The end of House of the Dragon season two is here , and while most storylines were left unresolved— season three is coming!—the episode, “The Queen Who Ever Was,” did an admirable job focusing on its characters, with surprising evolutions , long-repressed emotional outbursts and confrontations, and deep soul-searching all coming to the fore. There wasn’t a ton of action, but the episode still felt both daring and satisfying in equal measure. The first thing we see is a monkey strolling along, so we know we’re not in Westeros anymore.
Indeed, we have traveled with Lord Tyland Lannister on his reluctant quest to strike a bargain with the Triarchy, which only Aemond thought was a good idea. But eventually, after some extreme awkwardness negotiating with the Free Cities’ top bosses (“it seems you need us more than we need you,” they correctly ascertain), and a mandatory mud-wrestling match with the mischievous yet intimidating fleet commander Admiral Lohar, he finds success. The price: allowing the Triarchy control of the Stepstones, which will surely come back to haunt someone in the future; enduring some public humiliation (including having his name mispronounced, repeatedly); and maybe impregnating some of Lohar’s wives.
After realizing that Rhaenyra has out-dragonned him, Aemond, as petulant as he is dangerous, has ridden Vhagar to the unfortunate town of Sharp Point and burned it to the ground. He looks pleased with his handiwork, which has come at the ex.