Warning: This article contains spoilers for "House of the Dragon" season 2 ! Not long ago, I started to worry that 'House of the Dragon' season 2 was losing momentum , as the Dance of Dragons always felt like it was nearly about to kick off fully, with battles just feeling out of reach. Episode 4's lengthy battle put my fears to bed. Chaos dominated the skies over Rook's Rest as our first dragon battle of the season put Aegon out of action for the foreseeable future and claimed the lives of Princess Rhaenys and her dragon, Meleys.
It was absolute carnage and certainly left me with an appetite for more action. But then "House of the Dragon" season 2 episode 5 began with a beautiful shot of sunrise over Driftmark, and a sequence of Corlys sitting on his throne, weeping, followed by a grieving Rhaenyra looking out at the horizon at Dragonstone, and I was struck with emotion. As the fifth episode continues, it continues to employ moments of quiet, absence, and silence, to devastating effect.
We're back to a lack of bombast, but that change feels very striking. Subtle glances and lingering shots are the order of the day, giving us more room for interpretation and emotion. Take, for example, the focus from Alicent's POV wherein she spies Aemond has already belted on Aegon's dagger as Meleys' head is paraded through the city.
Then there's the slow zoom on her face after Aemond's sworn in as temporary leader at the Small Council. Aemond and Co. talk around her, whilst she ruminates o.
