‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 perfectly illustrates how men’s egos start wars

Home of the Dragon Season 2 has to date been a lesson in how wars begin. Or ought to we are saying how males begin wars.

Sure, OK, so it might have been Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) who misunderstood Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine) on his deathbed in Season 1, and the continuing rift between her and Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) definitely hasn’t helped issues. However come on. Season 2 has, to date, been a textbook case of male egos getting individuals killed.

Here is the deeply silly step-by-step because it stands, starting with Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) semi-accidentally killing Lucerys (Elliot Grihault) on the finish of final season.

Step 1: Aemond kills Lucerys

Unable to neglect the teasing he endured as a boy, Aemond determined to wage a marketing campaign of harassment towards Rhaenyra’s youngsters that began with some “Robust” speech jokes and ended with Lucerys getting chomped to dying mid-air.

Does he remorse it? Perhaps slightly bit. But when he’d simply scared the child again on the Baratheon fort and known as it quits then issues most likely would not have escalated as rapidly as they did.

Step 2: Daemon will get Aegon’s son killed

We all know what you are pondering: It is Rhaenyra that, on returning to Dragonstone, says she “need[s] Aemond Targaryen”. However she does not say precisely what she means, and that is the obvious cue for an already-enraged Daemon (Matt Smith) to pay some very terrible assassins to attempt to do the job for him. Inevitably the plan fails and the poor son of Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) and Heleana (Phia Saban), Jaehearys, is the one killed as an alternative.

Credit score: Theo Whitman/HBO

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Step 3: Ser Criston Cole sends a person to his dying

Carrying an Iron Throne-sized chip on his shoulder, Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) decides the perfect plan of action following Jaehaerys’ dying is to go rogue, blackmailing a member of the Kings’ Guard (who occurs to be a twin) to go to Dragonstone disguised as his equivalent brother, who has conveniently defected to work for Rhaenyra.

Unsurprisingly this works about in addition to Daemon’s off-the-cuff plan, and each twins – however not Rhaenyra – find yourself useless.

Step 4: Aegon fires his Hand and promotes Ser Criston

So: Aemond’s been irrational, Daemon’s been irrational, after which Ser Criston’s been irrational. Thank goodness there is a stable, protected pair of fingers on the Iron Throne itself although, proper?

Oh no, wait: The realm’s largest man-baby Aegon II is in cost, and never solely does he reward Ser Criston’s actions, however he even decides to advertise him to Hand after firing his grandad Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans).

Aegon’s petulant little try at a comeback whereas Otto is giving him a dressing down? “At the least I did one thing.” Yeah, good one Aegon. We’re certain it will undoubtedly work out for you.

Home of the Dragon Season 2 airs Sundays on HBO and Max at 9 p.m. ET.