‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 Episode 5 Review - Schemes, Dreams, and Dragons

In the aftermath of the previous episode, the atmosphere in House of the Dragon has once again become quiet and mournful. Characters discuss battle strategies and form new alliances to bolster their position. Meanwhile, the citizens of King's Landing interpret the sight of a dragon's head as a bad omen, but the soldiers displaying it show no concern. One of them even shouts the name of the dragon, Meleys, and praises the king's display of strength. Criston comments on the citizens' reaction, "Don't they realize we won the battle?" His companion responds, "Strange victory if it was one." Despite their triumph, no one seems to be in good spirits. Alicent, in particular, is very upset. Upon noticing Aegon's wounds, she asks the doctors if there is any chance of his survival. "His grace remains with us for the moment," a doctor reports. This immediately prompts the question, "Will Aegon survive? Will he wake up from the bed?" Not many people are optimistic about his fate; almost everyone considers Aegon dead. However, this is House of the Dragon. It might heal Aegon for the sake of shocks and surprises. Anything can happen.

In Aegon's absence, the council members elect Aemond as the leader. But first, Alicent protests. She forcefully puts forward her name for consideration, which everybody unanimously rejects. Even Criston supports Aemond, not Alicent. Someone's definitely not getting laid. Then again, Criston's mind is currently far from sex. He has seen too many bodies turn into ashes, which is why he walks around with a deeply disturbed countenance. Alicent suspects (or even blames) Aemond for Aegon's terrible condition. Mother knows best. Yet, she remains helpless. The poor woman isn't even able to convince her men to choose her as a leader. This sexist attitude is the root of all the problems in House of the Dragon. If only the men had an open mind and allowed Rhaenyra to take her rightful place instead of manipulating her father's wishes. Look at Olivia Cooke's expression as she goes from being sad to angry to teary before finally expressing disbelief. It's a fantastic performance.

Emma D'Arcy, too, is excellent. She throws a cold stare at her son upon his return after forming an alliance. The intensity of her gaze is so sharp that it seems capable of slicing through the skin of a dragon. We witness Rhaenyra facing sexism from her council members. One of them states, "I could never doubt your capability or your quickness of mind. It is merely that the gentler sex, heretofore, has not been much privy to the strategies of battle or their execution." How can Rhaenyra remain quiet after such a comment? She responds fiercely, asserting, "There has been peace in our lifetime. You've seen no more battles than I have." In some way or the other, this queen has to constantly prove herself. She is not alone, however. Her son, Jace, also seeks to demonstrate his abilities by securing "bent knees" for his mother, revealing his determination to establish his competency and capability in the eyes of others.

Daemon continues to be haunted by surreal dreams and vivid hallucinations, which further fuel his desire to claim the throne. He devises a plan to seize King's Landing without Rhaenyra. He tells Alys, "When I take King's Landing, Rhaenyra is welcome to join me there and take her place by my side. King and queen, ruling together." There is a stunning scene in this episode where the face of a dragon looms behind a man who defies Daemon. House of the Dragon certainly knows how to depict these creatures. Regardless of the size of the screen, they look big, scary, and impressive - they have an awe-inspiring presence. It's a perfect example of how good visual effects can enhance a production.

Final Score- [7/10]