The Queen Who Ever Was

"The Queen Who Ever Was"
House of the Dragon episode
Episode no.	Season 2 Episode 8
Directed by	Geeta Vasant Patel
Written by	Sara Hess
Featured music	Ramin Djawadi
Cinematography by	Catherine Goldschmidt
Editing by	Crispin Green
Original air date	August 4, 2024 (2024-08-04)
Running time	69 minutes

"The Queen Who Ever Was" is the eighth and final episode of the second season of the fantasy drama television series House of the Dragon, a prequel to Game of Thrones. The episode was written by Sara Hess and directed by Geeta Vasant Patel. It first aired on HBO and Max on August 4, 2024.

The episode received mixed reviews from critics. Ramin Djawadi's musical score and the performances of Emma D'Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Abubakar Salim, Harry Collett, and Fabien Frankel were highly praised. However, the episode was criticized as a weak season finale, with its cliffhanger failing to provide a satisfying conclusion to the season, though the setup for a third season was appreciated.

Plot

In Tyrosh

Tyland Lannister negotiates with the Triarchy for a fleet of their warships, hoping to break the Velaryon blockade. In exchange for the ships, the Triarchy High Council demand control of the Stepstones. Tyland accepts the deal, but Admiral Sharako Lohar only agrees if Tyland can beat her in a mud-wrestling match. Tyland wins, impressing Lohar, who later asks him to sire children through her wives.

In King's Landing

Larys tells Aegon that Rhaenyra has dragonriders and that Aemond burned down the port city Sharp Point. Larys has moved Harrenhal's gold reserves to the Iron Bank in Braavos. He urges Aegon to leave King's Landing with him and return once Aemond and Rhaenyra have exhausted the other through war. Larys believes the smallfolk will turn to Aegon after endless deprivation and fear from dragons.

Lord Jasper Wylde informs Aemond of Targaryen bastards leaving for Dragonstone. Aemond has all ships entering and departing King's Landing inspected, though Lord Jasper fears it disrupting the fishing boats that sustain the smallfolk.

Following the recent riot at the sept, Helaena expresses confusion about the smallfolk's hostility. Alicent says that the crown is expected to break the blockade. When Helaena says she was happier before being queen, Alicent asks if she wants to leave King's Landing. Aemond wants Helaena to ride Dreamfyre into battle but she refuses, infuriating him. Alicent admonishes his behavior and his acts at Sharp Point.

Later, Helaena tells Aemond that she had visions about what happened at Rook’s Rest. Aemond accuses her of treason, to which Helaena discloses foreseeing Aemond’s death and the war, and that Aegon will be king again. Aemond rejects her claims and says he could kill her; Helaena says it would not change anything.

At night, Alicent visits Grand Maester Orwyle for help getting passage to Dragonstone.

The Vale

Rhaena endures the harsh landscape searching for the mysterious wild dragon, exhausting herself in the process.

At Dragonstone and Driftmark

Jace catches Ulf and Hugh in Dragonstone's war room. Ulf acts rudely and mocks Jace for being a bastard, causing the latter to lash out and inform them of Aemond's atrocities at Sharp Point. He then threatens to hang Ulf if he continues to act slothfully and hinder the Black's war efforts.

Rhaenyra visits Lord Corlys and raises concerns about the new dragonriders for not knowing their values or motives. Corlys affirms that Addam has integrity while keeping his connection to him muted. He also presses Rhaenyra to strike while she has the advantage. Rhaenyra relays her past hope that the new riders could've deterred war, but Corlys reminds her that Greens still have other dragons besides Vhagar and that their armies are on the move. He also mentions Daemon's unrevealed loyalty.

At Harrenhal

Daemon continues marshaling the Riverlands. Ser Alfred Broome arrives with instructions to ascertain Daemon's movements and intentions. Daemon says that he aims to march on King's Landing before the Lannister host can catch him. Alfred confides that he believes Daemon would make a better leader for the Blacks and pledges support if Daemon were to proclaim himself King. Ser Simon Strong overhears their conversation and sends a raven to Rhaenyra.

The Crownlands

Gwayne accuses Criston, at swordpoint, of sleeping with Alicient and breaking his Kingsguard vows. Criston, fingering a handkerchief from Alicent, remains despondent as he states his regret over past choices, and that they now head towards their own annihilation because of the dragons. Gwayne falters at his pessimism before sitting next to him in silence.

In Dragonstone, cont.

Rhaenyra hosts a feast for Jace, Baela, Addam, Hugh, and Ulf. As Rhaenyra toasts to the new riders, Ulf japes and jokes to the others' ire. Rhaenyra stresses the responsibility the dragonseeds' new status brings. She promises knighthood for serving the Blacks well in the upcoming war. She plans to have them attack the enemies' strongholds: Oldtown of House Hightower and Lannisport of House Lannister. Baela is critical, saying it means attacking innocent citizens.

Ser Simon Strong's raven is received. Rhaenyra, fearing treachery, has Addam accompany her to Harrenhal.

In Harrenhal, cont.

During the night, Alys takes Daemon to the weirwood tree. She cryptically asks if he wishes to see his own fate. As Daemon places his hand on the tree, he experiences a series of visions: the Targaryen bastard Ser Brynden Rivers becoming the Three-Eyed Raven, a White Walker leads a Wight army, Daemon and Caraxes' deaths during a battle, the birth of Daenerys Targaryen's three dragons, and Rhaenyra sitting on the Iron Throne. Helaena also appears, stating that he now knows the full story as well as his own role.

Rhaenyra and Addam arrive at Harrenhal on their dragons, panicking the Riverland soldiers. Rhaenyra confronts Daemon as the Riverlords watch. Speaking in High Valyrian, Daemon reveals his knowledge of the Song of Ice and Fire and reaffirms his loyalty to her, causing Ser Alfred Broome to flee.

In Dragonstone and Driftmark, cont.

Alyn informs Corlys that his ship, renamed, "The Queen who Never Was," is ready to sail. Corlys tries to connect with and help Alyn, but the latter angrily snaps back, blaming Corlys for the grief, shame, and hardship he endured as a bastard and without a father-figure.

At Dragonstone Rhaenyra doubts her path to victory, fearing it will lead to countless deaths. Mysaria comforts her, stating that Rhaenyra is just and strong and must not let the realm fall to those who care for power more than peace.

At night, Rhaenyra is awakened and finds Alicent has arrived alone. Alicent admits to her faults and offers to leave King's Landing open for capture as long as Rhaenyra allows Alicent and her children to leave quietly. Rhaenyra refuses to let Aegon live and forces Alicent to choose between peace or escalating the war. Although conflicted, Alicent agrees to leave the city defenseless in three days.

Across Westeros

In Dragonstone the dragonseeds prepare for battle. In the Reach, the Hightower host marches north with Daeron and Tessarion flying overhead. At the Green Fork, the greybeards of House Stark cross the Twins. In the Westerlands, Jason Lannister leads his host alongside Lord Humfrey Lefford. At Harrenhal, Daemon rallies the Rivermen. In the Narrow Sea, Tyland leads the Triarchy fleet to the Stepstones. At Driftmark, Corlys and Alyn rejoin the Velaryon blockade. In the Vale, Rhaena finds wild dragon that is devouring sheep. Somewhere unknown, Otto Hightower wakes up in a cell. Alicent and Aegon simultaneously leave Dragonstone, and Aegon and Larys depart King's Landing in a covered wagon.

Production

Writing and filming

"The Queen Who Ever Was" was written by executive producer Sara Hess and directed by co-executive producer Geeta Vasant Patel. It marks Hess' fourth time as writer for the series, following "The Princess and the Queen", "The Green Council" and "Rhaenyra the Cruel", and Patel's third directorial credit after "The Lord of the Tides" and "The Burning Mill".

Casting

The episode stars Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Rhys Ifans, Steve Toussaint, Fabien Frankel, Matthew Needham, Sonoya Mizuno, Tom Glynn-Carney, Ewan Mitchell, Phia Saban, Harry Collett, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Jefferson Hall, Freddie Fox, Gayle Rankin, Kurt Egyiawan, Abubakar Salim, Clinton Liberty, Kieran Bew, Tom Bennett, and Simon Russell Beale.

Reception

Critical response

The episode was met with mixed critical reviews. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an approval rating of 47% based on 15 reviews, with an average rating of 6.40/10.

Helen O'Hara of IGN and Carly Lane of Collider gave the episode a score of 8 out of 10. O'Hara described it as an episode that "has laboured to move pieces into place and establish character dynamics and deliver some beautifully written dialogue and failed utterly to deliver the hoped-for action alongside it." She added, "In terms of story and drama, this eighth episode was a triumph – or would have been had it arrived two or three episodes ago. But for a season finale to be all cliffhanger and no spectacle is close to unforgivable." Similarly, felt the episode "feels more like a penultimate episode than one designed to wrap up the entire second season, especially given where it leaves off." Despite this, she praised the performances of D'Arcy, Cooke, Frankel, and Salim. Kayleigh Dray of The A.V. Club graded it with a "B+", commending the set-up for the third season and D'Arcy's performance.

Alec Bojalad of Den of Geek, Fay Watson of GamesRadar+ and Amanda Whiting of Vulture all rated the episode 3 out of 5 stars. Bojalad appreciated the conclusion to Daemon's storyline in the season, and wrote, "While still ostensibly an enjoyable watch, the [season finale] is the weakest episode of the series thus far. [...] [Mostly due] to the fact that there’s no real conclusion here. Nevertheless, Bojalad still called it "a good episode of television" in general. Watson praised the introduction of new characters in Essos, Daemon bending his knee to Rhaenyra, and the performances of D'Arcy and Cooke, concluding her review by saying, "Despite some excellent sequences, [the season finale] is plagued by the same issues as the rest of the season, focusing on looking ahead rather than offering a satisfying conclusion." Additionally, Whiting called it "a terrible, evasive and deflating" season finale.

Katie Doll of CBR scored it 5 out of 10, stating, "By the end of the well-shot Season 2 finale, the HBO series can no longer hide that its flashy dragon sequences and rich dialogue are just covers for a story lacking substance. She criticized the callback to Game of Thrones with a brief appearance of Daenerys Targaryen, which she considered the scene "undercuts the purpose of the series." However, she praised Djawadi's score, Collett's performance, and the parallel shots of Alicent and Rhaenyra. Proma Khosla of IndieWire graded it with a "C-", praising D'Arcy and Salim's performances as well as the final montage but found it lacking as a conclusion to the season.

External links

• "The Queen Who Ever Was" at HBO
• "The Queen Who Ever Was" at IMDb