House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 2 Review: Rhaenyra Sits Where She Belongs
Before digging into everything that House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 2, “Queen’s Landing,” adds to the story, we must mention Emma D’Arcy’s performance. D’Arcy starts off the episode incredibly strong, delivering what we believe is the best performance throughout the seasons.
The moment Rhaenyra sees Jace’s body being brought home and breaks down, D’Arcy makes the viewer feel everything the character feels. The sadness, anger, frustration, and blame Rhaenyra puts on herself go through the screen and make the viewer feel the same way.
However, that isn’t even D’Arcy’s best performance. It all comes down to the moment Rhaenyra has taken back King’s Landing and comes face-to-face with Otto Hightower. This encounter is the culmination of the betrayal Rhaenyra suffered.
As soon as Rhaenyra sets foot in the Great Hall, the king’s men make fun of her yet again. The betrayal she experienced comes down to the fact that she is a woman. None of this would have happened had Rhaenyra been born a man.
The viewers are reminded of this again when Rhaenyra pulls her sword, and the men laugh at her. Even after proving she is worthy of the throne and battling hundreds of people who were against her, Rhaenyra is still seen simply as a woman who doesn’t belong. This is probably the fire (no pun intended) that pushes her to fight until the very end.
But what truly catches our eye from that sequence is the moment Rhaenyra comes face-to-face with Otto Hightower. Here is the man who started the avalanche that led to her expulsion from her home, but even knowing that, it is hard at first for her to take his own life.
However, the moment it’s insinuated that Daemon should take the lead, Rhaenyra regains her composure and takes matters into her own hands. The fact that she decapitates Otto while crying goes to show the magnitude of worlds and emotions Rhaenyra carries within herself. She is much more complex than the men around her give her credit for.
But what catches everyone’s attention is the first failed attempt at decapitating him. Is this a sign of what is ahead? Even though she sits on the throne, will she fall again?
While D’Arcy captivates the audience with an incredible performance, so does Olivia Cooke…but truth be told, no one is surprised. Cooke has built an incredible character from the ground up, making viewers both love and hate Alicent with incredible passion.
Alicent’s life has been dictated by abuse. An abuse that started at the hands of her father when he handed (no pun intended, but true) her off to the king as a teenager. From that moment on, Alicent lost all control of her life, always answering to different men.
Even though we’ve seen her play her own game as much as she could, it always seemed to backfire on her one way or another. Now, she regains control because she must protect Helaena, whom she sees as the only redeemable child. Helaena’s innocence pushes everyone to root for this final plan to succeed, so she can live keeping chickens as she pleases.
As Alicent has done as she’s told Rhaenyra, we expect their bond to win after so many years of anger. However, once she sees that Rhaenyra has killed her father, Alicent might change her mind. Could this be what changes everything…again?
What is so great to see on House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 2, “Queen’s Landing,” is that Rhaenyra continues to find herself between two very strong bonds. On the one hand, her belief in Alicent.
Despite everything that’s happened, she follows her gut, believing that Alicent will do as she said. When she finds out this is true, she regains trust that she hopes will never die. A bond that Daemond and Mysaria discuss because they know how deep it runs.
On the other hand, what she shares with Daemond continues to be strong no matter what’s happened between them. The connection they have shines through as they slay people on their way to the throne. Even though it’s been for his own benefit, Daemond has always trusted Rhaenyra and has wanted what’s truly hers.
Now that Aemond has made it to Harrenhal and met Alys Rivers, we can’t help but wonder what will come next.
Viewers who know what happened between these two characters in George R.R. Martin’s world wonder if the show will take us down the same path. It sure will be interesting to see what comes next for them.
What did you think of this episode of House of the Dragon? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!
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House of the Dragon airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO MAX.
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Lara Rosales
By day, Lara Rosales (she/her) is a solo mom by choice and a bilingual writer with a BA in Latin-American Literature known as a Media Relations Expert. By night, she is a TV enjoyer who used to host a podcast (Cats, Milfs & Lesbian Things). You can find her work published on Eulalie Magazine, Geek Girl Authority, W Spotlight, Collider, USA Wire, Mentors Collective, Instelite, Noodle, Dear Movies, Nicki Swift, and Flip Screened.