House of the Dragon season 2, episode 2’s ending further raises the stakes for the Targaryen civil war, while continuing some of the more surprising character arcs of the series. Much of the second episode serves as a response to Blood and Cheese killing Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen, and how both sides of the conflict react. Blood and Cheese themselves are both killed, Rhaenyra Targaryen is furious with her husband/uncle, Daemon, and Ser Criston Cole sends Ser Arryk Cargyll to murder the Black Queen.
War isn’t easy, and ruling might be even harder for both Aegon and Rhaenyra. The fallout from Blood and Cheese only makes things messier, with Arryk and Erryk Cargyll both dying at the end of House of the Dragon season 2, episode 2. That’s followed by scenes of the king in tears, and yet another twist to the bad romance story of Alicent Hightower and Criston, and all of it will have further consequences as the Dance of the Dragons continues.
Ser Arryk & Erryk’s Deaths Explained
The Duel Of The Cargyll Twins In House Of The Dragon Season 2, Episode 2
House of the Dragon season 2 gets its first real action sequence with the duel of the Cargyll twins, as Arryk and Erryk come face to very similar face in a fateful, fatal encounter that results in both brothers dying. The twist to the battle, of course, is that it’s extremely difficult to tell which brother is which, though it seems as though Arryk is the one who says that he still loves his brother, despite parting them (which would make sense, as Erryk is the one who left King’s Landing).
Why Ser Erryk Takes His Own Life In House Of The Dragon Season 2, Episode 2
In the end, Erryk kills Arryk by running through him with a sword, a brutal finish but one that was unavoidable – the brothers may have cared for one another still, but it was kill or be killed. Erryk then falls on his own sword, a more surprising and tragic decision, though one that can be explained.
Kinslaying is a terrible deed in Westeros, and those who do it are said to be cursed by the Gods.
Kinslaying is a terrible deed in Westeros, and those who do it are said to be cursed by the Gods. Erryk, a knight of honor, would know this, and so falls on his own sword in part because of that, but also because he would not want to live knowing he had killed his own brother, with whom he was once one soul.
This may also be why he asks Rhaenyra to forgive him, alongside, perhaps, a perceived failure in allowing the attack to happen in the first place, and to forgive his “death” too – Kingsguard (or Queensguard) vows last until their death, unless they are relieved of their duties before that, and this, technically, is Erryk choosing to end his service.
How The Duel Of The Cargyll Twins Is Different To The Book
The fight between Arryk and Erryk is taken from George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, but has some key differences to the source material. Rhaenyra’s presence isn’t noted in the history book, and so nor is Erryk arriving in order to defend her. Accounts vary on exactly how the fight went down, although the end result is the same – both brothers die. Here’s the passage from Fire & Blood:
” The twins battled for the best part of an hour, Grand Maester Munkun says ; the clash of steel on steel woke half of the queen’s court, but the onlookers could only stand by helplessly and watch, for no man there could tell which brother was which. In the end, Ser Arryk and Ser Erryk dealt each other mortal wounds, and died in one another’s arms with tears upon their cheeks.
“Mushroom’s account is shorter, saltier, and altogether nastier. The fight lasted only moments, our fool says. There were no declarations of brotherly love; each Cargyll denounced the other as a traitor as they clashed. Ser Erryk, standing above his twin on the spiral steps, struck the first mortal blow, a savage downward cut that nigh took his brother’s sword arm off at the shoulder, but as he collapsed Ser Arryk grasped his slayer’s white cloak and pulled him close enough to drive a dagger deep into his belly. Ser Arryk was dead before the first guards arrived, but Ser Erryk took four days to die of his gut wound, screaming in horrible pain and cursing his traitor brother all the while.”
House of the Dragon’s version has elements of both key accounts, but once again chooses to do its own thing and tell its version of the story. Rhaenyra is the target of the attack, so there is some logic in having her present for it and to try and make it a higher stakes, more emotional experience. Having Erryk fall on his sword makes it more tragic, though it’s also possible no one outside that room learns the truth of his death.
Why Alicent Highttower & Criston Cole’s Relationship Continues
House Of The Dragon Season 2, Episode 2 Ending Has Another Moment Between Them
Alicent Hightower and Criston Cole’s relationship resumes at the end of House of the Dragon season 2, episode 2, despite the pair having kept their distance from one another earlier in the installment. It’s a moment that is gradually built to – after Alicent hears of her father no longer being Hand of the King, the plot to kill Rhaenyra (which came from Cole directly), and seeing Aegon in tears – and yet still comes as something of a surprise, given she slaps him multiple times in the lead up.
It shows there is a strong element of lust between them, but also that neither knows how to handle their emotions, and so it gets tangled up alongside grief, guilt, sadness, rage, and isolation.
It shows there is a strong element of lust between them, but also that neither knows how to handle their emotions, and so it gets tangled up alongside grief, guilt, sadness, rage, and isolation. It’s a potent mix that leads to their latest sexual encounter. Alicent seemingly wants something – anything – that might make her feel better, but it could also be about her feelings towards herself and the slipping cloak of righteousness. Part of her may love it, part may loathe it, but when she wants to be loved and loathes herself, then being with Criston serves both at once.
Why Aegon Is Crying At The End Of House Of The Dragon Season 2, Episode 2
It’s One Of The King’s Most Human Scenes So Far
Another surprising moment that comes in House Of The Dragon season 2, episode 2’s ending is a scene of King Aegon II in absolute floods of tears, seen by his mother, who chooses to ignore him. You could argue her choice is because he needs to be alone, but it is more likely because she herself is angry with him, and either doesn’t want to confront him in that state or knows she can’t help him.
To see [Aegon] actually crying is more powerful, and while it doesn’t remove the bad things he has done himself or suddenly make him a better person, it does make him feel a lot more human.
Aegon displays plenty of emotion throughout the episode, but it’s mostly his grief manifesting as rage, which feels more befitting of both a man in Westeros and certainly a King (albeit one who is still something of a boy). So to see him actually crying is more powerful, and while it doesn’t remove the bad things he has done himself or suddenly make him a better person, it does make him feel a lot more human.
Aegon has lost his son, his marriage is essentially two people living separate lives with no idea how to communicate (though he’s not blameless in that), he does not have the respect of the people around him – including his own family – and he’s stuck being King when he never wanted to be, yet his power that comes with that position being overruled by others. The words that perhaps sting most of all, though, are Otto’s “is that what you think?” in response to Aegon saying Viserys named him king.
Aegon, like Alicent’s other children, never had love from Viserys, certainly not compared to how Rhaenyra did. It feels like that cuts through to him a bit in this episode, the realization that perhaps his father didn’t really want him to be king, that he’s a sham ruler installed as Otto and Alicent’s puppet, that he’s never felt the love of those who were supposed to love him, and now he is incapable of showing that love to others. With so much loss, anger, and loneliness – again, Aegon contributes plenty to his own situation – it’s actually no wonder he breaks down.
Criston Cole As Hand Of The King & What Happens To Otto Hightower
Is This Going To End Well For King Aegon II & The Greens?
Aegon replacing Otto Hightower as Hand of the King, giving the position to Criston Cole instead, is one that signals a decisive shift in the Dance of the Dragons. There will be less plotting from behind closed doors in King’s Landing, and more action out in the open. From House of the Dragon season 2, episode 3 onwards, expect Cole to be leading men forward to build the Green army, win support, and defeat those loyal to Rhaenyra’s Team Black. Aegon wants an “iron fist,” he wants blood, and he’s going to get it.
As for Otto, there’s little noted in Fire & Blood about what happens to him after Aegon strips him of the Hand of the King position – indeed, from that point his name is only mentioned three more times (one of which is his death at the end of the civil war). He says he’ll return to Oldtown at the end of this episode, but exactly what’s next remains to be seen.
Given the status of the character in the show, there will have to be a lot of blanks filled in. The book does reveal that his scheming with the Triarchy paid off, and they send 90 worships to smash the blockade of the Gullet, leading to a battle that should occur in House of the Dragon season 3. Presumably, he will remain loyal to the crown going forward and attempt to influence things where he can, but it will be interesting to see exactly what happens to him as House of the Dragon season 2 continues.
New episodes of House of the Dragon season 2 release Sundays at 9pm ET on HBO and Max.