The House of the Dragon finale could have had a little less conversation

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This review contains spoilers
One of the problems with this Game of Thrones prequel has always been that there is too much talking. Yes, the fighting and dragon-flying has been spectacular when it comes, but all this plotting in dank corridors or overlooking sparkling, sun-drenched seas has been frustrating. That would change for the final episode of series two, wouldn’t it? With armies on the march and the dragons all ready and fed on sheep, we could strap in for some proper slaying and flaying. Mmm. Not quite. Looks like we’ll have to wait. Again.
There were some good moments. Chess pieces were moved about and we got some decent comedy — the absence of which in the first series was another justifiable viewer gripe. On a key diplomatic mission, Tyland, the Lannister master of ships, did some mud wrestling with a piratical hard nut, who then insisted the poor man “f*** my wives”. That was funny.
We also got to enjoy some comic scenes with new dragon-rider Ulf, the bar-room braggart who actually does have Targaryen blood and so could ride a giant reptile. “More wine here … More of these little birds,” he bellowed at the table of Rhaenyra before being told that he was rather forgetting himself. Still, I’d like to see what happens to Ulf the oik when battle does commence. And Simon Russell Beale was on great form too as Ser Simon Strong, castellan of Harrenhal, once more delivering hilarity or import with the merest look.
But for the most part it was a giant throat-clear. We will have to wait until the next run to see what actually happens in the war that has long been promised, but looks like it still might not happen. Not if the visit by Alicent (Olivia Cooke) to the ascendant Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) is anything to go by. Alicent promised to open the gates of the Red Keep and even (reluctantly) agreed to offer the head of her son, the pretender King Aegon II, into the bargain.
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Poor Aegon. After his run-in with Aemond’s dragon Vhagar, he continues to look like Hannibal Lecter victim Mason Verger after he had his face eaten by pigs. His “cock” he said, is “destroyed … it burst in the flames like a sausage on a spit.” But by the end he fled the kingdom at the instigation of the clubfooted whisperer Lord Larys, who is not a man you want by your side or giving you advice. So who knows whether his absence will prevent Alicent from meeting her promise and putting Rhaenyra back on the throne.
The only proper whiff of dragon breath that we got was at the beginning, when Aemond laid waste to a place called Sharp Point because he was miffed that Rhaenyra had the upper hand. Daemon (Matt Smith) has bent the knee to his queen after having a vision of the future (including those terrifying White Walkers) so he has a bit of perspective on events. And we also glimpsed former Hand Otto (Rhys Ifans) in a brief montage at the end.
Yes, there have been some interesting, chewy themes explored in this series. Female friendship, the folly of war and the impact of throne-gaming on the “small folk” whose travails have been far more to the fore than they ever were in the original Game of Thrones.
But talk is one thing, doing quite another. And this was an episode that didn’t really deserve the stirring music that went with these quick, short scenes. Ships were ready to sail, armies were mustering. But nothing really happened, and too many questions were left unanswered. Again.★★★☆☆House of the Dragon is out on Sky Atlantic/NowLove TV? Discover the best shows on Netflix, the best Prime Video TV shows, the best Disney+ shows , the best Apple TV+ shows, the best shows on BBC iPlayer , the best shows on Sky and Now, the best shows on ITVX, the best shows on Channel 4 streaming, the best shows on Paramount+ and our favourite hidden gem TV shows. Don’t forget to check our critics’ choices to what to watch this week, the best shows of 2024 so far and browse our comprehensive TV guide