Warning: spoilers ahead for the House of the Dragon season 2 episode 8 finale.
House of the Dragon fans have been waiting for weeks to find out how season 2 of the Game of Thrones spin-off would end, expecting a big battle and a huge pay-off.
However, many have been left sorely disappointed – with episode 8 savagely lambasted as ‘one of the most underwhelming season finales ever’.
In the last instalment – before fans have to endure a potential two-year wait until the third season – Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) and Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) are finally reunited after his hallucinatory side-quest at the castle of Harrenhal.
Before they reconcile, Daemon has a vision about Aegon the Conqueror’s Song of Ice and Fire prophecy – where he sees his future descendant Daenerys Targaryen with her three baby dragons, in a callback to the first season of Game of Thrones.
While this brief glimpse of the Mother of Dragons was exciting, it was also frustrating, as it seemingly signalled that Dany was the ‘Princess that was Promised’… thus making the end of Game of Thrones, when Dany is killed and Bran Stark winds up on the Iron Throne, even more disappointing.
What’s more, House of the Dragon viewers were expecting the finale of the second season to feature an explosive clash between the Blacks and the Greens – but it didn’t happen.
On a positive note, Rhaenyra and Daemon’s reunion with the King Consort publicly declaring his allegiance to his Queen was electric, and the vision he experienced about the future including a glimpse of Dany was fascinating.
But there was still lots to be desired in the final instalment.
There was a confrontation between Rhaenyra and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) at Dragonstone… which didn’t amount to much, except the latter claiming that she wants to avoid an all-out war despite starting it in the first place (good luck).
Elsewhere, Rhaenyra’s new dragonriders – all of whom have distant Targaryen ancestry in their blood – are living it up in their new esteemed roles, as her stepdaughter Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) attempts to find a wild dragon to claim as her own.
At King’s Landing, Prince Regent Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) demands that his sister Helaena (Phia Saban) ride into battle with them on her dragon despite her resistance to shed any blood, while the King Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) secretly flees the city.
The episode then ends by showing the different noble Houses who will be marching into war, including the Starks and the Lannisters.
No battle in sight – and so our wait begins until we finally get to see the warring sides in action in the upcoming third season.
As soon as they watched the final episodes, numerous viewers voiced their huge disappointment over the unsatisfying last episode, following eight weeks of build-up.
‘Well that was the most underwhelming, slow paced, snooze fest of a season in all of the Game of Thrones franchise! Legit so disappointed!’ @MickLee93 wrote on X.
‘Did I just watch a 70 minute trailer for Season 3?’ @ASOIAFQuotesGOT quipped, while @yoyotrav stated: ‘Well, that was probably one of the most underwhelming season finales I’ve ever watched.’
Geeta Vasant Patel, who directed the episode, explained why there was no big battle scene in the finale, despite expectations from fans.
‘I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know if it would be a battle or something else. I probably expected a battle, just as a fan,’ she told Variety.
‘Then when I read the script, I was pleasantly surprised and happy, because I think we put too much on battles. I think what’s really interesting about this episode is that it’s about relationships.
‘It’s the dialogue, the twists and turns, the relationship between Daemon and Rhaenyra, and Rhaenyra and Alicent. For me, it was quite thrilling to focus on the dramaturgy. I love that. I was excited to dig deep with this.’
She added: ‘I definitely felt the challenge if people are expecting a big battle, how is this going to compete with it? But having done episode eight from season one, I knew that if we executed the script it would be grand.’
House of the Dragon is available to watch on Sky Atlantic and NOW.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : WWE fans distraught as iconic star, 37, teases retirement in 10 words
MORE : Netflix viewers warned of ‘brain rot’ from watching Joe Rogan’s stand-up special
MORE : Joe Rogan’s many controversies – from Covid vaccines to slamming ‘scam’ Olympics
