House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 2 Reviews

House of the Dragon s eason 2, episode 2 is the longest in the series’ history. Across 72 minutes, the episode explores the effects of a rising death toll.

It takes place immediately following an incident known as Blood and Cheese, a shocking moment of violence involving the death of young Jaehaerys. It's one of House of the Dragon season 2's most brutal scenes, detailed by Olivia Cooke here.

We see how everyone responds differently. Aegon is in a rage, vowing vengeance, while Aemond sets off to find who’s responsible.

Elsewhere, Ser Criston Cole’s solution is sending an assassin to Dragonstone to kill Rhaenyra, while Otto Hightower puts forward his own spin on the situation.

Here’s what reviewers are making of it.

House of the Dragon season 2, episode 2 reviews

IGN : “It’s a heavy-hearted episode, weighed down by the grief of almost all the main cast.”

Forbes : “Following the formula set up in last week’s Season 2 premiere of House Of The Dragon, the series gives us another episode of mostly politicking and setup punctuated at the very end with extreme violence.”

GamesRadar: “House of the Dragon season 2 episode 2 delivers the fallout from the brutal Blood and Cheese storyline. Now, whatever you thought of the grisly opening to the second season, there’s no denying it will have huge repercussions throughout Westeros.”

IndieWire: “The weakest part of the episode — and the only time I really felt its runtime — is that final scene with Alicent and Cole.”

Den of Geek: “For all its high-minded artistry and exploration of complex themes, every now and then the Game of Thrones world likes to remind you that A Song of Ice and Fire series author George R.R. Martin is an entertainer first and foremost.”