I Love a Good Battle Scene, but House of the Dragon Somehow Does Better Without Them
Maybe the war could just be a devastating montage collection.
In my opinion, one of the best things about House of the Dragon is the show’s high quality of production. Everything, starting with beautiful scenery of locations to graphic design of the dragons takes a lot of time and money, and the viewers can see all the efforts come together on the screen, no matter how they feel about the writing.
On one hand, that’s what makes the idea of battle scenes so exciting to me, as Game of Thrones as well as the first season of its prequel have both shown us some of the most impressively choreographed fights. On the other hand, however, the hopelessness I felt after the Blackwoods and Bracken massacre proves that battles aren’t always necessary.
Who Will Win the Dance of the Dragons?
The most important thing to know about the Targaryen Civil War, also known as the Dance of the Dragons in Westeros history, is that it was completely pointless. The war between two branches of the family began with a misunderstanding and sheer hatred for women in power, and ended with countless deaths not only in the ruling family, but in the entire realm.
Though some fans feel upset with the way House of the Dragon tries to remind them in every way possible that the war should have been avoided and wasn't necessary at all, there are some moments that are done with more grace than others.
While Rhaenyra's conversation with Alicent was too comical and straightforward for my personal taste, the opening massacre between the Blackwoods and Bracken families truly sent chills down my spine.
In just a few frames, House of the Dragon managed to convey the boiling blood of both families, the sense of honor, loyalty, and devotion to a cause that was not worth it at all. The entire field covered in bodies of young people who still had a lot to live for, which cut straight to Rhaenyra, still convinced that the war could be avoided, was the icing on the cake.
Would it be great to have an action-packed episode full of men swinging swords and dragons spitting fire left, right, and center? Of course, and I am sure that such an episode is yet to come, since the show is still early in the novel’s timeline. But we have to stop and appreciate the thoughtfulness behind the quieter, but equally effective scenes.
If you haven't had a chance to watch the third episode of the second season of House of the Dragon yet, I encourage you to do so on Max. And if you have, be sure to tune in to the next episode on Sunday, July 7, so you don't miss anything.