin a battle. And, more specifically, it’s the way it delivers on dragons fighting dragons that is so impressive.
There’s great storytelling and character work underpinning it, but even just from the point-of-view of pure entertainment spectacle, it’s epic in a way that truly lives up to that word. It is also quite horrible, as it should be. There’s some really violent, visceral stuff here, and a few of the moments within it are absolutely brutal. Seeing Meleys tearing at Sunfyre (with a close-up of her claws doing it), andVhagar biting off Meleys' head, is jaw-dropping, event television.
Episode 8
August 4
It absolutely nails just how impressive it should be to see dragons fighting, the sense of incredible power and how small and defenseless humans look in the face of it. It captures the sheer sense of dread, and how when dragons burn each other, the world burns with them. That it shows so much of it, and in broad daylight, adds so much to the occasion thatGame of Thrones' Battle of Winterfell missed, and makes it one ofHouse of the Dragon’s finest moments yet.
New episodes ofHouse of the Dragonrelease Sundays at 9pm ET on HBO and Max.
House of the Dragon
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
Game Of Thrones
Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim.
