House of the Dragon viewers lament 'anticlimactic' season 2 finale

House of the Dragon (HBO/Sky)
House of the Dragon's second season came to its conclusion on Monday, 5 August. (HBO/Sky)

House of the Dragon's second season has come to an end, but the episode left a few viewers wanting after it ended on what they felt was an "anticlimactic" note.

The show has always been about the slow burn, recounting George RR Martin's Dance of the Dragons with purpose so that it does not rush through the narrative. For many this type of storytelling works, but for some viewers it was frustrating that the war between the Targaryen family is yet to be in full swing.

Before we elaborate on how and why, be warned that this article contains spoilers for the season finale.


House of the Dragon (Sky)
House of the Dragon ended with the Targaryen family on the brink of war, but with war only on the horizon. (Sky)

House of the Dragon's season 2 finale ends with Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) coming face to face with her old friend now rival Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) pleading with her to make peace. Alicent says that she will give Rhaenyra her birthright without challenge in exchange for an escape alongside her daughter Helaena.

Rhaenyra says that she wants what is fair, a son for a son after Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) killed her son Lucerys in season 1. In the end, Alicent agreed to let Rhaenyra kill her eldest Aegon (Tom Glynne-Carney) in order to take her rightful place as queen, but viewers then learn that not only are the soldiers on both sides of the war marching towards war but Aegon has escaped.

The episode ends with Rhaenyra and Alicent contemplating their deal, with the tragedy being that it won't ever come to pass because it is too late, and war is coming.

But several viewers weren't too pleased with the finale, with some using social media to air their grievances about the episode with others.

House of the Dragon (Sky)
Rhaenyra and Alicent make a deal for the former to take the Iron Throne without a fight, however Alicent's efforts are in vain because her son Aegon has escape King's Landing and forces on both sides are preparing for battle. (Sky)

One viewer wrote how they were disappointed with "this amazing build up and now we have to wait 2 years for Season 3", while another said: "Well, that was probably one of the most underwhelming season finales I’ve ever watched."

Some viewers claimed that the finale felt like a prelude to the next season, with one writing: "Did I just watch a 70 minute trailer for Season 3?" and another person similarly claimed: "we all just watched a 66 minute trailer for S3".

Even though the episode wasn't what some viewers expected, one person was full of praise for the season overall as they said: "Season two of #HouseOfTheDragon is officially over, and boy, what a ride! This was a great successor of season one in exploring all of the characters namely Daemon and Lord Corlys. As a finale goes it was a bit anticlimactic but I enjoyed it a lot and now I can’t wait for season 3!"

And another said: "When the screen went black on tonight’s episode of #HouseOfTheDragon I let out a loud “I know you f**king lying”. Anticlimactic is an understatement."


House of the Dragon (Sky)
House of the Dragon also saw Matt Smith's Daemon have a vision of the Targaryen family's future, and Daenerys Targayen's place in it. (Sky)

One aspect of the finale that viewers were delighted by was the inclusion of Daenerys Targaryen, played by Emilia Clarke in the flagship show. The character was shown to Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) in a vision of the future, which shared Aegon the Conqueror's dream of the Prince Who Was Promised.

In the vision Daemon saw the Night King and the Whitewalkers, and also showed Daenerys with her three dragons which some viewers took to mean that she is the Prince Who Was Promised foretold in George RR Martin's books, and not Jon Snow as the TV show suggested.

In their excitement, one person wrote: "SO DANY IS IN FACT, THE PRINCE THAT WAS PROMISED??? Now I’m mad about season 8, all over again".

Another person said: "DAENERYS IN THE PROPHECY OF ICE AND FIRE!!! SHE IS THE PRINCE THAT WAS PROMISED!!!", while one viewer also wrote: "FROM RHAENYRA’S BLOOD COMES THE PRINCESS THAT WAS PROMISED AND HERS IS THE SONG OF ICE AND FIRE — ALL HAIL QUEEN DAENERYS STORMBORN!"

There was one person who wrote: "HOUSE OF THE DRAGON HAVING A DAENERYS CAMEO AND CONFIRMING SHE IS THE SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, SHE IS THE PRINCESS THAT WAS PROMISED".

While one viewer lamented the disappointing final season of Game of Thrones as they wrote: "daemon seeing dany & the night king’s army & saying “winter is coming” just for bran stark to wind up on the throne……… all of this for jon snow to end up being a targaryen for nothing…. i can’t believe what they took from us"

House of the Dragon season 2 is out in full on Sky and NOW, it will also air at 9pm on Sky Atlantic on Monday, 5 August.