Difference between revisions of "Second of His Name"

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==Reception==
 
==Reception==
Despite airing on Labor Day weekend, the ratings of the episode were good. It was watched by more than 16 million U.S. viewers on all platforms during the first three days following the premiere, based on data from the Nielsen Corporation and HBO. HBO Max viewership on Monday was up 27% compared to the previous episode.<ref>Deadline: [https://deadline.com/2022/09/house-of-the-dragon-week-3-ratings-hbo-16-million-plus-viewers-1235110494/ "House Of The Dragon" Week 3 Ratings: HBO Drama On Pace With 16 Million-Plus Viewers</ref>
+
Despite airing on Labor Day weekend, the ratings of the episode were good. Less people tuned in to watch the episode during its premiere on Sunday night but the viewership exploded on Monday on HBO's platforms. It was watched by more than 16 million U.S. viewers on all platforms during the first three days following the premiere, based on data from the Nielsen Corporation and HBO. HBO Max viewership on Monday was up 27% compared to the previous episode.<ref>Deadline: [https://deadline.com/2022/09/house-of-the-dragon-week-3-ratings-hbo-16-million-plus-viewers-1235110494/ "House Of The Dragon" Week 3 Ratings: HBO Drama On Pace With 16 Million-Plus Viewers]</ref>
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==

Revision as of 14:56, 8 September 2022

"Second of His Name"
House of the Dragon
Season 1  —  Episode 3
Aegon Second of His Name HOTD.jpg
Prince Aegon Targaryen presented by his parents
Original air date September 4, 2022
Running time 58 minutes
Credits
Directed by Greg Yaitanes
Written by
Episode chronology
← Previous Next →
"The Rogue Prince" "King of the Narrow Sea"
List of episodes

"Second of His Name" is the third episode of the HBO medieval fantasy television series House of the Dragon. The runtime is 58 minutes. It is written by co-creator Ryan Condal and Gabe Fonseca, and directed by Greg Yaitanes. Music was composed by Ramin Djawadi.

Official synopsis

Daemon and the Sea Snake battle the Crabfeeder. The realm celebrates Aegon’s second nameday. Rhaenyra faces the prospect of marriage.[1]

Plot

The episode takes place three years after the announcement of King Viserys I Targaryen's intention to marry Lady Alicent Hightower. During this time the two have wed and had a son, Prince Aegon Targaryen, and are expecting a second child. Viserys has lost two of his injured fingers on his left hand during this time. Ser Tyland Lannister has been named on the small council as master of ships to replace Lord Corlys Velaryon who has departed with Prince Daemon Targaryen to fight the Triarchy in the Stepstones.[2]

King's Landing and the kingswood

King Viserys organizes a great hunt in the kingswood to celebrate Aegon's second nameday. Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen resents the attention her father downs on her half-brother. She believes Viserys intends to marry her off and to depose her in favor of Aegon. After confronting Viserys about marriage proposal, Rhaenyra angrily flees the camp as her sworn shield, Ser Criston Cole of the Kingsguard, follows her.

While Rhaenyra is away, Lord Jason Lannister asks for the princess's hand in marriage. Viserys refuses, however. Ser Otto Hightower, pressed by his brother Lord Hobert Hightower to push the king to name Aegon as his heir, suggest the king to betroth Aegon and Rhaenyra. Viserys later listens to his master of laws, Lord Lyonel Strong, who propose Ser Laenor Velaryon as a candidate for Rhaenyra's hand.

While camping overnight in the woods, Rhaenyra and Criston are attacked by a wild boar. The boar first runs down Criston then focuses on Rhaenyra but the two of them manage to kill the animal. On their way back to camp the next morming, they see the white hart Viserys planned to hunt. Rhaenyra decides to let the stag go unarmed.

Back in King's Landing, Viserys reassures Rhaenyra he has no intention to replace her as his heir. Viserys insists Rhaenyra must marry to strenghten her claim and announces he will let her choose her future husband on her own. Following his brother's desire, Ser Otto tells Alicent that from now on they will push Viserys to name Aegon heir.[2]

Stepstones

Despite their two dragons (Caraxes bonded with Prince Daemon Targaryen and Seasmoke bonded with Ser Laenor Velaryon), the Westerosi are losing their three-year-long war against the Crabfeeder as he prefers to use guerilla tactics and to send men to sabotage ships of the Velaryon fleet to demoralise his ennemis. The Crabfeeder has now gathered his men in caves on Bloodstone out of reach from the dragons and heavily fortified. The situation is so dire for the Westerosi that Ser Vaemond Velaryon has sent a call for aid to King Viserys.

On Dwarfstone, the Velaryons meet for a war council. Ser Laenor proposes a desperate plan; he wants to use Daemon as bait to lure the Crabfeeder and his men out of the caves and force them to fight in the open. The war council is interrupted by the arrival of Ser Addam, a messenger from King's Landing sent by Viserys, promising men and ships as reinforcements. Furious at the idea of being unable to win the war without his brother's help, Daemon beats Ser Addam with his helm before being separated by the Velaryons. Daemon rows a boat alone for the beach of Bloodstone where he creates a white flag using parts from wreckages. After waving the flag in direction of the entrance of the caves, Daemon adopts a position of submission by going to one knee and holding out Dark Sister. One of the Crabfeeder's soldiers approaches Daemon and takes his sword before Daemon stabs him with his dagger and recovers Dark Sister. Daemon runs towards the Crabfeeder slaying men in his passage and avoiding arrows for a time before being shot by three arrows. As the Crabfeeder's soldiers move in to slay Daemon, Laenor arrives on Seasmoke and bathes them with dragonfire. Lord Corlys and Ser Vaemond leads the Velaryon army to battle on the ground. Daemon pursues Crabfeeder into the caves and later emerges dragging his bisected corpse as the Velaryons celebrate their victory.[2]

Guest cast

Reception

Despite airing on Labor Day weekend, the ratings of the episode were good. Less people tuned in to watch the episode during its premiere on Sunday night but the viewership exploded on Monday on HBO's platforms. It was watched by more than 16 million U.S. viewers on all platforms during the first three days following the premiere, based on data from the Nielsen Corporation and HBO. HBO Max viewership on Monday was up 27% compared to the previous episode.[3]

External links

References