‘House of the Dragon’ – ‘The Red Sowing’ – Review
The war for the Iron Throne intensifies, and in a critical gamble, Queen Rhenyra Targaryen is ready to risk much in her desperate search for dragon riders in this penultimate episode of House of the Dragon’s second season.
As Rhaenyra looks to gain an advantage by unusual means, Jacaerys warns his mother that her plan could threaten his future claim to the throne. Suddenly adrift, Alicent seeks solace.
Right from the start, House of the Dragon has been an epic presentation of spectacle and surprise. The tension and drama have been pushed further and further by series showrunner Ryan Condal as he has placed these characters into circumstances that have twisted how we perceive them. The events of Season Two of House of the Dragon have forever changed how we see these characters; now, in the penultimate episode of Season Two, ‘The Red Sowing, ‘ we see the Blacks walk a desperate and dangerous path as they strive to reinforce their number in a very risky move.
Episode Six of House of the Dragon, ‘Smallfolk’ ended on a sudden cliffhanger with the dragon Seasmoke choosing Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty), a bastard born to Lord Corlys Valerian (Steve Toussaint), as its new rider, and audiences were left in sheer shock. This shock is visited upon Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) in the opening moments of ‘The Red Sowing’, and both Rhaenyra and audiences will forever question what it means to be a dragon rider and the sheer dominance of the Targaryen lineage. Chancing upon the hypothesis that there is magic in the blood of those of Old Valyerian lineage, whether noble or lowborn alike, Rhaenyra calls the bastards of the realm to test their lineage… and it has shocking results. This narrative plot point is something no audience could see coming, and it radically shifts the direction of the narrative and the perspective and place of many of our characters.
While Rhaenyra is drawing her would-be dragon riders to her cause, Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) is close to securing the allegiance of the Riverlords, and his time at the cursed Harrenhal is drawing to an end. Matt Smith has brought a radical shift to his portrayal of Daemon throughout Season Two, and the formerly proud and arrogant Rogue Prince has been humbled by the dark shadows of Harrenhal and the fallout of his own actions. ‘The Red Sowing’ is another example of this. Daemon’s power and authority are twisted in front of him by a brash young heir, Lord Oscar Tully (Archie Barnes), and it’s a lesson that scars Daemon’s inner belief even further. Smith brings to bear an incredible level of tension in this scene that leaves him with a sword drawn and blood at his feet, and the cost of true power is visited upon in another ghoulish vision.
The crux of the narrative of ‘The Red Sowing’ is seen in its third act, where the Targaryen bastards arrive on Dragonstone and face the judgement of the dragons. The result is a brutal scene of fire and blood as the dragons Vermithor and Silverwing suffer no fools, and all those unworthy are put to the flame. It’s an incredibly shocking moment, and your heart will be racing as two would-be dragonseeds, the gruff and formidable Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew) and the braggart Ulf the White (Tom Bennett), have their mettle tested in the pit of the fire.
‘The Red Sowing’ ends on a dramatic note, and all eyes are on an impending showdown between the Greens and the Blacks as the Dance of the Dragons rages in a decisive new turn in House of the Dragon.
Season Two of House of the Dragon is now streaming on Neon and SKY TV.
Image: SKY TV