American TV series《House of the Dragon Season 2》Episode 2 plot analysis

Not long ago, a drama series called House of the Dragon Season 2 was aired, which caused widespread discussion. The ratings and popularity of this drama have also continued to rise.Not only is the storyline compact, but the characters are also very vivid and full of tension, leaving a deep impression on the audience. Today, the editor will mainly talk to you about the plot analysis of the second episode of the American TV series《House of the Dragon Season 2》chat.

The second episode of the American TV series House of the Dragon Season 2 is an obvious transitional episode, dealing with the aftermath of the “Blood” and “Cheese” events.

The HOTD writing room as a whole wants to use a drama to present the process of realizing the structural contradictions in history through a series of accidents, but the overall planning and connection are a bit clumsy.The duel between the Black Party and the Green Party is disjointed. They both want to solve their opponents at the level of calculation, but their moves have over-expected effects.This is a point that the writers room wants to present.But my point of view remains unchanged. This intention is not a big problem, but the effect of execution is average at least for now.

mafia palace

The Queen is out of touch with her court.Even some of the subjects in his own court believed that the tragedy caused by “Blood” and “Cheese” was planned by the queen.This inference is obviously logical, but not factual in the episode.Rhaenyra said that she would not launch such cruel revenge from the perspective of a mother, explaining a female perspective.The writers room is trying to present two levels of information here.First, Rhaenyra's actions are not entirely based on rational calculations. She is based on emotion and the responsibility assigned by Viserys, hoping to leave as many choices and possibilities for herself as possible. Therefore, although she wants to take revenge on Aemond, DamonActions are out of touch with what she wants.The second is the fact that logical narratives sometimes do not equal historical facts.In fact, these have always been the two main directions of writing in the screenwriter's room. To show that female characters are included in the zz struggle network and do not necessarily follow the default instrumental rationality of patriarchy when taking actions. The other is to present historical writing and history based on the form of original pseudo-history books.of tension.

The Queen's disconnect with Daemon continues from last season.This disconnect was first clearly demonstrated in S1E10, but in fact, S1's E2 and E4 were already laying the groundwork.The quarrel between Rhaenyra and Daemon in S2E2 simply made some of the tensions laid out in the first season clear in the form of lines.

In fact, Daemon's behavior of pinching Rhaenyra's neck can be effectively explained in the context of the conversation between the two.As Rhaenyra sensed, Daemon had not heard A Song of Ice and Fire before, and this had an emotional and cognitive impact on Daemon.One of the more obvious dimensions of this shock was (in Dimon's view) the feeling of betrayal.When he heard Rhaenyra talk about responsibility, he realized that he had never been regarded as the true heir by Viserys. For Daemon, this meant that the two people he loved were both right.He was hiding something (Viserys was obviously hiding it intentionally, but Rhaenyra probably was unintentionally).Another relatively obscure but possibly more important dimension is that Rhaenyra's words actually shook the foundation of Daemon's worldview to a certain extent.Combined with Daemon's emphasis on dragons at the Black Party meeting and what Damon said after grabbing Rhaenyra's neck ("Dreams didn't make us kings. Dragons did"), we can see that Daemon believes that the dragon family rulesThe basis is the power of the dragon rather than any prophecy and responsibility for the prophecy.When Rhaenyra told Daemon about “A Song of Ice and Fire”, she clearly mentioned that this was “the conqueror” Aegon's dream“ (”the conqueror“'s dream”), which means that the real “conqueror” Aegon in history (His actions and motivations) differed from Daemon's own understanding of Aegon the Conqueror.And judging from many details (what Viserys said to Rhaenyra in Episodes 1 and 4, and Rhaenyra's mention of imitating Aegon the Conqueror's internal marriage when she asked to marry Daemon in Episode 7).It is difficult to see that the understanding of the image of Aegon the Conqueror obviously plays a constitutive role in the formation of the world view of the members of the Dragon family royal family.

Combined with the subsequent plot, it is not difficult for the audience to know that Daemon does love Viserys. What he told Viserys at the end of the first episode is indeed the truth. As a king, Viserys is indeed too lacking in decision-making and too weak.Daemon was indeed loyal to Viserys.But the real problem is that Daemon's love for Viserys is completely self-centered and stays more in the dimension of his ideas.In other words, he seemed to think that it was enough for him to sincerely love Viserys and never consider whether his words and actions were good or bad for Viserys.Since he understands that Viserys's image as a king is too weak and he wants to protect Viserys's authority, why does he always openly challenge the authority of the Iron Throne in his actions?The first episode shows King's Landing lynching civilians he believed had committed crimes without trial and publicly choking Viserys when summoned.In the second episode, after being expelled from King's Landing, he did not follow the order and went to the valley. Instead, he led his private soldiers on Dragonstone Island and stole dragon eggs without permission.In the third episode, a private war on the Stone Steps Islands was launched and the Wang family’s messenger was violently beaten.Episode 4 seduces Rhaenyra and lets the news leak.Episode 5 The news of his wife’s murder reaches King’s Landing.In the seventh episode, Rhaenyra kills her husband first and then gets married secretly.Didn't his own actions make his beloved brother Viserys look weak?

Looking at the original novel and the first season of HOTD, Damon is a character with inherent fractures and contradictions.He is in a moral gray area, and his actions always oscillate between instinctive impulse and rational decision-making.After the tenth episode was broadcast, looking back at the overall portrayal of Damon in the first season of HOTD, we can actually go further and draw a conclusion: the internal fractures and contradictions in Damon are paradoxically unified——The reason why Dimon is so contradictory is precisely because his actions and words center on himself.The reason why he is always in a gray area morally is because he believes that his actions are only responsible for himself and not for others, the laws of the kingdom, or religious beliefs. The reason why he can make rational decisions and be impulsive at the same time is that he is always responsible for his actions.Being self-centered and lacking the habit of taking a distance from oneself to reflect and introspect.It should be pointed out that saying that Damon is self-centered does not mean that Damon is always selfish in his subjective consciousness (although he is sometimes so, especially in the first few episodes), but that Damon's behavior (whether conscious or conscious)unconscious) often exhibits egocentric effects.

In the eighth episode, Daemon beheaded Weimund on the spot in the palace. Strictly speaking, he acted without permission. If he really wanted to pursue it, he would have offended the authority of the Iron Throne. However, it happened that the general direction of this matter did not violate Viserys and Renee.La's attitude, so the tension between the characters is not highlighted.But here the writers room is actually reminding the audience that even though more than ten years have passed, even though he has been relatively restrained and does not take the initiative to stir up trouble, even though his impulsive dimension seems less obvious than in the first five episodes (this is the case in the first five episodes)There are too many details: in the first episode of the tourney, Cocky appears without a hooded helmet, in the tourney he tricks his opponent's legs, in the third episode he feints to surrender, in the fourth episode he seduces Rhaenyra and then indulges in alcohol, in the fifth episode he kills his wife.He ran back to King's Landing with the intention of stealing a marriage, and almost choked Rhaenyra when she refused to elope), but the underlying impulsiveness in Daemon's character has not changed. It only takes a small spark to ignite it, and in Episode 9The Green Party's usurpation of power is obviously this Mars.

After reviewing the writer's room's portrayal of Daemon's character this season, let's look at Daemon's behavior in the tenth episode. It is not difficult to find that he did to Rhaenyra what he did to Viserys back then (actually to “whiteMaggot” has also done it): Acting in a way that he thinks is loyal to the other person, loving the other person, and expressing love in his own way, without considering whether these behaviors really meet the needs of the other person.

This is not fundamentally inconsistent with his deep love for Rhaenyra and Viserys in the previous episodes, and it is precisely because he firmly believes in his feelings for Viserys, Rhaenyra, Lannal, and his daughter at the conceptual level.He is sincere (which he is), so he rarely reflects on whether his actions really have a positive impact on the people around him.

So he was not with Rhaenyra when she gave birth but was busy with military deployment (according to what he told Xiaojie, this was the true meaning of loyalty), so he openly questioned Rhaenyra at the Black Party meeting“He gave in to ”'s point of view, so he couldn't control his hands when he first heard Rhaenyra talk about “Song of Ice and Fire”, so he didn't go to bed when he saw Rhaenyra holding the dead baby she gave birth to.Instead of being comforted by his former companion, he ran to the beach to relieve his emotions, so he was unable to make a decision before Lanner died (although he did not decide to deceive his lover like Wei Yi, but he also had no time to come forward to comfort him because of hesitation., companionship), so he didn’t know how to face his two daughters after Lanner’s death, without saying a word (if the director at that time chose the scene of Damon hugging his daughter in the behind-the-scenes special in the sixth episode instead of the scene in the finished filmThe lens you use will be self-defeating).

The development of the relationship between Rhaenyra and Daemon in S2E2 is basically the same.

Of course, there were many angry words during the quarrel between Daemon and Rhaenyra, and there is no need to take every word seriously. For example, Daemon mentioned that Viserys used Rhaenyra as a tool, and that Viserys was afraid that his achievements would overshadow his own.In the first category, it is basically the result of talking too much during a quarrel.Because as I analyzed before, Daemon is fundamentally loyal to Rhaenyra, and Rhaenys also sees this.You can also look at some action details. In fact, Damon restrained himself to a certain extent in the end.

One small influence is Damon's relationship with Bella.It also confirms my analysis from last season. S1E6 did not use the previously filmed scene of Damon hugging his daughter, which is related to the portrayal of Damon.The creation of the writer's room highlighted his self-centered nature (even when showing love for others), so as a father, he is not very competent.I watched the trailer before. This season, after Daemon goes to Harrenhal, he will come into contact with Arihewen. The further development of Damon's character will not be clearer until then.

Bella was entrusted by Rhaenyra with the important task of monitoring King's Landing. This was earlier than her appearance in Blood and Fire. However, the current information is limited and the direction of the character creation is unclear. The conversation with Xiaojie, firstly,It shows the progression of the relationship between the two, but instead shows the tension of her relationship with Damon.

Rhaenys and the sea serpent seem to be the most harmonious, and Rhaenys is also the most protective of Rhaenyra in the Black Party court.But there’s actually a disconnect between them, and that ties in with the two brothers Adam and Aelin, who this episode is slowly starting to reveal in depth.Adam has already seen Haiyan, so I won’t continue the analysis if there are spoilers here. We’ll talk about it later when the plot advances to the relevant parts.

Aegon and Otto

There are some more interesting developments in the character relationships on the Greens side.

S1E9 once presented the potential conflict between Otto and Allison, but their conflict was actually based on a consensus, that is, they believed that they could control the Great Aegon, and they were nothing more than fighting for control of the Great Aegon.The conversation between father and daughter in the last episode was actually a renewed consensus.Although Otto is more determined than Allison, he is still basically a prime minister who grew up in peacetime. Therefore, although he is more willing to use violence than Allison, he basically wants to solve the problem at the financial level rather than directly resorting to war.

Holding the little prince's funeral and publicizing it was the product of this kind of thinking (the writing in the screenwriter's room obviously referred to Antony's story at Caesar's funeral), so Allison quickly aligned with him on this matter.

But truth be told, both Otto and Allison were so confident that they didn't realize that the Aegon they had unleashed was starting to lose touch with them.Hence the dispute between Diginity and Fxxk dignity.Aegon's image of a playboy in S2E2 deepens his portrayal in S1E6 and S1E7.He is not completely cruel, and can even empathize with the common people, but he lacks long-term planning so he just thinks out of the blue. In the last episode, he said that the common people have supported the king, but this episode he allows his emotions to guide his actions and demands revenge.But to be honest, this is the cruelty of the Iron Throne. To hold power, you must suppress your own desires and emotions.

So Otto had to taste the bitter fruit he brewed and was dismissed by Aegon.

In S2E2, two events led to the irreconcilable conflict between Aegon and Otto.The first was the operation to kill the Ratcatcher, and the second was the operation to assassinate Rhaenyra.

The action of killing the Ratcatcher was briefly mentioned in the original work, and the series showed the consequences of this action, which actually paved the way for a series of events in King's Landing later (this article involves spoilers for the original work, so I will not continue the analysis).It also brings out the civilian perspective.

people and royal family

The public's perspective has been expanded in this episode. The image of Hugh Hammer is different from the original work. As for how the screenwriter will present this character, which is a key decision%, there is a high probability that his image will be different from the records in the history books., showing the relationship between historical writing and class.White-haired Ulf also appears in this episode. He is the commoner who steals things on the road and asks the old lady what happened when he was hung up. This episode briefly shows the character of this character, but how will the series be expanded? InformationIt is limited and cannot be effectively analyzed for the time being.

Hugh's line continues to expand on S2E1's presentation of King's Landing's economic crisis.There is also a disconnect between Xiufu and his wife's understanding of the current situation. Xiufu obviously still has peacetime habits, but his wife, who is responsible for daily necessities, has realized that a big crisis is coming.

However, the screenwriter's room actually had other ideas for the presentation of King's Landing's economy.It's clear that the writers' room will use the presentation of the civil war in Westeros to illustrate the current tearing of American society.This is actually an ideological function performed by all popular movies and TV dramas.The presentation of the disconnect between the various characters actually serves this theme to a certain extent.

Dialogue and communication between people have begun to show a disconnect. In a sense, everyone speaks his own words, from the royal family to the common people.I look forward to the expansion of this dimension, but there is a high probability that HOTD’s presentation of this theme will not reach the level of the Battle of Succession.This is not only related to the tone of the series which is ultimately a fantasy fictional historical drama, but also related to the writing tendency of the writers room.《Succession》 On the surface, it looks like a classical drama, but in fact it is subversive at every turn. The infighting among American wealthy families implicates how the United States' transcendent status after the Cold War has declined due to the inherent contradictions in its own politics and economic network.On the one hand, HOTD's drama follows the complexity trend of contemporary Peak TV, and on the other hand, it has a strong color of classical drama.The interaction of the main characters and the power relationship at the zz level are the focus of presentation rather than the economic structure behind it.The war between the Kargel brothers is typical.

battle of twins

The assassination of Rhaenyra was the second point of conflict between Otto and Aegon.Otto clearly still wanted to follow his path of conflict resolution with temple calculation and controlled violence, but Aegon clearly wanted direct revenge.The highlight of this act of revenge is naturally the battle between the Kagel brothers.“White Maggot” Xiaomei's role is an important adaptation in this incident. This episode's presentation of the interaction between Xiaomei and Rhaenyra and Xiaomei's role in the battle of the twins paved the way for the future development of her relationship with Rhaenyra., also continues the drama's presentation of historical narrative and historical fact tension.Because although there are various narratives about the battle between twins in the original work, they are basically said to be two brothers who bumped into each other by chance.The drama's adaptation is close to Eustace's narrator's version of the fight, but highlights Xiaomei's role.

The battle between the twins in S2E2 also echoes the “disjointed” quality of the entire episode.

The montage of Arryk's assassination and Rhaenyra combing her hair is disjointed and unbalanced. On one side, Arryk carefully completes the task, and on the other side, Rhaenyra is immersed in daily life. What highlights is an unbalanced tension.feel.

Rhaenyra was certainly out of touch when she saw Alec and mistook him for Erryk.The disconnect between Alik and Elik is that they have different understandings of loyalty.The fight between the two brothers is disconnected from Rhaenyra and other bystanders.In the battle between the twin brothers, handheld photography brought a sense of presence. The audience, like Rhaenyra and others who were watching, could not distinguish between ourselves and the enemy, so they were unable to intervene and could only passively watch the tragedy of brothers killing each other.(In fact, it is more difficult to distinguish the names of the two brothers in English, and even the pronunciation is only slightly different)

Of course, the audience can actually tell the difference, because Erryk was hit with a sword in the leg during the fight between the two, and the camera kept reminding them, and there were also very subtle differences in the hair styles of the two.The last one to survive was actually Arryk from the Green Party (note the right leg).He said “Your grace” to Rhaenyra, who mistook him for Erryk.But after Arryk killed his brother and the guards had arrived at the scene, it was meaningless for him to continue to implement Aegon's plan. By pretending to be a brother and committing suicide, he atones for his parricide and saved the lives of the two brothers in front of Rhaenyra.Honor.

Of course, because this struggle itself is a tragedy, whoever of the brothers is alive will choose to commit suicide.In the end, it makes no sense whether Alik or Ilik survives.

Cole as the villain

There is no doubt that the instigator of the tragedy of the Kargel twins was Cole.

The same goes for Cole. Cole in the series has basically been a buffoon since S1E5.He didn't stick to his oath when he had a relationship with Rhaenyra (he had neither a strong will nor enough ability to refuse Rhaenyra), and later used the oath to make up for his morality.After being taken under Allison's wing, he settled down to be a loyal dog. In this sense, the relationship between him and Allison in S2E1 was quite logical.But referring to Cole's shocking and bad performance in S1E7, he will probably abandon Allison after the Son for Son incident.

Cole did pass the blame.I didn't dare to blame Allison, so I had no choice but to blame Alec.After this episode, Cole is basically a contender for the most hated character on the show.

After all, Aemond, who was relatively disliked in the original book, was expanded in the series.Aemond's character and actions are the consequences of a series of disconnections from the outside (from his parents to his brothers to himself). However, his presence was not high in the first two episodes of S2. This episode only highlighted his fragile side, which basically continued from the previous season.Unlike Aegon who showed more dimensions.

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