house of the dragon finale

With a series held in high anticipation, I wondered, having yet to read the book on which it is based, if this would have a fitting conclusion or leave me disheartened with the notion of a second season. The finale manages to compress the pros and cons of an entire season into one hour, leaving me eager for the second series, only because there is a definite line on the petty politicking that has been crossed by the end of the show.

The action is built with admirable suspense, with succession usurped and military strategy being out to the fore—passes information and a child and schemes all simultaneously. Rhaenera does win the multitasking of the year award.

But to no avail.

This is not just swords and scales to end with. Pathos, trauma. Legacy and character are all brought to the fore. With action rather than words, despite the political dance.

The finale brings the second generation to the fore, with character and trepidation. However, it feels undermined as an almost post-credit sensibility again kicks in and names that will come to prominence later are changed throughout the script displaying the Marvel curse.

Spending too much time on what comes next creates a thrill in the here and now.

Sadly, we get moments that are on one level here to mirror the earlier years but despite the passion and tools of the actors come across as repetitive and unoriginal even within its first season.

But we see all the relationships, strained, betrayed, reaffirmed. It’s more compelling than any threat of Dragonfire. Which we get in gallons 

There was only one outcome for the second season left. With a great ending and a battle of uncertainty. And that’s war. 

It reminded me of a situation I had been in before Blockbuster. They had a season 3 box set of the new Battlestar Galactica…I had not seen season 2 and was concerned about bothering to watch it. Inside was a disc called ‘previously.’ It was an hour-long voice-over clip show that covered all I needed to know.

I hope there is one for the next series, as it is a great setup. But I only needed this part of the season.